Ask Mufti

Q: Is body building is prohibited in Islam?

A: Body building will be permissible if done within the parameters of the Shari'ah, e.g. nothing is being done which is harmful to the body, there is no exposure of the Aurah in front of others, no Haraam medication is being taken, etc.

Allah Ta'aala knows best.

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Q: Can we recite Surah Teen (Surah 95) in two parts in first two Rakats of Fardh salah? Like half in first Rakah and rest in second Rakah.

A: It is best not to divide such a small Surah, but if it is divided, the Salaah will be valid.

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Q: I recently discovered my husband is having an online affair with a Muslim woman he befriended on Facebook. We have agreed to sort things out but I am concerned about my financial position should he decide he wants to leave. We are married many years and I have been working for all those years. My money goes into the household so I have only managed to save with insurance policies. We are married in community of property so I want to know from an Islamic viewpoint, how can I safeguard myself financially. Your advise would be valued and appreciated.

A: This is a difficult situation. we make Du'aa that your marriage stays intact and that Allah Ta'aala grant protection, Aameen.
A few suggestions:
* Ask your husband to transfer the house on to your name entirely.
* Stop contributing towards the house expenses. Let him pay all the bills and you can start saving.
* Note that in the insurance issue, only that money is permissible for you which you have paid in. Any payment over and above that will not be Halaal. Insurance is impermissible in Islam.

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Q: Is this true in the context of one who masturbated during several fasts in ramadan and intends to make up qadha fasts:

"If a person who did something that necessitates only qada (making up for a missed fast; observing another fast in lieu of the broken fast) on one day of Ramadan does the same thing purposely on another day of Ramadan, it also necessitates kaffarah (expiation that is made by freeing a slave or fasting for 60 consecutive days or feeding 60 needy people)."

A: Three things make Kaffaarah compulsory:

1. Eating intentionally while fasting in Ramadhaan.

2. Drinking intentionally while fasting in Ramadhaan.

3. Indulging in sexual intercourse intentionally while fasting in Ramadhaan.

These three factors will make Kaffaarah compulsory, whether done once or more.

Nothing else makes Kaffaarah compulsory, even if done more than once in the same Ramadhaan.

Allah Ta'aala knows best.

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Q: I want to know if body talk is permissible in Islam. Body talk: the way of doing body talk is that they massage/press your finger tips and they tap on your neck with their fingers and by doing that they tell you all the problems that are on your mind. E.g.: a married lady went to them so they looked and touched her palm and they told her that her sister in-law is not in good terms with her.

A: This is akin to fortune-telling and palm reading, thus not permissible. It will be best to refrain from this.

Allah Ta'aala knows best.

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Q: A lady passes away and leaves behind her husband, a daughter, two sons, her mother, two sisters, one brother, one grandson and two granddaughters from her daughter. How is her estate divided?

A: Husband:     25%
1 daughter:  11.67%
2 sons:        46.67% shared between them
Mother:        16.67%

The others do not inherit.

Moulana Yusuf Laher