Fiqh-e-Shafi Q and A

The Islamic ruling on the thankfulness prayer is based on authentic narrations. Abu Bakrah reported that whenever the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him received good news or felt happiness, he would fall into prostration to thank Allah. This is recorded in Sunan Abi Dawood 2774. Another narration from Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa states that when the Prophet peace be upon him received the good news of A...

Islamic scholars explain that when an Imam is praying with one follower, and another person joins during the final Tashahhud, the new follower should say Takbeer-e-Tahreema, sit slightly behind and to the left of the Imam, and not ahead or behind the existing follower. This is based on the teaching of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who said that an Imam is appointed so that people follow him in all actions o...

According to Islamic scholars, when a prayer is missed, it should be performed as soon as one remembers it. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: anyone who forgets a prayer or sleeps past it should pray it as soon as they remember. If Maghrib is missed and Isha time is present, scholars advise that it is better to pray the missed Maghrib first, even if the Isha congregation has started, as long as there is en...

A hadith narrated by Abu Saeed Khudri رضي الله عنه says that the Prophet ﷺ taught that when a person has doubt in prayer, he should act on what he is sure about, complete the prayer, and then perform two prostrations. The hadith shows that these extra actions become voluntary if the prayer was already complete. Islamic scholars used this hadith as evidence that Sujood Sahw is a Sunnah act. It is n...

A narration mentions that when companions came to Madinah, they kissed the hands and feet of the Prophet ﷺ. Islamic scholars and jurists used this narration as evidence that kissing the hands and feet of pious people, people of knowledge, righteous individuals, and parents is allowed and recommended in Islam. This Islamic ruling applies only when the act is done for religious respect, honor, and l...

This Islamic ruling is based on a hadith narrated by Hazrat Muhajir bin Qunfudh رضي الله عنه. He said that he greeted the Prophet ﷺ while the Prophet ﷺ was urinating, but the Prophet ﷺ did not reply until he finished and made wudu. Then the Prophet ﷺ explained that he disliked remembering Allah in impure places. From this hadith, Islamic scholars derived a fatwa that replying to the adhan during i...

Islamic scholars explain this ruling based on authentic hadith. The Prophet ﷺ said that when water reaches two qullah, nothing can make it impure. He ﷺ also said that water is pure and nothing makes it impure unless its taste, smell, or color changes. From these narrations, Islamic scholars derived a clear fatwa. If impurity falls into standing water, the amount of water is checked first. If the w...

Islamic scholars explain in this fatwa that the minimum purity period between two menstrual cycles is fifteen days. This means a woman must be clean for at least fifteen days between one menstruation and the next. If blood appears before fifteen days are completed, then this blood is not counted as menstruation. Instead, it is considered istihadah, which is illness blood. Because of this, the rule...

Islamic scholars explain, based on a hadith of the Prophet ﷺ, that a woman with istihadah should not pray during her regular menstruation days. When her menstruation days end, she must take a bath and then start praying, even if the bleeding continues. After that, she must make wudu for every prayer. The fatwa explains that istihadah is bleeding that happens outside the time of menstruation and po...

According to Islamic scholars, if a Muslim deliberately misses three consecutive Fridays without a valid excuse, it is considered a serious offense. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that such a person would be marked as a hypocrite in their record of deeds and would have their heart sealed by Allah, making them less receptive to guidance (Musnad Al-Shafi’i 1/70, Abu Dawood 1052). This ruling highl...

Islamic scholars state that if an animal, other than a dog or pig (or their offspring), falls into water less than the quantity of "Qultayn" and is rescued alive, the water will remain pure, provided the animal does not have any impurity on its body. However, if a dog, pig, or their offspring falls into the water, the water will become impure because these animals are considered inherent...

According to the hadith narrated by Aisha رضي الله عنها, during the illness of the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه first led the prayer. Later, when the Prophet ﷺ felt better, he came to the mosque with support and led the prayer while sitting. Islamic scholars used this narration to explain the Islamic ruling. They state that it is allowed for an imam to lead the prayer while sitting if he has a...

According to Islamic scholars of the Shafi’i school, some prayers are allowed during disliked times. Based on the hadith of Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها, the Prophet ﷺ prayed two rak‘ahs after Asr because he had missed them earlier due to a delegation. Another hadith states that whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps should pray it when they remember. From these narrations, Islamic scholars concluded tha...

The Islamic ruling is that it is recommended for a person in a state of janabah to respond to the Adhan. This is because responding to the Adhan is a form of remembrance of Allah. A person in janabah is allowed to do dhikr.

The Islamic ruling is that leaving the mosque after the Adhan and before offering the prayer is disliked if there is no valid excuse. However, if a person has a valid excuse, then it is allowed and not disliked. This ruling is based on a hadith where Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه saw a man leave the mosque after the Adhan and said that the person had disobeyed the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم....

According to Islamic scholars if a person sends Salaam in written form then replying immediately is obligatory. Sending Salaam through WhatsApp is also considered the same as written Salaam. Therefore replying to a Salaam sent on WhatsApp must be done immediately. Imam Nawawi explains in this fatwa that if someone gives Salaam from behind a wall or sends Salaam through a letter or a messenger and...

According to an Islamic ruling based on a hadith reported by Hazrath Huzaifa RA the Prophet Muhammad SAW said that the whole earth has been made a place of prostration and its soil has been made pure for Muslims. This shows that all places are considered pure except where there is impurity. Islamic scholars explain in this fatwa that if a non Muslim place does not have any impurity and the place i...

This fatwa is based on a hadith reported by Hazrat Muhajir bin Qunfudh. He said that he greeted the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him while the Prophet was relieving himself, and the Prophet did not reply until he performed wudu and then returned the greeting. From this hadith, Islamic scholars explain that greeting a person who is performing wudu is not disliked. It is also not disliked for the...

This fatwa explains that with one tayammum, it is only permissible to perform one obligatory prayer. It is not allowed to pray more than one obligatory prayer with the same tayammum, whether the prayers are in the same time or different times. However, a person may pray as many voluntary prayers as they wish with one tayammum. This Islamic ruling is mentioned by Imam al Shafi and explained by Imam...

The Islamic ruling is that if a person washes the head instead of wiping it during wudu, the obligation of wiping the head is fulfilled. Islamic scholars explain that washing the head has the same meaning as wiping it in this case. Because of this, the action is considered correct and sufficient. This ruling is clearly mentioned in the fatwa and supported by the statement recorded in classical Isl...

The Islamic ruling is that clothes do not become impure if a fly or mosquito sits on them during relieving oneself, even if there is a small amount of impurity on its legs. Islamic scholars state that this kind of small impurity is forgiven in Shariah. It is very hard to avoid flies and mosquitoes because they land on impurities and then fly to clothes or water. Due to this difficulty, such minor...

This fatwa explains that dipping the feet into water can count as washing them, but only with the correct intention. If a person dips his feet into a pond, tank, or bucket while making wudu, his wudu will be valid only if he intended to wash his feet as part of wudu. If the person did not have the intention of washing the feet for wudu, then the wudu will not be valid. This Islamic ruling is menti...

This fatwa explains that giving charity for a sick person is supported by Islamic teachings. Abdullah ibn Masud reported that the Prophet Muhammad said to treat your sick people through charity. This narration is found in Al Mujam Al Kabir. Another hadith states that charity cools the anger of Allah and prevents a bad death. This is reported in Sunan Tirmidhi. Because of these narrations, Islamic...

According to this fatwa and Islamic scholars of the Shafi‘i school, covering the awrah is not a condition for the validity of wudu. Because of this, if a person makes wudu while being completely naked, his wudu is still valid. The scholars explain that covering the awrah is required during prayer, not during wudu. Wudu comes before prayer, so the same conditions do not apply. However, the fatwa al...

According to this fatwa and Islamic scholars of the Shafi‘i school, it is not allowed for a man to put a ring or any jewelry on his fiancée at the time of engagement. This ruling stays the same even after engagement and before the nikah is completed. The reason is that before nikah, the man and woman are still non mahram and strangers to each other. The fatwa explains that touching is not allowed...