What are the things on which zakah is not levied? A- No zakah is due on any of the articles which man needs and uses in his daily life. Fuqaha' (scholars of Islamic jurisprudence) have stated that no zakah is payable for a house which is used for living, nor for the furniture in such a house, nor for clothes which one wears, nor for one's car which is used for personal transportation, nor for the machines installed in factories and the like, nor for any other thing which is used in a similar way and for similar proposes. In a word, zakah is not due for these things that do not yield profits. And Allah knows best.Q- What is the waiting time between Adhan (call for prayer) and Iqamah (call for the start of the prayer)? A- Generally speaking, as there is no authentic text that stipulates certain period of waiting between the Adhan and Iqamah, it is recommended that people should wait between them for a duration which is reasonably sufficient for getting ready for the prayer and during which people can gather to perform the prayer in congregation, as mentioned by Ibn Battal. And Allah knows best.Q- Does the wali (the legal guardian authorized to give a woman in marriage) have any right to her sadaq (dower)? A- Sadaq is the right of a wife and not of her wali. Almighty Allah says, “And give the women (on marriage) their dower as a free gift.” (4:4) Allah also says, “…so with those of whom you have enjoyed sexual relations, give them their Mahr as prescribed…” (4:24). There are other verses which indicate that a woman's Saqad is her right and so it is not lawful for her father or any other person to take any part of this Sadaq without her permission. And Allah knows best.Q- What is the Shariah ruling concerning a person who forgets a prayer or sleeps without performing it? A- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), said, “He who sleeps without performing a prayer or forgets it, should perform it as soon as he remembers it, for that is considered its due time.” And Allah knows best.Q- What is the Shariah ruling concerning the gifts and presents that a suitor gives to his fiancée if he wants to cancel his engagement to her? A- If he gave her anything as Mahr (obligatory bridal money that the husband pays at the time of marriage), she must give it back to him if the engagement is to be cancelled. This is because Mahr is paid in return for enjoying sexual relations with her through marriage, and this has not materialized, so the Mahr must be refunded. This is the view adopted by the majority of scholars. If the suitor gave his fiancée something as a gift or a present and now she wants to cancel the engagement, she must return to him the gift or the present given by her suitor. This is because it is not fair that the suitor should suffer two forms of pain: the pain of annulment of his engagement, and also the loss of money that he might have spent on his gifts. On the other hand, if it is the man who wants to cancel the engagement, he has no right to get the gift back, because it is not fair that the woman should suffer the pain of cancellation of her engagement and also that of losing the gift in question. This is the fairest view in this regard. And Allah knows best.– Extracted from 500 Questions and Answers on Islamic Jurisprudence, compiled and translated by Muhammad Abdul
