Fiqh-e-Shafi Q and A

Islamic scholars explain that if grave space is purchased for burial, the price must come from the deceased’s estate (taraka). The heirs are not required to spend their personal wealth for burial expenses. Imam Shafi’i رحمه الله said: “The shroud, perfume, and burial expenses of the deceased are taken from his wealth. Creditors and heirs cannot prevent this.” (Al-Umm 2/595)

According to this Islamic ruling and fatwa, the common practice of giving extra baths like janabah غسل to the deceased is not correct. Only the غسل میت (funeral bath) is sufficient. Islamic scholars explain that the funeral غسل is enough, and there is no need to perform additional غسل for impurity. غسل میت does not require intention like other types of غسل, and it alone fulfills the requirement. T...

According to this Islamic ruling and fatwa, all dead sea animals are halal. It does not matter if the fish died naturally or due to some external cause. So, if fish die because of chemicals in the water, they are still allowed to eat. However, Islamic scholars also say that if eating such fish may cause harm or illness, then it becomes haram due to the risk to health. This fatwa is based on the op...

According to this Islamic ruling and fatwa, all dead sea animals are halal. It does not matter if the fish dies naturally or due to some cause. So, if chemicals are put into the water and the fish die because of it, they are still halal to eat. Islamic scholars have explained that fish remains permissible regardless of how it dies. However, there is one condition. If eating such fish may cause har...

According to the Quran, menstruation is described as something harmful and impure. Therefore, men are commanded to stay away from their wives during this time and not approach them for intercourse until they become completely pure. A hadith explains that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would show closeness to his wives during menstruation, but without intercourse, and with proper covering. From th...

According to this Islamic ruling, a hadith reported by حضرت عائشہ رضی اللہ عنہا states that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said that accountability is lifted from three people: a sleeping person until they wake up, a mentally unstable person until they recover, and a child until they reach maturity. Based on this fatwa, Islamic scholars explain that a person who loses consciousness due to illness...

According to this Islamic ruling, a hadith reported by حضرت ابو ہریرہ رضی اللہ عنہ says that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم instructed المسلمين not to run when the prayer جماعت has started, but to walk calmly and with dignity. Based on this, Islamic scholars explain in this fatwa that running to join congregational prayer is makrooh (disliked). A person should come walking with peace and calmness....

According to Islamic scholars, it is permissible to give obligatory charity meat to poor relatives, as long as their financial support is not your responsibility (like wife, children, or parents). In a Hadith reported by Hazrat Salman bin Amir (RA), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that giving charity to a poor person brings one reward, while giving it to a relative brings two rewards: one for...

According to Islamic scholars, licking the plate or utensil and fingers after eating is a Sunnah. This Islamic ruling is supported by Hadith. In a narration from Tirmidhi, Hazrat Nabisha al-Khair (RA) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that whoever eats food in a bowl or plate and then licks it clean, that utensil makes dua for his forgiveness. علامہ خطیب شربینی (رحمہ اللہ) also st...

According to this Islamic ruling, Imam Nawawi explained that a woman who removes hair from her face is called “Namisa,” and this act is haram. This prohibition includes the eyebrows and the hair around the face. However, if a woman develops a beard or mustache, removing it is not haram. In fact, according to Islamic scholars, it is recommended. As for removing hair from other parts of the body suc...

Islamic scholars state in this fatwa that after finishing food, a person should carefully clean the food particles stuck between the teeth with a toothpick. Leaving these particles in the mouth can cause tooth disease and bad smell. If food comes out by using a toothpick, it should be thrown away. It should not be swallowed. If there is blood mixed with those particles, then swallowing them is har...

Islamic scholars explain this fatwa in detail. If a person is swimming in still water, like a well or a pond, and the water is small, then urinating in it is haram. If the still water is large, then urinating in it is makrooh, meaning disliked, but not haram. If a person is swimming in flowing water, like a river or the sea, and the water is large, then it is not haram to urinate in it. However, i...

Islamic scholars explain in this fatwa that if a mosque has a fixed and appointed imam, then starting another congregation before or after his prayer without his permission is makruh. This is the relied upon ruling mentioned in classical fiqh books such as Al-Majmu‘ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab. However, if the mosque is located in a market or on a public pathway where people frequently come and go, then s...

Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said that if you tell your companion to be quiet while the khutbah is being delivered, you have committed a useless act. This narration is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 934. Based on this hadith, Islamic scholars have given the fatwa that talking during the Friday khutbah is disliked and makruh. Listening silently to the khutbah is recomm...

According to Shafi‘i fiqh, it is Sunnah to perform Sajdah Tilawah right after reciting the Ayah of Sajdah. If a long gap happens between the recitation and the sajdah, then Sajdah Tilawah is no longer Sunnah. This is because its proper time has passed. Imam al Khatib al Shirbini رحمه الله states in Mughni al Muhtaj that if a person does not perform sajdah immediately after finishing the Ayah of Sa...

According to Shafi‘i fiqh, keeping the gaze on the place of سجود in prayer is Sunnah. It is disliked to look around without any need. It is also disliked to raise the eyes toward the sky during prayer. As mentioned in Minhaj al Talibin : قلت يكره الالتفات لا لحاجة و رفع بصره السماء This Islamic ruling is also supported by references from Sahih al Bukhari 750 and 751. This fatwa clearly explains th...

Hazrat Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ was asked about a person who found wetness on his clothes but did not remember a sexual dream. He said that person should perform ghusl. Another person remembered having a sexual dream but found no wetness on clothes or body. The Prophet ﷺ said ghusl was not necessary for him (Sunan Abu Dawud 236, Bukhari 282). Islamic scholars explain that ghusl does...

According to the hadith of Sahal ibn Sa’d (RA), the Prophet ﷺ said that if a mistake occurs in prayer, men should say Subhan Allah to alert the Imam, and women should tap the inner part of their right palm on the back of the left palm. Islamic scholars explain that for men, saying Subhan Allah is recommended to notify the Imam of a minor mistake, while for women, tapping the palms is the proper me...

Islamic scholars explain this ruling based on authentic hadith. It is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ performed wudu, and the Companions used the remaining water on themselves. In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ sprinkled leftover wudu water on Jabir رضي الله عنه, after which he regained consciousness. From these narrations, Islamic scholars concluded that water used for obligatory wudu, obl...

According to a hadith narrated by Abu Saeed Khudri, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that two people should not relieve themselves while exposing their private parts and talking to each other, because Allah becomes angry with this act. Based on this hadith, Islamic scholars have stated that relieving oneself in an open place without any cover and talking during that time is disliked and prohibited. For...

This fatwa is based on a hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah. The Prophet ﷺ said that when a dog licks a utensil, it must be washed seven times, and one of those times must be with soil. From this hadith, Islamic scholars concluded that to remove dog impurity, washing seven times with water is required, and one wash must be done using soil. According to the stronger opinion, using soil is neces...

This fatwa is based on a hadith reported by Hazrat Aswad from Hazrat Aisha. She said that she used to scrape semen from the clothes of the Prophet ﷺ, and then he would pray in the same clothes. Based on this hadith, Islamic scholars of the Shafii school say that human semen is pure. Because of this, if someone prays while wearing clothes with semen on them, the prayer is valid. This is the Islamic...

Hazrat Ali رضي الله عنه said that he used to experience frequent discharge of mazi. He mentioned this to the Prophet ﷺ, and the Prophet ﷺ told him not to do ghusl for this. He instructed that when mazi is seen, the private part should be washed and wudu should be performed like the wudu for prayer. He also clarified that when actual fluid appears, meaning mani, then ghusl becomes obligatory. In an...

According to a hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik, the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever performs wudu and then recites the dua that includes the testimony of faith and asks Allah to make him among the repentant and the purified, the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him and he may enter from whichever he wishes. Islamic scholars used this hadith to say that reciting this dua after wudu is recommend...

The Islamic ruling about what to recite in Witr prayer is based on a narration from Aisha may Allah be pleased with her. She said that the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him recited Surah Al Ala in the first rakat of Witr, Surah Al Kafirun in the second rakat, and in the third rakat he recited Surah Al Ikhlas, Surah Al Falaq, and Surah An Nas. This hadith is recorded in Tirmidhi 463. Based on this...