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If your Masjid is closed due to the Corona Virus; please do the following at home:

1. Announce the Athaan.
2. Pray the Salaah as soon as the it’s time begins. Do not make a habit of delaying it.
3. Pray in congregation with the members of the household, even if it just you and your wife & announce the Iqaamah.
4. Pray the 12 Sunnah Salaah attached to every obligatory Salaah.
5. Recite the supplications after every Salaah as found in the sunnah.

Your brother,
Sajid Umar.

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Assalamualaikum everyone. Here is a dua to pass onto those contemplating converting to Islam. It is even good for born Muslims too…

…

In the name of God the Merciful,

In the name of God the Guide,

In the name of God the Mighty,

In the name of God the One, the Invincible,

In the name of God, the Lord of all things and the King,

I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship besides You,

Glory be to You; I am one of the oppressors.

O Allah, O Lord of this heart, and its Owner and its King…
guide this heart, for none can truly guide it besides you, there is no god other than You.

O God, I am from your creation, do not deprive us of your blessings,

please guide me, and set my heart upon your obedience, and bring us out of the darkness to the light, guide me to the true religion, for no one can truly guide anyone besides You. In You do I seek assistance, and in you do I place my trust, and to you does everything return back to.

O God, guide me, O King and Owner of everything, O one who is all capable over all things,

Glory be to You, there is no one worthy of worship besides You.

Since the last few months I have been kept busy with questions about cryptocurrencies in general and bitcoin in particular.

The correspondence regarding this matter was further hiked with the passing of a few fatwas concerning these currencies with a strong airing of these currencies being forbidden (Haraam).

Furthermore, some of you came across a couple of twitter posts of mine related to Bitcoin, and an understanding in some circles was formualted stating that I have passed a fatwa stating it to be permissible (halal).

Given the sensitive nature of the topic and its questions; I quickly share the following points with the objective of covering the answers to the questions being asked.

Disclaimer: This is not an article nor a detailed response.

1. Irrespective of any private advice I have provided regarding Bitcoin; I have not passed a fatwa stating that Bitcoin buying/selling is impermissible, nor have I said it is permissible. I promote this stance currently due to the sensitive nature of the currency and the fact that more time, research and deliberation regarding the topic are required before an absolute view can be taken by myself. There are so many technicalities regarding its trade as well, especially given that it is considered a new concept. These technical issues pertaining to Bitcoin and it’s exchange will be looked at and refined over time which will have a bearing on any fatwa considerations, which makes it especially difficult to develop a well rounded conclusive fatwa at this moment in time.

2. I respect the fatwa of the scholars and duaat who have come out stating the purchase/sale of the currency to be impermissible, and believe they have made some valid points in their reasoning. That said; I also disagree with some of the reasonings offered in substantiation of their concluded views, and my agreement and disagreement with them in these matters is part of a natural discourse with regards to matters of this nature.

3. I believe the discussion in terms of whether Bitcoin is a currency or a commodity is a non-bearing one in terms of the considerations required to pass a fatwa on Bitcoin.

Continue Reading…

Assalamualaikum everyone. Many are asking about the latest pictures related to the Imams leading the salah from the mihraab of the Messenger (saw) in the rawdhah in Masjid Nabawi.

Upon further checking; it is reported that this will be the new system for the prayers in Masjid anNabawi after a successful trial of it. The reasoning shared for this new system is to facilitate better the movement of those wishing to pass through the graves of the Messenger (SAW) and his companions (RA), especially after each prayer, and especially since the Kingdom is working towards increasing the amount of visitors attending the Hajj and umrah in 2018 and the years thereafter.

Should there be any further updates; I will endeavour to update you all accordingly.

And Allah knows best.

Your brother
Sajid Umar