All Dogs Go To Heaven

Q: Assalamualaikum Ustaz,

Was wondering if you could help me with this question, do I have to do anything if while walking my leg graced the bag (or something cage-like) that is used to put a dog ?

A: Waalaikumussalam wr wb,

Thanks for asking. I believe you are asking whether you would need to perform the special cleansing as entioned in the following hadith:

“Purifying a container that a dog licks is done by washing it seven times, the first time with pure soil (that is, water mixed with earth until it becomes muddy).”

Different schools of thought have varied opinions on this issue. So let’s take a brief look at what they are:

The First View: The first view is that of the Maliki scholars, who hold that a dog is pure even its saliva.     

The Second View: The second view is attributed to the Shafi`i school and one of two narrations from Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal. They are of the opinion that a dog is impure even its fur. 

The Third View: The third view is ascribed to the Hanafi school and the other narration from Imam Ahmad. They maintain that a dog’s saliva is impure while its fur is pure.

So, after reading the views of our past great scholars, you can use them as a guiding principle to decide. I believe that at the end of the day, it depends on how confident and how sure you are that the ‘cage’ was actually used for a dog, or whether or not the exterior part of that cage was ever licked by a dog etc. 

Most Muslims prefer to take the safer option and so they will cleanse the part of their body / clothing which made contact with the impure (najis) affected area. Hope this helps.

Allah know best

Change of Name

Q: Assalamualaikum Ustaz, is it compulsory for a muallaf to change his name after embracing Islam? One my friends who happens to be a muallaf  is quite hesitant to do so. Is it true that there are many tedious procedures?

A: Wa’alaikumussalam wr wb. Thanks for asking. As a general principle, it is not compulsory for a muallaf to do so. But, it is highly encouraged for those who have embraced Islam to change their names or add a “Muslim name” to their current name. This is because, by having a Muslim name, it helps to make things easier for them and also helps to avoid any complications that might occur in the future.

For example, if a convert were to pass away, and if his name had not been changed, people might not know of the change in his religious status. And that might lead to the deceased going through non-Islamic burial rites.

However, new converts are not to be forced to rush this process. Usually, converts have a very hard time dealing with their family members in the early stages of their conversion. This is normally the case. So only when they have settled down, or have managed to convince and won over the acceptance from their family, that they may want to consider changing their name. Allah knows best.

As for the procedures, I think that in order for a person to change his name, he will need to make a deed poll. Lawyers offer such services. Here’s a link which provides some basic FAQs on this. http://law.com.sg/deed_poll.htm#What_documents_do_I_need_to_change_my_name

Best regards & Salam

Maal Hijrah

 

My talk begins after Isya'

The End

The end of the year is looming near…

And all of us have aged a little more…

As the new year approaches, we’re all having our own fears…

Of the uncertainties, the economy, natural disasters and wars…

What lies ahead us? Oh mirror mirror on the wall?

If only we had, a round, shiny magic crystal ball…

So that it could at least tell us what’s to come…

We’d then be more prepared to drive through the humps…

They say the future is all gloom and doom…

I say let’s wait…let’s not trust speculations…

Two thousand and nine could just be your time to bloom…

So write down today what are your resolutions….

Paste them on your walls and ceilings…

Write in specific terms and wordings…

For they will help to keep you going and going…

They are the fire that keeps your desire burning…

To succeed in all your ambitions and yearnings…

And to all my friends who are reading…

Have a wonderful December holiday… And an awesome year ahead!

Happy 1430Hijrah too!

Warmest regards,

Mizi