this is what i call, light reading

This is something that I got off from MUIS. So, if there’s any enquiries, post it to them and not me. Figured that we all could learn something a little bit more about Islam during this holy month of ramadhan. Some of the things are in Malay. So sorry about that.

1. Is it haram to wear a cloured contact lenses?

The contact lenses are basically a need. People wear them as they wear glasses. As there is no prohibition in wearing colored glasses there is also no prohibition in wearing colored contact lenses. However, for those who may use these lenses for cosmetic purposes, it is recommended that they follow moderation. As in the case of other cosmetics, it is also Makruh (something not recommended) to be extravagant and waste money and time on contact lenses that are not necessary.

2. During the month of Ramadan Muslims are not allowed to taste anything. Does this mean that applying lip balm for chapped lips is also not allowed?

Lip balm is like oil or cream. It has no taste and no food value. As it is not forbidden to put oil on the body during fasting, it is also not forbidden to use lip balm.

3. Is it haram for Muslims to tatoo their bodies?

“Islam denounces excesses in beautifying oneself when it alters the physical features that Allah created him with. The Glorious Qur’an considers such alterations as inspired by Satan, who “…will command them (his devotees) to change what Allah has created…” (An-Nisaa’: 119)

Tattooing is one of those excesses. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have cursed the tattooer and the tattooed. (Reported by Muslim)

Tattooing permanently disfigures the face and other parts of the body with colored pigment and repulsive designs. Some people are in the habit of tattooing large areas of their bodies. People of certain religious sects tattoo pictures of their deities or religious rituals on their hands and chests. The pain and agony that the person experiences from the needles piercing skin add to these images. Because of all of this, both the tattooer and the one who is tattooed have been cursed.”

4. Can a married Muslim women pluck her eyebrow? What if her husband requested her to do so?

A married women are not allowed to remove her eyebrow although requested by the husband. It is clearly stated in the following hadith that Islam does not allow woman to pluck the eyebrows, to straighten them or to make them thinner although being told to do so by the husband as it involves changing the creation of Allah s.w.t.

The Prophet s.a.w. said: “The woman who plucks facial hair and the woman who has this done are cursed.”

(Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

Plucking the eyebrow hair is included in the removal of facial hair, which is forbidden as stated in the above hadith.
When there are any Quranic verses or hadith stated on the prohibition of certain actions, Muslims should abide by them.

However, it is allowed for them to pluck the hair if a woman has sort of a beard or a moustache.

It is also allowed for Muslims to seek treatment for their face with problems and dental treatment to correct the allignment of the potruding teeth (braces) as there is no quranic verses or hadith which stated the prohibition of doing that.

It may happen that a person has an unusual physical defect which attracts the attention of others to the point of inflicting physical and psychological pain, every time he meets people. This include the circumstances mentioned above i.e. woman with beard or moustache and etc. In this case, he may treat the defect, and thus alleviate the embarassment which made his life miserable and result to mockery and insults by others.

5. Can Muslim women remove their body hair like facial hair, leg, eyebrows or hand? Is the rule apply to married or unmarried women?

According to the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) every adult Muslim, as part of keeping his/her body clean, should remove the hair on his pubic area and that which grows under his armpits. This hair may be removed through any method that one feels comfortable with. A person should not let this hair grow for more than (around) forty days, as has been reported in a number of narratives ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh).

The ultimate objective of all Islamic teachings is to cleanse the human body, soul and mind. This is the reason why Muslim should keep their body clean.

Based on this, for female muslims are allowed to remove the hair on the legs and hands when they deem necessary.
If the hair on the legs and hands are harmful and lead to inconvenience to that person, especially if she is a married lady and the husband requests her to remove the hair, then she is allowed to remove the hair.

However, plucking the eyebrows in Islam is among the prohibited action which known as al-nams, means plucking the facial hair. It denotes removing the hair of the eyebrows by plucking in order to thin or shape them. The Prophet (pbuh) cursed the women who do the plucking and those who seek to have it done. This practice is particularly frowned upon because it used to be customarily done by prostitutes. The action is also prohibited because it involves changing the creation of Allah. By performing that action, it is regarded that human are ungrateful of Allah’s gift to them and treat them as imperfect.

6. How will a Muslim be punished under the Islamic law if he is caught drinking? How strictly is the law enforced? Is it effective in bringing about abstinence of alcohol?

Under the Islamic Law, a Muslim taking intoxicated substance, including alcohol, is punishable with 80 lashes. However, the force applied during lashing under Islamic Law is much lesser than used in Civil Law. Islamic Law dictates that the person who do the lashing should not raise his hand too high as to drop something which was placed under his armpit. In other words, his upper arm should not be raised. Only the lower arm is used. This law enforced in certain countries such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. However, the degree of enforcement are not known. Punishment in Islam is just a corrective method. What are more important and should be emphasized upon are education and awareness about it.

7. Can a muslim touch dogs?

Muslims can touch dogs. However, certain Muslim scholars are of the view that if the part in contact with dog is wet, then a ritual washing should follow, that is by washing that part seven times with water, one of it water mixed with earth. The Muslim in South East Asia follow this opinion. Whereas other Muslim scholars are of the view that there is no ritual washing for the part in contact with dogs.

8. Can an illegitimate child be bin or bte the biological father’s name?

It is haram to bin or bte a child to the illegitimate father even though the man has married the biological mother and it’s biological father. This is because in Islam, he is not considered as the real father that can transmit the lineage and be the wali for the child.

So it is either bin or bte Abdullah (Abdullah means servant of Allah) or just the childs name.

9. Apakah hukum bagi seorang lelaki memakai inai di jarinya dan memakai cincin perkahwinan?

Hukum memakai inai sebagai tanda perkahwinan adalah haram bagi pengantin lelaki tetapi harus hukumnya bagi pengantin perempuan. Memakai cincin perkahwinan adalah harus bagi kedua-dua pengantin tetapi haram bagi lelaki memakai cincin emas.

10. Apakah hukumnya jika seseorang wanita itu ingin melakukan solat jema’ah di masjid?

Bagi seseorang wanita bersembahyang di rumah adalah lebih baik daripada bersembahyang di masjid tetapi ia tidak menjadi halangan untuknya bersembahyang di masjid sekiranya ia tidak menimbulkan fitnah. Jika ada fitnah seperti pakaian terlalu cantik yang mempesonakan, berwangi-wangian yang memikat dan lenggang lenggok jalan yang memberahikan maka wajib bagi wanita itu menghindarkan dirinya daripada masjid kerana masjid adalah tempat tumpuan kebanyakan kaum muslimin.