Religion

Ask a scholar April 2026   AoA Recently in Ramadan , I was searching for people online who needed help paying off loans/buying ration for food or paying rent ( i am using zakat money for this purpose) I came across a female whose situation was very desperate as her earning father is hospitalized, her brothers dont contribute towards home, her sister is to be wedded in a month, and she does not have a job and rent of two months is due. I talked to her regarding this and found her story to be believeable (although she did not provide her fathers hospital bills only a prescription page without a doctoral stamp). I did pay her enough to cover rent for one month but afterwards she keeps messaging me once a day to ask for more and now i have doubts whether she is needy or not. I have shared her case in my circle as well and am out of zakat money. Is it compulsory for me to pay more towards her or i can just brush her off? I fear of Allah’s wrath if i block her as i am simply exhausted by her constant messaging and…

ASK A SCHOLAR JULY 2024   What conditions must be met to exit the state of Ihram on the 10th of Dhu AL Hijjah? 2. Can you shower with scented soap or shampoo and use body lotion and deodorant before entering the state of Ihram? 3.Can you wash your Ihram with scented detergent before wearing it? 4. I read that you should perform Dhuhr and Asr combined and shortened on the day of Arafat. Our Guide told us we must pray Dhuhr and Asr at their respective times (not shortened) unless these prayers are performed in the Mosque. Please clarify.   Here are my responses to the issues you have raised in their respective order: What conditions must be met to exit the state of Ihram on the 10th of Dhu AL Hijjah? Answer To free oneself from Ihram on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja, one should perform any two of the three rituals: pelting the stone pillar, sacrifice, shaving or clipping the hair, and Tawaf al-Ifada. If you do the pelting and sacrifice or shaving or clipping the hair, you can change into regular clothes. Once you have done so, most of the prohibitions of Ihram are lifted,…

Minnesota AG, feds probing Nolosha-Lakeville development marketed to Somali families Both the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and federal authorities confirmed they are investigating the project, which is planned on land tied up in the Feeding Our Future case.   by Joey Peters   A planned Lakeville housing development aimed at Somali families is under investigation by both state and federal agencies, officials confirmed this week. In a legal motion filed Thursday, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office says Nolosha Development has twice refused to provide investigatory documents — including a list of its customers, their contracts, refund requests, and the company’s marketing materials. The motion alleges that not only is Nolosha collecting money from prospective buyers without a real estate license, but that the owners are spending money lavishly on salaries and other perks. Also Thursday, a U.S. Attorney’s Office spokeswoman confirmed that Nolosha is under federal investigation related to its attempt to sell lots on a property that is tied up in the federal Feeding Our Future food aid fraud. Nolosha CEO Abdiwali Abdullahi dismissed the Attorney General’s motion and investigation in a statement Thursday, stating that it was “without merit and is based upon misinformation being spread by a disgruntled…

In 2022, the debut of Zolasina in Minneapolis ushered in a new era of fashion, spearheaded by Naima Bashir—a dynamic professional and A devoted mom. “I am acutely aware of the lack of well-made, high-quality, chic yet modest clothing that seamlessly transitions between professional and leisure settings, and this is why I took matters into my own hands and conceived Zolasina,” Naima passionately declares. “This brand is about ensuring women, like myself are not forgotten, and we are part of the diverse tapestry of women seeking versatile and stylish options that are also modest.” Zolasina’s collections, crafted with sustainable fabrics, is a response to the unmet needs of women often overlooked and undervalued in the fashion narrative. Each piece is a fusion of exceptional materials, skilled craftsmanship, and an easygoing and timeless style, embodying a commitment to quality and inclusivity. The brand stands as a symbol of empowerment, proudly embracing the strength and unique stories of women whose representation has been lacking in mainstream fashion. To explore and acquire these distinctive Zolasina collections, visit www.zolasina.com. For a personalized shopping experience, appointments can be scheduled by calling 612-424-0395. Step into Zolasina, where the fusion of modesty and modernity tells a story…

St. Paul teen Abshir Ali reviewed police chief candidates, weighed in on $7M budget. How the city nurtures public service in youth St. Paul’s Youth On Boards initiative allows young people between the ages of 16 and 21 to serve as decision-makers on city committees and boards. Abshir Ali reviews public improvement projects and an approximately $7 million budget as part of a committee for the city of St. Paul. He sits through long meetings about improving the city’s parks and sidewalks, often waiting months to see projects come to fruition. But the 17-year-old high school senior loves it. It’s how Abshir, who is Somali, got his start in public service—at 14 years old. “It was kind of daunting,” Abshir said of his unusually early start in local government. “These people have, like, 20 years of experience, and then there’s a 9th grader having the same level of authority in the room.” Abshir joined St. Paul’s 18-member Capital Improvements Budget Committee through the city’s Youth On Boards initiative, which allows young people between the ages of 16 and 21 to serve as decision-makers on committees and boards. But serving on a committee is just one of the many ways Abshir,…

Ask a scholar January 2024 Assalamu 3alaykom, I am in need of a fatwa regarding abortion. My husband and I have incompatible blood types and When I got pregnant with my first child I developed a condition that would put a future pregnancy at risk of fetal anomalies if it the fetus blood type is incompatible with mine. These Fetal anomalies prevent the child from having a normal life. There is no cure for the disease, only medical intervention to try to reduce the impact on the fetus as much as possible. Outcome is only known at birth. Is it permissible to abort a fetus before 120 days if it’s blood type is incompatible with mine? I am struggling to decide as I really want to have another child. Thank you in advance. I am sorry to hear about your predicament. I also pray to Allah to inspire you to face your test with patience and to guide you to make a decision that pleases Him. Abortion is considered Haram (and forbidden) after the ensoulment (breathing of soul into the fetus), which takes place when the pregnancy reaches 120 days. Once it has reached this stage, abortion is akin to…

ASK A SCHOLAR NOVEMBER 2023   I sent out greeting cards to all my contacts in my mailing list with generic greetings which read as follows HAPPY HOLIDAYS MERRY CHRISTMASWE WISH EVERYONE A HEALTHY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS new year the question is some one has accused me of being a KAFIR to send this type of email??? is this accusation correct? There is nothing wrong in wishing Christians Merry Christmas or Hindus Happy Divali or Jews Happy Rosh Hashanah. By doing so, you are not in any way subscribing to the specific dogmas or rituals associated with those celebrations. Instead, you only wish them well on their happy occasions. Muslims are to greet others as we would like them to greet us. The generic Islamic greeting is salaam or peace: the full words are Assalaamu Alaikum: I greet you with peace. According to a report from the Prophet (peace be upon him), Allah ordered Adam to greet the angels with salaam and also told him: “This shall be the words of greeting for you and your children.” However, there is no harm in using the standard greeting common to people. If you are greeting Christians, you may wish them Happy…

ASK A MUSLIM SCHOLAR MAY 2023   Assalam o Alaikum. I am in a tough situation and want guidance. We have 2 children together. We have been married for almost 12 years but have known each other for almost 20 years.slI settled in America and we got married after I secured a job. In the past few years and especially in the past 2 years I have started to dislike this country’s environment for my children’s upbringing. I have expressed interest to move to a muslim country with a possibility of better pay and better environment for my children, but my wife and her mother refuse to accept it. Infact whenever I start talking about this topic she starts a fight to a point where we are yelling at each other and my wife starts physically pushing me. She even starts crying loudly asking Allah to destroy me for upsetting her peace. She also said that her relationship ended with her. I hv tried all ways. Her mother supports her decision. What should I do?     I am sorry to hear about your predicament. Did you have any agreement with your wife when you got married? For example, did…