Assalamu Alaikumm, I`m in charge of an Islamic School in Long Island, NY. The school was established three years ago. We constatnly have a deficit since the tuitions charged to the students are not suffuicient to cover our expenses. Many memebers of our community ask us if we can accept Zakat money to Help our school. If the answer is YES. Does this money have to be used for certain expense of the school such as tiuition assistance, teacher`s salaries, books, etc or can it used for all purposes and needs of the school such as rent, utilities, etc. Please provide us with a detailed answer and we ask Allah (SWT) to reward in this dunia and in the Akhera. Ameen!.

All praise be to Allah, and may his peace and blessings be on the last and best prophet and messenger, Muhammad. The zakat beneficiaries are listed in this verse:
"إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ." "
As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakât ) are only for the Fuqarâ’ (poor), and Al-Masâkin [2] (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds), and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm), and to free the captives, and for those in debt, and for Allâh’s Cause (i.e. for Mujahidûn - those fighting in a holy battle), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allâh. And Allâh is All-Knower, All-Wise." (al-Tawbah 9:60)
According to many of the contemporary scholars, spending on Islamic schools is to be considered under the 8 categories of the zakat recipients. This is because da'wah in general is considered by many of the contemporary scholars to be worthy of zakat money under the category of "fi sabeel-el-laah" (In the cause of Allah) Though this is not the favorable opinion by the earlier scholars, it seems to be a more suitable interpretation for our times. Some scholars also argue that it is prescribed to give money to those whose hearts are to be reconciled. They say that protecting the capital (the already Muslim children) is more worthy than gaining profit (which is causing the conversion of non-Muslims by extending kindness to them). If you have an affluent community, then they should spend on the Islamic schools from money other than the zakat, since the vast majority of the earlier scholars considered the category of (in the cause of Allah) to pertain to jihad. If your community is not capable or the school could not secure the necessary funds, then it would be acceptable to take from the zakat money for the various purposes of the school. Allah knows best.

Assalam aleykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh, my question is about eating of snails . Is this halal or haram, because i have some Muslims friends (from Nigeria) i live with them and they told me they eat snails, and as for me I don’t, and I think is haram (don’t know but just think) and they asked me which verse in the holy qur`an or which hadith said this is haram and I was stranded. So please and please clear my air, this question has been giving me headache. Waiting for your answer inshaallah.

All praise be to Allah, and may his peace and blessings be on the last and best prophet and messenger, Muhammad.

Snails and all see creatures aside from fish are impermissible to eat according to the hanafis, but they are permissible according to the majority.
The opinion of the majority is stronger.

Allah knows best.

Asalamualaykum, At my masjid I missed the main Jammah for Salat ul Isha, and the Tarweee Salah already started, but there was a second jammah going on in the back. I wasn`t sure what to do so I joined the taraweeh and combined my isha with it. After the prayer a Shaykh told me that was incorrect and what i should done was pray my isha with the jamat in the back. What was the right thing to do?

All praise be to Allah, and may his peace and blessings be on the last and best prophet and messenger, Muhammad.

What you have done is right. The second jama’at that was praying in the back should have not been started since we should pray with the main jama’at (congregation) of the masjid and only make a second jama’at if the main congregation of the masjid finished their prayers and are not expected to pray more. The regular/main congregation of the masjid that prays behind the regular imam should be respected, and people should not cause them disturbance.

Allah knows best.

Bismillah hirrahiman nir rahim. Asslam ua alekum Refer ayat 2, 3 & 26 of Sura Noor Is it right to marry a muslim man to a jani -unmarried adultress if she tells that she repents what is has done. In ayat 3 it is prohibited and there is no word like Gafoorur Rahim as present in other cases and also in ayat 2 it is mentioned don`t show mercy on them. But in some tafsir it is permissible How? Second question is keeping in marriage sisters is prohibited, but somebody marrys what will happen? as per mohammedan law it is batil. and as per one hadith halal thing done wrongly doesn`t remains haram. Jazak Allah Khair

All praise be to Allah, and may his peace and blessings be on the last and best prophet and messenger, Muhammad.

Thank you for asking.
As for marriage to someone who fornicated and thereafter repented, it is permissible. Even though you do not find a mention of God’s forgiveness in these particular verses quoted, the forgiveness of Allah encompasses all sins if the worshiper repents. Allah says:
“إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَالِحاً فَأُوْلَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً”
“Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (al-Furqan 25:70)
You will also find the mention of mercy granted to those who repented only two verses away from the verses you quoted in reference to those who accuse chaste women of fornication/adultery.
This is a golden rule in Islam agreed upon by all scholars.
Where the verse says do not show mercy on them that is during their punishment. Certainly the prescribed punishments of God must be carried out for the common good of the entire society.
As for being married to two sisters simultaneously, this is prohibited and the second marriage is invalid. I don’t understand what you mean by the question, for the ruling is clear and not controversial.
BTW, we – Muslims – call the shari’a the law of God (Divine Law), not the Muhammadan law, for it is prescribed by God and only conveyed by the messenger (peace be upon him).

Allah knows best.

All praise be to Allah, and may his peace and blessings be on the last and best prophet and messenger, Muhammad.

I expect from the question that you are a girl/woman.
As for mixing and talking between men and women, it is only permissible for a need. The members of the two genders may talk for various legitimate reasons if they are classmates or coworkers, etc. but talking to socialize and make friends should be with one’s same gender. And let us go over some of the guidance from Allah and his messenger:
Allah said:
“قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ یَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَیَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْآَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا یَصْنَعُون” (النور 30)
“Tell the believing men and women to lower their gaze and protect their chastity, for that is bound to render them purer. Allah is aware of all that they do.”(An-Nurr: 30)
It would be hard to imagine a friendship between two individuals who need to not be looking at each other.
The Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
” ما تركت بعدي فتنة أضر على الرجال من النساء”
“I have not left behind me a temptation for men more harmful than
that of women” reported by Muslim from Usamah ibn Zaid.
The opposite is also true. Men are the biggest temptation for women.
And in warning Ali from the harm of looking twice at a woman he
(May Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
” یا علي ، لا تتبع النظرة النظرة فإنما لك الأولى وليست لك الآخرة ”
“O Ali, do not look [at a woman] twice, for the first look is permissible
for you, and the second is counted against you” reported from Ali by al-
Hakim, who authenticated it; al-Thahabi agreed with him.
It must be said that the harm of talking would be multiple fold if the man and woman are in seclusion; the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“ألا لا یخلون رجل بامرأة إلا آان ثالثهما الشيطان”
“When a man and a woman are alone together, the third person is
Shaitaan.” Reported by Abu Dawood
Recent psychologists’ reports agree that when there are two persons of the
opposite gender in enclosed surroundings, sexual ideas and connotations
are bound to pass through their minds. (Time Magazine, June 1, 1997)
it remains to be said that during the time of the Messenger of God, men and women continued to sell and buy from each other and mix in the market – while observing decency – and teach and learn from each other and the women went out to the battle fields to help with nursing, etc.

If you were a younger girl and asking about what you should do with younger boys, then I would advise you to start to train yourself from now to avoid socializing with boys.

If you were an older woman and asking about what you may do with younger boys, then I would recommend for you the opinion of the scholars who said that a ten year old boy should be treated like an adult by women. As for those who are less than ten, women must use discretion, for some of them are sexually well aware due to the impact and influence of the various media and the society at large.
Kids who are less than seven may be treated as children, and you may have more flexibility around them.

Allah knows best.