I seek Shar'i clarification on some practices at the Madrasah I am in, in the UK.

Answer

It is a bid'ah practice. It is not permissible to participate in this innovation which has no basis in the Sunnah.

2) Is the salah valid if there are pictures or statues nearby? There is a foosball/ football toy table in the room that we read salah in, which has highly simplified figures and pictures of people (defaced, some of them arms removed, just a basic outline like a shadow).

A. While the Salaat will be technically valid, it is not permissibe to perform Salaat in such a room. It is preposterous for a Darul Uloom to have such shaitaani artefacts in its Jamaat Khaanah.

3) How should I handle having to sit in bayans (3+ hours a week) of Ulama who are "blind" or at worse, 'soo'?

Should I just do dhikr, read Qur'an, or sleep during the bayans?

A. The 'Ulama' you are referring to are your Asaatizah. If they are truly Ulama-e-Soo', then you should not study under them. Even if they are 'blind' or 'worse', you have to respect them since you are acquiring ta'leem from them. As long as you are in their bayaans at the Madrasah, listen to their talks, but discard the wrong they propagate.

4) Unnecessary security cameras are on me sometimes when I go around the madrasah. What is the ruling regarding these, and your advice? Is it compulsory on me to make an effort to avoid cameras — even in masjids? And if I can't, is it that important that I should change madaaris to one where there is less/no cameras?

A. It is not permissible for the Madrasah to have these cameras. The picture-making is haraam. The Madrasah makes a mockery of the Ahaadith which prohibit pictures, but which they teach. If you are able to avoid being pictured, then do so. Changing to another Madrasah which also has these cameras, though less, does not solve the problem you are facing.

5) Should I stop standing immediately after Fardh salah for the Sunnats, because out of all the students and Ustaadhs and almost the whole masjid, I am the only one who stands straight away?

A. No, do not abandon what you are doing regardless of being the only one.

6) How should I address doing practice bayans (Anjuman) to students. I'm not an 'Alim and just started 'Alimiyyah course of study. I have no choice here and need to know what to do.

A. The practice in the Madaaris of this era to teach students in the art of public-speaking is corrupt and nugatory of the Maqsood of Ilm-e-Deen. Deeni Knowledge is acquired to enable one to practice the Deen correctly and this is for the Pleasure of Allah Ta'ala and for gaining thawaab in the Aakhirah. However, in these times which are close to Qiyaamah, Ilm is taught and acquired for the dunya – for despicable worldly and nafsaani motives, hence the flood of ulama-e-soo'.

As long as you are in the Madrasah, you cannot rebel. The best is to seek another Madrasah free from all these fitan. But finding such a Madrasah today is itself an onerous or a near impossible task.

7) Is it okay to daily pray nafl salah with jama'at (usually after Maghrib currently) for dhor? I make the intention of just praying by myself when I lead.

A. This practice is bid'ah. It is not permissible. Again, the objective is not the Deen.

8) Is salah in the dars building rather than the masjid, which is 1 minute away, permissible?

A. The Salaat is valid and permissible.

9) As part of tajweed, the ustaadh teaches tarteel and how to recite the Qur'an in a good tune, which involves him picking a surah and few tunes and gets the students to copy the styles. I feel uneasy by the heavy emphasis put on tune while most don't know the meaning – and emphasising things like "highs and lows" and specifically practicing tunes of reading. Is it permissible to take part in this if I have to?

A. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "Most of the munaafiqeen of my Ummah are its qaaris." The Madrasah is ingraining nifaaq in these students. Nowadays, there is no emphasis on amal and akhlaaq in the Madaaris which have become mercenary institutions. Search for another Madrasah.