If a person is disabled and is unable to wear the garments of ihram, what should he do? A- If a person is unable to wear the garments of ihram, then he should wear whatever other clothes he is able to wear. According to scholars, he must either slaughter a sheep in Makkah and distribute its meat among the poor people, or feed six destitute persons, giving each of them half a sa', or he must fast for three days. This is what the scholars have said, making an analogy with what has been reported regarding shaving the head in Haj and Umrah. Allah the Most High says, “And whoever of you is ill or has an ailment in his scalp (necessitating shaving), he must pay a fidyah (ransom) of either observing fast (three days) or giving charity – feeding six poor persons) or offering sacrifice (one sheep).” (Qur'an, 2:196) And Allah knows best. Q- Is it obligatory to pay Zakah on the wealth of a child and of an insane person? A- This question is a subject of disagreement among the scholars. Some of them say that Zakah on the wealth of a child and of an insane person is not obligatory, bearing in mind the requirement of legal capability; and it is well known that the child and the insane person are not legally capable, so there is no Zakah due upon their wealth. Others say that, on the contrary, Zakah is incumbent on their wealth, and that is the correct opinion, because Zakah is one of the rights upon property, and no consideration is given to the owner, according to the words of Allah, the Most High, “Take alms from their money.” (Qur'an, 9: 103) And according to the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Mu'adh Ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him), when he sent him to Yemen, “Inform them that Allah has made incumbent upon them the payment of Zakah on their wealth; it is taken from the wealthy among them and distributed among the poor.” Based on this, Zakah is obligatory on the wealth of the child and also of the insane, and the responsibility for paying it rests with their legal guardian. And Allah knows best. Q- How can we achieve humility ( Khushu') in prayer, when reciting the Qur'an in prayer and at other times? A- Humility is the essence and core of the prayer. The meaning of it is presence of the heart, and that the heart of the believer does not wander here or there, if a person feels that something is distracting him from humility before Allah, he should seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan as commanded by the Prophet (peace be upon him). There is no doubt that Satan strives to spoil all acts of worship, especially the prayer, which is the best act of worship after affirming one's belief in monotheism; so a worshipper comes to offer prayers and he (Satan) says: Remember such and such, remember such and such, and makes him think of foolish things in which there is no benefit, causing him to only be concerned with finishing the prayer. So, it is incumbent upon the person to take the utmost care when approaching Allah, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. If he is assailed by some of these empty thoughts and whisperings, he should seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan. One of the best means of helping him to attain humility in prayer is to call to mind that he is standing before Allah and that he is confiding in his Lord, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. And Allah knows best. – Excerpted from Islamic Verdicts on the Pillars of Islam by Sheikh Muhammad Bin Salih Al-‘Uthaimeen, complied and arranged by Fahd Bin Nasir Ibrahim As
