Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question: Assalamu alaykum
1) When I go to jummah, I leave my money in the car (on purpose) so when people ask me for money, I would say, “I don’t have money on me right now”. I was referring to my pockets since the money is in the car. Is this sinful or lying?
2) I saw a spider in the bathroom and I was a bit angry, so I nearly said a curse word. A few seconds later, I wondered if my curse was addressed to Allah. This isn’t the first time I have had such thoughts when cursing.
Answer: Assalamu alaykum brother,
Money at the mosque
May Allah reward you for attending the Friday prayer (jumu`ah) to fulfil your weekly obligation. It is not considered lying or sinful when you tell them that you don’t have money on you right now. I am not sure what your personal situation is, or the situation at your mosque, but it is praiseworthy to give in charity. If you accustom yourself to give a little charity every week, you will find it benefit you in the afterlife in sha Allah.
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” [Tirmidhi] and he said, “Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” [Tirmidhi] He also said, may Allah bless him and give him peace, “O son of Adam! If you give your surplus it is better for you, and if you keep it, it is worse for you, but there is no harm with what is sufficient. And begin (the giving) with your dependents, and the upper hand (giving) is better than the lower hand (receiving).“ [Tirmidhi]
Even giving a dollar or two from your pocket is a good habit. `Aisha narrated, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said, ‘The most beloved deed to Allah is the most consistent even if it were little.‘“
Cursing
As for cursing, it is not suitable for a believer to be cursing or swearing, especially at a little spider. Please refer to the following links for information and references on the subject.
Can I Still Use an Object That I Have Cursed?
The Ruling on Swearing
I don’t believe your curse was addressed to Allah, most High. It depends, of course, on what you said exactly. For example, saying, “Damn spider!“ does not refer to your Lord.
Try to change your cursing habit. Whenever you see something that is disagreeable, praise your Lord. Try it every time you are upset, and it will become a habit. You will even end up with a good deed for saying it and it will help you calm down in sha Allah. Not to mention, it will improve your character, as well.
Allah says, “For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah . Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any protector. [Qur`an, 13:11]
Wassalam,
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterwards, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.