Clarifying Common Prayer and Fiqh Questions According to the Hanafi School
Question
Islamic questions:
- In our local masjid, some people pray fard before the sunnah and others pray sunnah before the fard. Which is correct according to the Hanafi school?
- When praying 4 rakah sunnah for Dhuhr and Isha, in the 3rd and 4th rakah, do we need to recite another surah after Surah al Fatiha?
- During travel, do you have to pray sunnah, wajib, and nafl?
- In today’s life where water is available, after marital relations can we just wash private parts with soap instead of taking a full bath?
- During prayer, if you sneeze, should you say Alhamdulillah, Astaghfirullah, or remain silent?
- Who is Mary Magdalene in Islam?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
Each question will be answered clearly according to the Hanafi school, with brief mention of general scholarly understanding where helpful.
1. Sunnah and Fard Order in the Hanafi School
In the Hanafi school, the order depends on the prayer.
- Fajr: The two rakah sunnah are prayed before the fard. These sunnah are strongly emphasized.
- Dhuhr: The emphasized sunnah are four rakah before the fard, then two rakah sunnah after.
- Asr: Four rakah sunnah (non emphasized) are prayed before the fard.
- Maghrib: Fard is prayed first, then the sunnah after.
- Isha: Fard is prayed first, then two rakah sunnah after, followed by witr.
So if people are praying fard first or sunnah first, it depends on which salah they are praying. Both practices may be correct depending on the prayer.
2. Recitation in the 3rd and 4th Rakah of 4 Rakah Sunnah
In the Hanafi school:
- In 4 rakah sunnah prayers, Surah al Fatiha and another surah are recited in all four rakah, including the 3rd and 4th.
- This differs from fard prayers, where in the 3rd and 4th rakah only Surah al Fatiha is recited.
3. Prayers While Traveling
In travel according to the Hanafi school:
- Fard prayers of four rakah are shortened to two rakah.
- Witr remains wajib and must be prayed.
- Sunnah prayers:
- The sunnah of Fajr should still be prayed.
- Other sunnah may be left, and this is not sinful.
- Nafl prayers are optional.
Leaving non emphasized sunnah during travel is permitted and sometimes recommended to avoid hardship.
4. Ghusl After Marital Relations
After marital relations, ghusl is obligatory, regardless of water availability.
Allah says:
“And if you are in a state of major impurity, then purify yourselves.”
Surat al Ma’idah 5:6
Washing only the private parts with soap does not replace ghusl. Ghusl requires washing the entire body with water. Tayammum is only allowed if water is unavailable or harmful.
5. Sneezing During Salah
If a person sneezes during salah:
- According to the Hanafi school, they should not say Alhamdulillah aloud.
- They may say it silently in the heart, without moving the tongue.
- Speaking intentionally invalidates the prayer.
Remaining silent outwardly is the correct practice.
6. Mary Magdalene in Islam
Mary Magdalene is not mentioned in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah.
Islam recognizes:
- Maryam bint Imran, the mother of Isa, peace be upon him, who is honored and mentioned extensively in the Qur’an.
- Mary Magdalene is a figure from Christian tradition, and Islamic sources do not confirm specific details about her identity or role.
Therefore, Islam neither affirms nor denies the narratives about her, and no beliefs are built upon her story in Islamic creed.
Relevant Usul Principles
المشقة تجلب التيسير
Hardship brings about ease, which explains concessions during travel.
لا يقبل الفرض مع ترك شرطه
An obligation is not valid without its condition, which applies to ghusl after major impurity.
Final Ruling
All the matters mentioned above have clear answers in the Hanafi school. Differences seen in practice often relate to different prayers or valid concessions, not contradiction. Ghusl remains obligatory after marital relations, travel allows shortening and easing of prayer, and unwanted speech during salah must be avoided.
And Allah knows best.