Can a Follower of Another Madhhab Pray Asr Behind a Hanafi Imam Who Is Praying Dhuhr? QuestionIf a group of Hanafis are praying Dhuhr late, past the beginning of Asr time according to the other madhhabs, can someone from the Hanbali, Maliki, or Shafi‘i school join them in congregation with the intention of praying Asr? … Read more
When Should the Imam Say “Allahu Akbar” During Salah Movements? QuestionWhen I am leading the prayer, at what point should I say Allahu Akbar — while standing, on my way down to ruku‘, or after I have reached the bowing position? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in. The takbir (saying … Read more
Do I Have to Make Up All My Missed Prayers or Just Repent? QuestionDo I have to make up every single prayer I have missed? For example, I’ve been tracking the ones I have missed since November — it is 805. I used to always make up the missed prayer that same day. I don’t … Read more
Forgetting Which Prayer One is In QuestionSalam Imam, what should one do if he forgets what he is praying? In a regrettable lapse of focus, I forgot if I was praying the last rakaat of Isha or the first rakaat of witr. Jazakallahu khairan. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. … Read more
QuestionSalam Imam, if a person is travelling, and he leads a prayer followed by residents, should he pray 2 rak‘at and the residents stand after tasleem? Or how should it be done? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1) Principle of Imam and Ma’mum (follower) The Prophet ﷺ said: “The … Read more
QuestionSalam Imam, I have heard it is sunnah to delay the isha salat, and for the other salat one should pray it as soon as the adhan is heard. When someone is traveling and decides to combine Maghrib with Isha in Isha time, is it better to pray at the beginning of Isha (e.g., ~9pm) … Read more
QuestionWhen traveling, can we still pray the full prayer? Is it better to shorten the prayer or offer the full prayer? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1) The Sunnah of Qasr Allah says: “There is no blame upon you if you shorten the prayer when you travel …” (al-Nisa … Read more
QuestionSalam Imam, if someone wears a bandage or dressing on his foot, and it wraps around his foot almost like a sock, leaving the ankle and toe exposed, he would wipe over it. However, when he removes the bandage or dressing, should he remake wudu if he already wiped over it before? JazakAllahu khayran. AnswerAlhamdulillah, … Read more
QuestionSalam Imam, Meta has unveiled their new glasses, which have a built-in display and can be operated with subtle hand gestures. Is it permissible for a learning Muslim to read or watch the steps of the prayer on the display while they are praying? JazakAllahu khayran. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa … Read more
QuestionAssalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh, I had a question regarding the validity of Jumu‘ah prayer for sisters at my university. The way it is arranged is that the brothers are in one room, while the sisters are in a separate room beside them. We listen to the khutbah and join the prayer through a … Read more
QuestionSalam , if a non-Arab person cannot pronounce Arabic letters like dhal (ذ), or deep letters like ‘ain (ع), what should he substitute it with? For example, in Pakistan there is disagreement at the end of al-Fatiha, where some people say “…walad-daleen” (with a D sound) or “…walaz-zaleen” (with a Z sound). JazakAllahu khayran. AnswerAlhamdulillah, … Read more
QuestionSalam respected Imam, what is the appropriate time in the salat to make du‘a? Can du‘a be made in English or any other language? How is du‘a differentiated from normal speech, which breaks the salat? JazakAllahu khayran. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1. Appropriate Times for Personal Du‘a in … Read more
QuestionAssalamualaikum respected Imam, if one is sore, or ill, or old, and groans in pain during postural changes in the prayer, is his prayer broken? What if he makes an audible sound like “aie” or “ow”? What if he says “alhamdulillah”? JazakAllahu khayran. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. The … Read more
QuestionWhen is the proper time to raise your hands when making du‘a? When I pray in the masjid I see some brothers raise their hands during Jumu‘ah or qunoot in witr, and others do not raise their hands. Sometimes I see the khateeb raise his hands and other times not. So when is it permissible … Read more
QuestionAssalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, respected imam. I have seen many different ways of praying witr. What are all the permitted ways, and where do they get their evidence from? JazakAllahu khayran. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. The Nature of Witr Witr is a strongly emphasized Sunnah (sunnah … Read more
QuestionIs it permissible for a Muslim who does not understand the language of the khutbah to engage in Qur’an recitation, dhikr, or du‘a silently during the Friday sermon? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. Evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah – The Asl The Prophet ﷺ said: “If you say to … Read more
Question Salam Shaykh, : I make up my missed prayers (qada’) before the current obligatory prayer. Is this permissible? Because I am elderly and cannot manage to pray them after the fard prayer. JazakAllahu khayran. Answer Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala rasoolillah, wa ‘ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in. The basic rule is that one should make … Read more
QuestionSalam, if someone says the name of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, or recites Surah al-Ahzab 33:56 mentioning salawat, can the person praying say salawat on the Prophet during the salat? Also, if someone sneezes during the salat, can they say alhamdulillah? Or yarhamukAllah if they hear someone sneeze? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala rasoolillah, wa ‘ala … Read more
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. 1. Combining and Shortening the Prayers While Traveling Allah, out of His mercy, has granted the traveler ease in his prayers—by shortening and, at times, combining them. This is clearly established … Read more
Does the Jumuah Khutbah Need To Be Within Dhuhr Time, or Can It Start Before Zawal? QuestionBased on my understanding the time for Jumuah overlaps with Dhuhr. I understand there is a difference of opinion on the matter, but my question is: does that include the Khutba itself, or can the Khutba start before Dhuhr … Read more
Question:A dog licked my clothes—can I pray in these garments, or should I change them? Answer:Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim First: The Hadith on Washing VesselsThe most cited evidence on this issue is the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ: “The purification of the vessel of one of you if a dog licks it is to wash it … Read more
Question:Is reciting Qur’an or Surah al-Fatiha at the grave permissible? Answer:Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim The matter of reciting the Qur’an at the grave—such as Surah al-Fatiha or other passages—is a well-known topic addressed by the scholars of the four madhhabs. The origin of the discussion is based on the principle of benefit for the deceased (iṣāl … Read more
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
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
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
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
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