Is it permissible to pray Janazah (funeral prayer) over someone who is not physically present?

Question:Is it permissible to pray Janazah (funeral prayer) over someone who is not physically present? Answer:Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim The funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) is a communal obligation (fard kifayah) upon the Muslims when one of them dies. The prayer involves making du’a for the deceased and is distinct from other prayers in that it has … Read more

If I miss Fajr prayer because I’m having a hard time waking up, what is the latest time I can pray it?

Question:If I miss Fajr prayer because I’m having a hard time waking up, what is the latest time I can pray it? Can I pray it when I first wake up, as long as it’s before Zuhr? Answer:بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ،الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ … Read more

Can ghusl (ritual bath) be delayed until after Fajr during Ramadan?

Question: Can ghusl (ritual bath) be delayed until after Fajr during Ramaḍān? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. One of the conditions for fasting is entering the state of fasting with the correct intention … Read more

Is it permissible to use toothpaste or mouthwash while fasting?

Question: Is it permissible to use toothpaste or mouthwash while fasting? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. The fast is invalidated when something reaches the stomach through a known passage, such as the mouth … Read more

Can prayer be performed wearing tight or modern clothing?

Question: Can prayer be performed wearing tight or modern clothing? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. Covering the ʿawrah is a condition for the validity of ṣalāh according to all four madhāhib. Allah says: … Read more

Are artificial nails or nail polish allowed during prayer and wuduʾ?

Question: Are artificial nails or nail polish allowed during prayer and wuḍūʾ? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. One of the conditions for the validity of wuḍūʾ is that water must reach all parts … Read more

Can missed prayers from past years be made up (qaḍāʾ)?

Question: Can missed prayers from past years be made up (qaḍāʾ)? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. The obligation to make up missed prayers is established by the statement of the Prophet ﷺ: “مَنْ … Read more

Does touching one’s spouse break wuduʾ?

Question: Does touching one’s spouse break wudu? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. The Qur’ān says: ﴿ أَوْ لَامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ ﴾“Or you touched women…” (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ: 43). The scholars differed in the interpretation of … Read more

Laughing during prayer

Question: Does chuckling out loud in response to a verse in the Quran during prayer invalidate the prayer? Answer: Laughter in prayer affects its validity, and all four Sunni schools agree that audible laughter—where sound comes out loud enough for the person next to you to hear—invalidates the prayer. What counts as “laughter”? A smile … Read more

Which Prayer Times to Follow When Travelling

Question:When travelling, many institutions give different times using different methods for calculating prayer times. One might say 3:40 AM for Fajr, while another says 4:30 AM.Who should we follow when abroad? Answer:When you are abroad, follow the prayer times of the masjid that is closest to you, or the one where you usually pray. This … Read more

Fiqh of Salah (Prayer-Related Issues)

Fiqh of Salah (Prayer-Related Issues) Q: Is reciting Al-Fatiha in Salah a pillar (rukn) of the prayer in all schools of thought?A: According to the Shafi‘i school of thought, reciting Al-Fatiha is a pillar (rukn) of Salah, and thus obligatory in every rak‘ah. If a person misses the recitation—even unintentionally—the rak‘ah is invalid and must … Read more

General Principles of Combining Salah

Fiqh Guide: Organized Q&A on Combining Salah (Prayer) Category: General Principles of Combining Salah Q: Is there evidence in Islam for combining two prayers, such as Dhuhr with Asr, and Maghrib with Isha? A: Yes, it is established through authentic Ahadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and the Sunan collections (such as Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, … Read more

Fatwa: how many Rakats for taraweeh prayer

Salam Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. Alhamdulillah wa Salatu wa Salam ala Rasulillah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, My dear brothers and sisters, yesterday I received a very concerning email. Someone was accusing all the masajid that pray 20 rak’ahs, 21 rak’ahs with Witr, or 23 rak’ahs of going against the Sunnah. They referenced Shaykh Al-Albani … Read more