Q1. During Ramadan, I paid some money to my relatives. Now that I have to pay Zakah, can I include that amount as part of Zakah which I have to pay? A1. It is essential to have the intention at the time of giving Zakah. If you gave money to your relatives and did not have the intention of giving Zakah, then it is not valid to count that amount as Zakaah. Q2. If for some reason, I missed my fast during Ramadan and could not make up for it till the next Ramadan, how can I make up for it now? A2. The one who delays his fasts that he missed during the month of Ramadan, without a legal excuse is committing sin; therefore, he should repent and make up for his fast as soon as he can. Q3. Regarding shortening of Salah during traveling, when should one start shortening his prayer and for how long can he shorten it? A3. One shouldn't start shortening his Salah unless he leaves his town completely. If the call for prayer is made before he leaves the city, he should perform complete prayer on time, and when one starts his journey, following are the rules regarding prayer shortening: n One can combine Zuhr and Asr prayers and pray at the time of either one , and the same rule applies for Maghrib and Isha' prayers. However, Fajr prayers must not be combined with any prayer and should be performed alone, in its prescribed time. n One can shorten only four Raka' prayers (Zuhr, Asr, and Isha') , and this means that he prays 2 raka's instead of 4. However, Maghrib and Fajr prayers can't be shortened under any circumstances. n If one offers Salah in congregation, then he is not allowed to shorten his prayers. He must follow the Imam and offer complete prayers. n If the call for Isha' prayer is made and one didn't pray Maghrib, and he joined the congregation with the intention of praying Maghrib, then when the imam starts the fourth raka' one should sit and wait for him till he finishes his Salah and say salam with him and then one can pray the Isha', because salah should be offered in order. n If one travels to a destination and plans to stay there for four days or more, then he must not shorten his Salah. However, if he is not certain when he will return, then he is considered in a state of traveling and he can continue shortening his Salah, no matter how long he stays there. Q4. If a person has a wet dream while he is was fasting, does it break his fast? A4. Wet dreams don't break one's fast, but one needs to make ghusul when he wakes up and then continue his fast. Q5. Can you give me details in light of Hadith regarding the ruling to visit graves and tombs? Some people say it's valid to go there for Ibrat (derive a lesson) and to make Dua'a for the maghfirah (forgiveness) of the dead? A5. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Visit the graves, for they remind you of the Hereafter.” (Muslim). And he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to visit graves. But visiting graves for the purpose of calling upon the occupants of the graves and seeking their help is a major form of Shirk (associating others with God) and Allah may never forgive the one who die while he associate others with Him as Allah says in the Qur'an “Verily, Allah forgives not setting up partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives, whom He wills, sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, has indeed strayed far away.” (Qur'an, 4:116) Q6. If a person made tayammum and while he was offering Salah, someone brought water, should he stop his prayer and make wudhu or he should complete his Salah? A6. There are two opinions regarding this issue. If a person made tayammum and then water become available while he is still in his Salah, some scholars say that he can complete his Salah because he shouldn't break it. The other opinion is that he should break his Salah and make Wudhu , based on the Hadith that when water becomes available , tayammum becomes invalid. The second opinion is stronger since it was chosen by Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen, and to be on the safe side, it is better to make Wudhu if water becomes available. However, if one completes his Salah before he finds water, he doesn't need to repeat his prayer. __
