Burning hairs and nails

Posted on by alfaida

Q. Is it permissible to burn hairs and nails removed from the body? May these be flushed down the drain?

A. Hair from the head and nails should neither be burnt nor flushed down the drain, nor should they be thrown away. The Shariah orders that hairs and nails be buried. Flushing down the drain like waste matter, can lead to sickness. People who practise sihr, may use the hairs for evil purposes if they find it. Islam orders burial for one’s own safety and also to honour these items which are part of the human body.

Cleanliness is half of faith

Posted on by alfaida

Question

Please provide an explanation for the portion of the Hadith: “Taharah is half of faith”.

Answer

Perhaps you are referring to the Hadith Imam Muslim and others have recorded on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 224; Also see: Jami’ul ‘Ulumi wal Hikam, Hadith: 23)

‘Allamah Ibn Rajab Al-Hambali (rahimahullah) has mentioned that the correct opinion, which majority of the ‘Ulama have held, is that the word طهور (Tuhur), in this Hadith, refers to the usage of water to purify one’s self. This could also be referred to as wudu. Based on this, various explanations have been given as to the correlation between wudu and Iman.

One of the explanations that have been given is that “Iman” refers to the characteristics or qualities of Iman. Since every characteristic or quality of Iman ultimately leads to the purification of one’s body or soul, they can be divided into two groups; one resulting in outer purification (i.e purification of one’s body, appearance, etiquette, etc.), and the other in inner purification (i.e purification of the soul from spiritual maladies such as jealousy, pride, etc.).

Wudu physically cleanses the body and purifies it. Hence, it resembles that “half of Iman” which pertains to the outer purification.

Another explanation which the Muhaddithun have given, is that Iman refers to Salah. [like is the caes in Surah Baqarah, verse: 143]

Since Wudu is a condition for the validity of Salah, it has been referred to as half of it.

(Jami’ul ‘Ulumi wal Hikam, Hadith: 23; Also see: Al-Minhaj, Hadith: 533, Mirqat, Hadith: 281, and Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 5343)

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Answered by: Moulana Farhan Shariff

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

HAND SANITIZERS

Posted on by alfaida

Hand Sanitizers

25 Rajab 1441 / 20 March 2020
Hand Sanitizers
We have been informed that many hand sanitizers that are bought and sold
by even Muslims, are over 50% alcohol based.
Don’t buy such Haraam items!
About alcohol, Allah Ta’ala announces in His Kalaam:
“O You who believe! Indeed, intoxicants (alcohol)……… are Rijs (filth / impure /
Najis), from among Shaitaan’s work (his bait to catch his prey with). Abstain from it so
that you may be successful.” (Maa’idah, Aayat 90)
Based on the above Aayat, Imaam Tahaawi (Rahmatullahi alaih) says that it is
prohibited for anyone to use and take benefit from alcohol, based on the following
two factors as mentioned in the Aayat:
1.) ‘Rijs’ (filth, impure) and (2.) The Command ‘Abstain from it’.
Imaam Tahaawi further brings a Hadith which prohibits the trade with liquor and
prohibits the use of its income – See Mukhtasar At-Tahaawi. Thus, using alcohol as an
ingredient and selling such products are HARAAM.
Alcohol is Najis (impure / Na-Paak) as the Qur’an Majeed says. And the call of the
Qur’an Majeed is that human beings should use pure and wholesome things as
mentioned in this Aayat:
“Verily, We have ennobled the progeny of Aadam………and We have given them
Tayyibaat (pure, wholesome and Halaal things).” (Bani Israaeel, Aayat 70)
DON’T BUY AND USE ALCOHOL BASED HAND SANITIZERS! DON’T USE
ALCOHOL TO PREVENT SICKNESSES! MAKING WUZU, WASHING
HANDS BEFORE / AFTER MEALS, AFTER ISTINJA AND UPON
AWAKENING, ETC. ARE ISLAMIC ‘MEASURES’ OF HYGIENE!