FATAWA
Answer: In principle, it is permissible
to invest in anything that is used for
halal purposes. Since there are certain
situations in which marijuana is
permitted for medicinal use, it would
technically be permissible to invest in
such stocks. However, one should do
his/her research to confirm that the
company he/she is investing in is only
in the business of medical and not
recreational marijuana.
Question: Is there are significance
in the night of Mi‘raj on the 27th of
Rajab? Is there any special ‘ibada
associated with this night?
Answer: There is a difference of
opinion regarding when the night of
Mi‘raj occurred. It would be incorrect
to say with absolute conviction that
it occurred on a particular date.
Furthermore, not a single hadith
proves any virtue in the night of
Mi‘raj or of doing any specific worship
at that time.
Question: Is glycerin a halal
ingredient?
Answer: Glycerin/glycerol is
derived from both plant and animal
sources. If derived from plants, it
would be permissible to consume
without question. However, even
if it is derived from animals, it is
permissible to consume due to
tabdil al-mahiya (change in chemical
properties of an ingredient). Thus,
glycerin/glycerol would be halal to
consume regardless of its source.
Question: Is cheese made with animal
rennet halal to consume? Does whey
fall under the same ruling?
Answer: Cheese made from any type
of rennet besides porcine rennet is
halal to consume. Since whey is a
byproduct of cheese, it falls under
the same ruling as the cheese. Thus,
all whey and cheese would be halal
to consume as long as it is not made
from porcine rennet.
Question: Is shellac halal to consume?
Answer: Shellac is a resin secreted
from the female lac bug that is used
as a glazing agent (for pills,
sweets, nail polish, etc.)
or to wax-coat fruits to
preserve shelf life
(think of the shiny
apples at the
grocery store).
It is halal and
analogous to
honey that
is secreted
by the
honeybee.
It should
be noted that
though it is likely
that bits of the lac bug
may find their way into
the final product, companies
generally use a cleaning process
that rids the shellac of any such parts.
Furthermore, even if some minute
parts remain, the fuqaha permit the
consumption of foods that contain
minute amounts of bugs/insects parts
such as when a fly falls into a pot of
boiling food. Thus, shellac would be
halal to consume even if bits of the
lac bug survive the cleaning process.
Question: What is the ruling about
credit card incentives? Many credit
card companies offer points that can
be redeemed, cashback bonuses, etc.
for using their card. Is it permissible
to use these benefits?
Answer: Such credit card incentives
are a gift from the credit card
companies for using their service and
are permissible.
Question: Are incentives for opening
a bank account permissible?
Answer: From the Islamic
perspective, money deposited in
a bank is considered a loan to the
bank since banks invest the funds
and offer a percentage of the profit
in a savings account that is made
from the investment in the form of
interest. Thus, any incentive by the
bank for opening an account would,
in essence, be in lieu of their
receipt of
a loan. Since
any compensation/
incentive in lieu of
a loan constitutes
interest,
incentives
from a bank
would not be
permissible.
Question:
Is a person
with asthma
permitted to
use an inhaler
while fasting?
Answer: Using an
inhaler will break the
fast. If a person suffering
from asthma needs to use the inhaler
throughout the day in the month of
Ramadan, he may do qadha of the
fasts in the winter when the days are
shorter. If even that is not possible,
he should pay fidya (prescribed
compensation) in lieu of fasting.
Question: Is it permissible to use
toothpaste while fasting?
Answer: Using toothpaste will
not break the fast provided it is
not ingested, though it is makruh
(undesirable) to do so since one is
putting the fast at risk. Thus, it would
be better to use a miswak if one wishes
to clean his/her mouth during the
fast.
Question: If a woman’s period ends in
the daytime in Ramadan, is she still
permitted to eat the remainder of the
day?
Answer: In such a case, it would not
be permissible for a woman to eat.
Rather, she would be required to
imitate those who are fasting.
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