They knew that they would miss the prayer on the plane so they prayed a few minutes before the time for it began

I was on a long journey and we were in a European airport. The time for the plane to take off was also the time for Zuhr prayer to begin, according to the prayer timetable for that city. Before we got on board the plane, ten minutes before takeoff, we prayed Zuhr and ‘Asr with some other brothers. One of the brothers criticized us and told us that we should have prayed on board the plane after making sure that the time for prayer had begun. Is our prayer valid, knowing that there was no suitable place for praying on the plane and we were going to arrive in our country at night?.

Praise be to Allaah.Firstly: 

It is permissible for a traveller to join Zuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha’, at the time of the earlier or later prayer, according to whatever is easier for him.

Secondly:

There are set times for the five daily prayers, the beginning and end of which are clearly defined, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, As‑Salaah (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours”

[al-Nisa’ 4:103]

i.e., there are set times for it, and it is not permissible for the Muslim to offer any prayer before the time for it has begun. If he does that, it is not valid, according to scholarly consensus.

Based on this, you have to repeat Zuhr and ‘Asr, because you offered them before the time for them began.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the ruling on offering a prayer before the time for it has begun.

He replied:

Offering a prayer before the time for it has begun is not valid, even if it was only one minute before the time for it. If a person says the opening takbeer before the time, then his prayer is not valid, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, As‑Salaah (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours”

[al-Nisa’ 4:103]

i.e., strictly-defined times. So the prayer is not valid if it is offered before its time, and the prayer that you offered before its time must be repeated. And Allaah is the source of strength. End quote from Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (12/216).

He also said: Prayer is not valid if done before its time, according to the consensus of the Muslims. If a person offers a prayer ahead of time, if he did that deliberately then his prayer is invalid, and he is not free of sin. If he did not do it deliberately, because he thought that the time for it had begun, then he is not a sinner, and his prayer is regarded as naafil (supererogatory), but he has to repeat it, because one of the conditions of prayer is that the time for it should have begun. End quote from al-Sharh al-Mumti’.

She sees a dry brownish-reddish spot a few days before her period

I have a question about menstruation, which is that during the first three days I see a small dry spot which is sometimes brown and sometimes light red, and after that I see thick blood accompanied by pains for four days, then I see a light red stringy discharge for two days.
My question is: what is the ruling on fasting and praying on the first and last days? I hope you will reply because I do not know how my acts of worship should be.

Praise be to Allaah.

The thick blood that is accompanied by pains for four days is undoubtedly menstruation. The brown and red spots that come before the period are subject to further discussion:

If it is followed directly by the bleeding, then it is part of your period, so it is not permissible to pray and fast at that time.

If it is separate from the bleeding, then it is not part of your period.

The same applies to the stringy red discharge that you see for two days. If that happens before the tuhr [end of the period], then it is part of the period; if that happens after the tuhr, then it does not matter and it comes under the same ruling as the blood of istihaadah [non-menstrual bleeding] and does not mean that you cannot fast or pray, but you should do wudoo’ at the time of each prayer.

The tuhr or end of the period is indicated by one of two signs: either a clear discharge is emitted, or the place becomes dry, so that if it is wiped with a piece of cotton or something similar, it comes away clean with no trace of blood or yellowish or brownish discharge.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: Before my period comes I have a brown discharge that lasts for five days, after which comes the menstrual blood. The menstrual blood lasts for eight days after the first five days. I pray on the five days but I wonder whether I should fast and pray on these days or not? Please advise me, may Allaah reward you.

He replied:

If the five days on which you have the brown discharge are separate from the days when you bleed, then this is not menstruation, and you have to pray on these days and can fast, but you should do wudoo’ for each prayer, because this comes under the same ruling as urine, not the rulings on menstruation. So it does not mean that you cannot pray and fast, but it does mean that you have to do wudoo’ every time, until that discharge stops, as in the case of istihaadah (non-menstrual bleeding).

But if these five days are followed immediately by your period, then they are part of your period, so you should not fast or pray on these days.

Similarly, if this brownish or yellowish discharge comes after your period ends, it is not be regarded as part of the period, rather it comes under the ruling on istihaadah, so you have to wash your private parts with water and do wudoo’ for each prayer, and you should pray and fast, and not regard this as menstruation. You are also permissible for your husband, because Umm ‘Atiyyah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “We used to think that the brownish and yellowish discharge after the end of the period did not matter.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh and by Abu Dawood; this version narrated by Abu Dawood).

From Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 10/207

And Allaah knows best.

He wants to go for Hajj but he gets a few drops coming out after he urinates and it is too hard for him to wash his clothes

I want to do Hajj on behalf of my brother who has passed away, but I suffer from the problem that a few drops of clear, sticky liquid (not urine) come out after I urinate at different times, which means that I have to wash my clothes before every prayer. My question is: can I do Hajj on behalf of my brother this year, even though this will cause me hardship during ihraam and prayer, or should I delay Hajj until I get treatment, in sha Allaah?
Another question: Are these drops regarded as madhiy or wadiy or some other discharge? What is the ruling in each case?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

What comes out after urinating is usually wadiy, which is a thick white liquid that comes out in white drops. It is naajis and invalidates wudoo’.

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, explaining the differences between madhiy and wadiy: As for madhiy, it is a thin, sticky white liquid that is emitted with or without desire; it does not gush out and it is not followed by tiredness, and one may not be aware that it is being emitted. Both men and women experience this.

As for wadiy, it is a thick, white, cloudy liquid that resembles maniy in its thickness, but it is different in its cloudiness and it has no smell. It comes out immediately after urinating, or when carrying heavy objects, and it comes out one or two drops at a time, and so on. The scholars are unanimously agreed that ghusl is not required when madhiy and wadiy are emitted. End quote from al-Majmoo’ (2/160).

Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) was asked: When I finish urinating, I see some maniy-like liquid coming out, and I do not know whether I have to do ghusl every time I urinate or what should I do? Because I am not sure whether its effects are the same as the effects of intercourse.

He replied:

This “maniy” that comes out after urinating is the well known “wadiy”. Because it comes out after urinating and it flows easily it does not necessitate ghusl, rather it only invalidates wudoo’, so you have to wash the penis after that and do wudoo’, but you do not have to do ghusl. Ghusl is only required when maniy is emitted in spurts and with feelings of pleasure, otherwise it is not required. Spurts means when it gushes out forcefully, not like urine which flows out or comes out in drops. So it does not matter if it comes out like that. End quote from Fataawa Islamiyyah (1/226).

See also the answer to question no. 47693.

There are no schools in his city that are not mixed and he only has a few months left in school

I’m a young brother living in Canada and raised here. I currently attend a mixed kafir school(currently im my final year 12).Although I have read in your web-site that mixed schools are haram (and I personally don’t doubt that my self). the only Islamic school in my area is also a mixed school. I was not aware until recently that mixed schools are Haram in Islamic shar’eeah.Also my mom would be greatly heart broken if I left this kafir school. my qouestion is; am I allowed to complete my high school education in this kafir school? which I will have to stay in for the next 5 month.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

The basic principle is that it is not permissible for anyone to study in mixed schools, because of the evils and haraam things that result from mixing, as is obvious to everyone.

Secondly:

If there is an urgent or genuine need to study, and there is no option other than mixed schools, then there is nothing wrong with you completing your studies, but you must lower your gaze and avoid the causes of fitnah (temptation), and remember that Allaah is always watching you, in secret and in the open.

Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) said concerning the one who is faced with this problem of mixed schools: They have to try hard to lower their gaze, protect themselves and keep away from temptation which could lead them into haraam actions. If he notices that he is starting to slip towards something haraam, he should stop attending. End quote from the answer to question no. 6118.

We ask Allaah to make you steadfast in word and deed.

And Allaah knows best.

His faith grew weak after he had become righteous and he stopped praying for a few days

I have a problem and a question:
Alhamdulillah, Allah has guided me months ago. But I started to relapse with time. I do not know why. My Iman started to decrease gradually until I left prayers and became weak. But, Alhamdulillah, I tried not to fall into sins. But I missed many prayers while sleeping or away. By time I left prayers totally for days. I feel I have a complex regarding praying. I miss many prayers; I feel I will not get rid of this complex. What is the solution and what shall I do?.

Praise be to Allaah.

You should appreciate the blessing that Allaah has bestowed upon you by enabling you to repent and adhere to your religion, before death comes suddenly. So you should thank Him greatly for this blessing, which should make you strive harder to obey Him.

Al-Bukhaari (4836) and Muslim (2819) narrated that al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood (in prayer) until his feet became swollen. It was said to him: Allaah has forgiven your past and future sins. He said: “Should I not be a thankful slave?”

So how can you accept to respond to goodness with something bad, and to go back to square one after you had gone so far in the way of righteousness? Rather we hope that you will go back to the way you were when you started to follow the straight path, for you have deviated and gone astray from the path after Allaah blessed you with righteousness. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to seek refuge with Allaah from such a thing. In Saheeh Muslim (1343) it is narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Sarjis said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) travelled, he would seek refuge with Allaah from the hardships of travel, from bad consequences, from a bad situation after a good situation, from the prayer of one who has been wronged, and from an ill-fated outcome with regard to family and wealth.

In His Holy Book, Allaah strikes a similitude for the one who goes back to bad ways and destroys what he has built up, and turns away from the path of guidance, which explains the bad situation he is in and what he has chosen for himself, and He warns His slaves against doing this foolish deed:

“And fulfil the Covenant of Allaah (Bai‘ah: pledge for Islam) when you have covenanted, and break not the oaths after you have confirmed them — and indeed you have appointed Allaah your surety. Verily, Allaah knows what you do.

92. And be not like her who undoes the thread which she has spun, after it has become strong, by taking your oaths as a means of deception among yourselves, lest a nation should be more numerous than another nation. Allaah only tests you by this (i.e. who obeys Allaah and fulfils Allaah’s Covenant and who disobeys Allaah and breaks Allaah’s Covenant). And on the Day of Resurrection, He will certainly make clear to you that wherein you used to differ (i.e. a believer confesses and believes in the Oneness of Allaah and in the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad صلىالله عليه وسلم which the disbeliever denies and that is their difference amongst them in the life of this world)”

[al-Nahl 16:91-92]