Wudu over Socks, Marrying a Person of Book, One Part Friday Khutba, Soap Containing Alcohol, Marriage Before Conversion, Shaving Baby's Head After Birth
Q 1. Before going to work I perform Wudu. When I redo my Wudu for Zuhr prayer I wipe over my cotton socks. Is this permissible or do I have to wear leather socks in order to do this? The reason I ask this is that since I wear leather shoes, does this not take the place of leather socks?
A 1. It is permissible to wipe over (mas'h) the socks whether they are made of leather or some other material. In the Ahadith it is mentioned that the Prophet -peace be upon him- wiped over Khuffain (leather socks) and Jawrabain (light socks). (see al-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 92) The socks must cover the whole foot including the ankles. The rule is that one should make full Wudu, then one should put on the socks. One can wipe over the socks if one has put them on first time after Wudu. After that the wiping over them can be done for five prayers for those who are not traveling. The traveler (musafir) is allowed to wipe over the socks for three days and nights as long as he/she keeps them on. Wiping can also be done over the shoes (na'lain) if they are full like socks and cover the ankles. Also one has to keep them on like socks if one wants to wipe over them. It is not allowed to wipe over the shoes that we normally wear, because they do not cover the ankles and we take them off at the time of prayer.
Q 2. Is it true that a Muslim man should only contemplate marrying a person of the Book if there are no Muslim women in the area where he is staying? Do the Christian\Jewish have to declare the belief in One God before a Muslim man can marry?
A 2. It is permissible (mubah/halal) for a Muslim man to marry a Kitabi woman (see Surah al-Ma'idah 5:5), but it is certainly better for a Muslim to marry a Muslim woman. According to some jurists, the permission to marry a Kitabi woman is only for those people who are living in a Muslim State (Darul Islam). Those who are living non-Muslim societies, it is better for them to have Muslim wives. In this way it will be easy for them to keep their home fully Islamic and it will be easier for them to raise their children in an Islamic manner.
Christians and Jews both claim that they believe in one God. Jews in their prayers declare "Shema'" which means, "Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one God." Similarly Christian also say in their creed, "We believe in One Godc" but then they confuse their belief in the unity of God with the Trinity. Islam emphasized pure Tawhid and took away all the confusions that were created in the concept of monotheism by many Jews and Christians. It is good that a Muslim to remind both Jews and Christians to believe and affirm their faith in One God, especially if one is marrying a person and they both want to be life partners for each others.
Q 3. Recently I attended a Friday sermon where the Khateeb delivered the Khutbah with only one part. Is this allowed in Islam? Please provide any proofs from the Qur'an or Hadith on this subject. (Munir Usmani)
A 3. The proper way of Friday and Eid Khutbah is that the Imam give a Khutbah and then sit down for a short while and then give the second Khutbah. This is the Sunnah of the Prophet -peace be upon him. There is no report that the Prophet -peace be upon him- ever gave one Khutbah on Friday or on Eid day. There are many Ahadith on this subject reported by several Companions of the Prophet -peace be upon him. It is reported by Abdullah ibn 'Umar that the Prophet -peace be upon him- used to give two Khutbahs and he used to sit between them. (see al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 876). The Prophet -peace be upon him- also said, "Pray as you have seen me praying." (al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 595) Thus it is important that we follow his way in our prayers.
Q 4. What is the Islamic ruling for a liquid soap product which contains 62% Ethyl Alcohol? It should be borne in mind that this type of Alcohol is not consumable and is for external use only.
A 4. Ethyl alcohol is not najas (unclean). It is denatured alcohol and it can be used in soaps or perfumes. If this alcohol touches the body or clothes there is no need to wash them for the purpose of Taharah.
Q 5. My question is at the time of our marriage I was a Christian and we married in a church. Is this marriage recognized as a true Islamic marriage or do we have to marry again according to Islamic law?
A 5. A Christian couple does not have to repeat its marriage after accepting Islam. Their marriage is recognized in Islam, unless they were married to someone to whom they were not supposed to marry according to the Shari'ah. For example if a Christian couple were foster brother and sister to each other (the relationship of rada'ah). Their marriage is Haram and they would have to separate after accepting Islam. If a Christian (or any non-Muslim) couple were living together without a proper religious or civil marriage, then they must marry according to Islam after accepting Islam.
Q 6. Is it necessary to shave a baby's head after birth ('Aqiqah)? My Arab friends do not do this, but my Pakistani parents say it is compulsory.
A 6. The 'Aqiqah is a Sunnah. It is recommended to shave the baby's head on the seventh day or thereafter and to make a sacrifice of a lamb or goat and distribute the meat among the poor and needy and share it with friends and relatives. Shaving of the head is not compulsory one can also trim the hair. This Sunnah is mentioned in the books of Hadith. The Prophet -peace be upon him- said, "For the child there should be 'Aqiah, on behalf of the child make sacrifice and remove the hair." (See al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 5049.)