Was Hijab compulsory during Prophet Muhammad’s time?

Question: Salam Sheikh, Many people here–and there are saying that hijab was not compulsory during the time of the Prophet (S).  They say, the Ayah about wearing the Hijab 24:31 is addressing people who want to be considered Mo’minat (believing women), and not just regular Muslims or even non-Muslims. Others say that the Islamic Hijab

On distortion of ‘Fatima is a part of me’ hadith by Ahlul Bayt’s enemies

Question: I read somewhere that the Holy Prophet (s) said “Fatima is a part of me, and he

Does Islam condone Sayyed families rejecting non-Sayyeds for marriage?

Question: I have heard of some Sayyed families who apparently rejected very pious young men because they were

What does the ‘Ahlul Bayt’ mean?

Question: Can you please define the notion of the ‘Ahlul Bayt’? There is the idea that the Ahlul Bayt are five (Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hassan and Husayn, peace be upon them all). Then we say, the ’12 Imams of Ahlul Bayt’. Sometimes, it is suggested that Sayyeda Zeinab (a.s) or Abul Fadl al-Abbas (a.s) are

Might some Muslims reject Imam Mahdi if he doesn’t look Arab?

Question: It is said that Jews of Medina rejected the Holy Prophet partly because he wasn’t from them,

Did some Imams of Ahlul Bayt have dark skin colour?

Question: From one of your lectures, my understanding is that about 7 Imams of Ahlul Bayt (a.s) had African mothers, and that our Imams were deliberately marrying them to break the widespread racist thoughts and teach people that piety is what truly matters. In our narrations, do we get a sense of the appearance of

Is saying ‘Labbayk Ya Husayn’ a form of shirk (polytheism)?

Question: I am still learning about my religion. I saw an image that read ‘Ya Husayn’. Someone told me that this is a form of shirk (polytheism). That person explained to me that ‘Ya Husayn’ is shirk because it is a call to other than Allah (swt), and the Shia intend with this call to

Did Imam Husayn leave behind a sick daughter named Fatima in Medina?

Question: Just regarding the story of Fatima al-‘Alilah which is commonly mentioned during the majlis ‘azaa (mourning ceremonies) of Imam Husayn (a.s), is this a historically sound incident or not? I am referring to the story in which Imam Husayn (a.s) apparently leaves behind an ill daughter in Medina. Did this incident actually take place

Any issue with cat hair on prayer clothes?

Question: What is the ruling regarding cat hair or fur coming onto clothes that im using for Salat;

Do I break fast with Sunni husband at sunset or nightfall?

Question: My husband is Sunni and according to his Fiqh he can break his fast at sunset. He

Difference between ‘Imsak’ and ‘Subh’ time on calendar for fasting?

Question: In my Ramadhan calendar there is a column for ‘Imsak’ time and another one for ‘al-sobh’ prayer. If I drink water after Imsak but before al-sobh time is my fasting void? Answer: I will begin with some clarity to the meaning of ‘Imsak’, which is ‘to refrain from whatever that voids your fasting, such

Can I chew gum while fasting?

Question: I read a recent Fatwa from his eminence Ayatullah Sistani that it is permissible when fasting to

On saying ‘Ramadhan’ without the ‘month’ prefix

Question: I read in a book that it has been narrated from the Commander of the Faithful Imam

Do I have to vote in non-Muslim country’s elections?

Question: I am an Australian Muslim. There is an election coming up on 18 May 2019. I am contemplating on writing to the Electoral Commission in order to be exempted from voting. I would like to know if Islamically I can be exempted from voting in a non-Islamic country? Answer: Attending or not attending an

Meaning of Prophets admitting they don’t have knowledge of Unseen?

Question: What does it mean when Prophets and Imams admit that they do not have knowledge of the

Is reward of reciting Holy Qur’an from physical book applicable to screens?

Question: There are ahadith (narrations) like the one below that state that reading the Holy Qur’an by looking at the

Did Imam Ali allow Taraweeh prayers?

Question: A video has been circulating around recently of a public speaker claiming that ‘Taraweeh’ was an innovation that Imam Ali (as) had initially forbade, but that once some of his people insisted, the Imam allowed them to practice it. Is this correct? Answer: ‘Innovation’ البدعة  (as opposed to ‘Prophetic tradition’السُّنة) in the religious context means:

Is the so-called ‘Eid-e-Zahra’ fact or fiction?

Question: Some Shias celebrate a supposed eid called ‘Eid-e-Zahra’, which is said to be on the 9th of

Is Arbaeen walk to Karbala an innovation?

Question By the Grace of God I have been going for the Arbaeen walk in the last few years but recently a very disturbing and confusing video has been forwarded to me showing a public speaker who calls the walk a carnival and an innovation similar to Salat-al- Tarawih. He said this is an innovation

Does Islam accept the modern polytheism?

Question: I was listening to a public speaker who was saying (I’m including whole passages so that I