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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Salah (Prayers) . Takbir

When lifting our hands when saying Allahu Akbar during Namaz, do we have to lift it all the way up to our ears? I see some people raise it halfway, is that also acceptable?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 1 week ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. There is no problem in that. It suffices to pronounce the Takbiratul Ihram without raising the hands at all.

May you always be successful

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Qunut . Forgiveness . Salah (Prayers) . Non-Muslims . Salatul Layl

During the Qunut of Salat al-Witr, when asking forgiveness for 40 people, can I include Christians and disbelievers in my family and amongst my friends?

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 1 week ago

We can pray for non Muslim parents, relatives and friends who are still alive, to Allah (SWT) to guide them to The Right Path and enlighten their hearts and minds with the light of the Truth.

For those who passed away as non Muslims, we can pray to Allah (SWT) to deal with them with His Mercy.

We are not allowed to seek forgiveness for those who insisted and died on Shirk (polytheism) as we read in Quran, Sura Tawbah, verse 113: It is not proper for the Prophet and the believers to seek forgiveness for the Mushriks, even though they be of kin.

Wassalam.

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Mosque . Qunut . Salah (Prayers) . Makkah . Ka'ba

When praying in the holy mosque of Mecca, is it permissible to look at the Kaaba during the Qunut?

Yes it is permissible to look at the Ka'bah during Qunoot because looking at the Ka'bah is a worship by itself. Nevertheless, it is always recommended during Qunoot of Prayers to look at your palms (inner side of your hands).

Wassalam.

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Husband . Home . Salah (Prayers) . Salat al-Jama’at

My husband and I usually pray in Jamaat at home. If one of us is not available right at the time of prayer, how long should the other wait to pray in Jamaat rather than alone?

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 1 week ago

Bismihi ta'ala

If it would be within a reasonable range of time after the entering of the prayer time, then yes you can wait, and you will receive the reward of prayer on time, and also jama'ah prayer.

However, if there will be an extensive delay, then it is better that you pray on time, and receive its abundant reward.

And Allah knows best.

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Salah (Prayers) . Wudu (Ablution)

Where can I find the method to perform Shia Namaz and Wuzu?

Bismihi ta'ala

I have a variety of tutorials for prayer, wudhu', ghusl, etc. I physically show and explain how these things are done.

This is the playlist for these tutorials:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHj5BjXrLabhA_vdCwAPtN9dFKRPuntX-

In shaa Allah you will benefit from them.

With prayers for your success.

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Wife . Family . Responsibility . Salah (Prayers) . God (Allah)

My wife hasn't prayed for the last 5 years. When I ask her, she and her family tell me that this is not my responsibility and it is between her and Allah. How should I deal with this situation?

Mateen Charbonneau, Sheikh Mateen Joshua Charbonneau achieved a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies. He undertook Howza classes under esteemed scholars since 2013 and has been teaching at Imam Mahdi... Answered 1 week ago

You should not abandon hope for her. Continue to encourage her, while not being forceful or pushy. Pray where she sees you and perhaps she will feel remorse that she is not praying.

A scholar in Najaf told me about being persistent, "I remember there was one of the youth who followed my father in taqlid and at some point he became a communist and left Islam. My father would pass by this youths shop on his way to salat everyday. My father would always say salam to the youth, but the young man would ignore him and never reply. My father kept saying salam to him everyday for one year then the youth finally replied to his salam and ended up repenting and coming back to Islam."

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Salah (Prayers) . Adhan

How many minutes is the Awwal time for each prayer, and does it start from the Azan time or from the calculated time?

Awwal Waqt which is also known as Waqt Al-Fadheelah is the period within which it is highly recommended to perform the prayer. It starts when the real time of the Salah starts. Azan is not always declared on the real time but delayed in some places especially in some non Muslim countries.

Awwal Waqt for morning prayer is from Real Fajr till darkness of the sky starts decreasing.

Awwal Waqt for Dhuhr prayer is from midday till the shadow of things becomes to four sevenths of the thing and it is better not to delay it more than the time of two sevenths of things.

'Awwal Waqt for Assr prayer is after performing Dhuhr or from the time of two sevenths of the shadow till the shadow reaches six sevenths.

Awwal Waqt for Maghrib is from vanishing the eastern reddish ness till the end of western reddish ness in the horizon.

'Awwal Waqt for Isha prayer is from vanishing of western reddish ness till one third of the night.

Wassalam.

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Conversion to Islam . Salah (Prayers)

For the first 3 months after converting to Islam I did not pray as I lived with my parents and did not want to upset them by praying in their presence. Do I need to make up for prayers before I accepted Islam and for the first 3 months after converting?

Bismihi ta'ala

There must have been many things you had to deal with when you first converted to Islam. This is very common, and you should take things on a normal pace so you familiarise yourself with the precepts of this new religion you have adopted.

As for praying, there could have been alternative options, where you could have avoided upsetting your parents, and also observe your daily prayers. Like, praying in closed off area, or bedroom, etc.

What you can do in your free time and gradually pray these days, as qadha`, or as re-doing that which was obligatory for you which you missed out on. See it as a blessing, as when we pray, although more than our daily routine, that is indeed an honourable blessing from the Almighty, as there is nothing better than worshipping Him.

With prayers for your success.

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Salah (Prayers) . God (Allah) . Surat al-Nas . Surat al-Falaq

I have heard that it is disrespectful, while praying, to start a Surah with the word 'Qul' which tells Allah to 'Say' such as in Surah Ikhlas, Naas and Falaq. Is it allowed to recite these chapters without the first word 'Qul'?

This is unfounded as for starters you are not telling Allah to say, rather this is Allah's words addressed to the Holy Prophet (s) and the believers. It is highly recommended to say surah ikhlas in prayer and it is disliked to abandon this surah for a whole day.

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Salah (Prayers) . Sunni-Shi'a . Turbah

How can I justify to my Sunni brothers my use of a Sajdagah during prayers?

We are following the Prophet Muhammad who never did Sajda on carpet and always performed Sajda on the earth or plants which are not for wearing nor for eating. All Muslim scholars have the Prophetic Hadeeth: جُعِلت لي الارض مسجدا وطَهورا "The earth was ordained for me as a place of prostration and a material of purification" Saheeh al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Hadeeth number 429.

The Prophet (SAWA) used to prostrate either on the earth or on piece of clay or mat called Khumrah ( Saheeh al-Bukhari , Kitab al-Salah, Hadeeth number 368) which is just like the Sajdagah which we, Shia Muslims use.

Those who do Sajda on the carpet are doing something which was never done by the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) according to their own books of Hadeeth. They should ask themselves; why?

Ibn Taymiyyah, the godfather of Wahhabism stated that prostrating on carpet is Bid'ah.(Majmoo' al-Fataawa,Ibn Taymiyyah, Volume 22).

Wassalam.

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Najis . Salah (Prayers)

If I have offered all the five prayers of a day and later realised that the garments I had on were Najis, should I reperform those prayers? If yes, what should be the Niyat?

If you performed your obligatory prayers with cloth which you thought it Tahir, then discovered later on that it was not Tahir, you do not need to re perform those prayers, but wear Tahir clothes for coming prayers.

Wassalam.

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Salah (Prayers) . Sunni-Shi'a . Abu Bakr

What do our scholars say about the several Sunni narrations stating that Abu Bakr led the prayers in the Prophet's (s) last sickness on his instruction? What do we say about who led the prayers during that time?

The narrations claiming that the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) instructed Abu Bakr to lead the prayers during his last sickness is not authentic at all. The main narrator is just one person who is Ayisha the daughter of Abu Bakr. Another narrator is 'O'rwah Ibn al-Zubair ,the sin of Asmaa' who is Ayisha's real sister. 'O'rwah was not even born in the time of incident, beside his own benefit to support his the claim of his aunt for political reasons. 'O'rwah fought against Imam Ali in the battle of Jamal (The Camel). He was a staunch enemy of Imam Ali (AS) till the end of his life.

Lot of people were present near the Prophet during his last sickness, but none of them narrated such incident. The Masjid was full of Muslims, but none of them narrated that the Prophet sent Abu Bakr to lead the prayers. On the contrary, authentic narrations stated that Ayisha while the Prophet was not well, told her father to go to the Masjid to lead the prayers with out informing the Prophet. When the Prophet was cane to know, he tolerated his heavy illness and went to the Masjid and dragged Abu Bakr back and led the prayers. If Abu Bakr was really sent by the Prophet to lead the prayer, then why did the Prophet drag him back and prevent him from leading the prayers.

Even if Abu Bakr was told to lead the prayers, which never happened, leading the prayers can never be an evidence to be a successor of the Prophet as it is a clear fact that the Prophet used to order a man (Ibn Abi Maktoom) to lead the prayers in his Masjid when he away from Madinah. Can any one claim that that man is the successor after the Prophet?

This fabricated story aims to justify ignoring the clear orders and obvious allegiance which was taken from Muslims in the Day of Ghadeer to follow Ali (AS) after the Prophet (SAWA).

Wassalam.