Conveying Reward to the Deceased from the Heart

Questions and Answers from the Madani Muzakarah

1.   Conveying reward to the deceased from the heart

Question: After performing a good deed, can the reward of it be conveyed to the deceased from the heart?

Answer: Yes, you can. For example, if someone sends ṣalāt upon the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and makes an intention in his heart to convey the reward to Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, or Sayyidunā ꜤAlī b. Abī Ṭālib رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, or his own late grandfather, they will receive the reward through the mercy of Allah Almighty.^[1]

2.   Golden coloured glasses, watches and cars

Question: Can men use gold-coloured glasses, watches or cars?

Answer: Gold-coloured glasses, watches and cars are adornments, but this type of beautification is permissible. Some scholars wear gold-coloured items, but wearing gold chains etc. is impermissible.^[2]

3.   How should Islamic sisters introduce themselves at someone’s door?

Question: When Islamic sisters knock on someone’s door and the person inside asks who it is, how should they respond?

Answer: They should mention anything to identify themselves, such as: “daughter of so-and-so”, or “mother of so-and-so”. In this scenario, the man of the house should send a woman to converse with her.^[3]

4.   Giving charity on behalf of the deceased

Question: Can charity be given on behalf of the deceased?

Answer: Yes, charity can be given on behalf of the deceased. This is a way of conveying reward to them, just as people give charity on behalf of their father, grandfather etc., and convey the reward to them. People also help the poor and convey the reward to the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم or Shaykh ꜤAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه as a gift. All of these scenarios are permissible.^[4]

5.   How is it for a woman to wear a men’s sweater?

Question: Can a woman wear a men’s sweater?

Answer: She can wear a sweater that is unisex, but she cannot wear clothes specifically for men.^[5]

6.   The ruling regarding the sweat of someone in the state of major impurity

Question: If ghusl is obligatory upon someone, is his sweat impure?

Answer: No.^[6]

7.   Sending sweets or money to sisters and daughters on the Night of Salvation

Question: It is a custom of our family to send halwa or money to our sisters and daughters on the 15^th night of ShaꜤbān. Sometimes when it is not given, the women are ridiculed. What is the ruling regarding this?

Answer: Giving halwa, sweets or other gifts to people on the 15^th night of ShaꜤbān or on any other occasion is praiseworthy and a rewardable act which increases love between people. However, if not sending gifts results in people getting ridiculed, and the gifts are sent to protect them from this, this is a bribe, and the one giving the gifts is sinful. If no one is taunted when the gifts are not given, and there is a mindset of treating everyone well regardless if someone receives anything, there is no harm in this.^[7]

8.   How long should Fajr be delayed for?

Question: How long can Fajr be delayed before performing it?

Answer: It is written in Bahār-e-SharīꜤat volume 1 page 451:

It is mustahab to delay Fajr until isfār (when the earth is illuminated). However, it is recommended for there to be time to recite 40-60 verses slowly, and time after completing the prayer to perform ablution and recite 40-60 verses again, in case the prayer is found to be void. It is disliked to delay the prayer to the extent that you have doubt that the sun may have risen.^[8]

9.   How is it for the muqtadī to recite “اَعُوْذُبِاللہ” and “بِسْمِ اللہ” after thana?

Question: If a muqtadī recites “اَعُوْذُبِاللہ” and “بِسْمِ اللہ” after thana, is the prayer valid?

Answer: The prayer is valid if a person following the imam in prayer recites taꜤawwudh and tasmiyah after thanāˈ, but it should not be done deliberately because it opposes the Sunnah. The recitation of the imam is sufficient for the muqtadī, so he will not recite Surah al-Fātiḥah, taꜤawwudh and tasmiyah, rather he will listen to the imam’s recitation in silence.^[9]

10.   Should a debtor repay his debt or start a business?

Question: If someone has a £9000 debt and £2000 in cash, should he repay his debts with it or should he start a business, generate income and then repay debts?

Answer: If all the lenders grant him time, he should start a business, otherwise he should repay the loans because there is no certainty that he will make £9000 from £2000 whilst paying for his daily needs. It is essential to repay your debts, and dying before doing so is very dangerous.^[10]

11.   How is it to say “I don’t know,” when concealing something?

Question: Sometimes, people say, “I don’t know, do whatever you want,” to avoid conversation and responsibility. Is this a lie?

Answer: This sentence is usually said to avoid conversation, so it means the individual knows but does not want to share information. It is also said when someone is being annoyed. In situations like this, the intention of the statement must be analysed. If it is said to hide something when he knows the truth, it is a lie.^[11]

12.   Reciting and blowing on an incense stick

Question: Can an incense stick be lit after reciting and blowing on it?

Answer: Some people perform recite and blow on incense sticks and hand them out to others, perhaps for attaining blessings. There is no harm in this.^[12]

13.   How is it to recite Fātiḥah over a fish?

Question: Can recitation be performed over a fish and fed to people for the purpose of conveying reward?

Answer: Yes, Fātiḥah can be recited over it.^[13]