Galaxy
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I've three wives and other such queries
05 FEB,2012
Last Sunday we visited the world of fatwas issued by Darul Ifta, which is considered "one of the most significant departments" of Darul Uloom Deoband, globally recognised as an influential centre of Islamic theology which was founded on May 30, 1866. Darul Ifta is charged with the responsibility of interpreting Islam for followers of the faith and ensuring the application of the tenets of this religion in the everyday lives of Muslims — only Sunnis, as all other sects are deemed to be "not Muslims" as "their books are against the Quran and Hadith" (Fatwa 989/844=B-1429).
Darul Ifta, set up in 1892, draws its importance from both communal and secular sources. The institution, which has till now issued seven lakh fatwas, or perhaps more, is candid about the influence it wields: "The fatwas of Darul Uloom (are) highly esteemed in and outside the country; besides the masses, the law courts in the country also honour them and consider them decisive." In other words, a fatwa issued by Darul Uloom Deoband through Darul Ifta is not only seen as binding on the community at home (as also the global ummah) but also on the secular courts of the country. The power of the Deobandi fatwa, for instance, is reflected in the hounding of what Darul Ifta's maulanas describe as "deviant sects"— Ahmediyas in this case — by the faithful at home and abroad, most notably in Pakistan.
It may be tempting to contest Darul Ifta's claim — many Muslims are reluctant, if not loath, to be guided by religious injunctions by maulanas and the courts are unlikely to take such notions of over-riding supremacy kindly — but that is a debate best left for another day. For the moment, let us further explore the world of Darul Uloom Deoband with the help of Darul Ifta's fatwas that cover every possible aspect of a believer's life. The previous article published in this column had cited a random selection of fatwas issued by Darul Ifta. This Sunday, the effort is on looking at fatwas that concern specific concerns of Muslim men and women. Reproduced below is a selection of such fatwas as they appear on Darul Ifta's website; only spellings have been corrected:
Question 32651: I have three wives and my third wife has one daughter of age 10 years from her first husband and she took khula eight years before from her first husband. Since that time her daughter is staying with my third wife, her husband did not see her daughter till date and he did not pay any money for her daughter. I married with my third wife in 2008 and by the grace of Allah I am paying all expenses for my third wife and her daughter. My questions are: 1.First husband is liable to ask possession of his daughter at any time in life? 2.If he demands possession of his daughter then what to do in this regard? 3.What will be my status with regards to my wife's daughter in terms of mahram?
Fatwa 1055/1055/M=1432: (1)Her previous husband, ie, the father of the girl, can claim the custody of his daughter. He shall be sinful for not taking any care of his daughter until now. (2)When the girl attains puberty, she shall be free to choose whether to live with her mother or father. Father cannot compel her after she attains puberty to keep her with him. Yes, he may claim before it. If he claims and there is no fear of any harm, she should be given to the father. (3)If you have had intercourse with your third wife, her daughter became haram for you and you became her mahram forever.
Question 24487: As per the Islamic law, can a person study the course of chartered accountant?
Fatwa 1237/964/D=1431: Yes, it is lawful to study the course of chartered accountant. However, it will not be lawful to record interest-based accounts.
Question 19472: Can you please tell me (whether the) reading of books, newspapers (English) is allowed in washroom or not?
Fatwa 193/193/M=1431: Bathroom is not a place to read books and newspapers whether they are in English (or any other language), they should not be studied therein.
Question 18576: Hazrat Mufti Sahab, kindly advice maximum time for breast feeding for a girl child?Is breast feeding more than two years haram?
Fatwa 20/18/B=1431: According to preferred opinion, the period of breastfeeding to an infant is two years; breastfeeding after tow years is unlawful... (text in Arabic).
Question 14505: Suppose I am owner of a educational institution. My caste is 'A'. Suppose I do not charge any fee from the students of my caste. Is this correct action?
Fatwa 1068/870=L/1430: When you are the owner of the institution, you have right to exempt the students of your caste to pay fees. However, if you grant the exemption to the students on the ground of poverty and neediness, it will be better.
Question 11156: Is it permissible for a woman who keeps her niqab on in class to go to women's only classes where the teacher is a male?
Fatwa 394/320=D/1430: It is allowed if needed, provided she observes purdah in going to college, purdah is observed in college also without intermingling with men, she only hears the voice of teachers and there is no fear of any other similar fitnah. But, it is better to avoid in the view of present environment of colleges and evils.
Question 36590 : Can a woman show her nude body on webcam to her husband who stays abroad?
Fatwa 427/427/M=1433: It is not right to show it through webcam because it includes the sin of taking photograph without severe need. However, it is not unlawful for the husband and wife to see each one's nude body.
Question 24427: In the Hanafi mazhab can women be appointed as judges or qazi's?
Fatwa 1526/1189/B=1431: Yes, she can be appointed as judge, but it is makrooh tahrimi, ie, doing so is near haram. It is mentioned in Hadith... (text in Arabic) ... It means that a nation that makes a woman their ruler will never succeed, hence woman should not be appointed as judge.
Question 23165: What is the concept of full hijab in our religion? Is just putting chunri on head considered hijab. What are the punishments for not following full hijab?
Fatwa 1034/761/L=1431: If a woman goes out of home she should cover her body with burqa or chaddar in a way that no part of her body is exposed. This is the complete hijab. And if she puts only dupatta (scarf) on head while the face is open, it is not complete hijab. In such case the woman shall be sinful.
Question 21031: Can Muslim women in India do Government or private jobs? Shall their salary be halal or haram or prohibited?
Fatwa 577/381/L=1431: It is unlawful for Muslim women to do job in Government or private institutions where men and women work together and women have to talk with men frankly and without veil.
From the perspective of those who believe in the empowerment of individuals and the liberty to live life without encumbrances imposed by keepers of faith, these fatwas symbolise an antediluvian mindset and should be ignored. Yet, rarely, if ever, a voice is heard in protest. For that would be considered insensitive and intolerant. Therein lies the anachronism of our times.
I've three wives and other such queries
05 FEB,2012
Last Sunday we visited the world of fatwas issued by Darul Ifta, which is considered "one of the most significant departments" of Darul Uloom Deoband, globally recognised as an influential centre of Islamic theology which was founded on May 30, 1866. Darul Ifta is charged with the responsibility of interpreting Islam for followers of the faith and ensuring the application of the tenets of this religion in the everyday lives of Muslims — only Sunnis, as all other sects are deemed to be "not Muslims" as "their books are against the Quran and Hadith" (Fatwa 989/844=B-1429).
Darul Ifta, set up in 1892, draws its importance from both communal and secular sources. The institution, which has till now issued seven lakh fatwas, or perhaps more, is candid about the influence it wields: "The fatwas of Darul Uloom (are) highly esteemed in and outside the country; besides the masses, the law courts in the country also honour them and consider them decisive." In other words, a fatwa issued by Darul Uloom Deoband through Darul Ifta is not only seen as binding on the community at home (as also the global ummah) but also on the secular courts of the country. The power of the Deobandi fatwa, for instance, is reflected in the hounding of what Darul Ifta's maulanas describe as "deviant sects"— Ahmediyas in this case — by the faithful at home and abroad, most notably in Pakistan.
It may be tempting to contest Darul Ifta's claim — many Muslims are reluctant, if not loath, to be guided by religious injunctions by maulanas and the courts are unlikely to take such notions of over-riding supremacy kindly — but that is a debate best left for another day. For the moment, let us further explore the world of Darul Uloom Deoband with the help of Darul Ifta's fatwas that cover every possible aspect of a believer's life. The previous article published in this column had cited a random selection of fatwas issued by Darul Ifta. This Sunday, the effort is on looking at fatwas that concern specific concerns of Muslim men and women. Reproduced below is a selection of such fatwas as they appear on Darul Ifta's website; only spellings have been corrected:
Question 32651: I have three wives and my third wife has one daughter of age 10 years from her first husband and she took khula eight years before from her first husband. Since that time her daughter is staying with my third wife, her husband did not see her daughter till date and he did not pay any money for her daughter. I married with my third wife in 2008 and by the grace of Allah I am paying all expenses for my third wife and her daughter. My questions are: 1.First husband is liable to ask possession of his daughter at any time in life? 2.If he demands possession of his daughter then what to do in this regard? 3.What will be my status with regards to my wife's daughter in terms of mahram?
Fatwa 1055/1055/M=1432: (1)Her previous husband, ie, the father of the girl, can claim the custody of his daughter. He shall be sinful for not taking any care of his daughter until now. (2)When the girl attains puberty, she shall be free to choose whether to live with her mother or father. Father cannot compel her after she attains puberty to keep her with him. Yes, he may claim before it. If he claims and there is no fear of any harm, she should be given to the father. (3)If you have had intercourse with your third wife, her daughter became haram for you and you became her mahram forever.
Question 24487: As per the Islamic law, can a person study the course of chartered accountant?
Fatwa 1237/964/D=1431: Yes, it is lawful to study the course of chartered accountant. However, it will not be lawful to record interest-based accounts.
Question 19472: Can you please tell me (whether the) reading of books, newspapers (English) is allowed in washroom or not?
Fatwa 193/193/M=1431: Bathroom is not a place to read books and newspapers whether they are in English (or any other language), they should not be studied therein.
Question 18576: Hazrat Mufti Sahab, kindly advice maximum time for breast feeding for a girl child?Is breast feeding more than two years haram?
Fatwa 20/18/B=1431: According to preferred opinion, the period of breastfeeding to an infant is two years; breastfeeding after tow years is unlawful... (text in Arabic).
Question 14505: Suppose I am owner of a educational institution. My caste is 'A'. Suppose I do not charge any fee from the students of my caste. Is this correct action?
Fatwa 1068/870=L/1430: When you are the owner of the institution, you have right to exempt the students of your caste to pay fees. However, if you grant the exemption to the students on the ground of poverty and neediness, it will be better.
Question 11156: Is it permissible for a woman who keeps her niqab on in class to go to women's only classes where the teacher is a male?
Fatwa 394/320=D/1430: It is allowed if needed, provided she observes purdah in going to college, purdah is observed in college also without intermingling with men, she only hears the voice of teachers and there is no fear of any other similar fitnah. But, it is better to avoid in the view of present environment of colleges and evils.
Question 36590 : Can a woman show her nude body on webcam to her husband who stays abroad?
Fatwa 427/427/M=1433: It is not right to show it through webcam because it includes the sin of taking photograph without severe need. However, it is not unlawful for the husband and wife to see each one's nude body.
Question 24427: In the Hanafi mazhab can women be appointed as judges or qazi's?
Fatwa 1526/1189/B=1431: Yes, she can be appointed as judge, but it is makrooh tahrimi, ie, doing so is near haram. It is mentioned in Hadith... (text in Arabic) ... It means that a nation that makes a woman their ruler will never succeed, hence woman should not be appointed as judge.
Question 23165: What is the concept of full hijab in our religion? Is just putting chunri on head considered hijab. What are the punishments for not following full hijab?
Fatwa 1034/761/L=1431: If a woman goes out of home she should cover her body with burqa or chaddar in a way that no part of her body is exposed. This is the complete hijab. And if she puts only dupatta (scarf) on head while the face is open, it is not complete hijab. In such case the woman shall be sinful.
Question 21031: Can Muslim women in India do Government or private jobs? Shall their salary be halal or haram or prohibited?
Fatwa 577/381/L=1431: It is unlawful for Muslim women to do job in Government or private institutions where men and women work together and women have to talk with men frankly and without veil.
From the perspective of those who believe in the empowerment of individuals and the liberty to live life without encumbrances imposed by keepers of faith, these fatwas symbolise an antediluvian mindset and should be ignored. Yet, rarely, if ever, a voice is heard in protest. For that would be considered insensitive and intolerant. Therein lies the anachronism of our times.
I've three wives and other such queries
