Salah (Prayers)

Salah ("worship", ‏صلاة‎; pl. ‏صلوات‎ ṣalawāt; also salat), or namāz (Persian: نَماز‎) in some languages, is one of the Five Pillars in the faith of Islam and an obligatory religious duty for every Muslim (Male & Female, with certain exemptions based on Taqwa). It is a physical, mental, and spiritual act of worship that is observed five times every day at prescribed times.

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Qadha . Salah (Prayers) . Nafl

Can I pray my obligatory Qadha prayer and Nafila prayer together?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 14 hours ago

No.
Obligatory Qadha prayer must be performed as Qadha without mixing it with Nafila.

Wassalam.

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Salah (Prayers) . Wudu (Ablution) . Taharah (Purity)

For a person who works in a public office where tissue paper is used in the washroom instead of water, can they perform prayers by making Wuzoo just after attending the washroom?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 2 days ago

Bismihi ta'ala

As Muslims, we do istinja`, or wash ourselves after using the toilet, not only because it is more hygienic and cleaner, but also to stay in the state of taharah, especially for salat.

This is necessary, wherever you may be, even in public office, if you are there regularly. You can use a water bottle, and it does not need to be excessive amount of water as well.

If you do not wash yourself, then no, you cannot pray in such a state, especially if it is after urinating. Your option is to either wait until you go back home, wash yourself, and then pray, or do as recommended above, and pray on time.

And Allah knows best.

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Body . God (Allah) . Salah (Prayers)

Is it halal to have a sort of mental image of Allah while praying, not an actual imagination of a body but rather just some sort of sense to have orientation what I am praying towards?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 3 days ago

The images that go through one's imagination are not usually in the domain of halal or haram because they are not entirely under the control of the human being - sometimes the imagination makes up its own images spontaneously, sometimes we try to imagine something, and something an external source can put something in the imagination. Halal and haram are usually confined to physical actions.

It is natural to have some impression of what Allah might be, whether that be a mental image, a feeling, or an impression via the inner senses.

The Qur'an also gives us metaphors for how to understand Allah, such as in the phrases "the hand of Allah is above their hands" or "Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth", which might trigger visual imagery, although we understand that Allah does not really have a hand and is not a light bulb, and these are just ideas to help us understand better.

The important thing is to remember that the senses cannot confine Allah and Allah cannot be seen:

* "No vision can grasp Allah, but Allah's grasp is over all visions" (Qur'an 6:103)
* "He [Allah] is too exalted for sight to be able to perceive Him, for imagination to be able to fathom Him, and for the intellect to be able to grasp Him." (related from Imam Rida (A))

So any ideas or images we have about the nature of Allah are just personal impressions, which may change over time, and are not encompassing the Reality.

Beyond that, we are advised to ponder on the attributes of Allah but not to try to imagine the essence of Allah.

Some people might also perceive higher spiritual realities and take them as an image of Allah. However, insofar as narrations remind us that Allah is veiled by veils of light, and that Allah cannot be encompassed by the senses, it is also important to acknowledge that these are just created things and are not actually Allah.

I am reminded of an exercise which some young people were doing in school in the UK where they were asked to draw God and some of the Muslim students drew Allah as a giant cloud. Most people who believe in a force of divinity have some mental model of it.

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Tattoo . Conversion to Islam . Salah (Prayers)

Does someone who has tattoos on his arm, some that show faces, that he had prior to converting to Islam, need to cover those tattoos before he prays?

It is not obligatory on him to cover the tattoos while praying as far as the tattoos are not promoting un Islamic values or faith.

Wassalam.

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Ramadan . Salah (Prayers) . Health

Does praying when you are sick with fever and tired get more rewards in the month of Ramadan?

The Hadeeth says: Best of deeds is the most difficult. Sharh Osool Al-Kaifi by al-Mazindarani (12:188).

It means that the reward of the good deed is more when it is more difficult.

Wassalam.

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Sunni . Mosque . Eid al-Fitr . Salah (Prayers)

Can I pray Eid prayers in a Sunni mosque? If so, how should I join in their prayers?

Yes it is permissible to pray Eid prayers in Sunni mosque. Eid prayer can be performed in congregation ( Jama'ah) as well as individually (Furada). When pray with congregation of Sunni brothers, you need to recite every Sura and Du'a in whispering without clear voice. This is exactly like praying any prayer with Sunni congregation.

Wassalam.

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Parents . Death . God (Allah) . Forgiveness . Divine Guidance . Paradise . Salah (Prayers)

My parents are Muslim but they don't pray. Is it permissible for me to ask Allah (swt) to forgive my parents, and to guide and grant them Jannah? And can I keep praying for a Muslim even after his death?

Yes it is very good to pray for the guidance and forgiveness of your parents.

It is also allowed to pray for deceased Muslim for forgiveness and mercy from Allah (SWT).

Wassalam.

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Najis . Pork . Clothing . Salah (Prayers)

If my clothes became Najis because they came into contact and were contaminated with pork, how many times do I need to wash them so they become pure and I can wear them while performing prayers?

Such clothes need to be washed with water like washing any other Najis clothes, then it will become Taahir.

Plates and vessels contaminated by dog need to be washed first with soil, then with pure water, but this rule is not for clothes.

Plates or vessels contaminated with pig or dead rat need to washed with water seven times. That is not for clothes.

Wassalam.

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Salah (Prayers) . Clothing

Can a male perform Namaz in half sleeves?

Bismihi ta'ala

There is no shar'i problem with praying while wearing a t-shirt or half sleeve shirt.

And Allah knows best.

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Salah (Prayers) . Du'a (Supplication)

Is it a sign of my insincerity that I am currently feeling my prayers and Duas as a burden?

Prayers and supplications are the best way to talk to Allah (SWT), that is why sincere believers enjoy being in Prayers or reciting supplications.

Feeling Prayers and Du'a as a burden is not a good feeling. It needs to be treated with more Estighfaar and Salawaat and remembering our near future in Hereafter. Visiting the graveyard is good to soften our heart. Serving and looking after orphans also makes out heart more sincere.

Wassalam.

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Fajr . Qadha . Salah (Prayers) . Du'a (Supplication)

Will my night prayer become invalid if I am mid prayer and it is time for Fajr? Can one make Qadha for the night prayer? And are there any Duas which could help me wake up easily for it?

1.Your Night Prayer (Salat Al-Layl) is valid even if time of Fajr starts while you are still praying Night Prayer.

2.Night Prayer can be performed as Qadha and it is recommended for those who missed it to perform it as Qadha any time during day or night.

3. Last verse of Sura Al-Kahf has been mentioned in our books to be recited to wake up easily قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
الكهف ١٨ | الآية: ١١٠]Sura 18, verse 110.

Wassalam.

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Meaning . Salat al-Jama’at . Salah (Prayers)

What does it actually mean when it is said that the Imam leading congregational prayers has to be just?

It is a term in jurisprudence within the conditions of the person who can lead a congregational Prayer to Aadil عادل. Aadil means a pious person who does not deliberately commit sinful acts, and if it happens that he committed a sinful act, he immediately repents and seeks forgiveness and never insists on wrong. Such pious, God fearing, obedient person is called Aadil.
(Just) is a literal linguistic translation of Aadil but it does not include the full meaning of the term Aadil.

Wassalam.