Is It Permissible To Make Sujood With a Face Mask On?

/in , , /by
Question:
Is it permissible to make sujood with a face mask on?
Answer:
Dear questioner,
May Allah, Most High reward you abundantly for your desire to increase in knowledge.
The nose touching the floor when in prostration is necessary (wajib) in the Hanafi school. However, if one has a valid reason to not touch the floor, the prayer is valid, and repeating the prayer is not needed.
[Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]
Wearing a face mask during the Covid-19 outbreak is a valid reason. However, one should wear a face mask that allows their nose to touch the floor even with the mask on. A regular cotton mask such as the widespread blue ones etc. will fulfill this purpose.
May Allah, Most High increase all of us in love for him and his Messenger Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace).
And Allah knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Why Am I Being Punished for Growing Up in an Irreligious Family?

/in , , , /by

Question:

Why am I being punished for growing up in a not so religious family? Why do I have to make up prayers when they never taught me to pray?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

When Allah asks us to make up prayers, He is not punishing us. It is just a golden opportunity to develop a relationship with Allah that had all but lost. It is like making up lost time with someone you really want to be with.

You do eventually have to make up the prayers, but you can just start with something easy like making up a day or two’s worth of prayers each day in place of the normal sunna prayers that you would normally do. [Rawdat al-Talibin, Nawawi] Eventually, when you have more free time, you can dedicate more to making them up, and it will feel really good. Everyone who makes up their missed prayers says that.

Please also see:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/making-up-missed-prayers/

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

 

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.

Can I Change My Intention During Prayer?

/in , , /by

Question: Is it permissible for a person to change their intentions while in prayer, changing the prayer from an obligatory prayer to a Sunna prayer?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate,

 

The Intention Of the Prayer

When one enters into a prayer, it becomes necessary to complete that prayer as initiated. Furthermore, exiting a prayer that has already been commenced is prohibitively disliked, if done without the need or a valid excuse. [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]

 

Exiting the Prayer

It is not possible to exit a prayer or switch from one prayer to another merely by changing one’s intention. In order to exit a prayer or switch to another, two things are required: a new intention and an action. [Ibid.]

Some examples of the above are as follows:

If one wishes to leave the prayer they are in and initiate a different prayer, they must intend the new prayer and say the Takbir.

If one wishes to exit a prayer they must perform an action that terminates the prayer, such as saying the salam with the intention of exiting, turning away from the Qibla, invalidating the wudu, etc…

From the above, you can see that a mere intention is not sufficient.

 

Switching To Another Prayer

Even if one did properly switch from one prayer to another with the above criteria (note it is prohibitively disliked to do so without a valid excuse), the newly initiated prayer commences from the beginning. The person will not build upon what they have already prayed – as that has become void.

 

Making-Up Broken Prayers

Note that any prayer, other than the obligatory or necessary prayer, that is initiated is necessary to finish. If one breaks such a prayer before seeing it to its proper conclusion, it becomes necessary for them to make-up that prayer.

This ruling is based upon the principle ‘Commencement is binding.’ This idea can and has also been taken from the Qur’anic verse “O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and do not nullify your deeds.” [Qur’an; 47:33]

I hope this helps,
Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch

 

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

Where Do I look During Prostration?

/in , , /by
Question: Where do I look during prostration?
Answer:
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
When in prostration (sujud), one should look at the tip of their nose. If they find this difficult, they may look directly at the floor.
The great Hanafi scholar, Imam al-Buzdawi said: “If one desires to pray the prayer of the God-fearing, they should:
  1. Look at the place of prostration when standing (qiyam)
  2. Look at their feet when bowing (ruku’)
  3. look at the tip of their nose in prostration (sujud)
  4. Look at their lap when sitting (qu’ood)
  5. Look at their shoulder when giving salam (ending the prayer)
[Ibn Nujaym, al-Nahr al-Faaiq]
If you are sitting and praying, then you should look at your lap or at the floor when in prostration.
And Allah alone knows best.
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Where Do Women Place Their Feet In Prayer?

/in , , , /by

Question: As a female, how should I position my feet in prayer?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

When praying, the most important sunna is to focus on what we are doing: thanking Allah, glorifying Him, and pleading for His good pleasure. Thinking too much about where one’s feet should be can make one miss the point completely.

I remember learning that for a man, our feet should be one handspan apart. I put the knowledge into practice, and put my hand between my two feet. Upon seeing this, my older brother (who was also my first fiqh teacher) laughed and said, “It is not like that!” He obviously understood something from his teachers that had escaped me.

Nevertheless, the ritual prayer (salat) does have a particle form, and it is recommended for women to stand in prayer with their feet and knees together. Other than that, the foot positions in the rest of the prayer are the same as men: feet facing the qibla while standing and iftirash in all sitting positions except the final sitting in which one does tawarruk.

As long as one stands when one has to and sits when one has to, the foot position does not affect the validity of the prayer. (al-Muqaddima al-Hadramiyya, Ba Fadl) Please also see:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/shafii-fiqh/is-bending-the-toes-of-both-feet-when-prostrating-an-integral-in-the-shafii-school/

Please also consider taking the following course:
https://seekersguidance.org/courses/absolute-essentials-of-islam-shafii-habshis-encompassing-epistle-explained-getting-started-with-your-belief-and-practice/

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.

When Does Maghreb End?

/in , , /by
Question: When does Maghreb end?
Answer:
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
Most Islamic Applications for prayer timings are correct and can be followed. However, it is important for every Muslim to know the basic prayer times. Consider taking this class to excel in your knowledge of Prayer and it’s timings:
On Worship (Purification, Prayer, Fasting, Zakat, and Hajj): Shurunbulali’s Ascent to Felicity
According to the Hanafi School, the Maghreb prayer time begins at sunset and the end of its time is as long as the twilight (the redness in the sky) has not departed. The Isha prayer begins as soon as the twilight has departed.
The recommended time to pray Maghreb is when it enters until the sky fills with stars (I.e. roughly 20 minutes after it enters). This is based on the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace): “My nation will continue to be upon righteousness as long as they pray Maghreb before the sky fills with stars.” [Abu Dawud, al-Sunan]
Praying Maghreb after this time (the sky filling with stars) is prohibitively disliked (makruh tahriman).

 [Tahtawi, Hashiya Maraqi al-Falah]

One should try their best to pray Maghreb as soon as it enters. Of course, if one is in a situation where they have no choice but to delay praying Maghreb right before Isha, this is permissible.

Please see:
May Allah, Most High reward you for your desire to perfect your prayer for his sake.
And Allah alone knows best.
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Is the Prostration Of Forgetfulness Necessary If the Imam Is Reminded?

/in , , , /by
Question: Is the Prostration of Forgetfulness necessary if the imam is reminded?
Answer:
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
In this situation, the Prostration of Forgetfulness (Sajda al-Sahw) is not required.
“The Imam who forgets to sit in the 2nd unit of prayer but then remembers and is closer to the ground returns to sitting and recites the tashahhud (i.e. al-tahiyyatu lillahi.…)” [Razi, Khulasa Al-Dalail]

The Reminder: “Allahu Akbar” does not necessitate the prostration of forgetfulness.

And Allah alone knows best.
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

How Does One Perform Ruku’?

/in , , /by
Question: How does one perform ruku’?
Answer:
Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

The bending that you describe is permissible. Be sure not to bend your knees such that you are closer to the floor or resembling going from standing (qiyam) to prostration (sujud)

Also, please see the answer to a similar question below.

The optimal bowing, for men, includes keeping one’s back straight, parallel to the ground. This is sunna, not obligatory: there is a reward in bowing in this way, but the validity of one’s bowing and prayer is not dependent upon it. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/to-what-extent-should-i-minimally-bow-in-prayer/May Allah, Most High reward you for your care in perfecting his worship.
And Allah alone knows best.
Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Is It Obligatory To Learn To Read the Qur’an?

/in , , , , /by

Question: Is the common Muslim required to learn how to read the Quran?
How much of the Quran is a common Muslim required to memorize?

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. It is obligatory to learn enough of the Qur’an to pray. This would include Surah al-Fatiha and a few surahs to complete prayer of four cycles (rak`ahs). This could be accomplished without learning to read it such imitation of recitation.

However, this is by no means the right attitude towards our Holy Book. Allah has sent this book as guidance to us, so how can derive guidance if we refuse to pick it up? Rather, the Qur’an has a right over us, and we should be avid to be among the people of Qu’ran. The light, peace, tranquility, awe, faith, fear, and joy that one gets from reciting the Qur’an is like no other and it is a miracle in itself. Truly it is worthy of being on one’s lips every moment of the day.

Please see all the links below and make a sincere intention to read, learn, memorize, understand the meanings, and apply them in your life.

https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/rights-of-the-quran-completing-it-every-fourty-days/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/can-you-tell-us-about-the-virtues-of-a-quran-khatm/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/islamic-belief/memorizing-quran-intercession/

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.