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.
What is the Islamic ruling regarding a person finding buried treasure, whether gold or artifacts, and what is their share of it?
If the buried treasure is Islamic, it is considered Luqta (lost property), and the finder must announce it to locate its owner. If all efforts to find the owner fail, the finder may take ownership of it. If the treasure is non-Islamic and consists of gold or silver, zakat must be paid on it, which is one-fifth of its value. And Allah Knows Best.
Ruling when Husband Utters Divorce Jokingly, or in the State of Intoxication or Anger
All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah`s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
The man who utters divorce while in the state of anger, his divorce doesn`t take place and the same ruling applies to the man who is forced to utter divorce because he is threatened to be killed or one of his organs cut off, in addition to other matters that scholars have mentioned in this regard. However, the man who utters divorce jokingly or while having intentionally drunk alcohol, his divorce takes place. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
Does the deceased hear the supplications or recitations of those visiting his/her grave? And does making constant supplications for the deceased who didn`t adhere to performing the prescribed prayers ameliorate his/her affliction?
Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.
In principle, the dead hear the living since it has been rigorously authenticated that the Prophet (PBUH) ordered the bodies of the idolaters slain in the Battle of Badr to be buried. He then approached them and called them one by one and said: "Have you found what your Lord promised to be true for we have found what our Lord promised us to be true." Umar asked him: "O messenger of God! Why do you speak to lifeless bodies?" The Prophet (PBUH) replied: "By the One Who has sent me with the truth! You do not hear my words better than they do except that they cannot respond." [Agreed upon].
However, not all the deceased are in the same situation because Allah The Almighty Knows: "Before them is a Partition till the Day they are raised up." [Al-Mu`minun/100]. Moreover, supplication reaches the deceased. And Allah Knows Best..
