Is there any report regarding the mark on the forehead which is caused by prostration that it is a mark of the righteous? A- This is not a mark of the righteous: the mark of the righteous is only the light which is seen on one's face, the expansion of the heart, good character and such like indications. As for the mark on the forehead which is caused by prostration, it might be seen on the foreheads of those who only offer obligatory prayers due to the delicacy of their skin, and it might not be seen on the foreheads of one who prays much and lengthens his prostration. Q- What is the Shariah ruling concerning someone who steps over the rows during the Friday Prayer? A- Those passing between the rows should be made to sit down during the Friday sermon without speaking, but by pulling on his garment or by gesturing. It is preferable for the khatib (the preacher giving the sermon) to take the responsibility for this, as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did when he saw a man stepping over the people during the Friday prayer and he said to him, “Sit down, for you have caused harm.” Q- Is it permissible for the breast-feeding woman to break her fast? And when should she make up for it? And may she feed poor people instead of fasting? A- If the breast-feeding woman fears that fasting will harm her child by reducing the quantity of milk, then she may break her fast, but she must make up for it later, because her case is similar to that of a sick person, about whom Allah says, “…and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up) from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you...” (Qur'an, 2:185) Then once the danger is past, she may make up for it, either during the winter, when the days are shorter and the weather is cooler, or, if she is unable to do it in winter, then the following year. But as for feeding the poor, it is not permissible except in a situation where the thing which prevents her from fasting or the excuse for not fasting is continuous, and it is not expected that it will be got over: in these circumstances, she may feed poor people instead. Q- Is it continuing charity that which a person gives while he is alive, or that which his family gives on his behalf after his death? A- We have to go back to the hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Except continuing charity.” It means that it is from the deceased himself and not from his family after his death. What comes from the child has been made clear by the Prophet (peace be upon him) in his words: “Or a righteous son who supplicates for him.” So if the deceased person has bequeathed something, it will be a continuing charity, or if he endowed something, it will be a continuing charity for him, because people will continue to benefit from it after his death. Likewise, knowledge in the form of books or studies is classified under continuing charity because people will benefit from it even after his death. Q- How many rak'as should a woman offers in the Friday prayer? A- If a woman offers the Friday prayer with the imam, then she should pray as the imam does, but if she offers it in her house, she should offer Zuhr (Noon) prayer of four rak'as. And Allah knows best. – Extracted from Islamic Verdicts on the Pillars of Islam by the Sheikh Muhammad Bin Salih Al-‘Uthaimeen, complied and arranged by Fahd Bin Nasir Ibrahim As
