1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

45 Questions

When I was aged around 15-17, I took a small item from a street vendor during a school trip. I regret this, but I can't identify him or the location. Can I give its value as Sadaqa on his behalf? Is making an intention in my mind sufficient?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

If you have taken something from a person and you can't trace him or his inheritors , you can give the amount as a Sadaqa on his behalf to poor believers. You make such intention and give the amount to the poor on his behalf.

Wassalam.
What is the distinction between a vow, an oath, and a covenant? How does one know which one was made if one did not make any specific intention or recite any specific formula?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Vow نذر when you commit to do a worship like fasting or praying recommended Prayers like Night prayer, or good act like helping needy or give something in good cause if you get your wish. 

Oath يمين is when you take oath to do something good or leave a bad deed like taking oath to leave smoking or leave attending mixed gatherings etc.

Covenant عهد is when you promise Allah (SWT) to do something good or leave something bad.
Fulfillment of vow, oath and covenant is obligatory.

If you don't remember what intention you had, you need to just fulfill what you had committed no matter what was whether vow or oath or covenant as all of them share a commitment which must be fulfilled. Failing to fulfill the commitment is a sinful act.

Wassalam.
Does the distinction between Qada’ and Ada’ in Niyyah apply solely to obligatory prayers? Do voluntary prayers like Salat al-Layl, when performed after Fajr, remain voluntary and not subject to Ada’ or Qada’, with the intention being Qurbatan ila Allah?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

As obligatory Prayers have Adaa' when it is performed within its time, and Qadha; when it is performed after its time, recommended prayers also have Adaa' when it is performed within it's time, and Qadha when it is performed after it's time. Qurbatan ilallah is a condition in every worship, yet Adaa and Qadha should be in your intention.

Wassalam.
What is the Niyyah to be recited for the five prayers, Wudu, and the Ghusl after menstruation? Does the Niyyah have to be recited in Arabic or can it be in the mind?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Niyyah for every worship like Wudhu, Ghusl, Salah etc is the intention in our mind and heart and we do not need to recite it at all. It is not required to recite the Niyyah except in the worship of Hajj and Umrah where it is recommended not obligatory to recite the Niyyah in any language which you understand.

‘Wassalam.