Topic – Ibadah

^{Q- If Dhuhr time starts at 11:59 AM, can I pray Dhuhr at 12 noon? Because my lecture begins at 12, and they don’t allow entry after 12:05-12:10 PM?}

^{A- You should wait for 5–10 minutes after 12 noon, and then you can perform your Dhuhr prayer. This is because different apps sometimes have a few minutes of variation in mentioning the Salah time. However, my personal recommendation is that if it’s not urgent, you can wait for the Dhuhr adhan and then offer your Salah. That approach is preferable. But if you have to travel, have exams, or need to go shopping or attend to some important work that might cause you to miss your Salah, then, In Shaa Allah, there’s no problem in praying Dhuhr after 5-10 minutes from the start of its time.}

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^{Q- Can I pray Dhuhr Salah 1 minute after Dhuhr time starts because I have to attend a lecture from 12 noon – 1:45 PM? After that, I have to leave immediately to catch the bus, and I usually reach home between 2:30-2:45 PM?}

^{A- I recommend that you pray when you reach home, as praying at 12 noon might lead to rushing and a lack of devotion. You still have time until 3:30 PM, so you can perform your Dhuhr prayer with better focus and devotion then.}

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^{Q- My question is are we supposed to cover our heads during the call to prayer (Azan) out of respect, and we are supposed to repeat the Azan after the Moazzin. Could you please clarify?}

^{A- Walikum Assalam. There is no evidence from the time of the Sahabiyaat (female companions of the Prophet) to suggest that they covered their heads when the Azan was called. However, responding to the Azan is a recommended practice in Islam.}

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^{Q- If one member of a household cannot complete Surah Baqarah in one day. Is it permissible or effective to complete it once in 2 or 3 days?}

^{A- The command is to recite it in one day.}

^{But if there’s no one along with you who can help you complete the Surah in one day, in that case, you can simply recite the last two verses of surah Baqarah and they would suffice for it insha Allah.}

^{Another point that should be remembered is that along with these recitations and azkar and other ibadah, one has to follow the Quran & Sunnah out of ibadah as well and make sure of following the faraid ( obligations) imposed by Allah upon us- otherwise such recitations without the core essence of Imaan and acceptance of commands of Allah and abstinence from the prohibitions would be like a parrot telling you that he loves you but as soon as you open the cage it flies away.}

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^{Q- My sisters and I want to read surah Baqarah completely on a daily basis but since its lengthy it becomes difficult as we are not very fluent.}

^{My questions are:}

^{1. Can we divide the surah and read it so that the surah can be completed in a day?}

^{2. If yes, should we read it in order one by one, or we can sit together and read our part?}

^{3. If we read it in one of the sister’s houses separate from ours, will it still have the same effect in our house?}

^{A- Surah Baqarah can be recited at different times, on a daily basis to protect one’s house from the evil eye, black magic, and bad things and also for blessings.
One can only recite the last two ayahs of surah Baqarah too as it would suffice the purpose but if one is willing to recite Surah Baqarah completely on a daily basis then it is not stipulated that the entire surah be recited by one member of the household; rather if several people recite different parts of it, that is permissible.}

^{However, it is preferable for it to be recited all in one go by one person.
It is not sufficient to hear the voice coming from a radio or tape instead of reciting it in the house and it must be recited by the members of the household themselves.
Sisters can recite it divided at one time or at different times of the day as there are no specific things mentioned. However, people living in one house should divide it among themselves and not the ones living in neighborhoods or elsewhere.}

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^{Q- Should women cover their feet in salah?}

^{A- There’s a difference of opinion among scholars in this regard.
Abu Dawood (640) narrated from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she asked the Prophet ﷺ : “Can a woman pray wearing a qamees and headcover and no izaar (shalwar)?” He said: “If the qamees is long enough to cover her feet (then that is fine).”}

^{At the time of Prophet ﷺ many people couldn’t afford two garments and would wear one long shirt…}

^{Though there’s a difference of opinion in it but the majority scholars say that one has to cover it.}

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^{Q- If I am home alone offering salah wearing khimar which is long till the toes. Do I need to wear socks then?}

^{A- If you are 100% sure that your feet will not get exposed while in sujood or tashahud or standing up or sitting down and they would be completely covered then you don’t need socks but if the feet open up then it’s better to put on socks as its the opinion preferred by majority of scholars.}

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^{Q- My University Teacher who is not in this dunya (May Allah grant him higher ranks in Jannat ul Firdaus. Ameen) advised me to read 100 times these two names of Allah ‘Ya Basito Ya Salamo’ on a daily basis. He said these two names are according to my name so reciting these will benefit me for this reason. Can you please guide me to its authenticity?}

^{A- Using the names of Allaah is a practice that is widespread among people especially in the subcontinent. Many books are written about different wazaif and names to be repeated in specific numbers for achieving certain goals and sometimes specific times are attached to such wazaif.}

^{Always remember two simple rules in Shariah:}

^{1- everything in this world is halal except what is prohibited by Quran & Sunnah}

^{2-every act of ibadah is haram except what has been prescribed by Quran & Sunnah..}

^{Therefore whenever someone suggests a wazeefa ( recitation of the name of Allah or any ayat etc) always ask them what is its source?}

^{As there is no act of ibadah that would help a human in his life till Qiyamah and would be beneficial for bringing him closer to Allah that has been missed or not mentioned by Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. He told us everything that we need to know to survive in this world and to please Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Therefore the act of ibadah which is not backed up by the Quran / Sunnah is a form of innovation/bidah.}

^{There’s no sahih hadith that mentions the wazeefa you have mentioned and therefore I would recommend all of you not to get fooled by such random advice..}

^{Allah knows best}

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^{Q- Can we close our eyes in sujood in order to increase our focus}

^{A- It is makrooh to close eyes while making dua or in sujood unless it’s necessary such as if a person feels that his eyes are diverting him from prayer into looking at adornments of things or seeing something which will distract him from salah as closing eyes is not part of sunnah and Prophet pbuh used to gaze at the sight of placing head when in sujood}

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^{Q- Can we pray 1 rak’ah witr ?}

^{A- Yes.witr means odd In number}

^{The minimum number of rakats for Witr is one, because the Prophet pbuh said: “Witr is one rak’ah at the end of the night.” (Muslim, 752)}

^{In another narration he said: “The night prayers are two (rak’ahs) by two, but if one of you fears that dawn is about to break, let him pray one rakah to make what he has prayed odd-numbered.” (Bukhari, 911; Muslim, 749)}

^{Witr may also be three or five or seven or nine.}

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_{Q- Can we perform ablution with lipstick on?}

_{A-Lipstick usually contains lipids (fat content) which forms a barrier on skin and prevents water from reaching. Therefore lipstick should be removed before wuddu or ghusal and if only the tint stays behind then that’s ok.}

_{Incase of other makeup too, waterproof makeup must be removed before wuddu or ghusal and the makeup which is not water proof should be rubbed off and washed away with water in wuddu.}
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_{Q- My sister has been menstruating for more than 15 days now, which is not usual. Should she start her prayers or wait till it gets cleared?}

_{A- Scholars say that if the bleeding continues for more than 15 days , then anything above 15 days is to be regarded as istahada (irregular vaginal bleeding) and not menstruation . She should take ghusal and then for every salah perform fresh wudhu.}

_{Also if bleeding continues she should see a gynaecologist to rule out the cause of it.}

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^{Q- Is it necessary to cover our heads while listening to the Quran or Azkaar (remembrance of Allah) on a mobile phone?}

^{A- It is not a requirement to cover your head while listening to the Quran or reciting Azkaar on a mobile phone or any other device. There is no such requirement in Shariah (Islamic law) for covering the head during these activities. Unfortunately, many Muslim women tend to cover their heads during these times but neglect to do so in other situations where covering is obligatory, such as in front of non-mahrams when going out. This is a misunderstanding, and it’s important to follow the proper guidelines for hijab. As for playing Quranic recitation on a phone or other devices while doing other tasks, it is permissible as long as you are able to listen attentively and focus on the recitation. If you are unable to concentrate due to other activities, it is not recommended to have the Qur’an playing in the background.}

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^{Q- Why is it a compulsion to cover your feet during Salah? I haven’t come across any Hadith about it. Since the Arab region is very hot, is it compulsory to cover the feet? What if someone is offering Salah (prayer) at home or in a room alone? Could you please confirm whether this condition is based on Hadith or scholars’ opinions?}

^{A- Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked about the clothing a woman should wear while praying, and she replied: “She should pray in a khimar (head cover) and a long qamees (garment) that covers her feet.”
Abu Dawood (Hadith 639).}

^{This view is supported by scholars such as Imam Shafi’i, Imam Malik, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and Sheikh Ibn Baaz.}

^{Furthermore, a Hadith narrated by Ibn Umar mentions that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever arrogantly drags his garment, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Judgment.” Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) then asked about what women should do with their hems, to which the Prophet ﷺ advised: “Slacken them a handspan.” She expressed concern that their feet might be uncovered, and the Prophet ﷺ replied: “Then slacken them a forearm’s length and do not add to that.”
Tirmidhi (Hadith 1731).}

^{It is important not to rely solely on logical reasoning when it comes to matters of Islamic dress code. While the Arabian region has a hot climate, the level of modesty and adherence to Islamic principles takes precedence over comfort. Muslim women are expected to cover themselves properly in various conditions, and this reflects their commitment to faith.}

^{Whether you are offering Salah at home or in a mosque, the rules regarding the ‘awrah (what should be covered) during Salah remain consistent. When you are alone at home, you should still maintain your modesty and cover your ‘awrah while praying.}

^{For detailed information on the ‘awrah during Salah and various situations, I recommend referring to the fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) of body covering and prayer. We discussed this matter in our lecture, where we covered the ‘awrah during Salah, in seclusion, in front of mahrams (permissible company), non-mahrams (non-permissible company), and in front of unknown/non-Muslim women.}

^{In summary, it is not permissible to uncover one’s ‘awrah while praying, even if alone at home, as this practice is based on Hadith and Islamic principles, rather than merely an opinion of scholars.}

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^{Q- When should “Bismillah” be recited before performing Wudu? Can it be recited outside the toilet or only inside?}

^{A- The recitation of “Bismillah” before performing Wudu (ablution) is recommended and considered a virtuous practice in Islam. You can recite it both outside and inside the toilet. It is a good habit to begin all your actions with the name of Allah, seeking His blessings and guidance, and this includes Wudu. You can recite it out loud before entering the toilet while if you are inside and starting Wudu, then it can be said in your heart without the movement of your lips.}

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^{Q- Please recommend a good English Tafsir (exegesis) of the Quran.}

^{A- I recommend “Tafsir Ahsanul Bayan” in English.
You can find it at the following link:
(https://darussalam.pk/quran-and-hadith/tafseer/tafsir-ahsanul-bayan-2vols-english/)}

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^{Q- Can you guide me on how to perform Istikhara?}

^{A- Certainly! Istikhara is a supplication (dua) to seek Allah’s guidance when making a difficult decision. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform Istikhara:}

1. ^{Make a sincere intention: Start with a clear intention regarding the decision you need guidance for. It should be a matter that is permissible in Islam.}
2. ^{Perform ablution (Wudu): Ensure you are in a state of ritual purity.}
3. ^{Pray two units of non-obligatory prayer (Salat al-Istikhara): This prayer can be performed at any time, but it is recommended to pray it at night.}
4. ^{Recite Surah Al-Fatiha and another Surah: In the first unit of prayer, recite Surah Al-Fatiha and another Surah of your choice. In the second unit, recite Surah Al-Fatiha and the same or another Surah.}
5. ^{Recite the Istikhara dua: After completing the prayer, recite the Istikhara dua (supplication):}

^{“Allahumma inni istakhartuka bi ‘ilmika wa istaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as’aluka min fadlika, fa innaka taqdiru walaa aqdiru, wa ta’lamu walaa a’lamu, wa anta ‘allamul ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna haadhal-amr khayrun li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri (or: ‘aajili amri wa aajilihi) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma baarik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna haadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri (or: ‘aajili amri wa aajilihi) fasrifhu anni wasrifni anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kaana thumma ardini.”}

^{Translation: “O Allah, I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (mention your decision) is good for my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs, the sooner or later of my affairs, then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, and bless it for me. But if in Your knowledge, this matter is bad for my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs, the sooner or later of my affairs, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.”}

6. ^{End with Salutations: After reciting the dua, conclude with sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with a simple “Salat al-Ibrahimiyya.”}
7. ^{Make your decision: After performing Istikhara, trust in Allah’s wisdom and make your decision. Pay attention to any signs or feelings you may have regarding the matter.}

^{Remember that Istikhara is a means of seeking guidance from Allah, and it may not always result in a clear sign. It is a way to align your intentions with Allah’s will.}

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^{Q- Why is Surah Yaseen given so much importance by the Ulema of the Tableeghi Jamaat?}

^{A- Surah Yaseen is indeed a significant surah in the Quran. However, it’s important to note that many of the virtues attributed to it within the Tableeghi Jamaat are based on weak (da’if) and fabricated (mawdu’) ahadith (narrations). The only virtue that some scholars acknowledge is that it is recommended (mustahab) to recite Surah Yaseen for a dying person because it contains themes related to monotheism (tawheed), the Hereafter, punishment, and paradise.}

^{It’s unfortunate that in some regions, especially in the Indian subcontinent, there is a tendency to rely on and propagate self-created or weak narrations instead of adhering to authentic teachings derived from the Quran and Sunnah (the practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ). It is essential for all Muslims to seek knowledge from reliable and authentic sources to ensure they are following the true guidance of Islam.
May Allah guide us to follow the Quran, the authentic Sunnah, and the practices of the companions (sahaba), their successors (tabi’un), and the next generation (tabi’ tabi’un).}

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