Q and A

Q. So much is said these days about the rights parents have over their children, but what rights do children have over their parents and what protections and duties do their parents owe them?

A. In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent and Merciful.

As with all humans, each person has some sort of rights, and children are no exception. Children are an Amana (trust) which are given to parents to look after and bring up with the best of their abilities. If brought up correctly, children are a joy and their blessings bring sustenance, mercy and an abundance of reward.

Allah says: ‘Wealth and Sons are allurements (joys) of the life of this world…’[Quran 18:46]

Q. Is your Wudhu or Ghusl accepted when you have human hair extension weaved in your hair?

Answer by Shaykh Salim Giza

A. In the name of Allah the Most Beneficent and Merciful.

Wudhu or Ghusl is accepted when a person has human hair extensions as long all the obligations are fulfilled.

The four obligations for Wudhu, according to the Hanafi Madhab, are:

1. Washing the whole face once
2. Washing both of the hands/arms up to and including the elbows once
3. Wiping one quarter of the head with wet fingers
4. Washing both feet up to and including the ankles once

The three obligations for Ghusl, according to the Hanafi Madhab, are:

1. Washing the whole of the body, head to toe, once so no part is left dry

Q. Are Muslim students allowed to sit in Sex Education lessons? What does Islam say about Sex Education in general?

Answer by Shaykh Salim Ghiza

In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent and Merciful.

Sex education is a very important part of life and all Muslims who are of marriageable age must learn what is permissible with their partners and what isn’t. However, the purpose of sex education in schools in the UK is not about teaching children how to refrain from sex until they are married but they teach them how to practice safe sex. As sex before marriage is not permissible in Islam this sort of education to the children is also not permissible and therefore Haram.

Q. I have recently read that Walkers use a small amount of alcohol in some flavours of their crisps (Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli, Doritos Chilli Heat Wave and Quavers Cheese), to enhance the flavour. Does that make them Haram?

A. It has become evident that some flavourings in some crisps consist of Haram ingredients. Therefore, as per the rule of the Shariah, once something permissible has something Haram added to it and cannot be separated, then the whole item becomes Haram. In which case, those crisps with Haram ingredients are Haram and therefore not permissible to eat.

Q. Can a Muslim give Haram food to a non-Muslim?

What is the best way to dispose of literature which contains Islamic terminology, Ahadith or verses of the Qur’an etc? Is it OK to shred them and then throw them away or should we stick them in the recycle pile or burn them?

Answer by Shaykh Salim Ghiza

In the name of Allah the Most Beneficent and Merciful.

All Muslims are unanimous that the Qur’an is no ordinary piece of writing and therefore a person needs to be in ritual purification i.e. ablution to touch the words of Allah. Therefore a process of respect has to be followed when one needs to dispose old pages of the Qur’an. Also, if the pages are not from the Qur’an but contain Islamic writings i.e. Hadith, Fiqh, supplications etc then again they must also be disposed of with respect and honour.