QUESTION

Is the use of the daff permitted for anasheed?

A clear majority of Muslims around the local masajid and colleges are engulfed in the music industry. When some of them try to retract themselves from this ocean of filth, they initially search for alternatives - i.e. 'nasheeds' with the same familiar music playing and slowly cut down on the amount of music they listen to.

Many will complain that nasheeds without any music is bland and boring, and does not serve the purpose of a nasheed - to instill zeal for worship and the love of Allah in the heart etc. So the next most halal compliant type of nasheed is those with only the daff.

These nasheeds are becoming more and more popular and seem to resonate at the same frequency of a growing number of Muslims. They see nasheeds with daffs as a middleway between the two extremes of no music at all and music indistinguishable from non-Muslim forms.

Can Muslims in the west take a dispensation (if the use of the daff is impermissible) and settle with permitting the use of the daff. This is because sometimes when someone is told to stop a haram act, they find it difficult to see the perfection behind Islamic laws and feel that 'Islam is being shoved down their throats', so if they were shown a variant of what they are used to (in this case nasheeds with daffs) then they'll be able to appreciate and relate to it better.

 

Are you allowed to use vaseline on your lips if they are very dry or does this break your fast because you may lick or lips.

Regarding slavery, lately I have been reading up a lot on Islam, and I came across a Hadith where the prophet said you are allowed to have sex with your slave girl as well as your wife. Is this not Zina? I thought you were only allowed to have sex with you wife? Also I was surprised to hear that Islam approved slavery, I was always of the opinion that our religion was about equality and justice for all. Then how is it that we are allowed to own another human being. I pray that you will be able to answer the question because it really has been troubling me of late. Also would you be able to point me in the direction of relevant Hadith's and Verses in the Quran which explain this.

A salad sandwich is cut into 2 pieces using a knife that was used to cut a bacon sandwich. Is the salad sandwich still halaal?

QUESTION

Coming across various Fatwas I find that scholars condemn beautification. For example, braces are permissible because it is considered a 'medical issue' and therefore can be dealt with - however, if it is for beautifying ones appearance for their spouse, it is frowned down upon.

Otherwise, many scholars claim small temporary changes to be changing the creation of Allah, yet for 'larger issues' it is sometimes made permissible to truly alter the creation of Allah - such as cosmetic surgery.

What principles of Fiqh are being applied? It all appears to be unbalanced and I am having a difficult time digesting the different Fatwas. Please help clarify.