Page 25 - Pakistan Link - September 25, 2020

RELIGION
Distribution of Sadqah Money, Non-Muslims Relatives, Wudu
n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi
Q 1. I have a question regard-
ing the distribution of Sadaqah.
Can Sadaqah be given to a hospi-
tal for construction and meeting
its running expenses?
A 1. There is no prohibition or
restriction in giving sadaqah mon-
ey for the construc-
tion and running
expenses of a hospi-
tal. Muslims always
give their charity for them kindness and deal justly with
building hospitals,
schools, orphan-
ages, etc. This is the best use of
Sadaqah and it becomes a Sadaqah
Jariyah, i.e. a charity that brings
the blessings and reward of Allah
subhanahu wa ta’ala always as long
as people benefit from this char-
ity. Unlike Zakat, which has some
restrictions, Sadaqah is a general
charity and it can be used to help
any needy person or institution.
However, since Sadaqah is for
poor people only, it is important
that when rich people or people
who do not need charity use a hos-
pital or school that is built by char-
ity they should pay for its services,
or they should make a donation to
this institution when they use its
services.
Q 2. I need some help in re-
gards to the rights of my non-
Muslim family over me, i.e. my
funeral (and every soul shall taste
death). My oldest son is not a
Muslim, please make du’a that Al-
lah t’ala opens his heart to Islam.
Ameen. My questions are as fol-
lows:
1. Is it permissible for him
(my son) to help lower my body in
the grave?
2. Would my blood-sisters be
allowed to help shroud my body?
(I am a female.)
3. Is there a “viewing” in Is-
lam? (Not at prayer, like night be-
fore at funeral home)
4. Who is allowed to see my
face, besides my immediate fam-
ily, if any? For example, non-Mus-
lim family, former co-workers,
ex-non-Muslim husband, those
I called friends in the Dunya, or
any non-believer.
5. Would it be permissible
to have a leaflet distributed (at
janazah) that explains about death
Issues and Questions
in Islam (i.e. not to wail, etc., etc.)
and that invites others to Islam?
A 2. As a general answer to
your questions, let me say that Is-
lam does not forbid Muslims from
having good relations with their
non-Muslim relatives and friends.
Allah says in the Qur’an, “Allah for-
bids you not those who warred not
against you on account of your reli-
gion and have driven you not from
your homes, that you should show
them. Indeed, Allah loves those
who do justice.” (al-Mumtihinah
60:8) Following are the answers to
your specific questions:
1. A Muslim should have an
Islamic burial. If a Muslim convert
has some non-Muslim members
in his/her family and they want to
help in his/her Islamic funeral and
burial, there is no prohibition on
them to do so. Thus, a non-Muslim
son is allowed to lower the body of
his Muslim father or mother.
2. The non-Muslim sister is
also allowed to shroud the body of
her Muslim sister.
3. Viewing of the face of a de-
ceased person is allowed in Islam.
4. Although the face of a wom-
an, whether alive or dead is not
“awrah” (something that must be
hidden), for the sake of modesty
only close relatives should be al-
lowed to see her face after death. It
should not be viewed by common
public. Non-Mahrams (any non-re-
lated males including ex-husband)
should not touch a female’s body.
5. For the sake of Da’wah or
to give information to the non-
Muslim relatives about Islam and
Islamic funerals, it is good to dis-
tribute some flyers, but one should
not make it a custom. It should only
be done if there is a need and some
benefit in it.
Q 3. Is it compulsory to fast
on the day of Mi’raj?
A 3. There is no compulsory
or recommended fast for the day of
Mi’raj, i.e., 27th of Rajab. Actually
there is no special ceremony rec-
ommended in the Qur’an and Sun-
nah for the day of Isra’ and Mi’raj.
Muslims may gather together to
remember the great miracle of Isra’
and Mi’raj, learn its significance in
Islam, and especially remember the
importance of
the city of Jeru- justified in the Arab countries
salem in Islam.
It is good to re- tire. Conversely, in North Amer-
mind us on this
occasion of our
duty as Mus-
lims to Jerusa-
lem and to do
something to
help our broth-
ers and sisters
who are suffer-
ing in Palestine, ries. Those who want to argue and
but there are no
special prayers
or fasts associ-
ated with this
day or night.
Q 4. I read
your columns
with interest
and respect.
You put things
in perspective
www.PakistanLink.com
SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 – PAKISTAN LINK – P25
and do not admonish people for
asking questions. The following
issue was raised in our tarbiyah
program and we could not arrive
at any conclusion.
Making Wudu’ with water
is totally inconvenient and unre-
alistic. When we do not see dust
around, unless one uses micro-
scope, it is not a convincing ar-
gument that Wudu’ is for cleanli-
ness. Secondly, a lot of people use
make-ups, most of the women use
it, and those people whose skin
is dry, use some kind of cream.
For them putting on make-up
and cream every two hours is
not possible. Thirdly, one can-
not go in the office bathroom and
wash the face. Fourthly, there is
no place in the washroom where
a person can remove shoes and
stand up at a religiously clean
place and cleanse the feet. Fifthly,
because of the cold weather, it is
cumbersome to remove the lay-
ers of clothes to wash our hands.
Sixthly, some people use gels on
their hairs. They cannot use gels
whenever they do masah in their
hair. In other words, the argu-
ments are unlimited. The system
of Wudu’ was perfectly fine 1400
years ago or still can be a little bit
because of their weather and at-
ica and Europe, it is unrealistic.
Can some kind of tayammum be
used as an alternative?
A 4. Islam is for all places and
for all times. There are millions of
Muslims in the West and in cold
countries making Wudu’ and per-
forming their prayers for centu-
find excuses can always do so. But
as Muslims we have to remember
that it is Allah who has given us
these rules of ‘Ibadah. He knows
everything, every time, and ev-
ery climate. His Messenger - may
peace and blessings be upon him
- told us that we should perform
Wudu’ before the prayer. It brings
blessings upon us. The Wudu will
be our distinguishing mark on the
Day of Judgment and we shall be
recognized by our Wudu’ inshallah.
To answer the arguments against
Wudu that you mentioned, let me
say:
1. The purpose of Wudu’ is not
only to wash dust and dirt, it is to
keep us clean and fresh. Washing of
face and hands several times during
the day makes a person very clean
and healthy. Wudu’ also prepares
us in a spiritual way to stand before
our Lord. Cleanliness of the body
is only one aspect of Wudu’. It has
many other benefits and blessings.
2. Muslims should be moderate
in their make-up. Too much make
up is not good - neither for the skin,
nor for the soul, and certainly not
for the budget. If one really is con-
cerned about savings, it is better to
save on make-up rather than on the
water of Wudu’. Those who make
Wudu’ have such a noor - light on
their faces - that they do not need
much make-up any way. One does
not need to remove the make-up
every two hours for Wudu’. One
can put whatever make-up is nec-
essary after Fajr, then make Wudu’
at Zuhr time. One can easily pray
Zuhr and ‘Asr with one Wudu’, and
similarly Maghrib and ‘Isha’, if there
is a problem with the use of water.
3. A Muslim should not be
ashamed of washing his face in the
office bathroom. People stand up
and urinate in the office bathroom
talking to each other; if they are
not ashamed of that, why should a
Muslim be ashamed of washing his
face? There is nothing un-civilized
about washing one’s face. Muslims
should be bold and proud of their
values and principles. Those who
feel ashamed of making Wudu
in front of others will feel more
ashamed of offering prayers also.
4. One does not need to re-
move socks and wash the feet for
every Wudu’, it is allowed in Islam
to make Masah on the socks for one
day and night (and during journey
for three days and nights), if one
puts them on after Wudu’ first time
and does not remove them in be-
tween.
5. We are living in such a com-
fortable environment of heated
buildings and bathrooms and yet
we complain of cold weather and
removing clothing. Just think of
Muslims in Afghanistan, Turkistan,
Tajikistan, Albania, Bosnia, and
how they have been making Wudu
for centuries. Some of them make
Wudu with snow and frozen water.
The Prophet - peace be upon him -
said that those who make Wudu in
spite of difficulties will have a spe-
cial reward from Allah.
6. Too much gel is not good
for the hair anyway. Use good qual-
ity gel and the Masah will not af-
fect it very much. Masah is only to
spread wet hands over the hair, it is
not meant to wash hai ror to make
them wet. Actually, your hair may
look more shiny and fresh after a
little Masah, so do not worry too
much about gels.
Tayammum is a substitute for
Wudu only when one is sick or
when water is not available. Oth-
erwise there is no substitute for
Wudu’. Feel happy that you belong
to the Ummah of Purity and clean-
liness. May Allah help us to spread
cleanliness to our surroundings as
well.