Q: Some people if they enter the masjid close to the time of the congregation prayer [i.e. the iqaama is close and prayer will begin soon] they stay standing waiting for the Imaam to arrive and abandon the 2 units of prayer for the greeting of the masjid [tahiyyatul Masjid], so what is the ruling upon that?
A: If the time period is short from the point of his arrival to the congregational prayer starting and would not suffice for the 2 raka’at of tahiyyatul masjid then there is no harm standing and waiting momentarily for the Imam to arrive since it is imminent. However, if they do not know when the Imaam will arrive then it is superior to pray the 2 units of tahiyyatul masjid, and even if the Imaam arrives and the Iqaama is done for the prayer to start and you are still in your first raka’at of the tahiyyatul masjid then you may cut the prayer off to join the congregation, however if you are in your second raka’at then complete it lightly [i.e. do not elongate it, rather pray it short] and join them.
[Based on Fataawa Arkaan ul-Islam Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen p309]
This short series of articles will research some of the issues relating to the prayer. It will be organised in a question and answer style with all information referenced to the fatawaa of the scholars.
Q: A person enters the masjid for ‘Isha prayer, then he remembers he has not yet prayed Maghrib so what does he do?
A: If you enter the masjid and the ‘Isha prayer is about to be established [i.e. iqaama has been called and it is beginning] but then you remembered you have not prayed Maghrib, in that case you enter with the ‘Isha congregation with the intention of Maghrib. The first three raka’aat are prayed as normal, but when the Imaam stands up after the third rak’at to start the fourth rak’at, you stay sitting and wait for the Imaam and rest of congregation to complete their fourth and then give the salam [tasleem] with the Imaam together at the end.
Similarly though, you can stay sitting after the third and finish the prayer and give the salam by yourself, then rise up and join the Imaam and congregation in what is left of the ‘Isha prayer [i.e. join them in their final rak’at of ‘Isha and then continue after they finish].
It is of no harm that the intentions are different between yourself and the Imaam in accordance to the correct opinion of the scholars on that.
[Based on Fatawa Arkaan ul-Islaam of Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen, p290]
The following is regarding a sister who began practising by the virtue and blessing of Allah as a consequence of a lecture she listened to by one of the scholars. We highlight, just as Shaikh al-Fawzan حفظه الله himself has stated, that the purpose of becoming aware of such stories is in order to take benefit from them, in order that a person takes admonishment regarding his or her own affairs.
[Paraphrased from Sahab]
The questioner states to the Shaikh, “This is an emotional letter from sister who requests some guidance and advice, she says that Allah the Mighty and Majestic guided me after I listened to a lecture of one of the scholars may Allah reward him, and that she felt the sweetness of eemaan since that day and she lives a different life now, a life full of happiness and comfort with her children who she teaches the Book of Allah and Islam, and she says she remembers and supplicates to Allah in all her affairs. She also says she began wearing the appropriate Islamic clothing suitable to the muslim woman, however upon this new change of lifestyle she says her family and relatives considered her ill [!] and that the rest of her family always conflict with her and consider her to be influenced by whispers [!] so she has sent this letter requesting you direct her and advise her on the affair in terms of staying firm and upright”.
Shaikh al-Fawzaan: “Yes, this is good news, glad tidings from this woman who was influenced by a good lecture and may Allah reward the one who delivered it with goodness. This is what is befitting of lectures, that they are done in clarification of this religion and explanation of the virtues of it and encouragement upon that. Lectures should not be in other affairs, entering into politics and what resembles those affairs that wastes peoples time and incites them and in fact harms them! So this is how lectures should be [about the religion and virtues and encouragement] especially in mosques and sermons and admonitions upon this style, as reminders upon Allah and teaching the people that which they are ignorant of from the affairs of their religion.
And when you mentioned [addressing the sister] that you repented to Allah and began practicing and covered with the correct hijab then this is goodness for you, and this is a new life for you different to your previous life, a life of guidance and eemaan, so it is upon you to remain firm upon this and continue, increase in eemaan, increase in listening to beneficial lectures and remembrance, and do not be intimidated by the ones attempting to frighten you and those opposing you to make you regress or leave that which Allah bestowed upon you, these are the shayaateen of humans who desire to misguide the people and do not care for goodness.
So upon you is firmness and clinging to that which you are upon and patience, and upon you is to learn beneficial knowledge so that your worship is upon insight and beneficial knowledge”.
”We have said to you and we have said to you! We do not want anyone to select us. InShaaAllaah, we choose from the narrations of the Messenger of Allaah (Sallal-laahu wa-alaa aalihi-wasallam) just as the scholars used to choose. We neither want authority nor leadership, and we have stated more than once; even if the leader of the state called us and said: ”Go ahead favoured with leadership”, we would say: ”Allaah’s protection is sought! We do not see you as one who gives us sincere advice.” We do not want leadership; we do not want to be appointed a minister; we do not want to call the people to follow us; we do not want to establish a party; but we want to call to the Book of Allaah and to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu alayhi wa-alaa aalihi wasallam).
”We do not have time to defend ourselves; but we (defend) the Sunnah. And even if we are tormented with fierce battle we will not leave anyone who speaks against the Sunnah of the Messenger (Sallal-laahu-alayhi- wa-alaa-aalihi-wasallam) — be he a Shia, or a Soofee or from Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen (i.e. the deviated and destructive innovated Muslim brotherhood of Egypt and else- where); because we are to sacrifice (ourselves) for the Sunnah and our objective is the Sunnah.”
Even if I was given a million every month to abandon seeking knowledge, I will not accept it; rather even if I was given this Masjid filled with gold, I will not accept it.
The following is paraphrased from the speech of Shaikh Mohammad Amaan al-Jaamy رحمه الله تعالى regarding the issue of Mount Rahma and the common belief that the mountain must be climbed on the day of ‘Arafah.
“So it is upon the Pilgrims to avoid climbing the mountain and crowding around it so their precious time is not wasted in that which does not benefit them, rather in it is harm [i.e. wasted time in attempting to get to it and climb it as well as the crowding etc when that time should be used in supplication], instead it is correct for the Pilgrims to spread out across ‘Arafah as they please without specifying a particular location”.
The Shaikh then goes on to mention the names of Mount Rahma:
“They have mentioned several names for this mountain:
1- “Mount Rahma” [Mount Mercy] and this is the most famous of the names and possibly the most recent one.
2- “Mount Supplication” [Mount Du’a]
3- “Al-Qurain” as some of the commoners refer to it as.
4- “Ilaal” and that is from one of the oldest names of it.
I have attempted to discover the reasoning behind it being called “Mount Rahma” and I checked various resources and asked various People of Knowledge, however I did not find a sufficiently satisfying answer, and so I leave the issue as a matter of research. However, I do feel some discomfort with this name, since mercy is not restricted to the mountain and the one who claims that must bring forth his evidence. Similarly, supplication on that day is not specific to the mountain, rather Mount Rahma is like any other part of ‘Arafah in that regard. The mercy of Allah and His freeing of slaves from the Fire is general to all individuals wherever they stand within ‘Arafah on that day.
The reason why I researched this issue is because of what we have witnessed ourselves from some Pilgrims in terms of actions that are resembling the acts of Jaahiliyyah [ignorance]…in fact for many Pilgrims the idea amongst them has become that the point of ‘Arafah is actually to have to climb the mountain. That is since many have mistakenly understood that the name “Mount Rahma” must indicate that the mercy of Allah only descends upon the Mount on that day.”
Translator’s note: A fine example of why success lies within the Sunnah and not in opposing it, consider how many hours of the blessed day of ‘Arafah are put to waste pushing through crowds and making an attempt to climb the mountain, as well as the fatigue that arises from such activity possibly impacting upon the remainder of the Hajj rites, all of which diverts the servant from supplication and indeed vastly reduces the available time on that Day before sunset, Allahul Musta’an.
It is a common practice for Charity Organisations to advertise and offer “sacrifices” to be done abroad and distributed to the poor in exchange for a fee to cover the costs of the slaughtering. Many individuals who desire to sacrifice engage in this activity and perhaps find a greater degree of ease in simply buying a “sacrifice” from a Charity who will slaughter on their behalf abroad for the poor.
The following is the fatwa of Shaikh al-Fawzan on this issue:
Q: “A fatwa has spread from you in recent times that paying money to Charity Organisations for the slaughtering [to be done on your behalf] is against the Sunnah? What’s your opinion on this oh Shaikh?”
A: “Yes I say this now, The legislated sacrifice is done in the household [i.e. by the by person himself in his country], the household of the one slaughtering, amongst his children, and amongst his neighbours, the one slaughtering eats from it, him and his children, and they give it in charity [distribute it] and give it as a gift…so they are to be slaughtered in the houses, in the houses of the muslims [i.e. done yourselves and not abroad] so that the household obtains its benefits, apparent and concealed.
However if it slaughtered in some other place [abroad] then these distinctions that the slaughtering was prescribed for are lost; as for an individual who wishes to give it in charity [i.e. those who may claim that the poor will benefit from the sacrifice abroad more than us, which may be true] then give in charity generally [i.e. send money abroad to them in any case any time] – as for the specific acts of worship then they are to remain as they have been prescribed. Indeed the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم would sacrifice in his household, and the companions would sacrifice in their households and they never sent money outside or abroad for animals to be bought and slaughtered there, since that causes the benefits of slaughtering to be forfitted, so indeed it is a rite of Islam [prescribed in a particular way to be done].
[vis Sahab]
This should clarify the affair; for indeed many are always confused as to why it is better to do it yourselves in your locations rather than send to the poor abroad, the Shaikh clarifies it is an Islamic Rite prescribed to be done yourselves and not abroad, as for the poor abroad then no-one has prevented you from aiding them and being charitable since you are free to send whatever amount of money and food as you wish abroad at whatever time – ‘Eid or otherwise -, however the rite of islam in terms of the slaughtering is not to be specified, that is to be done yourselves and distributed within family and neighbours etc.
”O Allaah! Safeguard me through your Book and the Sunnah of your Prophet; (Safeguard me) from opposing the truth and from following desires (due to an absence) of guidance from you; (Safeguard me) from the paths of misguidance, from the affairs that resemble truth but are falsehood in reality, from deviation, deception and blameworthy argumentation (in religion).”
[Source: Seerah As-Salaf As-Saaliheen of Imaam Ismaa’eel Ibn Muhammad Al-Asbahaanee: section: Those who followed the companions in righteousness]
