Taking Zamzam Water Outside of Masjid Al-Haram

Questions and Answers from the Madani Muzakarah

(1) The meaning of “Tu kujā man kujā”

Q: What does “Tu kujā man kujā” mean?

A: This means, “How lofty in rank you are! And how lowly I am.”[1]

(2) Eating and selling the kidneys of halal animals

Q: Is it permissible to eat and sell the kidneys of halal animals?

A: It is halal, but our Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم disliked eating kidney.[2]

(3) Is it possible to go into seclusion in today’s age?

Q: Is it possible to go into seclusion in today’s age?

A: It is possible, yet seclusion has its own manners. Not everybody should isolate themselves, especially scholars who are frequented by people and solve the Umma’s issues. Their taking on seclusion would result in the Umma falling into difficulty. As the Umma benefits from them, it is categorically prohibited for them to go into seclusion.[3]

(4) Taking Zamzam water outside of Masjid al-Ḥarām

Q: Can we fill up bottles with Zamzam water and take them outside Masjid al-Ḥarām?

A: The taps inside Masjid al-Ḥarām are only for drinking there. One must purchase water if they wish to take it home, even if they live there. Despite being priceless, it is very inexpensive to buy.[4]

(5) Wishing for a good death

Q: Is it acceptable to wish for a good death?

A: It is extremely important to wish for a good death. The gravest sinner in the world would not want a bad end. Even he would wish for a good one. Everybody be concerned about protecting their faith and consciously strive to avoid a bad death.

Our pious elders رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ had great fear of a bad death and Allah Almighty’s hidden plan. We should always make dua for peaceful deaths with our faith intact. May we be granted martyrdom in the shade of the Green Dome, near the Beloved (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم).[5]

(6) Water used to bathe the Holy Prophet’s hair being cast upon graves

Q: If a person has water which has been used to bathe the sacred hair of the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, can they scatter this over a grave when burying the deceased?

A: They can do so to earn blessings.[6]

(7) Is it necessary to give gold and silver in the bridal dowry (mahr)?

Q: Is it necessary to give gold and silver on weddings?

A: Although giving gold and silver is not essential, it is necessary (wājib) for the husband to give his wife a dowry. Sharia stipulates a minimum of 2 tōla and 7.5 māsha^[7] of silver for this. It is necessary to give silver or money equal to this value as part of the dowry. This is the minimum amount and there is no upper limit. One may give as much as they wish beyond this. Although gold is not necessary, one may give it if they wish.[8]

(8) Is it disrespectful to the food if a person stands up during a meal?

Q: If a shopkeeper is eating and a customer enters the shop, requesting some items quickly as they are in a hurry, is it correct for the shopkeeper to stand to attend to the customer?

A: It is up to the shopkeeper whether they wish to stop eating or not; there is no harm in either. To stand during a meal is not disrespect of the food. If you are eating and someone happens to knock on the door, what will you do then? Will you just sit there whilst they knock on the door, thinking it is disrespectful to the food, even if the other person’s feelings are being hurt? It is obvious that a person would stand at that time to open the door. Likewise, if a person feels need to answer the call of nature whilst eating, he will have to go to relieve himself. In any case, to stand and leave will not be considered disrespectful to the food.[9]

(9) Are mobile phones hoarded too?

Q: Can mobile phones be hoarded in the same way that people stock up on flour, sugar and other food items?

A: There are certainly issues when it comes to hoarding food items, but if a person stocks upon mobile phones or their parts, there is no harm in this. In any event, one must have the best interests of Muslims in mind during every matter. When the phone increases in cost, the shopkeeper will be happy, but the Muslim may be saddened to hear the price. Having the best interests of Muslims in mind entails selling things at a reasonable price.[10]

(10) Having an image of the blessed sandal (nꜤal) upon one’s Ꜥimāma during salah

Q: Can we place an image of the Holy Prophet’s (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) sacred sandal on our Ꜥimāmas and then offer salah?

A: If you place an image of the blessed sandal on the Ꜥimāma and then offer salah, it will touch the ground when you prostrate. It is fitting if you remove this before salah and place it in your pocket.[11]