Question Summary:
Should the husband and wife have separate accounts?Is celebrating birthday, watching TV permissible? How do animals glorify Allah?

Question Detail:

 
I pray that you are all in a high state of iman and good health. JazakumAllah khair for taking the time to respond to our questions and teach us, may Allah bless you, Ameen. 
I would like to know if it is better for husband and wife to have separate bank accounts or is it better to join accounts in order to have just one account? What is the normal islamic way?
Also, is it ok to bake a cake for my husband on his birthday and wish him happy birthday/celebrate with the family with the intention of bringing happiness to the family? Should men/women also lower their gaze if they watch women/men on TV or online?
In Quran it mentions that all creatures praise Allah sobhanahu wa ta3ala, does that mean that all animals are peaceful? How can an animal be possessed by shaytan (like a black cat or dog), does that mean that when they are possessed they don't praise Allah sobhanahu wa ta3ala anymore?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. 
1) Shari’ah emphasizes that we be clear and specific in recording our financial issues. This is also to avoid confusion in case of death and inheritance related issues.
Accordingly, the husband should have his separate banking account from his wife. In the case of death, the ownership can be easily established with the relevant laws of inheritance. In the case of a joint bank account, it will lead to uncertainty of ownership and conflict.
2) As Muslims we are sensitive to our belief of pure Tawḥīd (Oneness of Allah Taʿālā). This requires us to also completely disassociate ourselves from all practices related to Kuffar and their customs.
The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam has said:
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ
“Whosoever emulates a nation is amongst them” Sunan Abi Dawud 4/44
Celebrating such an occasion is nothing but an imitation of Kuffars. As Muslims, we must never compromise in our Deen. This custom of celebrating birthdays was never prevalent among Muslims before, but it was brought to them, like other immoral influences, during the period of colonialism from the non-Muslims.
Moreover, happiness in the family can never be achieved by going against the commands of Allah Ta’ala and His Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). Rather true happiness will be achieved by following Allah’s commands and creating a Deeni and Islamic environment in the family.
3) Apart from the general impermissibility of viewing TV and online programmes, it is also prohibited for a male to view a female and vice versa.
Rasullullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam said,
عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: " الْعَيْنُ تَزْنِي، وَالْقَلْبُ يَزْنِي، فَزِنَا الْعَيْنِ النَّظَرُ، وَزِنَا الْقَلْبِ التَّمَنِّي
The eye fornicates and the heart fornicates. The zina (fornication) of the eyes is looking (at something impermissible), the zina of the heart is wishing (to do something impermissible) (Ahmad 8356)
4) Allah Ta’ala says in the Quran,
{ تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَكِنْ لَا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا } [الإسراء: 44]
The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving. (Al-Isra 44)
The above Ayah states that all creations glorify Allah Ta’ala, but humans are unable to understand and comprehend this Tasbeeh (glorification). Thus, we cannot identify when and how animals praise Allah¹.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Arshad Ali
Student Darul Iftaa
Trinidad
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
http://www.daruliftaa.net/
 
 
تفسير ابن كثير (5/ 79)¹
{ وَلَكِنْ لا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ } أي: لا تفقهون تسبيحهم أيها الناس؛ لأنها بخلاف لغتكم. وهذا عام في الحيوانات (5) والنبات والجماد، وهذا أشهر القولين، كما ثبت في صحيح البخاري، عن ابن مسعود أنه قال: كنا نسمع تسبيح الطعام وهو يُؤكل