From praying at school to buying a house with interest, from lowering the gaze to the ruling on growing a beard — Muslims face real questions every day that require knowledgeable answers. In this episode of The Deen Show, a qualified Islamic scholar tackles some of the most frequently asked and controversial questions from the audience.
Practical Questions Answered
- Praying Asr during school hours: Where there is a will, there is a way. Ask your teacher, use break time or lunch period — the prayer takes only minutes. Constitutionally in North America, you have the right to pray at work or school
- Buying a house with interest (riba): Interest is haram and was prohibited not only in Islam but historically in Christianity and Judaism as well. While the scholar acknowledged the difficulty, renting remains the recommended alternative
- Why are men so attracted to women? The Prophet (peace be upon him) himself said that the biggest fitnah (trial) he feared for his ummah is women. The attraction is natural, but Islam channels it through the halal means of marriage
- Is growing a beard obligatory? There is scholarly disagreement, but the priority should be correct: worry about your prayer before you worry about your beard. Build your way up gradually
“The feeling of attraction is natural, but the question is: are you going to just let it all out, or are you going to channel it through the halal means that Allah has prescribed — through marriage?”
Advice on Hijab, Music, and Smoking
For sisters struggling with hijab, the advice is compassionate but clear: start gradually, take it step by step, and do not fear what people will say. On music, the general scholarly position discourages it as it often leads to environments that weaken one’s iman. As for smoking, there is documented harm that no one denies — even Western governments label cigarettes as potentially fatal. The Islamic principle is clear: anything that harms the body is prohibited.
The overarching message is simple: spend more time getting to know the Book of your Creator, the Quran. When in doubt, consult qualified scholars — just as you would see a doctor for a medical issue, see a spiritual physician for matters of your deen.
