What is the Shariah ruling concerning voluntary alms (Sadaqa) paid by the heirs of a deceased person? A- It is permissible for the heirs of the deceased to give voluntary alms on his or her behalf and the reward of that will be credited to him or her. It has been narrated by At-Tirmidhi that a man asked the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), “Messenger of Allah! My mother has died. Will it benefit her if I give voluntary alms (Sadaqa) for her benefit?” He (peace be upon him) answered in the affirmative, so the man said, “I have a garden and I call you to bear witness that I have given it in charity on her behalf.” Q- What is the proper etiquette of answering the call of nature as laid down in Islamic Shariah? A- The following proprieties and etiquette are to be observed whenever a person intends to pass urine or evacuate the bowls: • To keep himself away from people's sight, especially if he is in the open as in a desert. • To follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in seeking refuge with Allah and after he finishes, he should say “O Allah, Forgive me.” • To enter the toilet with left foot forward, following the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). • Not to enter such places with anything in which or on which the Name of Allah is mentioned, such as a copy of the Qur'an or a ring on which Allah's name has been engraved. • To protect himself from the sprinkling of urine on his body. • Not to speak or mention the Name of Allah with the tongue when relieving oneself. Therefore, the person relieving himself should not reply to a salutation, repeat what the muezzin (caller to prayer) says or praise Allah (i.e. to say Alhamdulillah) if he sneezes. Q- What is lawful and what is prohibited concerning Istihadah (menstruation) and Nifas (postnatal bleeding)? A- The following stipulations must be observed by women as far as menstruation and postnatal bleeding are concerned: • It is prohibited for a husband to have sexual intercourse with his wife during menses or postnatal bleeding. • The woman in either of the two states is not allowed to perform prayer or observe fasting. • The woman having menses or postnatal bleeding should not recite the Qur'an. • Such a woman is not allowed to enter the mosque or circumambulate the Sacred House (Ka'ba). • A woman is not deemed to be in a state of purification or taharah as long as she is menstruating or having postnatal bleeding, because these two states are not considered states of cleanliness until the menstruation or postnatal bleeding ends. • Each of the two states necessitates ghusl (the whole body washing) on its cessation. • Menstruation is the sign with which a girl is recognized as having reached the age of puberty. – Extracted from 500 Questions and Answers on Islamic Jurisprudence, compiled and translated by Muhammad Abdul
