Questions and Answers from the Madani Muzakarah

(1) Superiority of the noble Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام over angels

Question: Are the noble Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام the most superior creation of Allah Almighty, even superior to angels?

Answer: Yes. [1]

(2) Imam Aḥmad Razā Khan’s arrival in Karachi

Question: Did Imam Aḥmad Razā Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه ever visit Karachi?

Answer: Yes! It is known from Malfūẓāt-e-A’la Hazrat that the land of Karachi was blessed with the good fortune of being graced by the footsteps of Imam Aḥmad Razā Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه.[2]

(3) Visiting  Imam Aḥmad Razā Khan’s resting place

Question: Have you ever visited the blessed resting place of Imām Aḥmad Razā Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه?

Answer: اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه, I have been blessed to travel to Madinat al-Murshid Bareilly Sharīf twice so far.[3]

(4) Hair on the body in Paradise

Question: Will there be hair on the body in Paradise?

Answer: In Paradise, there will only be hair on the head, eyelashes, and eyebrows. Apart from this, there will be no hair anywhere else on the bodies of the people of Paradise.[4]

(5) Calamity when cats cry

Question: What happens when cats cry?

Answer: One should not take any ill omen from the crying of cats, such as, Allah forbid, a calamity is about to strike, so fearful of a loss, you cancel a journey or deal. Cats cry, people cry, and children cry too. Instead of taking an ill omen from this, one should take admonition, as it is written in a book that: “When children cry, remember the crying of the people of Hell.”[5] A child seems to cry helplessly, and there will also be helpless crying in Hell. May Allah Almighty be so gracious to us that we do not enter Hell at all, where one would have to cry. May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to continue to do pious deeds, instead of deeds that lead to Hell.[6]

(6) Ruling on reciting dhikr and ṣalāt with chewing tobacco in the mouth?

Question: Can one recite dhikr and ṣalāt with chewing tobacco in the mouth?

Answer: It is forbidden to recite dhikr and ṣalāt with chewing tobacco in the mouth, because it has a foul odour. If one enters the masjid with the foul odour of chewing tobacco, he will also be sinful. Moreover, chewing tobacco is a bad and harmful thing, so refrain from using it as well as all other foul-smelling and injurious substances.[7]

(7) Ruling on folding the pages of a book to mark them

Question: How is it to fold the pages of a book to mark them?

Answer: Sometimes, folding pages damages the book. If the book belongs to a library, is waqf (an endowment), or has been borrowed from someone else for reading, then its pages cannot be folded, nor can marks be made on them with a pen or anything similar.[8]

(8) Intention for ꜤUmrah within the boundaries of the Ḥaram

Question: If someone resides within the mīqāt, can they make the intention for ꜤUmrah after entering the boundaries of the Ḥaram?

Answer: To make the intention for ꜤUmrah, one must go outside the boundaries of the Ḥaram, such as to Masjid ꜤĀ'ishah, which is in the Ḥill (area outside the Ḥaram).[9]

(9) Does giving jahez [gifts/property/household items given by a bride’s family] to a sister end her share of inheritance?

Question: If a brother gives jahez to his sister, does the sister's share of inheritance cease?

Answer: No, this does not affect the inheritance in any way. However, one possible scenario is that if the father passes away and his estate is held by the brother, and—with her permission—he provides her jahez items from her share of the inheritance, then the value of the jahez given will be deducted from her share, and the remaining portion must still be paid in full.[10]

(10) Sunan for men and women

Question: Is every act that is Sunnah for a man also Sunnah for a woman?

Answer: This cannot be the case. For example, keeping a beard is Sunnah for a man, but it is not Sunnah for a woman. Rather, if a such facial hair grow on a woman’s face, it is mustaḥabb (recommended) for her to remove it.[11] Similarly, tying an Ꜥimāmah is Sunnah for a man, but a woman will not wear one. However, there are many sunan that are for both men and women.[12]

(11) Ruling on reciting supplications or ṣalāt in a bathroom with an attached toilet

Question: Can one recite supplications or ṣalāt while washing hands in a washroom with a toilet seat?

Answer: In a bathroom where there is also a toilet seat visible alongside the bathing area, or where only a curtain is hung, one cannot recite anything. Even while performing wuḍūˈ there, nothing should be recited. Therefore, recite ِ بسْمِ الـلّٰـه or anything else that needs to be recited before entering and performing wuḍūˈ.[13]

(12) What is the ruling on eating an egg from a slaughtered chicken?

Question: I had a chicken, I slaughtered it, and an egg came out of its belly. Is this egg now permissible or impermissible?

Answer: It is halal to consume.[14]

(13) Ruling on saying: "May I not be granted the Kalimah (of faith) at the time of death"?

Question: How is it to say, "If I lie, may I not be granted the Kalimah at the time of death"?

Answer: This phrase is very dangerous and extremely brazen,  as if, Allah forbid, faith holds no significance! Such a thing should never be uttered, even in a dream. There is a detailed explanation on this matter, and such a phrase should not be spoken.[15]