This is a curated archive of scholarly opinions for educational purposes. SunnahAnswers indexes existing answers from qualified scholars — we do not issue rulings ourselves.
How long may one mourn for the deceased?
مسائل الإمام أحمد
Masa'il al-Imam Ahmad — Kitab al-Jana'iz
"Imam Ahmad ruled, based on the hadith of Umm ʿAtiyyah in Bukhari and Muslim, that no Muslim woman may mourn for any deceased person more than three days, except for her husband — for whom she observes ʿiddah of four mont…"
What is the ruling on the beard?
مسائل الإمام أحمد
Masa'il al-Imam Ahmad 3/1257
"Imam Ahmad held that shaving the beard is haram, based on the command of the Prophet ﷺ "Trim the moustaches and let the beards grow" (Bukhari, Muslim). He considered shaving it an act of disobedience that contradicts the…"
What are the rights of parents in Islam?
Masa'il al-Imam Ahmad (riwayah of Abu Dawud)
Masa'il of Abu Dawud, p. 277
"Imam Ahmad was asked: which of the parents has greater right? He said: the mother. He used to say: birr (kindness) to the parents is an expiation for major sins. He held that obeying them in what is permissible is obliga…"
What is the ruling on masturbation?
Masa'il al-Imam Ahmad (riwayah of Ibn Hani)
Masa'il of Ibn Hani 2/146
"Imam Ahmad was asked about a man who does that with his hand. He disliked it strongly, and said: I hate it, it is not from the action of the people of muruwwah (dignity). He held it forbidden in principle, citing the ver…"
Can one perform Hajj on behalf of a deceased parent?
Masa'il al-Imam Ahmad (riwayah of 'Abdullah)
Masa'il of 'Abdullah ibn Ahmad, p. 232
"Imam Ahmad held it permitted and recommended to perform Hajj on behalf of a deceased parent — whether the parent died before being able to perform the obligatory Hajj, or had vowed it and not fulfilled it. He cited the h…"
Is it permissible to pray in shoes?
Masa'il al-Imam Ahmad
Masa'il of Abu Dawud, p. 32; cf. Sunan Abi Dawud 652
"Praying in shoes is a confirmed Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ), who said: "Differ from the Jews — for they do not pray in their shoes or sandals." Imam Ahmad held it recommended provided the shoes are clean of any najāsah; if…"