Evidences for the Issue of Gazing
Is it considered a sin for a man to look at a woman (without desire) and vice versa?
Muhammad
Fasting the Three White Days
Regarding the three white days of fasting, why is it sunnah and why is it referred to as the three white days?
LGBTQ Interactions
How does one deal or interact with people from the LGBTQ community in an Islamic way?
Practicing Law as a Muslim
What is the Ḥukm (ruling) on being a lawyer in the Shāfiʿī madh-hab?
Intishār al-Ḥurmah in the Ḥanafī Madh-hab
As a Ḥanafī, if you follow the Shāfiʿī ruling on Ḥurmah, are you required to follow the Shāfiʿī madh-hab in all its rulings?
Preventing the Evil Eye
What should one say when complimenting others or when they see something within themselves that they like?
Lowering the Gaze
Fatwā Lowering the Gaze by Ml Yusuf Karaan 11 May 2023 QUESTION What are the views of the four madhāhib in relation to the obligation of lowering the gaze for both genders, with or without desire. ANSWER السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته I will limit my reply to the matter of gazing between unrelated (ajnabī), … Read more
Home Financing in Current Times
Is it permissible to invoke the principle of need to allow the use Ribā-bearing (interest-bearing) loans as financing?
What should Fiṭrah be paid in?
As a Shāfiʿī, is it permissible to give a Fiṭrah parcel consisting of 2 kg rice and other “staples” like peanut butter, flour, oil, noodles, etc?
Marital Relations – Consummation
For how long after nikāḥ, if consummation doesn’t take place, does the nikāḥ still stand? Is there any time limit? Especially if the couple is comfortable and have an understanding?
The Fiqh of Fasting
The Arabic words siyâm and sawm literally mean ‘abstention’ and as such any avoidance even of speech may be called sawm. An example of this comes in sûrah Maryam, verse 26: “I have taken an oath to perform sawm… and as such I will not speak to any human today.” Legally however it means: “for a specific person [the mukallaf who intends it] to abstain from specific matters [the three nullifiers] for a specific period [from true dawn until sundown].”
Fleeing from Fate to Fate
40 AḤĀDĪTH ON CONTAGION AND PANDEMICS
The idea of collecting a number of aḥādīth on contagion, pandemics and related matters was born just as the second wave of Covid-19 infections began rising in South Africa. A medical professional requested texts from the seminal sources of Islam that would counter a narrative in which religion was being pitted as inexorably anti-science. What began as a handful of ḥadīth texts grew into a collection of 40 aḥādīth on adopting preventative measures during pandemics – in line with the time-honoured arbaʿīn format of the Muḥaddithīn.
Legacy of the Shāfiʿī Madhhab in SA
The following short lecture series by Mufti Taha Karaan methodically covers the historical development of the Shāfiʿī madhhab. This includes the Usuli development of the madhhab, major figures that propagated the madhhab, evolution of the madhhab in different geographical locations including the impact the had on the outlook of the madhhab, and the personalities that undertook the task of synthesizing or refining the variant opinions within the madhhab.
The Dangers of Assimilation for a Muslim Minority
Over their three hundred year history, the diaspora Muslim community in South Africa has managed not only to survive as a religious minority, but also to thrive in the process. What are the reasons behind their success?
The Noble Ṣahābah (may Allah be pleased with them all)
A collection of lectures discussing the lives of the noble Ṣahābah (may Allah be pleased with them all).
Understanding the Reality of Shīʿism
A comprehensive series discussing the reality of the Shīʿah creed from Shīʿī sources.
The Eid Conflict
Muslims in the Western Cape are divided into two parties regarding the celebration of the two Eids. Some celebrate according to local sighting while others follow Saudi Arabian sighting. While this issue has been examined from various angles none have resolved the differences. What is the way forward for concerned Muslims?
Debate on Shīʿism
In the year 2000, Mufti Taha Karaan was invited to debate a famous Shīʿī dāʿī, Dr. Hosseni from Iran. The debate covered several pertinent topics, including: the distortion of the Qurʾān; the authority of the Ahl al-Bayt in light of the Qurʾān and Sunnah; the verses of purification; the wives of the Prophet; the people of Badr; and the concept of abrogation (naskh).
Modernism’s abortive attempt to ride the wave of Islamic Finance
Mufti Taha Karaan responds to an article titled “Follow Islamic finance path in reforming Islamic law”. Both the article and Moulana’s response is included.
Why Shīʿism cannot be a Fifth Madhhab
The call for Sunni-Shi‘i unity, and its concomitant call towards regarding the Shi‘i Ja‘fari madhhab as a fifth madhhab alongside the four Sunni madhahib, will come as no secret to Sunnis acquainted with Shi‘ism.