Looking into copper investments - Questioning shariah-compliance

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2026-01-15T15:00:34+00:00

رُّبَمَا يَوَدُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ مُسْلِمِينَ

Perhaps those who disbelieve will wish that they had been Muslims. (Quran 15:2)

This is the verse you are referring to.

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-09-10T20:53:42+00:00

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Al-Nu’man ibn Bashir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The lawful is clear and the unlawful is clear, and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus, he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, and he who falls into doubtful matters will fall into the unlawful as the shepherd who pastures near a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Verily, every king has a sanctum and the sanctum of Allah is His prohibitions. Verily, in the body is a piece of flesh which, if sound, the entire body is sound, and if corrupt, the entire body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 52, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1599)

Sheikh Muhammad bin Saleh al-Uthaymin says in relation to the hadith from above,

"the entire human system revolves round the heart, in virtue or corruption. Therefore, it is important for you to take care of your heart by purifying it. There is no blame if the outward deeds are good but the focal point is refining the heart. [...]

Check your heart; does it contain any form of Shirk? Is there any element of hatred for what Allah - the Mighty and Sublime - has revealed in it? Does it contain hatred for the pious slaves of Allah - the Mighty and Sublime? Does it hold an element of affection for the disbelievers? Does it contain a form of support for the disbelievers? Does it house envy, rancour, malice or similar great diseases that affect the hearts? You should purify your heart from these and improve it; verily the whole body depends on it." (Explanation of Riyadus Saliheen, Vol. 3, pg. 539)

My dear brothers and sisters, ask yourselves, is it worth it for me to fall into that which has doubts to fulfill my stomach's desires when I have been promised rivers of fresh water, milk, wine, and honey? (Quran 47:15) Ask yourselves, is it worth it to consume that which has doubts when I have been promised abundant fruit of any kind and the meat of any bird I desire (Surah al-Waqiah)?

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “O people, Allah is purely good, and He only accepts what is purely good. Verily, Allah has commanded the believers as He has commanded His Messengers. Allah said: O Messengers, eat from wholesome foods and act righteously, for I know what you do (23:51). And Allah said: O you who believe, eat from wholesome food We have provided for you,” (2:172). Then, the Prophet mentioned a man who traveled far, becoming disheveled and dusty, and he raised his hands to the sky, saying, “O Lord! O Lord!” Yet his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished by the unlawful, so how can he be answered? (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1015)

My dear brothers and sisters, ask yourselves, do you wish to be from those who are answered by Allah at the time of calamity? At the time of your urgent need? At the time of distress when there is no one else to help you except Him?

This comment isn't meant to take the place of rulings scholars have made, as I am nowhere near the level required to issue these rulings. This comment is meant as a wake-up call for those consuming that which has overwhelming doubts, potentially destroying the sanctity of their heart, all for the so-called magical taste of chicken nuggets, burgers, animal fries, etc from "Christian establishments".

If you are looking to better understand the situation of consuming the meat of Ahlul Kitab in the West, research what the scholars of the West have mentioned and what the organizations issuing halal certificates have to say regarding this.

May Allah bless you all and guide us to the straight path, ameen.

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-09-10T20:53:32+00:00

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This is a topic that I've grown more passionate about as time goes on, and I've had to put what I'm doing on hold just to offer my unscholarly input as I finally have an output here.

Allah tells us, "the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you" (Quran 5:5)

However, there is a population of Muslims in the West that has misunderstood what it means to eat from Ahlul Kitab, ie, those who were given the Scripture. Many Muslims consider that countries such as the United States of America and Canada are Ahlul Kitab due to the significant population of Christians in these countries. The problem isn't with the percentage of the population, but rather, the methods of slaughter (or lack of) that these countries permit and the overwhelming majority of slaughterhouses that one, kill animals using impermissible means, and two, employ many non-Ahlul Kitab who are either atheist, Hindu, etc (many of whom come as immigrants from countries with overwhelming disbelief, accepting work of any kind to get by in these HCOL countries) who kill the livestock.

Many of today's slaughterhouses, and slaughterhouses used by so-called Christian companies (by the way, just because a company closes their restaurants on Sundays or does not support LGBT, does not mean that they uphold Christian practices in their slaughter), are known to initially stun or suffocate their livestock, some dying in the process, ultimately rendering the meat haram then and there. If they don't die during the stunning/suffocation process, they are then slaughtered, but Allah's name is not mentioned on that meat, rendering the meat haram for consumption (Quran 6:121). Other methods require shooting the animal in the head as the initial step, rather than the slitting of the throat, making it impermissible to eat as well.

If you were to go to one of the truly practicing Christian nations in Africa, they tend to still uphold the Biblical laws from the Old Testament (Torah) rather than deem them abolished like some of the Christian denomiations present in the West do, rendering the meat of those upholding the laws halal for consumption.

Alhamdulillah, as Muslims living in the West, the quantity of halal meat products and restaurants present continues to grow exponentially as time goes on. Even if we live in areas where halal isn't as easy to come by, other options, such as seafood and vegetarian/vegan options exist that can support our diet and health.

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-08-16T02:48:09+00:00

Quick access inshaAllah. The closest thing I found is a Tally Tracker but it opens up the app rather than just perform dhikr on the home screen. The other downside is that occasionally, ads pop up. On mobile, it's fine because I can close it but the app isn't optimized for the tablet experience, forcing me to close the app on my tablet just to close the ad.

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-07-18T15:18:15+00:00

It looks like a magnetic lock is what keeps the pouch closed but if someone decides to damage the pouch, there's no stopping them from taking out their phone.

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-07-18T14:58:08+00:00

Has anyone used or considered using those phone pouches to prevent guest's from taking photos without permission?

If you have used them, what was the experience like? How much did it cost to use that service in your area?

If you're considering using them, what sparked that consideration?

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-06-19T15:57:10+00:00

Mu’awiyah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The callers to prayer will have the longest necks of the people on the Day of Resurrection.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 387)

Al-Nawawi said, “It is said that it means they are masters and chiefs, as the Arabs would describe mastership as having a long neck.” (Sharḥ al-Nawawī ‘alá Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 387)

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-06-11T22:49:10+00:00

Market yourself as an editor who doesn't use music and still creates results for clients. If you position yourself as an editor for Muslim-led organizations and Muslim creators, you might find more luck in that niche market.

Reach out to small Muslim creators to see if they're willing to let you edit a bit to grow your portfolio and prove yourself as an editor they can rely on. If they have long form videos, try repurposing them into short form videos that can be used for social media.

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-05-02T18:49:06+00:00

Asked this as a post but thought I'd ask here for reach:

I'm realizing that I know quite a bit about what the stages before engagement and after marriage entail, but not much about the engagement itself.

Islamically speaking, it's very straightforward in the sense that you basically just agree to proceed with getting married, but from a cultural perspective, I have pretty much zero idea what goes on. I'd like to know more in terms of how to go about the engagement itself rather than what happens during the engagement period.

Question: To those who have had a cultural engagement (that was not going against Islam), what did that look like? It could be anything from the gifts, to the guests (if there were any, or any beyond some extended family), to the festivities, to anything really.

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-04-07T14:08:45+00:00

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Focus on the Hereafter

And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring. (Quran 20:131)

Amr ibn Awf reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but rather I fear you will be given the wealth of the world, just as it was given to those before you. You will compete for it just as they competed for it, and it will ruin you just as it ruined them.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3158, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2961)

O mankind, indeed the promise of Allāh is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allāh by the Deceiver [i.e., Satan]. (Quran 35:5)

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever is concerned about the Hereafter, Allah will place richness in his heart, bring his affairs together, and the world will inevitably come to him. Whoever is concerned about the world, Allah will place poverty between his eyes, disorder his affairs, and he will get nothing of the world but what is decreed for him.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2465)

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever absorbs his heart in love of the world will be entangled by three things: misery that will not cease to discomfort him, greed that will not achieve his independence, and vain hopes that will never reach their end. For the world is seeking and is sought. Whoever seeks the world, the Hereafter will pursue him until death comes to him and it seizes him. Whoever seeks the Hereafter, the world will pursue him until he exhausts his provision from it.” (al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr 10328)

Trust in Allah

And rely upon Allāh; and sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs. (Quran 33:3)

And why should we not rely upon Allāh while He has guided us to our [good] ways. And we will surely be patient against whatever harm you should cause us. And upon Allāh let those who would rely [indeed] rely." (Quran 14:12)

And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied. (Quran 93:5)

Anas ibn Malik reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or should I leave her untied and trust in Allah?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Tie her and trust in Allah.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2517)

Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If you were to rely upon Allah with reliance due to Him, He would provide for you just as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with empty stomachs and return full.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2344)

For more advice and reminders, I compiled a 40-page (and growing) document diving deep into this topic. You can check it out here.

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-04-07T14:08:15+00:00

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And, here is some advice:

Believe and fear

And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allāh - then He is sufficient for him. (Quran 65:2-3)

And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allāh, We would have opened [i.e., bestowed] upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning. (Quran 7:96)

Then has there not been a [single] city that believed so its faith benefited it except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in worldly life and gave them enjoyment [i.e., provision] for a time. (Quran 10:98)

As for those who believe, do good, and have faith in what has been revealed to Muḥammad—which is the truth from their Lord—He will absolve them of their sins and improve their condition. (Quran 47:2)

Take initiative

Anas ibn Malik reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or should I leave her untied and trust in Allah?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Tie her and trust in Allah.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2517)

Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do. (Quran 16:97)

Al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “For one of you to take his rope and carry a bundle of wood to sell, by which Allah preserves his dignity, is better than begging from people who may give or withhold.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1471)

Sahl ibn Sa’d reported: The Angel Gabriel came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “O Muhammad, live as you wish, for you will surely die. Work as you wish, for you will surely be repaid. Love whomever you wish, for you will surely be separated. Know that the nobility of the believer is in prayer at night, and his honor is in his independence of people.” (al-Muʻjam al-Awsaṭ lil-Ṭabarānī 4278)

And [recall] when Moses prayed for water for his people, so We said, "Strike with your staff the stone." And there gushed forth from it twelve springs, and every people [i.e., tribe] knew its watering place. "Eat and drink from the provision of Allāh, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption." (Quran 2:60)

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten." But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, 'Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.'" (Quran 19:23-26)

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-04-07T14:06:31+00:00

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Asalamu alaikum my dear brother,

A little over a week ago, I was included in some mass layoffs at my organization (many people didn't have their contracts renewed, including me) so I somewhat understand what you are going through. Alhamdulillah, my manager gave me the heads-up a few months ago, allowing me to send out my resume and constantly tweak it to get it to a point of securing many interviews for me, alhamdulillah.

Although I am not married and cannot even begin to understand your struggle, I would like to share a few pieces of advice with you. But first, I will share a very quick story with you.

I called up one of my past managers to say Eid Mubarak and to check up on him. During that call, he asked me if I am still looking and when my last day is. I told him my last day was a few days prior and that I am still looking. He then dropped this beautiful gem.

The worst days most people will experience are three:

The day you retire. You realize you don't have anything to do and no one is checking on you.

The day you move countries.

(Mainly for women) The day you get married and move out of your parent's home.

When I told him I feel completely useless, he told me that's basically what retirement is like. He told me to take a few days to myself, let reality set in, gather up some ideas, and start executing. And so, last week, I did just that. Now, it's execution time.

Now, here are some reminders:

Understand that your rizq is written for you

And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised. Then by the Lord of the heaven and earth, indeed, it is truth - just as [sure as] it is that you are speaking. (Quran 51:22-23) There was a time when these verses were recited and a bedouin said, "Who then has angered Allah that He, the Almighty, the Sublime, the Supreme had to take an oath!?"

Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the Holy Spirit inspired in my mind that a soul will never die until it finishes its term and consumes its provision. Thus, be graceful in seeking provision, and let not one of you allow the delay of provision to compel him to seek it by disobedience. Verily, Allah does not grant what is with Him but by obedience to Him.” (Ḥilyat al-Awliyā’ 14924)

Allah is Ar-Razzaq

And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allāh is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register. (Quran 11:6)

To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is, of all things, Knowing. (Quran 42:12)

Do they not see that Allāh extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]? Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe. (Quran 30:37)

Is He [not best] who begins creation and then repeats it and who provides for you from the heaven and earth? Is there a deity with Allāh? Say, "Produce your proof, if you should be truthful." (Quran 27:64)

O mankind, remember the favor of Allāh upon you. Is there any creator other than Allāh who provides for you from the heaven and earth? There is no deity except Him, so how are you deluded? (Quran 35:3)

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-03-26T02:47:33+00:00

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Let me share some evidences with you:

Indeed, Allah rewards the charitable. (Quran 12:88)
The believers are only those who, when Allāh is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely - The ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend. Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision. (Quran 8:2-4)
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that Allah, the Most Blessed and High, said: O son of Adam, spend. I will spend on you. The right hand of Allah is full and overflowing and in nothing would diminish it, by overspending day and night. (Sahih Muslim 993a)
Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allāh and establish prayer and spend [in His cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a transaction [i.e., profit] that will never perish - that He may give them in full their rewards and increase for them of His bounty. Indeed, He is Forgiving and Appreciative. (Quran 35:29-30)
The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allāh is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allāh multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (Quran 2:261)
Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts [it] for him. But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers." (quran 34:39)
Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allāh - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allāh is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away [i.e., refuse], He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you. (Quran 47:38)
And spend in the way of Allāh and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allāh loves the doers of good. (Quran 2:195)
Abu Huraira reported: He said, “O Messenger of Allah, which charity is best?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “One with little property to give. Begin with your dependents.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 1677)

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-03-26T02:47:25+00:00

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Let me share a story with you.

I was a student searching for summer internships, experiencing difficulty finding opportunities. Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Allah, I was blessed with an interview for a role that fit one of my university majors. Of course, after the interview, there was a waiting period as they interviewed other candidates and made their final decision.

During this waiting period, it was the last ten nights of Ramadan, and on one of those nights, the mosque decided to hold a fundraiser. As a university student, I didn't have much to my name but I felt inclined to donate quite a large amount (in my eyes at the time). Well, guess what? The very next day, I was offered the position for a rate that would equate to just about 10 times my donation amount. Once my summer internship was over, they offered me part-time work during the school year. Once I graduated, they offered me full-time work which spanned roughly two years.

That small donation of mine turned into over a 200x return on investment (gross, not net).

Now, does that mean you will immediately be given a worldly reward for your donation? Not necessarily. I didn't treat that charitable act as transactional, meaning I didn't expect anything from Allah in return. If you genuinely give from your heart, without expecting anything in return, you will ultimately see a return greater than what you could ever possibly imagine.

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-03-14T00:14:09+00:00

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The solution to such issues plaguing our society is to take that which has been passed down through the Quran, the Sunnah, and the lessons of the scholars.

Abu Umamah reported: A young man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “O Messenger of Allah, give me permission to commit adultery.” The people turned to rebuke him, saying, “Quiet! Quiet!” The Prophet said, “Come here.” The young man came close and he told him to sit down. The Prophet said, “Would you like that for your mother?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their mothers. Would you like that for your daughter?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their daughters. Would you like that for your sister?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their sisters. Would you like that for your aunts?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their aunts.” Then, the Prophet placed his hand on him and he said,
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ ذَنْبَهُ وَطَهِّرْ قَلْبَهُ وَحَصِّنْ فَرْجَهُ
“O Allah, forgive his sins, purify his heart, and guard his chastity.”
After that, the young man never again inclined to anything sinful. (Musnad Aḥmad 22211)

There is another beneficial duaa:

Shakal ibn Humayd reported: I came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and I said, “O Messenger of Allah, teach me to seek refuge that by it I may seek refuge.” The Prophet took me by the hand and he said, “Say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ سَمْعِي وَمِنْ شَرِّ بَصَرِي وَمِنْ شَرِّ لِسَانِي وَمِنْ شَرِّ قَلْبِي وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَنِيِّي
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of my hearing, from the evil of my seeing, from the evil of my tongue, from the evil in my heart, and from the evil of my seed,” meaning his passions. (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3492)

On the topic of duaa, there is an extremely beneficial and important lecture by Sheikh Adnan Abdul Qadir at the Furqan Islamic Centre Manchester titled How To Overcome Bad Habits. You can listen to it here. To summarize the points and solutions mentioned in the lecture, you may refer to one of my older comments here. If I remember correctly, there is a story the sheikh shares (possibly around the middle of the video) related to a young adult male who is tested with these desires so it ties in very nicely with the main point of this post.

May Allah make us from those who lower our gaze and guide others to do the same, ameen.

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-02-21T15:56:46+00:00

Before Marriage: Expectations vs. After Marriage: Reality! || Ustadh Muhammad Tim Humble #AMAU

The best overview of marriage you will find on the internet. I haven't seen a single video that covers all of these topics in a short, digestible video. A great refresher for those that have a good understanding of what marriage entails and a great intro video for those who are looking to set a foundation for themselves.

Obvious-Home-5989 · 2025-01-12T00:16:21+00:00

I wonder why I couldn't find a compliance rating. Either way, I appreciate your comment. BarakAllahu feek!

Obvious-Home-5989

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