How many pieces of cloth are used to enshroud a deceased man, and a deceased woman?
A deceased woman is enshrouded in five pieces of cloth: head cover, wrapper, shirt , and two folds of cloth. On the other hand, a deceased man is enshrouded with three pieces of cloth.
Is it a condition that a woman should untie her locks while making Ghusl (ritual bath)?
Ghusl from Janabah (ritual impurity), or menstruation obligates that water reaches the roots of the hair in order for the Ghusl to be valid, but if it doesn`t, then hair locks must be untied for water to reach them, and for Ghusl to become valid.
Is it permissible for a Muslim woman to uncover her hair in the presence of a Christian woman?
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
According to the reliable opinion of the Shafie School of Thought, this isn`t permissible. However, some scholars stated that it is permissible for a woman to uncover what she usually uncovers while doing housework, but this differs from one place to another where some women uncover their hair while some don`t. However, this is provided that a woman doesn`t uncover her hair in the presence of non-Mahram men (Men permissible for a woman to marry). And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
Is it permissible for a woman in her menstrual period to recite from the Mus-haf (copy of the Quran ), or to recite by heart?
A menstruating woman is permitted neither to recite nor to touch the Quran according to what Ali Bin Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported about the Prophet (PBUH) who was only held from reciting the Holy Quran by Janabah (Major impurity) [Al-Tirmizi in a sound Hadith]. Although Janabah and menstruation are major impurities, a menstruating woman is permitted to supplicate Allah (Duaa`) and make Zikr (Tasbihat ), even if these involved saying words from the Holy Quran, provided that she does not mean the words for themselves but as a supplication, or Zikr. Moreover, she is rewarded for not reciting the Quran during her menstrual period because she abided by the injunctions of Allah.
