Types of Music
Question :

Are all types of music are prohibited?

Answer :

It is unlawful to listen to music which usually causes ‘tarab’. ‘Tarab’ means the psychological interaction with the music or singing, whether it leads to joy, sadness, pride or any other emotion.

Obligations towards the Neighbor
Question :

What is our obligation towards the neighbor?

Answer :

It is prohibited to harm the neighbors, and it is highly recommended to be kind with the neighbors and to deal with them in a good way.

Obscene Language
Question :

Is using obscene language permitted? Is it permitted without the presence of any other person?

Answer :

It is not permitted for one to be obscene and lewd in such a manner that he doesn't care what people say about him. If there is nobody present to hear it, then it is permissible.

Obeying the Parents
Question :

Is it obligatory for the son to obey his parents?

Answer :

It is obligatory for the son (or the daughter) to obey the parents if the disobedience leads to ‘uqooq’, i.e. it is considered an offense and aggression against them. It is also obligatory to obey them if the son (or the daughter) expect that his disobedience would cause harm to them. Otherwise, it is not obligatory to obey the parents, although it is better to do so anyway.

Parents
Question :

I find it difficult to obey and treat my grandparents exactly like my parents and sometimes behave wrongly with them, while I do not do bad with my parents. Is the status in Islam of grandparents same as the parents?

Answer :

Although it is not obligatory to treat the grandparents in the manner one should treat the parents, and the strong ties that one has with his parents may not be with one’s grandparents too, there is no doubt that one should deal with the grandparents in a good manner.

Paying Back Stolen Money
Question :

When I was younger and did not care about what is permissible or not, I took some money from my father’s company, while I was working for him. Do I have to admit this to him?
I took out a loan for my father and he was supposed to pay it back in a year but he could not. So if I agree to make the repayments every month instead of him paying it, can I repay him in this way without telling him that I took money from him all those years ago? Or should I tell him?

Answer :

You should pay back what you have taken from him, and it is not necessary for you tell him what you had done in the past. The monthly payments can be considered as repayments to him, if you are paying on his behalf, rather than contributing.

Lamentation
Question :

Is listening to poetry about the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) accompanied with music permissible?

Answer :

If the music causes ‘tarab’ then it is not permissible to listen to it. ‘Tarab’ means the psychological interaction with the music or singing, whether it leads to joy, sadness, pride or any other emotion.

Lying about the Age
Question :

Is it permissible for one to conceal his real age from a group of people even if he is not in danger? Is it considered as lying?

Answer :

Yes, it is permissible to conceal one’s age, as it is not considered to be lying. Lying is giving false information.
Lying about one's age is Prohibited.

Lying
Question :

Is it permissible to lie to a non-believer?

Answer :

It is not permissible.

Insulting Believers
Question :

What are the Islamic rules about swearing or cursing others?

Answer :

It is prohibited to swear at a believer.

Abandonment
Question :

Me and my friend had a fight and we are not talking to each other for the past two years. Someone told me that this is prohibited. Is that true?

Answer :

Based on compulsory precaution, one should not desert a believer for more than three days, even if the latter was wrongful to him. It is sufficient to satisfy this obligation by greeting him (e.g. saying 'salam alaykum'). If the other party insisted on the abandonment, he will become the deserter.
This prohibition has three exceptions:
First: if the desertion was to forbid the wrong.
Second: if the desertion would lead to a benefit that the Sharia recommends, like - for example - if desertion leads to paying attention towards a truth that could remain hidden without such desertion, or similar cases.
Third: if the reestablishing the relationship would lead to demeaning oneself. One should be careful in not confusing arrogance and anger with self-demeaning.

Magic in a Bag
Question :

A few days ago, I was cleaning my terrace where I found a bag in which there were several pieces of paper and threads, which imply magic. What should I do with it?

Answer :

One should look for its owner and give it to him. With despair of finding the owner, one should give it as a charity on the owner’s behalf. If the papers have the name(s) of Allah written on them, one should dispose of them by placing them in a river or the like. You should not be afraid of its effect and depend on Almighty Allah, and recite Ayat-ul-Kursi as it is known that it is beneficial in such cases.

Backbiting
Question : It has been written in your website that it is permissible for believers to commit backbiting in those cases in which the person sins publicly. Does this mean that only criticism in respect of him committing such sins openly can be done, or does backbiting him regarding all his sins and misdeeds become permissible?
Answer : When a person is committing sins openly and in public then his personal sanctity is no longer recognized and his backbiting is then allowed, even in respect to sins that he does not commit in public.
Backbiting a Believer
Question :

It is prohibited in Islam to backbite a believer; does this apply to a person who says that he is a Muslim when asked but he openly commits sins, such as consuming unlawful food and drink, being in forbidden relationships, etc.?

Answer :

If the believer commits sins openly then it is allowed to backbite and criticize him.

Prohibition of Backbiting
Question :

Backbiting is prohibited in Islam. So how can a man raise his voice against a cruel person or tell other people about the wicked nature of any person or system? If the wicked person was an oppressive ruler, is backbiting such a person permitted?

Answer :

Yes, it is permissible to backbite a person who is openly committing sins, and amongst the greatest of sins is oppression and aggression.

Playing Chess
Question :

Is playing chess and black gammon, without betting, permissible?

Answer :

It is not permissible to play betting games even if it was without betting.

Playing Cards
Question :

My family and I play cards just for fun, and of course without betting. Please advise me.

Answer :

It is not allowed to play chess, cards or any similar games that are based on competing and invented to make money, even without betting.

Ending one's Life
Question :

I committed a big sin and had sex outside the marriage, and after that I am now not able to concentrate, everything gone upside down, and I am feeling so guilty about myself, only one thing is coming in my mind that I cannot live with this guilty anymore and want to finish myself.

Answer :

It is not correct to commit a greater sin because of committing a lighter one, since committing suicide is greater than adultery. You should repent from what you have done as Almighty Allah forgives all sins.
You can guard yourself by getting satisfied through marriage whether it is permanent or temporary. May Allah help you pass this hardship.

Islam and Suicide
Question :

Are there any situations in which Islam permits suicide?

Answer :

Islam does not allow suicide in any situation.

Stealing
Question : When I was in school I went to a supermarket with my friends and I stole a magazine, this again was before I was practicing Islam. Now the supermarket isn't there and there is a new one. So, my question is how should I atone for this? Should I give money to charity on their behalf?
Answer : You should look for the shop owner and pay him/her the said amount and you do not need to inform the owner why you are paying when you find him/her. If you could not reach him/her, it is enough to be prepared to pay the owner his/her dues when possible.
Paying the amount as a charity on behalf of the owner when he/she can not be reached is a good thing but it is not mandatory and does not remove the obligation on you to satisfy the owner whenever you can reach him/her.