What is the ruling, if after the prayer it becomes clear that it was prayed towards other than the direction of the Qiblah; does it make any difference if this (happened) in a Muslim land or a kaafir land or in the wilderness?
Answer:
If a Muslim is on a journey or in a land in which it is not easy to find someone to show him the Qiblah, then his prayer is correct even after it becomes clear to him that he did not pray towards the Qibla. But if he was in a Muslim land, his prayer is not correct, because he is able to ask someone to show him the direction of the Qibla, just as he is able to know the direction of the Qibla via the mosques. [Fataawaa Muhimma Tata-allaqu Bis-Salaah: Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah): page:5]
Shaikh Abdullah Bukhaari (hafidha-hullaah) stated:
It is obligatory to attach the Ummah to the Rabbaani Scholars, those who are well known for their goodness, steadfastness, leadership and and sound advice to the Ummah–and they are those who teach the smaller affairs of knowledge before the greater affairs. Therefore, their status must be made known amongst the people, because the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets, as reported in the narration from the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam).
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) in explaining this hadith stated:
This is among the greatest virtues of the people of knowledge; and because the Prophets are the best of the creation, therefore their inheritors are the best after them. And when it is the case that every one that is inherited from passes on inheritance to his inheritor, then the inheritors are those who take the place of those they inherit from. None will take the place of the Messengers in propagating what they have been sent with except the scholars. They are the most worthy of their inheritance. [Source: Maqaalaat Shar-iyyah: page:15-16]
Tameem Ad-Daari (radiyallaahu-anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”Indeed, the religion is Naseehah, the religion is Naseehah, the religion is Naseehah; they said: To who O Messenger of Allaah? He said: ‘’To Allaah, His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims and their common people.”[Reported by Muslim]
The meaning of ‘Naseehah’ is Al-Khuloos (purity). It is said that something is ‘Naasih’ meaning: It is free from deceit. And it is said: ‘A-sa-lun Naasihun’ (Pure Honey), ‘La-ba-nun Naasihun (Pure Milk), meaning: Free from deceit and bad mixtures. This is how it is (with regards) to the religion of Islaam, for indeed it is free from every falsehood and from every deception, cheating and treachery. It is a pure religion (and) an unadulterated religion.
Likewise, the Muslim’s apparent (affairs) are the same as his hidden (affairs), upon purity and safe from evil manners, treachery, betrayal and other than that. As for the one who cheats, deceives and plots, or his apparent (affairs) are in opposition to his hidden (affairs), this trait is not from the Religion. The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) confined the religion within (Naseehah –purity-sincerity), and the confinement of something necessitates that something else cannot enter into it. [For Further details see: Minhatur-Rabbaaniyyah Fee Sharhi Ar-ba’een An-Nawawiyyah: page: 112].
One of the sons of the pious people’s was killed in Jihaad, so he (the pious man) weeped. Then it was said to him, ”You weep, whilst he was shaheed (inshaa-Allaah)?” He said: ”Rather I weep (thinking) how he was with regards to being pleased with the decree of Allaah when he was struck by the sword” [Ath-thabaat Indal Mamaat’ of Ibnul Jawzee: page:24]
Ali (radiyallaahu-anhu) said to Ash’ath Bin Qays (rahimahullaah): You either exercise patience out of Eemaan and seeking the reward of Allaah; and if not, you lose your mind as the animals lose their minds. [‘Ath-thabaat Indal Mamaat’ of Ibnul Jawzee: page:21]
Narrated Yahyah Ibn Athram (rahimahullaah) who said:
I have accompanied Wakee (rahimahullaah) whilst being resident and during journeys, and he used to fast constantly and finish recitation of the Qur’aan every night. [Siyar A’laam Nubulaa: 9/142]
Yahya Bin Ayyoub (rahimahullaah) said:
It was reported to me by some of the companions of Wakee (rahimahullaah) who used to be with him that Wakee would not sleep until he read one third of the Qur’aan every night. Then he would wake up in the last third of the night and read the Mufassal of the Qur’aan (i.e. from Soorah Qaaf to Soorah An-Naas); then he would sit and sought the forgiveness of Allaah until fajr approached. [Siyar A’laam Nubulaa: 9/148-149]
Yes, it has societal benefits; and from them is that the people are made aware that they are one Ummah. They eat and fast at the same time; the wealthy are made aware of Allaah’s blessings and they give to the poor. The (treacherous plots) of shaytaan diminish and there is fear of Allaah in it (i.e. by obeying His commands and keeping away from what He has forbidden), and fear of Allaah strengthens the ties between individuals of a society.
[Fiqhul Ibaadaat of Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen: page: 233..Abridged and slightly paraphrased ]
Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”It may be that a fasting person’s share of the fasting is nothing else but hunger and thirst.” [Imaam Ibn Maajah: 1690; Imaam Ahmad: 8639 and declared authentic by Imaam Albaanee in Saheeh Al-Jaami 3488, 3490]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:
Fasting is abstinence of the limbs from sins and abstinence of the stomach from food and drink. And just as food and drink nullifies and corrupts the fasting, likewise sins curtail its reward and corrupt its fruits, so it leads him (i.e. the person) to the position of one who has not fasted. [Sharh Waabilus Sayyib of Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz, (rahimahullaah), page: 32]
The legislated affairs of Islaam are nourishments of the hearts; and when the hearts are nourished with innovation, giving more virtue/excellence to the Sunan does not remain in them, so they come to be in the position of one who nourishes (himself) with filth. [Iqtidaa Siraat Al-Mustaqeem: 1/281]
Abdul Azeez Bin Rabee (rahimahullaah) said:
Ataa (rahimahullaah) was asked about something, so he said: ”I don’t know.” He (Abdul Azeez) said, (then) it was said to him (i.e. Ataa), ”Do you not speak about it with your own opinion?” He (Ataa) said: I feel shy of Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic) to be (slave and worshipper) in the earth with my opinion/s. [Reported by Imaam Daarimee in his sunan: 1/108]
The article in the above link is a detailed clarification of the falsehood of abu usaamah’s stances in the early days and his defence of the innovator Abul Hasan al-Maribi; also in the article Faaleh al Harbi is mentioned as one of the main defenders of the correct salafi positions, but the reader must be informed that Faaleh deviated thereafter and traversed the methodology of the extremist haddaadiyyah, so the scholars refuted him.
