Is Buying a house in installments through banks?
Taking a loan from interest-based banks is prohibited and considered a major sin. Instead Getting a loan from Islamic banks is considered Murabaha and can be used as an alternative, provided all the necessary Islamic conditions are met. And Allah Knows Best.
Is it permissible for a menopausal woman who has blood discharges to fast?
If she reached the age of menopause, and her menses stopped, but later she saw blood discharges that lasted a complete day and night (24) hours, then it is menstrual blood. Still, if these blood discharges lasted less than a complete day and night (24) hours, then it is not menstrual blood, but it is bleeding outside the monthly period (Istihadah), and it does not prevent her from prayer and fast, but she has to make ablution for every prayer.
What is the ruling on having brotherly ties between a strange man and a strange woman, and is the former considered a Mahram (unmarriageable) to the latter?
Such a relation between a strange man and a strange woman is forbidden in Islam because it involves forbidding what Allah has allowed by marriage, and allowing what Allah has forbidden such as looking and the like. Such a relation doesn`t render any act lawful between them, thus they are forbidden to look at each other, have a Khulwah (seclusion), and travel together.
I had my menstrual period at the beginning of Ramadan for six days, then it ended and I became pure. After four days, I started noticing some blood again, which has lasted for two days now, but it is not as heavy as menstrual blood. Is this blood considered menstrual blood, and what is the ruling regarding my prayers, fasting, and reading the Quran during this period?
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad.
The minimum duration of menstruation is one day and one night, and its maximum is fifteen days. Any blood beyond this period is considered irregular bleeding (Istihada). Since the bleeding did not exceed fifteen days, it is considered menstrual blood within the regular cycle. Therefore, you should not pray or fast until the bleeding stops and the signs of purity appear. If the bleeding stops before fifteen days from when it first started, then all the blood you saw is considered menstrual blood, and you must make up the fasts, but not the prayers. If it exceeds fifteen days, then the first six days are menstrual blood, and the blood that follows is considered irregular bleeding. Your prayers and fasting are valid, and there is no issue with them. And Allah Knows Best."
*This answer was updated on [18/5/2023].
