Mufti Abu Layth Archive: On Love, Romance, and Relationships

Is it haram to kiss my wife in public?

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Is it haram to kiss my wife in public?

A greeting kiss on the cheek or forehead in public, as is common in the Gulf and seen in the Haram, is no problem because it is affectionate rather than sensual. A passionate kiss in public would be a problem. Mufti Abu Layth says a greeting kiss on the cheek or forehead in public, such as those exchanged in the Gulf and seen in the Haram between men and their wives or mahram women, is not sexual and is no problem, whereas a passionate kiss in public would be.

Answer from 12 December 2019 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors

Kind: general teaching

Recording: Is It Haram to Kiss in Public? -Mufti Abu Layhth (at 0:00)

A more recent answer on fiqh/gender-interaction exists (13 April 2021): Does a community gathering have to be gender segregated?

Watch on YouTube at 0:00 · Open the segment

Plans for a live Q&A, contact details and sign-off

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Plans for a live Q&A, contact details and sign-off

Mufti Abu Layth announces a possible live Q&A in two weeks, asks viewers to contact him through Facebook Messenger and signs off.

Answer from 28 February 2019 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors

Recording: Why Do Muslims have Trouble with Romance? -Mufti Abu Layth (at 4:59)

Watch on YouTube at 4:59 · Open the segment

Why is it so hard for Muslims to find a partner?

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Why is it so hard for Muslims to find a partner?

Mufti Abu Layth says there is a crisis among Muslims in finding relationships, and advises using matrimonial sites sensibly and leaving early if someone seems odd. Mufti Abu Layth says there is a crisis of people trying to find relationships.

Answer from 28 February 2019 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors

Kind: general teaching

Recording: Why Do Muslims have Trouble with Romance? -Mufti Abu Layth (at 0:00)

A more recent answer on relationships/marriage/choosing-a-spouse exists (10 December 2022): What is the story of the woman who tricked Abu Hanifa into a marriage proposal?

Watch on YouTube at 0:00 · Open the segment

Rapid-round replies: steroids, state control and prenuptial agreements

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Rapid-round replies: steroids, state control and prenuptial agreements

Steroids are a matter of legality rather than theology, prenuptial agreements are not legally binding in the UK, and Mufti Abu Layth says he is against state control and favours a hands-off approach to governing.

Answer from 5 March 2018 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors

Recording: Zina, Marriage and Relationships - Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki (at 22:06)

A more recent answer on fiqh/marriage-contracts exists (10 December 2022): How did Abu Hanifa solve the case of two brides sent to the wrong grooms?

Watch on YouTube at 22:06 · Open the segment

What should a couple agree before marriage about registering and money?

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

What should a couple agree before marriage about registering and money?

Have an open conversation before marriage about registration and finances, and if the marriage is not registered the woman should keep her own work, income and property. Saying a woman may not work is cultural and backward, not Islam. Mufti Abu Layth advises an open conversation before marriage about registration and finances, encourages women to keep independent income and property, and condemns as cultural and un-Islamic the attitude that a woman may not work.

Answer from 5 March 2018 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors

Kind: general teaching

Recording: Zina, Marriage and Relationships - Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki (at 18:10)

A more recent answer on society/women-and-gender exists (10 March 2023): Who carried on Imam Malik's teaching after him?

Watch on YouTube at 18:10 · Open the segment

Should I register my nikah as a civil marriage?

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Should I register my nikah as a civil marriage?

Mufti Abu Layth is not sure civil registration is the answer, because he objects to needing the state's permission to leave a relationship. He accepts the financial arguments on both sides, the man's fear of losing half his property and the woman's risk of being left with nothing. Mufti Abu Layth says he is not sure civil registration is the solution for Muslim marriages, because he objects to needing the state's permission to leave a relationship, while acknowledging the financial arguments on both sides.

Answer from 5 March 2018 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors

Kind: general teaching

Recording: Zina, Marriage and Relationships - Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki (at 13:02)

A more recent answer on fiqh/divorce exists (10 March 2023): Why was Imam Malik flogged?

Watch on YouTube at 15:37 · Open the segment

Does an exclusive boyfriend-girlfriend relationship count as a nikah?

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Does an exclusive boyfriend-girlfriend relationship count as a nikah?

Mufti Abu Layth does not endorse the idea but calls it a good question that the ulama should discuss. He says the past had simple marriage, unstigmatised divorce and other accepted outlets, whereas Muslims today have only a culturally dramatised, expensive nikah. Mufti Abu Layth holds that in the past marriage was simple, divorce was not stigmatised and other outlets were accepted, so earlier scholars never stressed this topic, whereas Muslims today have only a culturally dramatised and expensive nikah; he leaves the question whether an exclusive relationship amounts to nikah for the ulama to discuss.

Answer from 5 March 2018 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors

Kind: general teaching

Recording: Zina, Marriage and Relationships - Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki (at 10:25)

A more recent answer on fiqh/sexual-ethics exists (22 February 2023): Did some Muslim scholars say homosexuality is not haram?

Watch on YouTube at 10:25 · Open the segment

Why is it so hard for young Muslims to marry, and what are they supposed to do about desire?

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Why is it so hard for young Muslims to marry, and what are they supposed to do about desire?

Men of eighteen or nineteen are generally not ready for marriage but have strong sexual needs, and Mufti Abu Layth says current religious teaching offers no real solution. He calls advice to fast and lower the gaze inadequate and asks scholars to acknowledge the problem. Mufti Abu Layth holds that men of eighteen or nineteen are generally not ready for marriage yet have strong sexual needs, that the usual advice to fast and lower the gaze is inadequate, and that, unlike in the past, Islam today has no solution to offer to this problem, which scholarship should acknowledge.

Answer from 5 March 2018 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors

Kind: general teaching

Recording: Zina, Marriage and Relationships - Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki (at 5:10)

A more recent answer on fiqh/sexual-ethics exists (22 February 2023): Did some Muslim scholars say homosexuality is not haram?

Watch on YouTube at 5:10 · Open the segment

Is zina today the same issue it was in the past?

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Is zina today the same issue it was in the past?

Much of the inherited social theory on relationships and marriage no longer matches today's reality, and Mufti Abu Layth calls for ulama to re-examine the context with fresh ijtihad. He describes marriage today as costly and idealised, with divorce and polygamy stigmatised. Mufti Abu Layth holds that much of the inherited social theory on relationships and marriage no longer matches today's circumstances and that ulama should re-analyse the context and offer suitable ijtihad.

Answer from 5 March 2018 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors

Kind: general teaching

Recording: Zina, Marriage and Relationships - Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki (at 0:00)

A more recent answer on fiqh/sexual-ethics exists (22 February 2023): Did some Muslim scholars say homosexuality is not haram?

Watch on YouTube at 1:18 · Open the segment