I have a question regarding the deferred portion of the dowry (Mahr)*. Is the wife entitled to it only upon divorce or she can claim it even if divorce hasn`t taken place? Moreover, does she have the right to claim this portion after death of husband, even if he didn`t divorce her before that?
All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of The Worlds. May His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
In the marriage contract, it is recorded that the deferred portion of the dowry is due upon divorce or death, whatever comes first. If divorce took place first then the woman is entitled to it and if the husband died this amount must be paid from his estate. On the other hand, if the woman died then the husband becomes liable for this portion and it becomes part of the woman`s estate. We advise every husband to give this portion to his wife while alive because it is a right of hers. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
* In Islam, a Mahr is the obligation, in the form of money or possessions paid by the groom, to the bride at the time of Islamic marriage (payment also has circumstances on when and how to pay). While the mahr is often money, it can also be anything agreed upon by the bride such as jewelry, home goods, furniture, a dwelling or some land. Mahr is typically specified in the marriage contract signed upon marriage.
A person is sponsoring an orphan and pays the sponsorship monthly. Is it permissible to pay this month's sponsorship from zakat money?
It is permissible to pay the orphan's sponsorship from zakat money if the orphan is poor and has no one to support them. The person must intend to count it as part of their zakat when paying the money. And Allah Knows Best.
After I was ran over, I had cracked ribs, concussion, a tension pneumothorax, and retired as a result. What is the amount of the Diya?
All praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds. May the blessings of Allah be upon our Master and Prophet Muḥammad and his pure progeny.
What you have mentioned requires a detailed medical report since the benefit of every organ that you have lost deserves a full Diya (In Islamic law, Diya is the financial compensation paid to the victim or heirs of a victim in the cases of accidental murder, bodily harm or property damage). Moreover, the decrease in the benefit of some organs has to be assessed by expert doctors and allocated a percentage from the Diya accordingly. Therefore, we advise you to refer the matter to the courts or reconcile with the driver and forgive him so that Allah may forgive you. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
Is it permissible to use the term 'Al-Jalalah' (Majesty) for anyone other than Allah, The Exalted?
In the Arabic language, a man of dignity and reverence is described as 'Jaleel' (noble), and similarly, an elder or a woman of dignity may be described as 'Jaleelah'. In such contexts, one may use the title 'His Majesty' or 'Her Majesty.' However, the Majesty of Allah, The Exalted, is unlike the majesty of humans, just as His hearing is not like our hearing, and His sight is not like our sight. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
