This is a curated archive of scholarly opinions for educational purposes. SunnahAnswers indexes existing answers from qualified scholars — we do not issue rulings ourselves.
Topics covered
Can I read Quran during menstruation?
Majmūʿ Fatāwā wa Rasāʾil al-ʿUthaymīn, vol. 11
"There is well-known disagreement among scholars on this question. The view that a menstruating woman may recite the Qur'an from memory — without touching the muṣḥaf — is the strongest, since there is no clear authentic p…"
Is alcohol haram in Islam?
al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ, vol. 14
"Every intoxicating substance is khamr, and every khamr is forbidden. This includes wine, beer, spirits, and any modern drug or substance that clouds the intellect. The Prophet ﷺ cursed ten people in connection with khamr…"
What breaks a fast?
Majālis Shahr Ramaḍān
"The fast is broken by deliberately eating, drinking, or having intercourse during the daylight hours. It is also broken by deliberately inducing vomiting, by menstruation or postpartum bleeding for women, by injections t…"
Can I pray without wudu?
al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ, vol. 1
"It is not permissible to pray without wudu by consensus of the scholars. Allah has commanded purification before prayer in His Book, and the Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah does not accept a prayer without purification." Whoever…"
Can I brush my teeth while fasting?
Majmūʿ Fatāwā wa Rasāʾil al-ʿUthaymīn, vol. 19
"There is no harm in using the siwāk or a toothbrush during the day in Ramadan, as the Prophet ﷺ used to use the siwāk while fasting without distinguishing between morning and afternoon. However, care must be taken with t…"
Is it permissible to pray with shoes on?
Fatawa Nur 'ala ad-Darb, vol. 4, p. 211
"Praying in shoes is established by the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. He used to pray in his sandals. However, if there is impurity on them, they must be removed and cleaned. In our time, when carpets are laid in mosques, it i…"
What is the ruling on wudu for someone with incontinence?
Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (11/281)
Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, vol. 11, p. 281
"Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked about the ruling for someone with urinary incontinence. He explained that such a person's condition is a permanent state of impurity, and the ruling is based on making things easier for th…"
What is the ruling on using stagnant water for wudu?
Sharh al-Mumti' 'ala Zad al-Mustaqni'
Volume 1, Chapter on Purification (Kitab at-Taharah)
"Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen explains that the default ruling on all water, whether it is flowing or stagnant, is that it is pure and purifying (tahur) and may be used for ablution (wudu) and ritual bathing (ghusl). The state of…"
What is the ruling on using stagnant water for wudu?
Sharh al-Mumti' 'ala Zad al-Mustaqni'
Vol. 1, The Chapter on Water (Bab al-Miyah)
"Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen explains that the default ruling is that all water is pure (tahur) and can be used for purification unless proven otherwise. The basis for the ruling on stagnant water is the hadith of Abu Hurayrah,…"
What is the ruling on using non-water based cleaning agents for purification?
Sharh al-Mumti' 'ala Zad al-Mustaqni'
Vol. 1, Chapter on Removal of Impurities (Bab Izalat al-Najasah)
"Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen adopts the view of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah that an impurity (najasa) can be removed by any pure substance that is capable of removing it, and purification is not restricted to the use of water…"
What are the essential elements of wudu?
Majmoo' Fataawa wa Rasaa'il Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Volume 11, Kitab al-Tahara, Bab al-Wudu
"Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen explained that the obligatory components (arkan or 'pillars') of wudu are six. The first four are mentioned directly by Allah in the Qur'an, while the final two are established by the Sunnah. The fo…"
What are the essential elements of wudu?
Sharh al-Mumti' 'ala Zad al-Mustaqni'
Volume 1, The Pillars of Wudu
"The obligatory components (pillars) of wudu are the actions without which it is not valid. Based on the evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah, Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen explains that there are six essential pillars for wudu. T…"
What are the types of water that can be used for purification?
Ash-Sharh al-Mumti' 'ala Zad al-Mustaqni'
Volume 1, Kitab at-Tahara, Bab al-Miyah
"Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen explains in his commentary, Ash-Sharh al-Mumti', that water for the purpose of purification is fundamentally of two types: pure (tahur) and impure (najis). Pure water (al-ma' at-tahur) is that which…"
What are the types of water that can be used for purification?
Sharh al-Mumti' 'ala Zad al-Mustaqni', Vol. 1
Kitab al-Tahara, Bab al-Miyah
"Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen explains in his commentary, Sharh al-Mumti', that the foundational principle concerning water is that it is pure and purifying (tahur). This is based on the general meaning of texts from the Qur'an a…"
How long is the duration for wiping over socks for a resident and a traveler?
Majmu' Fatawa wa Rasa'il Ibn 'Uthaymeen, vol. 11
Summarized in IslamQA Fatwa No. 12695
"The period for wiping over socks (khuffayn) or regular socks (jawrabayn) is one day and one night for a resident, and three days and three nights for a traveler. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen clarifies that this is based on the…"
When is the best time to pay Zakat al-Fitr?
Majmu’ Fatawa wa Rasa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (Vol. 18)
Majmu’ Fatawa wa Rasa’il al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymeen, Volume 18, Book on Zakat al-Fitr.
"Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen explained that there are two time frames for paying Zakat al-Fitr: a permissible time and a virtuous (best) time. The best and most virtuous time to pay it is on the morning of Eid al-Fitr, after Fa…"
What is the concept of 'nisab' in Zakat?
Majmoo' Fatawa wa Rasa'il Ibn 'Uthaymeen, Vol. 18
Volume 18, Book of Zakat
"The nisab is the minimum amount of wealth that a Muslim must own for Zakat to become obligatory. This threshold was established by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and varies depending on the type o…"
What is the spiritual significance of giving Zakat?
Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn 'Uthaymeen, Vol. 18
Majmoo' Fataawa wa Rasaa'il Fadeelat al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen, Volume 18, Kitab az-Zakat
"Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen explains that the spiritual significance of Zakat is embedded in its very name, which linguistically means purification, growth, and blessing. It is a fundamental act of worship that cleanses and de…"
Can Zakat be given to someone who is wealthy but in debt?
Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
Volume 18, Chapter on The People of Zakah
"It is permissible to give Zakat to a person who is wealthy but is also in debt, specifically to pay off that debt. This is based on the clear text of the Qur'an. Allah, the Most High, has specified the recipients of Zaka…"
Does vomiting break wudu?
Majmu' Fatawa wa Rasa'il Ibn 'Uthaymeen, Vol. 11
Fatwa No. 165, 'Nullifiers of Wudu'
"Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen was asked about whether vomiting breaks wudu, and he stated that it does not. The basis for this ruling is the principle that a person's state of purity remains valid until there is clear, authentic…"
What is the ruling on using alcohol-based sanitizers for purification?
Majmu' Fatawa wa Rasa'il Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Volume 11, Ruling on the Purity of Alcohol and Perfumes Containing It
"Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen addressed the ruling on using products containing alcohol, such as hand sanitizers and perfumes. He clarified that the permissibility hinges on whether alcohol (khamr) is considered physically impure…"
What are the conditions for valid wudu?
Ash-Sharh al-Mumti' 'ala Zad al-Mustaqni'
Volume 1, Chapter on the Conditions of Ablution (Shuroot al-Wudu)
"Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, in his detailed commentary on the Hanbali fiqh text 'Zad al-Mustaqni', explains the conditions (shuroot) that must be met for one's wudu (ablution) to be valid. These conditions are prerequisites t…"
What are the obligatory parts of ghusl?
Sharh al-Mumti' 'ala Zad al-Mustaqni'
Vol. 1, The Chapter on Ghusl (Bab al-Ghusl)
"Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen explains that for ghusl (the ritual bath) to be valid, there are essential components that must be performed. These are known as the fara'id (obligations) or arkan (pillars) of ghusl. The minimal, o…"
What is the meaning of 'tahara' in Islam?
Sharh al-Mumti' 'ala Zad al-Mustaqni'
Volume 1, Kitab at-Tahara
"Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen explains that 'tahara' (purification) in the Islamic legal context has a specific meaning beyond general cleanliness. While linguistically it means cleanliness and freedom from dirt, in the Shari'ah…"
What is tayammum and when is it performed?
Majmu' Fatawa wa Rasa'il Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Volume 11, Chapter on Tayammum (Bab al-Tayammum)
"Tayammum, or dry ablution, is a divinely-ordained concession from Allah, allowing a Muslim to achieve a state of ritual purity to perform acts of worship like Salah when water cannot be used. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen explai…"
Why do Muslims wash before prayer?
Majmoo' Fatawa wa Rasaa'il Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Volume 11, Book of Purification (Kitab al-Tahara)
"Muslims wash before prayer because performing ablution (wudu) is a direct command from Allah and a fundamental condition for the acceptance of the prayer. It is an act of worship that involves both physical and spiritual…"
What is the difference between wudu and ghusl?
Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
Vol. 11, Book of Purification (Kitab al-Taharah)
"Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen explained that the distinction between wudu (ablution) and ghusl (full bath) is based on the type of ritual impurity one needs to remove. Wudu is prescribed for cleansing from minor ritual impurity…"
What is the ruling on a person who continuously passes wind?
Majmu' Fatawa wa Rasa'il Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Volume 11, Chapter on The Invalidators of Wudu
"Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen addressed the situation of a person who suffers from continuous passing of wind, classifying it similarly to urinary incontinence. He explained that if the condition is ongoing, meaning there is no…"
What do Muslims believe about Jesus (Isa) and Mary (Maryam)?
Sharh al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah
Sharh al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah, Vol. 2, Chapter on Belief in the Messengers
"Muslims hold Jesus (Isa ibn Maryam) and his mother, Mary (Maryam), in very high esteem, as affirmed in the Qur'an and Sunnah. To believe in him as a prophet of God is a mandatory part of Islamic faith. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaym…"
What is the reward for patience (Sabr) in times of hardship?
Sharh Riyad as-Saliheen
Vol. 1, Chapter on Patience (Bab as-Sabr)
"Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen explained that patience (sabr) is one of the highest stations of faith, and its reward from Allah is immense and unquantifiable. He categorized patience into three types: patience in carrying out the…"