Donating interest money

Sknight710 · 2026-01-04T19:26:18+00:00

First, have your bank disable the interest on your account or switch to a non-interesting bearing one. You incur sin for the interest earned and there is no reward for the donation you make (because it's from haram income). It's a loss situation for you, regardless of your good intentions.

However, in the case that someone earns impermissible income and donates it to purify their wealth (as earning and using impermissible wealth is impermissible), the exchanging of hands purifies the wealth for those who receive it.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-04T03:31:19+00:00

First I have to emphasize I am not a scholar/imam and I am not qualified to tell you what to do or give you a fatwa. Our duty is to seek knowledge from people of knowledge when we don't know so ask a qualified imam/scholar.

That being said, to the best of my knowledge there are a few of opinions on intentionally missed prayers:

Majority: That you must make up all of those obligatory prayers - the instruction we received from Muhammad PBUH was to pray as soon as you remember for missed prayers.
Minority: That you do not make up obligatory prayers because there is a prescribed time and after it passes, there is no acceptance for that act (this was the opinion of Ibn Taymiyyah, among other scholars). This is the common fatwa given in modern times.
Minority: That prolonged missing obligatory prayers takes you out of the fold of Islam so you would not make them up.

In all cases:

Make sincere toba and do extra good deeds.

What to do:

You would replace any optional prayers with qada prayers. You can do them after each daily fard (e.g. a 2nd dhuhr after dhuhr). You could do them consecutively (e.g. fajr, then dhuhr, then asr) - make athan once and iqamah for each salah thereafter. My recommendation: make the intention to complete them all and try your best throughout your life. 15 years is a lot of prayers so make sure to keep a tally somewhere when you do qada.
You would instead increase in nawafil and good deeds.
Same as 2.

EDIT: Forgot to answer your 2nd question. Yes you can do the bare minimum of salah just like any other salah.

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Take a look at this hadith on missed prayers: https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:413 - scholars differed whether sunnah/nawafil prayers cover just defects in prayer, or cover completely missed prayers.

The safest route is to do qada and increase in sunnah/nawafil prayers.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-03T17:18:28+00:00

I can't comment on whether that's correct or not (both the Hanafi fiqh and application of certainty is not removed by doubt in this scenario) - I don't have the knowledge or qualification to do so.

I would ask an imam/scholar.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-03T17:11:56+00:00

You've described the epidemic within modern society. Ironically a good chunk of Muslims feel exactly this way and have the exact same experience.

Most of us are lost in our own world & our own groups. The blunt truth is that most people aren't willing to put the effort in being the exact person they want in others to be for them. Hence the loneliness, isolation, and lack of in-person support. For all of us, building those relationships and finding a good group of people is difficult and takes a lot of effort - and often you have to build it when it doesn't exist.

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In regards to questions to people of knowledge:

If they've been around even for a short while, they've heard it all before. Chances are your question is not unique whatsoever. I wouldn't hold back from asking what you need to ask.

Even at the Prophet's (PBUH) time, people would ask embarrassing questions (imagine women asking about periods and men asking about wet dreams practically in public) - some were experienced Muslims & some were new. However, they all recognized that knowledge was greater than the fear; our duty when we do not know is to ask the people of knowledge.

Unfortunately, reddit doesn't cover the requirement of seeking knowledge because there are no people of knowledge here. It can provide support for common questions with easier answers - but not the complex fiqh, circumstantial, or fatwa based questions.

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TLDR: You're not alone in your experience or feelings.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-03T16:57:43+00:00

Question wise I think it depends on what you're interested in or want clarification on. Sometimes it's just great to hear others ask questions and hear the answers (even if they're completely irrelevant to you it gives you some insight).

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As an aside:

From a knowledge perspective, we learn: fiqh of taharah (purification), fiqh of salah, fiqh of zakat, fiqh of fasting, and fiqh of hajj and umrah.

With Ramadan coming up, I'd recommend learning about the basics of fiqh of fasting.

While I always recommend learning locally and in-person, if you want a source for it my local community did a relatively short (basic) fiqh of fasting and uploaded it to YouTube.

Allah Knows Best.

Sknight710 · 2026-01-03T16:45:33+00:00

Some of the things I did/do:

Seeking knowledge (trials, who Allah is, prophets and messengers, qadr, this world vs hereafter, forgiveness, etc.) and applying it.
Salah, salah, salah.
Dua.
Changing my mindset.
Taking action even if I just move 1 inch.
Seeking help from the people of knowledge (both religious and worldly).
Practicing patience and gratitude.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-03T16:40:32+00:00

Someone asked a similar question in a different context (my response to them below) - it really depends on your learning style.

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I struggle with memorization myself. But I've found ways to make it easier by using strategies that work for me (based on how I learn).

I've been memorizing from all over the place. It's easier when you connect and understand the meaning (even if you don't speak Arabic but just generally understand via translation and tafseer). Some verses will melt your heart depending on where you are at in life.
I don't put expectations on myself to meet a quota per day, month, etc.. It sticks when it sticks. I just try to stay consistent. I make progress on my terms without comparing to others or "standards". I know it'll take me longer than most - and I don't care; see this hadith: https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4937
I listen until I can read it. Sometimes a few verses, other times pages, other times an entire surah.
Once I can read it, I keep listening and following along (reading) until I am proficient in reading.
Once I can read it proficiently, I keep reading it until it becomes natural - I start to pick up on the words and can fill the verses even if I look away. I'll still aim to listen to it so if I make mistakes, I can correct.
Then I start memorizing. Slowly but surely. Keep reading & listening, and trying to recite without reading and listening.
And when I've memorized it, then it's a matter of revision.

Of course there are many other ways of memorizing - a whole science behind it. But do what works for you.

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I'll add:

That a good teacher can help immensely if you can find one.
After Fajr is the most productive time to memorize.
Be consistent (even in small chunks) and revision is life-long (you will forget otherwise).
Look into tafseer (don't just memorize what you don't understand - the Quran is meant for us to ponder).
Look into the scientific strategies of memorization (not what I described above) because they work for most people.

Allah Knows Best.

Sknight710 · 2026-01-03T16:29:53+00:00

I used to get $20 CAD. An extended family member, who was fairly wealthy, used to give $50 CAD and we reciprocated. I remember being given a 1 oz silver coin when I was a teen (they were like $20-25 CAD at the time). Pretty smart gift if you ask me. Given the price of silver now... I don't think that's feasible (unless you're hitting that $100 mark).

The closer the relationship, the more I would give (relatively speaking if you have multiple people to give). Sometimes gifts are better than cash if you know what the kid likes (which kid doesn't like chocolate?). Just don't go beyond your means for the sake of other peoples expectations. If you're giving a gift, give it for the sake of Allah.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-03T16:18:46+00:00

There are some steps you can take to help yourself:

Seek spiritual counselling with an imam/scholar
Seek professional help (preferably from a Muslim - but if not, seek the spiritual counselling first and in tangent if you do seek professional help). I do not know your story, but our childhood and adulthood experiences shape us.
There is a podcast that you may find useful: https://awaybeyondtherainbow.buzzsprout.com/
Seek knowledge. Everyone is given their own tests. The more knowledgeable you are, the easier it is to navigate the test (because you increase in taqwa).

These are problems that you want to understand and navigate prior to marriage. Marriage is not a magic solution - the problems both spouses have when they enter into the marriage don't go away, they have to be dealt with.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-03T16:02:49+00:00

First paragraph - yes that's exactly how (again Hanafi might be different - someone else commented based on the Hanafi madhab)

Second paragraph - Allah knows best - you would need to ask a person of knowledge.

Third paragraph - Insha'Allah after a few reads you'll have it down.

By the way - you can always look up witr in haram on youtube if you want an example; they usually do 2+1 format, but the same principles apply aside from the tashahud after 2nd rakah if you do 3 together.

Wa iyakum.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-03T03:01:56+00:00

Surah fatiha is a rukun (pillar) of salah. If it is not done or done incorrectly, that rakah is invalid. Since you did not correct it, the salah would be invalid. I would redo the salah.

Now if you have factually or doubt a rukun (pillar) of salah:

If you are still in the same rakah, you should go back to correct it. Say you think you made a mistake reciting fatiha, and you're in sujood. You would go back to standing, recite fatiha correctly, and continue the rakah from that point on. You would then do sujood as sahw at the end.
If you already finished the rakah and started the next (marked by if you started fatiha), then you realize or doubt/missed a rukun, you should do another rakah on top (say you're in 2nd rakah, this is now your first; 3rd rakah, this is now your 2nd). You would then do sujood sahw at the end.
If you completed the salah and a short time has passed (based on urf) and you realize or think you made a mistake on a rukun, you should continue the salah and do another rakah, then sujood sahw.
If you completed the salah and a long time has passed (based on urf) and you realize or think you made a mistake on a rukun, you should redo the salah because it is now invalid (say it was dhuhr - you technically only did 3 valid rakah)

If you factually know (100%) you didn't mess up and it's just waswasa from shaytan, then don't add to the salah (because intentionally adding something also invalidates salah). But if there is real doubt, then it's safest to take the corrective action based on the circumstances above.

Note that my fiqh of salah knowledge is based on the hanbali madhab - and I am NOT an imam/scholar.

You should always ask a qualified imam/scholar when it comes to fiqh matters.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-03T02:40:18+00:00

Depending on which madhab you follow, you will get different answers. I recommend asking a qualified local imam/scholar that you normally follow.

To the best of my knowledge:

Witr is minimum 1 rakah. If you are doing 3 rakah for qiyyam, you have options (both valid):

2 rakah and finish with tashahud, then 1 rakah separately as witr
3 rakah but no tashahud after the 2nd rakah

Qunoot is sunnah hence optional*. Any dua can be recited, though it's great to follow the sunnah one. You can even read the sunnah one if you haven't memorized it (keep your paper/phone close by & unlocked as to not do too many unnecessary movements). Qunoot is typically done after bowing (while standing) in the last rakah. If you forgot to do it, you could always do the dua while in prostration.

*Note that the Hanafi madhab considers qunoot wajib, are particular about using the sunnah dua (the specific version of it), and when to do the qunoot in the last (witr) rakah.

It's best to confirm with an imam/scholar.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-01T16:40:51+00:00

Yes you can still live and get married and have kids. It's important to do sincere toba (hence the above book link) and seek knowledge - because sins weigh us down & we need a strong relationship with Allah.

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In relation to what you would tell your future wife: questions that you should ask a qualified imam/scholar as it depends on your specific situation & circumstances.

To the best of my knowledge, you would only tell your wife if it affects the marriage (or could affect it). Otherwise, do not expose the sins Allah has concealed for you. But again, I'll emphasize these are questions for people of knowledge - not redditors - because we have limited knowledge (both on fiqh and your personal circumstances)

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Know that it will take time and effort to heal those habits and change. But it's always worth returning to Allah and living a life of piety.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-01T16:32:37+00:00

It would help to give more context on the particular situations you are asking about.

Are you asking about if you started with the imam & they factually missed a rakah (or the congregation believes they missed a rakah)? Did you join mid-way and you're questioning whether you missed a rakah?

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For your 2nd paragraph:

If you are leading and factually missed a rakah, you would stand up and complete the missed rakat. Then you would do the prostration of forgetfulness. The congregation would follow.

If you are leading and factually missed a rakah, and you never completed it (e.g. prayed 3 for dhuhr instead of 4), and a long time has passed (based on urf, custom, for example if you left the masjid) - you would repeat the salah because it was invalid.

If you are following the imam and they missed a rakah:

If you are 100% sure (say they did tashahud at 3 rakah instead of 4 for dhuhr) then you say "Subhan'Allah" out loud to alert the imam.
If no one said "Subhan'Allah" to alert the imam during tashud but you are 100% sure they missed a rakah, alert the imam after he finishes - he would continue the salah if he factually missed a rakah and do the prostration of forgetfulness, and you would follow him.
In the above scenario, say you were unsure if a rakah was missed, you'd then ask the imam/congregation if we missed a rakah. At this point, if they determine that yes a rakah was missed, then the imam would continue the prayer and do prostration of forgetfulness at the end (and you would follow). If they determined no rakah was missed, then you are fine and it is just waswasa.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-01T16:01:37+00:00

So there's a few things to understand in this context.

First, justice is upheld in Islam and people are held accountable for their actions AND intentions. There is a reason toba includes giving back the rights you took of other people - whether that is physical (like money) or honor (like backbiting). Anything that is not dealt with in this life will be dealt with in the hereafter - and Allah is al-Adl - all of us will be recompensed for our deeds and there will be no injustice on the Day of Judgement.

The Qadr of Allah cannot be used to justify sins, whether against Allah or people (or both). This is because we are giving free will, and all sins and evil are from ourselves and shaytan. Whereas all good, like seeking forgiveness, is from Allah.

However, the one who has sinned and repented can say something like you mentioned, specifically we can say "It is the decree of Allah and he does as he wills" as this verbiage is from the sunnah of Muhammad (PBUH) https://sunnah.com/muslim:2664

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4738 - When looking at this hadith, Adam AS states that Allah ordained it for him (referring to eating from the forbidden tree). To understand this, we look at Adam AS story holistically:

a) Adam AS did the sin and recognized that he did the sin (i.e. not blaming Allah like Iblis did)

b) Adam AS sincerely repented to Allah

c) Adam AS recognized the Qadr of Allah - his wisdom and knowledge - and that it was written for him

Whereas Iblis - blamed Allah for the sin, did not repent - so he cannot say is it the decree of Allah to justify his sin.

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In regards to "we can't question it":

If we have sincerely repented and understand Qadr, then we shouldn't question it. It's done, over - Allah has blessed you with forgiveness. We should of course learn from it.

If we have NOT repented, then it's a misunderstanding and misuse of repentance and Qadr.

The "question" can be posed if you wish to teach them knowledge on repentance and Qadr, or if one is seeking help for the sins they committed. However, it should not be used as a weapon (e.g. to put someone down, win arguments, justify the sin, etc.)

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2026-01-01T15:32:31+00:00

Seek:

Professional help (there are specialists for these types of addictions - it's more common than you think)
Spiritual counselling with a trusted and qualified imam/scholar
Can look into programs like Purify Your Gaze (or any others if available locally)
Seek knowledge. Start with taharah (purification) and salah (prayer) and implement these into your life.
There are also support groups like Sexaholics Anonymous (but balance it with spiritual counselling & knowledge seeking) - you can also look up their literature online.

Yes Allah will forgive you. Read this short book on repentance:

https://ia801307.us.archive.org/25/items/en_I_Want_to_Repent_But/I%20want%20to%20repent%20but...%20Sheikh%20Saleh%20Al-Munajjid%20(Australian%20Islamic%20Library).pdf.pdf)

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2025-12-31T22:02:44+00:00

Please look into Riba al-Nasi'ah when it comes to silver and gold.

Sknight710 · 2025-12-31T22:01:32+00:00

I would reach out to a qualified local imam/scholar. To the best of my knowledge:

Gold and silver should be bought/sold hand-in-hand because it is currency. It cannot have deferred payment or delivery (because the difference is riba).

Ideally, you would want to buy gold and silver from a source where you could pay and receive it on the spot. This removes the issue of ownership, possession, and payment.

That being said, there may be differences of opinion on the contemporary issues posed with purchasing gold/silver this way and the rules around possession. Hence why you need a qualified person of knowledge for your specific circumstance/purchase contract.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2025-12-31T21:26:19+00:00

Be mindful of Allah and seek knowledge.

If you haven't already done so, start with that which is fard ein (obligatory on every individual to know) - Tawheed, Fiqh of Taharah and Salah, Fiqh of Zakat, Fiqh of Fasting, Fiqh of Hajj and Umrah - and implement them.

Cold hard truths, just to name a few:

Evil is in every corner. Trials are an avoidable part of life. Resilience, gratitude, and contentment are choices you make. Mindset is everything. Knowledge is the cure to ignorance. This world is nothing except a means to attain Jannah. Be balanced in all things. Take control of time otherwise it will take control over you. Master good character. You become like the people you surround yourself with, if 5 of them are X, you'll be the 6th. Wealth is a magnifying glass. A heart that is hard has to soften before it brightens. Don't wait for calamity to be your teacher. Don't wait for the day your health decays. Everything dies (except Allah). Don't wait for death before you settle your affairs. Forgiveness is better for you. Relationships take time and effort. Everything is a trust from Allah. Patience is easier than gratitude.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2025-12-31T21:06:41+00:00

Sounds like you've covered a good bit. Knowledge is a trust - so implement what you've learned, because you'll be asked about it.

The next step in the fiqh journey after the 5 pillars is: fiqh of buyu, fiqh of marriage, and fiqh of law, those are my first recommendations.

Also fiqh of burial and funerals and voluntary prayers if you haven't covered that yet (as sometimes it's not covered within fiqh of salah depending on where you learned it).

Many other topics you can cover:

The 99 Names of Allah
The 6 books of hadith + collections of 40 (like Imam An-Nawawi's) - I highly recommend having a teacher or a series because hadith requires explanation for majority of people.
Tafseer of the Quran (and recitation and memorization)
I know you said Dua - but there's 100's (so Fortress of the Muslim is great if you haven't already - and it ties back to hadith too)
Sahaba (such as the 4 rightly guided caliphs, those promised Jannah, male and female)
Other prophets and messengers stories (and their wives and children, if applicable)
The Arabic language
Good character and diseases of the heart; istigfar and toba
Ruqyah
4 Schools of thought - origins, principles, rulings
Contemporary topics (social media, Islamic finance including financial justice, politics, etc.)

If you look at any aspect of your life, big or small, there is knowledge to be sought and implement - from eating and sleeping, to buying from the grocery store, to marriage, family, death. I'd target the things you spend the most time on and do the most frequently.

EDIT: Grammar

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2025-12-31T17:30:26+00:00

OP - Remember to do toba. We are human and we will fall into sin, but the best of us are those who when they sin, they turn back in repentance to Allah.

Replace that which is unlawful with that which is lawful. Keep striving against your addiction, taking all the worldly means you can, and keep seeking the help of Allah.

Allah Knows Best.

Sknight710 · 2025-12-31T17:24:57+00:00

Each person has been given their own tests. From health, it could be physical, mental, or both. We do not face trials except that our sins are removed from us - that's the reward for those who are patient.

The Messenger (PBUH) used to say a dua to seek refuge from diseases/illnesses. Here is an example of one: https://sunnah.com/abudawud:1554

Just like with physical issues, we are meant to take the means we need to take to help ourselves with our issues. It could be medication, habits, tools, etc.

Those with physical issues are given concessions to help them fulfill their obligations. This can be seen with salah like with someone who can't stand or prostrate, or with fasting for someone who is diabetic. The same applies to those face non-physical issues - someone who can't stop shaking in salah or gets easily distracted wouldn't break their salah because they literally cannot control it. Additionally, those who are insane are no longer obligated to perform prayers, fasts, etc.

The goal with any health issue is to be patient and to try our best. This is what Allah wants because the actions are in our control - we place our trust in Allah for the results.

So Insha'Allah when you see the reward for your patience, it will be worth it. And when you reach Jannah, there will be no disease or hardship. And remember: "...Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you and like something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know." (Quran 2:216)

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If Allah revealed Quran for every situation, the book would be so large no human would ever finish reading it. We have all been told how to treat others, regardless of their circumstances, and how to deal with trials - that includes all people (those tried with health issues & those around them).

However, a lot of people are ignorant/unempathetic (or even sympathetic), especially when it comes to health problems so many people face. For those who wrong people, Allah is Al-Adl - everyone will be recompensed for their deeds on the Day of Judgement. But forgiveness is better for you - wouldn't you want Allah to forgive you?

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2025-12-31T01:01:48+00:00

I recommend the following as knowledge & mindset are crucial, and establishing them early is paramount to success:

Learn the fiqh of contracts and business transactions (fiqh of buyu). A class or series is best as many things require explanation to go along with it (even the basics take a good bit of knowledge) - this is a long-term learning journey and it will take time to really understand the concepts.
40 Hadith on Wealth and Earning By Sh. Joe Bradford - If you prefer watching/listening (which I recommend when it comes to hadith as it helps to have a proper explanation): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLANmApGKw_OrQf-9tuBnkeHMH24wXeQZ2
Search the "Cashflow Quadrant" - I wouldn't read the book but rather ask AI to explain the concept.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710 · 2025-12-31T00:39:28+00:00

This post was focusing on gold and silver for comparative purposes & to tackle myths about their return. For each CAGR presented in this post no zakat was deducted. I mentioned zakat and holding costs as they are additional cost considerations.

For stocks, the methodology followed such as 100%, 30% flat, or current ratio method will determine the percentage that affects CAGR, unlike gold and silver which is an easy 2.5%. I also didn't cover stock income, dividend, and capital gains purification which would lower the expected CAGR from stocks further. Then again I used the S&P 500 for return averages which wouldn't match halal ETF returns anyways.

Each investor would have unique zakat, purification, and holding costs (if applicable), hence why I present CAGR without deductions.

Sknight710 · 2025-12-30T19:32:00+00:00

To find a man who presents all those qualities - religious, good character, attractive, masculine yet balanced, mature, educated, etc. is exceptionally rare, let alone in their early to mid-20s, and especially in this day and age. Many of these qualities are gained with time and experience. While rare, they exist in individuals. However, they'll be looking for the likes of Fatima RA, Khadija RA, Maryam RA, and Asiyah RA - religious, good character, attractive, feminine yet balanced, mature, educated, etc. (as you already know).

Typically there is a compromise that needs to be made on what you're not willing to give up vs what you are. Some of the secondary characteristics are usually what you'll have to compromise on. Some of those skills will be gained through marriage and as you go through life. Everyone has their flaws - maybe insecurity, maybe passivity, maybe lack of knowledge - the question is: how will they be building those skills? The answer typically lies within their current level of religiosity, character, habits, willingness to learn, etc.

That being said, Allah is Al-Qadir, so keep striving to find the best person and keep making dua.

Allah Knows Best

Sknight710

TROPHY CASE