I took a housing loan from the bank for a 20-year period. Four years have passed, and I recently learned that this loan is usurious. I wish to perform Umrah. Am I permitted to perform it? If not, what should I do?
You are permitted to perform Umrah. Strive to repay the debt in hopes of reducing the amount of usurious interest. Allah Says (What means): "And there are others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allah will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." [At-Tawbah/102]. And Allah Knows Best.
Is it permissible to repeat the Istikhara (seeking guidance) prayer, and is it a condition that one should sleep after offering it?
All perfect praise be to Allah,The Lord of The Worlds Istikhara is offered once, but it is permissible to repeat it, and sleeping after offering it is not a condition for its validity. And Allah Knows Best.
Is the two Raka's after Friday Prayer an act of Sunna?
Performing Two prostrations after the call of Friday's Athan is an act of Sunna, since Al-Bukhari stated in his Sahih: (The chapter of praying before and after Friday's prayer). This indicates that he mentions Friday's prayer exactly as the Duhr prayer (Afternoon prayer) as regards praying before and after the call of Athan. And Allah Knows Best.
I am a disabled woman who has vaginal discharges and can`t control her urine. Therefore, I combine prayers. Is that permissible?
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
According to the Hanbali doctrine, it is permissible for the sick to combine prayers. In your case (Asker), it is better that you delay the noon prayer until a few minutes before the afternoon prayer in order to minimize the time span between the two and perform each alone. In addition, you can do the same with sunset and evening prayers. Finally, we ask Allah to bless you with recovery. And Allah Knows Best.
