The thought that should embarrass us the most!

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد 

Indeed, prayers are a time-bounded obligation upon Muslims. The times of prayers are fixed hours, and the best deed a Muslim does is to offer the prayers at the beginning of their stated fixed times.

Allaah تعالى says:

إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا

{Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers (to be offered) at specified times}

[Surah al-Nisaa’ (4):103]

`Abdullaah Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه said: I asked the Prophet ﷺ: “Which deed is most loved by Allaah?” He ﷺ replied: ❝(To offer) the prayer at its proper time.❞
[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (527, 5970, 7534) and Saheeh Muslim. In al-Adab al-Mufrad, the very first Hadeeth that Imaam al-Bukhaaree reported is this one. As if to say that the foundation of all good manners begins with having good manners with Allaah]

In another narration, the wording is: ❝To offer the prayers at their stated fixed times.❞
[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (2782)]

Do not forget Allaah!

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى says:

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

{And be not like those who forgot Allaah (i.e., became disobedient to Allaah) and He caused them to forget their own selves, (let them to forget to do righteous deeds). Those are the Faasiqoon (rebellious, disobedient to Allaah).}

[Surah al-Hashr (59):19]

Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #118

How to really thank Allaah for His favors?!

(What is real gratitude?)

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى said about Nooh عليه السلام:

ذُرِّيَّةَ مَنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا

{O descendants of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful servant.}

[Surah al-Israa (17): 3]

Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #117

 The virtue of repeating the Adhaan behind the Muadhdhin

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Narrated Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree رضي الله عنه: Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ said: ❝When you hear the Adhaan, repeat what the Muadhdhin (the call-maker) says.❞

[Saheehain]

 

`Abdullaah bin `Amr bin al-`Aas رضي الله عنهما reported: I heard the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ saying: ❝When you hear the Adhaan, repeat what the Muadhdhin says. Then send Salah upon me (i.e. invoke blessings on me) because everyone who does so will receive in return ten blessings from Allaah. Then beseech Allaah to grant me al-Waseelah, which is a high rank in Jannah, fitting for only one of Allaah’s slaves; and I hope that I will be that man. Whoever asks that I be given al-Waseelah, he will be assured of my intercession.❞

[Saheeh Muslim (384), Sunan Abu Dawood (523), Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3614), Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (678)]

Be Different From Animals in Prayers

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Part #1:

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله:

The Prophet ﷺ forbade from imitating the animals while in prayers. For he ﷺ forbade from kneeling like a camel [1], and from looking here and there like a fox [2], and resting (spreading the forearms) on the ground like a wild beast [3], and squatting like a dog [4], and pecking like a crow [5], and from raising the hands like wild horses while concluding the Salaah with the Tasleem [6]. The actions of the one who is praying are different from the actions of the animals.

[Zaad al-Ma`aad (1/217-218)]

Ruling on removing the pebbles and fixing the prayer rug more than once in prayer

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In this period of Covid-19, where people have been instructed to bring their own prayer rugs to the Masaajid, as one of the means to control the spread of this virus, some have been observed to fix their prayer rugs over and over again while in prayer or during the Jumu`ah Khutbah (Friday sermon). If a person fixes his prayer rug or removes the pebbles before starting the prayer, then there is nothing wrong with that, but this unnecessary action during the prayer and during the Khutbah is disliked. The only exception is that if he can’t help it and he feels like he needs to fix his prayer rug while in prayer, then he may do so only once. This is based on the following Ahaadeeth and the explanation by the Scholars of this Ummah.

Qur'aan singers: From the Signs of the Hour

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

🌟 From the signs of the hours: Giving preference to the man with a nice voice to lead the prayers

The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:

❝Hasten to (good) deeds (before the appearance) of six traits:

➡1. The leadership of the foolish,

➡2. Abundance of (corrupt) police (squads),

➡3. Severing ties of kinship,

➡4. Selling of justice (and loss of trustworthiness through bribing),

➡5. Making light of bloodshed,

➡6. Emergence of a (new) generation who will recite the Qur’aan like singing. They (the people) will sent forth a man (to lead them in prayers) even though he would not be the one who has the most understanding or more knowledgeable than them. They will not send him forth except that he sings it (the Qur’aan) for them.❞

📚[al-Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer (59, 60) and the wording is his, Musnad Ahmad (16040, 23970) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. In Musnad Ahmad, the wording is: ❝Emergence of a (new) generation who will recite the Qur’aan like singing. They will send him forth so that he sings it (the Qur’aan) for them, even though he would be the least knowledgeable among them.❞]

📑 There is a difference between beautifying your voice while reciting the Qur’aan, which is recommended, and reciting the Qur’aan like singing, which is disparaged.

📑 In Faidh al-Qadeer it is mentioned that “singing the Qur’aan” means: “reciting it like a song, in which the words are stretched or shrunk, or recited out of place (while ignoring the rules of Tajweed).”

📑 Al-`Allaamah Abu `Abdullaah Ibn al-Haaj al-Maalikee رحمه الله (d. 737H) said:

“Chapter: The characteristics of the Imaam who should be made to lead the night prayers in Ramadhaan:

He should be from the people of knowledge, known for his good manners and religiosity, in opposition to what some of them do today. A majority of them send forth a man to lead them in prayer because of his nice voice and not because of his religiosity. And Imaam Maalik had said: The people, who give precedence to the man with a nice voice to lead them in prayer, in fact send him forth so that he could sing it (the Qur’aan) to them.”

📚 [al-Madkhal of Ibn al-Haaj (2/292)]

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen on following the Imaam even if he exceeds 11 Rak`aat

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen on praying Taraaweeh with two Imams in one Masjid even if they pray more than 11 Rak`aat.

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

QUESTION (806): What about the one who prayed Taraweeh with the first Imaam and leaves and says: “I will receive the reward for praying the whole night because of the Hadeeth: ❝If a man prays with the Imaam until he leaves, that will be counted for him as if he spent the whole night in prayer❞, because I had started with the (first) Imaam and finished with him?

Ruling on raising the hands in Du`aa after the Salaah

Du`aa is before the Tasleem and Dhikr is after the Salaah

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

QUESTION Is it allowed to raise the hands (for supplication) between the Adhaan and Iqaamah and after the compulsory prayers?

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله: ❝Yes, raising the hands for Du`aa (supplication) between the Adhaan and Iqaamah is from the etiquette of making supplication. This is because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ❝A supplication made between the Adhaan and Iqaamah is not rejected.❞ [Sunan Abu Dawood (521), Sunan al-Tirmidhee (212) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Ruling on prolonging the final Sajdah of the Salaah

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

From the Fatwa of Shaikh `Abdul `Azeez Ibn Baaz رحمه الله:

QUESTION: Some people prolong the last Sajdah (prostration) in the last Raka`ah (unit) of the prayer. They exclusively mark the last Sajdah for making Du`aa while leaving out the other Sujood. And sometimes it is the Imaam (of the Masjid) who does this, while we, the followers behind him, observe him prolonging only the last Sajdah. What is the ruling on this?

Shaikh Baaz رحمه الله: ❝We do not know of any evidence in the Sharee`ah regarding prolonging (only) the last Sajdah (prostration) of the prayer. Rather, the Sunnah is that all the Sujood (prostrations) should be in accordance (i.e. without marking anyone of them as special), and he (the Imaam) should not lengthen it on the people (while in congregation). Indeed the prostrations of the one offering the Salaah should be moderate and consistent (with each other). This should also be applied to his Rukoo` (bowing) and his Qiyaam (standings) in the prayer.

Saying “Aameen” by the Imaam and those praying behind him:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Question: Is it necessary to follow the Imaam (even) while saying “Aameen”?

Answer by Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen: Yes! Saying Aameen is Sunnah Muakkadah [1] because of the saying of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

إذا أمن الإمام فأمنوا

“When the Imaam says ‘Aameen’, say ‘Aameen’.” [2]

Du`aa al-Istiftaah - Part 3

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

You can read part 1 from here:

http://ilm4all.blogspot.com/2016/06/duaa-al-istiftaah-part-1.html

And Part 2 from here:

http://ilm4all.blogspot.com/2016/06/duaa-al-istiftaah-part-2.html

The second Du`aa al-Istiftaah and its meaning:

When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم started to pray he would say:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرَكَ

“Subhaanakallaahumma, wa bihamdika tabaarakasmuka wa ta`aala jadduka wa laa ilaaha ghairuk”

(Glory and praise be to You, O Allaah. Blessed be Your Name and Exalted be Your Majesty, there is none worthy of worship except You)

Du`aa al-Istiftaah - Part 2

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

You can read part 1 from here:
http://ilm4all.blogspot.com/2016/06/duaa-al-istiftaah-part-1.html

The first Du`aa al-Istiftaah and its meaning:

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم used to keep silent between the Takbeer and the recitation of Qur’an (Surah al-Faatihah) and that interval of silence used to be a short one. I said to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: May my parents be sacrificed for you! What do you say in the pause between Takbeer and recitation? The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“I say:

اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَايَ، كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ المَشْرِقِ وَالمَغْرِبِ، اللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِي مِنَ الخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْ خَطَايَايَ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالبَرَدِ

Du`aa al-Istiftaah - Part 1

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ruling pertaining to Du`aa al-Istiftaah*:

* Du`aa al-Istiftaah: the opening supplication which is recited after the first Takbeer and before reciting Surah al-Faatihah. Example:

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك، وتبارك اسمك، وتعالى جدك، ولا إله غيرك

How perfect You are O Allaah, and I praise You. Blessed be Your name, and lofty is Your position and none has the right to be worshiped except You.

[See “Hisnul Muslim” for other such Du`aa which are mentioned in the Sunnah]

Question: If a person joins the congregation and the Imaam is reciting Surah al-Faatihah, should he recite the Du`aa al-Istiftaah?

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen: If a person joins the congregation while the Imaam is reciting Surah al-Faatiḥah, then he should say the Takbeer and silently listen to it. Then, after the Imaam completes his recitation of Surah al-Faatiḥah, the person should then say the Du`aa al-Istiftaaḥ and recite Surah al-Faatiḥah. But if he joins the congregation after the Imaam has already recited Surah al-Faatiḥah and is now reciting some other Surah after it, then in this case, he should only recite Surah al-Faatiḥah and he should not say the Du`aa al-Istiftaaḥ because there is no place for saying the Du`aa al-Istiftaaḥ in this situation. When the Imaam is reciting, one should not recite (anything behind him) except for Surah al-Faatiḥah.

So upon this, this is how it is to be done:

1) If a person joins the congregation while the Imaam is reciting Surah al-Faatihah, he should remain silent. Then when the Imaam completes his recitation of Surah al-Faatihah, he should say the Du`aa al-Istiftaah and recite Surah al-Faatihah.

2) If he joins the congregation after the Imaam has already recited Surah al-Faatihah and he is reciting some other Surah, then he would say the Takbeer and only recite Surah al-Faatihah without saying the Du`aa al-Istiftaah, as this is not the place to say the Du`aa al-Istiftaah.

[Liqaa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh (5/42)]

3 reasons why we get sidetracked in our prayers and their remedy

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1) The first reason is the Waswas (whisper) of the Shaitaan called Khanzab:

Narrated `Uthmaan ibn Abul `Aas: `Uthman came to Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and said: Allaah's Messenger, the Satan intervenes between me and my prayer and my reciting of the Qur’aan and he confounds me. Thereupon Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “That is (the doing of the Satan) who is known as Khanzab, and when you perceive its effect, seek refuge with Allaah from it and spit three times to your left.” I did that and Allaah dispelled that from me.

Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #98

“Those who lag behind in joining the front rows, in the congregational prayers, will eventually lag behind in doing other righteous deeds as well.”

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

As for the men, whenever they precede (in joining the front rows), that is better for them; for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had warned against those who lag behind (in joining the front rows):

❝If people will continue to lag behind, Allaah will put them at the back.❞
[Saheeh Muslim (878)]

This is dangerous! Whenever a person lags behind in joining the first row or the second or the third, he will find that Allaah تعالى has put in his heart the love of lagging behind in doing other righteous deeds (as well) – and Allaah’s refuge is sought from this.

This is why (he صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: ❝If people will continue to lag behind, Allaah will put them at the back.❞

So you, O my brother, should be (persistent) in joining the first row.

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen of Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen (5/111)]

Men and women racing towards the goodness

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

❝In these Ahaadeeth, there is evidence that the front rows (in the Masaajid) are more virtuous for the men than the last ones; and the last rows are better for the women than the first ones, because the last rows for the women are the furthest away from the men than the front rows. And the further a woman is away from the men, the better for her.

And based on this reasoning - and by the Will of Allaah it will be correct – if the women are in a special place (or in separate halls), like how it is found in many of todays’ Masaajid, we say: the best rows for the women are the first ones, and the worst rows are the last ones – like how it is for the men, as long as the women are separate from the men and there is a partition (or barrier) between them. This is because in the Sharee`ah it is loved that one races towards goodness, and this is also from it.❞

[Sharh Saheeh Muslim (2/205) of Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen]

The things a person should never give up

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Among the things a person should never voluntarily give up are:

1) his water for ablution (Wudhu).

2) his place in the first row.

۝۝۝

1) Water for ablution:

If two people are on a journey and only one person has water for ablution; then the one who has water should perform ablution and his companion should do Tayammum.

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

❝Giving precedence to others over yourself in those things which are obligatory is not allowed. Example: in regards to Tayammum, if a person only has enough water for himself with which to perform ablution and there is another person with him who needs water (for ablution as well), he is not to give the water to the other person, the other person should do Tayammum. Because this is giving precedence to others over yourself in those things which are obligatory, and giving such precedence to others over yourself is Haraam.❞

[Sharh al-Mumti` (5/100 and 15/40) and Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (3/416-417)]

۞۞۞

2) The place in the first row:

Narrated Abu Hurairah: Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

❝If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhaan (call for prayer) and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots, and if they knew the reward of the Dhuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they would race for it (go early) and if they knew the reward of `Ishaa' and Fajr prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl.❞

[Saheehain]

۩ But unfortunately, people stand in rows with gaps in between them so much so that they can accommodate a few more people in the rows. Each person wants to have his own personal space, Ajeeb! Whereas the Companions used to stand shoulder to shoulder and foot to foot! And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had instructed his Companions to form rows like the angels – by first completing the first row and filling the gaps in the rows [as mentioned n Saheeh Muslim].

۝۝۝

As for the sister, then for them the last rows are the best, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

❝The best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst ones the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first ones.❞

[Saheeh Muslim]

Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #87

Prohibition of raising one's eyes towards the sky during the Salaah

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Chapter: Prohibition of raising one’s eyes towards the sky during the Salaah

1754 Narrated Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “What is wrong with those people who look towards the sky during the prayer?” His talk grew stern while delivering this speech and he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “They should stop (looking towards the sky during the prayer); otherwise their eyesight would be taken away.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (750)]

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

Anas Ibn Maalik رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prohibited that a person should raise his eyes towards the sky. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “What is wrong with those people who look towards the sky during the prayer?”; meaning: What is the matter with them? Why are they raising their eyes towards the sky? Either they should stop doing that or their eyesight would be snatched away. This is a threat, a proof that it is prohibited for a person to raise his eyes towards the sky while he is praying.

Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #86

Undesirability of looking around while praying:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Chapter: From the prohibited actions in prayer: Undesirability of looking here and there during the prayer without a valid excuse.

1755 - Narrated `Aaishah رضي الله عنها: I asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about one’s randomly looking here and there during the prayer. He صلى الله عليه وسلم replied: “It is what Shaitaan (Satan) steals from the prayer of any one of you.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (751, 3291)]