Articles

Poses on Enjoining Obligatory Prayer
Author : Dr. Mohammad bani Taha
Date Added : 25-04-2017

 

 

 

Poses on Enjoining Obligatory Prayer, A Flashback to Isra` and Mi`raj

 

 

 

By Dr. Mufti Mohammad Bani Taha

 

All praise be to Allah Who privileged His Slave and Messenger with the miracle of Isra` and Mi`raj. This great event was meant to comfort, support, and honor Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) where he was shown one of Allah`s countless signs and graces, and may peace and blessings be upon him and his followers. 

Just as the Prophet was honored with Isra` and Mi`raj, so was his nation since the five daily prayers were prescribed in that great journey, and what an honor that is!! The following points shed more light on this subject:

• The Prophet (PBUH) was taken on this nocturnal journey during "the year of sorrow" in which his beloved wife Khadijah and his uncle and protector Abu Talib died. Moreover, Allah has prescribed prayer as a refuge for every distressed Muslim. Therefore, when distress befalls a Muslim, he should seek refuge in prayer. Hudhaifah said: "When anything distressed the Prophet (PBUH), he prayed." [Abu Dawood].

 

• Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "While I was at Mecca, the roof of my house was opened and Gabriel descended, opened my chest, and washed it with Zamzam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it." [Al-Bukhari]. Similarly, when a Muslim is about to pray, he should clear his heart and soul from worldly concerns, just as he should wash his body and clothes from impurities.    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

• Chapter "Al-Isra`" has mentioned Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa although, at that time, its landmarks were wiped out, and Christians attempted to erase them in order to exasperate the Jews, and no prayer was held there for hundreds of years. Despite all of this, it was called a Masjid since a place dedicated for prayer remains called as such forever due to the greatness of this ritual.

 

 

• The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led the other Prophets in prayer during the Isra’ (Night Journey). This indicates that Islamic Law abrogated former Laws. As a result, prayer, due to its significance, became at the forefront of Islamic Law (Sharia). Just as he (PBUH) led them in prayer, his Law dominated and governed other Laws.

 

 

• The Prophet (PBUH) passed by the Oft-frequented House, which embodies to the people of Heaven what al-Masjid al-Haram embodies to the people of earth. Every day, seventy thousand angels enter that House to pray, but they will return to it only on the Day of Resurrection. Moreover, just as the people of earth observe prayer as an act of worship, so do the people of Heaven.

 

 

• Prayer was prescribed directly from Allah, in the seventh heaven, indicating its greatness and honorable status as the link between the slave and His Lord.

In conclusion, keeping the above points in mind helps the Muslim offer prayers with submissive humbleness that The Lord of The Worlds accepts from him and elevates his status for. We beseech Him to accept our acts of obedience, and the last of our prayers is that All Perfect Praise be to The Lord of The Worlds.

 

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible to read from the Mus-haf during Tarawih prayer?

Yes, it is permissible to read from the Mus-haf during Tarawih prayer, provided that excessive movements that invalidate the prayer are avoided.
However, it is preferable for the imam to be a memorizer of the Quran and to recite from memory.

What is the ruling on someone who intends to travel to Jeddah for two days — must he enter iḥrām from his place of residence [i.e., before passing the mīqāt]?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Whoever is firmly resolved in his intention to perform ‘Umrah before setting out on his journey, it is unlawful for him to pass beyond his country's mīqāt (the designated boundary point for entering the state of iḥrām) without entering iḥrām. If he does so, he must return to the mīqāt to enter iḥrām from there, provided he has not yet begun performing the rites of the pilgrimage — in which case nothing further is required of him. However, if he does not return, he must offer a sacrifice (sheep/goat), to be distributed among the poor of the Ḥaram.
It is stated in at-Tanbīh fī al-Fiqh ash-Shāfi‘ī (p. 71): "Whoever, intending to perform the rites [of ‘Umrah or Ḥajj], passes beyond the mīqāt and enters iḥrām only after it, must offer a sacrifice. However, if he returns to the mīqāt before beginning any of the rites, the sacrifice is waived from him."
Accordingly: whoever is firmly resolved in his intention to perform ‘Umrah before setting out on his journey must enter iḥrām at the mīqāt of his country through which he passes. Whoever fails to do so, passing beyond the mīqāt without entering iḥrām, and does not return, has sinned, and must repent to Allah, the Exalted; and he must offer a sacrifice, to be distributed among the poor of the Ḥaram. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on one who vowed not to speak to a certain person, then forgot his vow and spoke to him?

 

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
Whoever swears an oath or makes a vow to abstain from something has a choice: if he wishes, he may keep to his vow, or if he wishes, he may offer the expiation of an oath (kaffārat yamīn). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The expiation for a vow is the expiation for an oath.” Narrated by Muslim. This type of vow is called a nadhr al-lajāj (a vow made in stubbornness or anger).
If a person makes a vow and then forgets it, nothing is due from him, for forgetfulness is among the excuses that lift legal responsibility (taklīf) from a Muslim. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Actions are judged only by intentions, and every person will have only what he intended.” [Narrated by al-Bukhārī]. There is no intention for the one who forgets or errs. It is also based on the report: “Indeed, Allah has pardoned for my Ummah mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are compelled to do.” Narrated by Ibn Mājah and others, and graded authentic by Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Ḥākim.
It is stated in ʿUmdat al-Sālik (p. 243), one of the books of the Shāfiʿī school: “Whoever swears, [for example], ‘I will not enter the house,’ and then enters it forgetfully, ignorantly, under compulsion, or being carried, he does not break his oath.” And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on shaving body hair and clipping the nails for one who is in a state of major ritual impurity (*junub*)?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is recommended for one in a state of major ritual impurity (junub) not to remove anything from his body until after the ritual bath (ghusl). It is stated in Bushrā al-Karīm bi-Sharḥ Masāʾil al-Taʿlīm (p. 135): “It is recommended for one in a state of janābah and the like not to remove anything from his body until after ghusl, because the parts of the body return to him in the Hereafter, and he returns in a state of janābah, as a rebuke to him. Then it is removed from him, except for the original parts. It is said that every hair demands its due for its janābah.”
It is stated in Ḥāshiyat al-Shabrāmallisī ʿalā Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj (Vol.2/p.341): “If he wishes to combine shaving and the Friday ghusl, he should delay the shaving until after the ghusl if he is in a state of janābah, so that the ghusl removes its trace from the hair.” And Allah Almighty knows best.