Is buying and storing gold bars for profit permissible or prohibited?
Buying and storing gold bars for profit is permissible, and there is no harm in it. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
Is there zakat on social security savings (retirement benefits)?
If the retirement benefits are received, zakat is due on them for one year. Before receiving them, they are not in the person’s possession to be liable for zakat. And Allah Knows Best.
What is the best charity to offer on behalf of the deceased? Is it giving food, reciting Quran, giving money or supplicating? What is the best charity to offer on behalf of dead father and dead husband? What is the best continuous charity to offer on behalf of the deceased?
Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. The deceased benefits from every righteous deed offered on his/her behalf, be that continuous charity, reciting Quran or a pious son praying for him/her. However, the best righteous deed is performing Haj and Omrah on their behalf especially if he/she hadn`t performed that ritual for it remains a debt on them. The evidence on this is that Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported: A man came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said: "Messenger of Allah, my mother has died (in a state) that she had to observe fasts of a month (of Ramadan). Should I complete (them) on her behalf? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Would you not pay the debt if your mother had died (without paying it)? He said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) said: The debt of Allah deserves more that it should be paid."{Related by Muslim}. And Allah the Almighty knows best.
Is the one who doesn`t offer prostration of recitation during Quranic recital considered sinful?
Prostration of Quranic recital is a Sunnah due on whosoever recites a verse that contains a prostration. It is also a Sunnah for the reader and the listener. However, none of them is considered sinful for not offering it, but they deprive themselves from a great reward. It is obligatory to offer the prostration of Quranic recital in congregational prayer following the lead of the Imam.