• One of the most important things is to prepare for doing righteous deeds before the month of Ramadan. The scholars designated the month of Rajab as the start of the preparations for the month of Ramadan. • It is as if the year is a tree; its leaves begin to appear in the month of Rajab, its fruit begins to appear in the month of Sha`ban, and the people pick its fruit during the month of Ramadan. • So the individual should prepare himself by doing righteous deeds in Rajab, and pay extra attention to making them perfect in Sha`ban, so that he will be able to do them in a perfect manner in Ramadan.

We have not come across any hadith which says that whoever makes someone get up from his seat will be deprived of his seat in Paradise! But whoever makes someone get up from a permissible place that he reached first is wronging him, and he should ask him to forgive him and not expose himself to retaliation on the Day of Resurrection when the issue will be settled with hasanaat (good deeds) and sayyi’aat (bad deeds).

With regard to du'a for entering the house, one should mention the name of Allah, remember Allah and give the greeting of salaam, even if there is no one in the house. For more, please see the detailed answer.

There is nothing wrong with responding when a non-Muslim greets a Muslim at Eid or on any other occasion, by wishing him well and praying for him in an appropriate manner that is equivalent to his greeting. So one may say to him, “May Allah help you” or “May Allah honour you” and the like, and if the intention is to pray that Allah bless him and guide him to Islam, then that is more appropriate and better. And Allah knows best.

Scholars differ as to whether there is a difference between hamd and shukr. Some maintain that hamd and shukr mean the same thing. While others view that hamd and shukr are not the same. Please see below.