Birthday Parties and Family Ties

Question:

Assalaamu ‘alaikum

Respected ‘Ulama

My family feels that I am breaking family ties by not attending birthday parties that are hosted by them and our friends.

They feel that I need to be present, even if I don’t participate in the rituals. They say that I should have lunch and leave. They even tell us that when we have a TV in our home, then what’s wrong with us attending the party?

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Polygamy

Question:

Assalaamu ‘alaikum

Respected ‘Ulama

I know that in Islam, it is permissible for a man to have more than one wife. My question is, “Is it recommended?” Also, is there any warning mentioned in the hadeeth for a man who does not treat his wives equally?

Jazakallah

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Purdah at the In-Laws Home

Correspondence of Hazrat Moulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahimahullah)

Letter: 

Assalaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh

Respected Moulana

I live with my in-laws and there is free intermingling amongst the brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. I come from a conservative home and am very uncomfortable in this situation. How do I live in such a home without getting involved in an informal relationship with the men in the home?

Is there any proof in respect to keeping one’s distance from one’s brother-in-law? How should I dress before my father-in-law?

What does sharee‘ah say about having male servants, because my in-laws keep male servants to do housework?

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How to Ask?​

There was once a person who felt hot in his home. Since there was no means to cool the home from within, such as a fan or an air conditioner, he was compelled to bring in coolness from out of the home. However, where merely opening the window would have sufficed, he exceeded the point of necessity and chose to open the entire front door, soon suffering a robbery.

As discussed previously, hayaa should not prevent us from acquiring necessary Deeni guidance and finding out the masaa-il (rulings) that we need to know. However, we should not lose our hayaa when doing so. Hence, although there is a need to communicate for Deeni guidance, it should be kept to the point of necessity while remaining within the parameters of sharee‘ah. If we lose sight of the boundaries and exceed the limits, then instead of opening a window to improve our Deen, we will ‘open the door’ of fitnah and risk damaging our imaan.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was the paragon of hayaa and hence even when imparting the necessary knowledge to the women of the Ummah, he maintained the highest levels of hayaa.

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Depression

Question:

Assalaamu ‘alaikum

Respected ‘Ulama

How should a Muslim cope with depression? Can a Muslim take medication for depression?

Jazakallah

Read more: Depression