Muslims often ask about religious rulings related to everyday matters, including grooming excess eyebrow hair for men, performing congregational prayer at home, reciting Al-Fatihah and gifting its reward to the deceased, and the ruling on a deliberately false oath.
The following are the main rulings related to these questions.
Is It Permissible for Men to Groom Their Eyebrows?
Dr. Atiya Othman, a fatwa secretary at Dar Al-Ifta Al-Misriyyah, explained that grooming a man's eyebrows and removing excess hair is permissible, particularly when the excess hair causes harm or creates a problem for the person.
According to this view, removing excess eyebrow hair is permissible when the purpose is to eliminate something causing harm or an undesirable appearance. The ruling can therefore depend on the reason and purpose behind the grooming.
What Is the Ruling on Eyebrow Tattoos?
Dr. Atiya Othman explained that the ruling on eyebrow tattoos depends on how the procedure is performed, whether it is temporary or permanent, and what effect it leaves on the body.
Temporary methods that can be removed differ from permanent tattooing that leaves a lasting mark. Therefore, the specific method and its consequences need to be considered when determining the ruling.
Does Congregational Prayer at Home Have the Same Reward as Prayer in a Mosque?
Dar Al-Ifta Al-Misriyyah explained that scholars have differed regarding the legal status of congregational prayer. The majority of jurists consider it a Sunnah, while Imam Ahmad held that it is obligatory.
According to the majority view, if a man performs the prayer at home, his prayer is valid and sufficient, and he is not sinful merely because he prayed at home. However, he misses the particular merit associated with congregational prayer in the mosque.
Can a Man Pray in Congregation With His Wife and Children at Home?
Yes. A man may perform congregational prayer at home with his wife and children, and the prayer is valid because the basic form of congregation is established.
However, a man who is able to attend the mosque misses the specific merit of congregational prayer in the mosque when he chooses to pray at home. Therefore, attending the mosque is encouraged whenever he is able to do so.
Among the hadiths describing the virtue of congregational prayer is the statement of the Prophet ﷺ that congregational prayer is superior to praying alone by twenty-seven degrees.
Can Al-Fatihah Be Recited and Its Reward Gifted to the Deceased?
Dar Al-Ifta Al-Misriyyah permits reciting Al-Fatihah and gifting its reward to a deceased person, based on the view that the reward of righteous deeds can reach the deceased when it is gifted to them.
This position also refers to the general permissibility of Quranic recitation and supplication for the deceased, as well as the texts concerning the virtues of Quran recitation.
A person may recite Al-Fatihah while asking Allah to grant mercy to the deceased and then dedicate the reward of the recitation to them.
Does the Reward of Quran Recitation Reach the Deceased?
This issue has been the subject of scholarly disagreement. Dar Al-Ifta Al-Misriyyah adopts the view that the reward of Quran recitation may reach the deceased when the reader dedicates it to them.
This position is based on the general permissibility of Quran recitation and evidence concerning supplication and benefit reaching the deceased.
What Is a False or Deliberately Lying Oath?
Dr. Abdel Rahman Mohamed Anwar, a fatwa secretary at Dar Al-Ifta Al-Misriyyah, explained that an oath of this type occurs when a person swears by Allah about something while knowingly lying about it.
It is considered a serious sin because it combines falsehood with invoking Allah's name.
An example is deliberately swearing that a particular event occurred or that a right belongs to someone while knowing that the statement is untrue.
What Is the Expiation for a False Oath?
Dar Al-Ifta Al-Misriyyah emphasized that a person who commits such an oath should sincerely repent, seek forgiveness, regret the wrongdoing and resolve not to return to it.
If the false oath resulted in taking another person's money or right unjustly, that right should be returned and the resulting harm should be corrected as much as possible.
Regarding expiation, Dar Al-Ifta explains that repentance and seeking forgiveness are central to dealing with the sin, while noting a scholarly disagreement about whether a specific expiation is required for this type of oath. Following the view that requires expiation is considered a cautious approach.
For a binding oath for which expiation is due, the expiation is to feed ten needy people or clothe them. If a person cannot do so, they fast for three days.
How Can Someone Repent From a False Oath?
Repentance requires sincere regret, seeking Allah's forgiveness and resolving not to repeat the sin. If the oath resulted in depriving another person of a right or property, the right should be restored.
Allah says: “He is the One who accepts repentance from His servants, pardons their sins, and knows all that you do.” [Quran 42:25]
Can men groom their eyebrows?
Removing excess eyebrow hair for men is considered permissible, particularly when the hair causes harm or a problem. The ruling can depend on the purpose and method of removal.
Does praying in congregation at home have the same reward as praying in a mosque?
Congregational prayer at home is valid and establishes the basic congregation, but according to the stated ruling, a person who prays at home misses the particular merit of congregational prayer in the mosque.
Can Al-Fatihah be recited and its reward gifted to a deceased person?
Dar Al-Ifta Al-Misriyyah permits reciting Al-Fatihah and gifting its reward to the deceased, along with supplicating for their mercy and forgiveness.
What is a deliberately false oath?
It is swearing by Allah while knowingly making a false statement about the matter being sworn to, and it is considered a major sin.
What should someone do after making a false oath?
They should sincerely repent, seek forgiveness, regret the wrongdoing and resolve not to repeat it. If another person's rights were harmed, those rights should also be restored.
