[PF:171861] Drawing Attention to some Mistakes made in Prayer (part 2)

In the name of Allaah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

 

 Drawing Attention to some
Mistakes made in Prayer

By Shaikh Alee Hasan Al-Halabee
Source: Muntaqaa Fadaa'il as-Salat wa Adaabihaa (pg. 48-64)

 

 

Contd...

 

Fifth: Saying: "Our Lord to You belongs the Praise [and Thanks] whilst Praying
Several different versions of what one should say after saying: "Sami'Allaahu Liman Hamidah" have been reported in the texts. Amongst them are:

"Rabbaanaa Lakal-Hamd"

"Allaahumma, Rabbaanaa wa Lakal-Hamd"

"Rabbaanaa Lakal-Hamd, Hamdan Katheeran Tayyiban Mubaarakan feeh…"

And so on. [9]

None of these version contain the addition "wash-Shukr" (and Thanks), which some people add on from their own selves. So it is an innovation in the Religion for which Allaah has sent down no authority.

If the door to the likes of such additions were left open, a person would say: "Rabbaanaa Lakal-Hamd wal-Fadl", another would say: "Rabbaanaa Lakal-Hamd wal-'Adhamah", while a third would say: "Rabbaanaa Lakal-Hamd wal-Majd" and so on and so forth!! And all of these are newly invented matters…

Sixth: Racing with the Imaam
Some people race and compete with their Imaams in certain parts of the prayer, such as:

1. Hastening to say the Ameen in Surah Al-Faatihah: Before the Imaam even finishes reciting "wa lad-Daalleen", the people rush to say Ameen!! This is not permissible due to the Prophet's statement: "…and when he says: 'wa laad-Daalleen', say: 'Aameen.'[10] Meaning: Say it after he finishes reciting it. Due to this rushing of theirs, they deprive themselves of the virtue of forgiveness that has been mentioned in the Prophet's statement: "...so whoever's Ameen coincides with the Ameen of the angels, his past sins will be forgiven." [11]

2. Among them are those who race with the Imaam in raising their heads before he does. We have been warned about doing this in the Sunnah of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), where he said: "Should not each of you fear, if he raises his head before the Imaam, that Allaah will make his head (like that of) the head of a donkey or that Allaah will make his appearance (like that of) the appearance of a donkey?!" [12]

3. They also compete with the Imaam in going down to prostrate from the bowing position before making sure that the Imaam has begun prostrating.

Al-Bukhaaree (690) and Muslim (474) reported from Al-Baraa bin 'Aazib (radyAllaahu 'anhu) that: "When the Messenger of Allaah would say: 'Sami'Allaahu liman Hamidah', none of us would bend his back forward until the Prophet went down into prostration (first). Then we would go down into prostration after him."

Seventh: Rushing and Hurrying to Catch the Rukoo' or the Tashahhud and so on
This is clear opposition to the Prophet's (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) statement: "When the prayer is established, do not come to it while you are hastening. Rather, come to it, while walking and in a state of calmness. So whatever you catch, pray it (in congregation) and whatever you missed, complete it."

In another narration, it states: "And do not rush…" [13]

So the foundation is that one must be calm and tranquil and not in a ruch.

Eighth: Not Using a Sutrah when Praying
The basis for this is the Prophet's (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) statement: "Do not pray except in front of a Sutrah. And do not let anyone pass in front of you. But if someone persists (on passing), then fight him, for he has the (devil) companion with him." [14]

In another hadeeth, the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "When one of you prays, he should pray towards a Sutrah and draw near to it, so as to not let the Devil cut off his prayer." [15]

In a hadeeth reported by Imaam Muslim, it is mentioned that the (minimum) height of the sutrah should be like that of a saddle step,[16] which is almost one-third of a forearm's length. The sutrah is not required to be made out of something solid as some of the common folk think, nor is substituting it by drawing a line (on the ground) valid as some people do!! Such an action is mentioned in some ahaadeeth, which are not authentic. The foundation is that one should draw near to the sutrah and pray close to it as much as one is able to – with three forearms length being the farthest limit one can stand away from it.

It should also be noted that "the sutrah of the Imaam serves as a sutrah for those praying behind him."[17] So when following in prayer, no sutrah is required for the congregation other than the sutrah of their Imaam.

Ninth: Praying in between Pillars
Qurrah (radyAllaahu 'anhu) reported: "We were forbidden and shunned from forming rows between pillars during the lifetime of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam)." [18]

'Abdul-Hameed bin Mahmood reported: "I once prayed with Anas bin Maalik on the day of Jumu'ah (Friday) and we were pushed towards the pillars. So some of us moved up (in front of it) and some of us moved back (behind it). (Afterward) Anas said: 'We would avoid this during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam).'" [19]

Therefore, the foundation is to avoid praying between pillars and to be cautious about them unless the masjid is too constricted for its occupants due to its small size or the large amount of people praying in it. In such a situation, it would be permissible due to the sake of necessity and urgency.

People should be made aware of this issue, as well as similar issues, with knowledge, soft invitation and open discussion in a manner that is best so as to ensure the best result. It should not be done with harshness, hostility, rigidity and rude speech.

Footnotes:

[9] You can find all of these in my book "Sharh Saheeh al-Kalim at-Tayyib" (pg. 75)
[10] Reported by Abu Dawood and Ibn Maajah from Abu Hurairah; Refer to Saheeh-ul-Jaami'-us-Sagheer (2359)
[11] See Silsilat-ul-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah (1236)
[12] Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim from Abu Hurairah
[13] Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim from Abu Hurairah
[14] Reported by Ibn Khuzaimah; Refer to Sifatu Salaat-in-Nabee (pg. 82)
[15] See Silsilat-ul-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah (1373)
[16] Translator's Note: A piece of wood used as a stepping ground to mount a camel's saddle. See an-Nihaayah of Ibnul-Atheer (pg. 29 of the Dar Ibn al-Jawzee Edition)
[17] This is the chapter heading designated by Imaam Al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh (1/571)

[18] Reported by Ibn Maajah and Ibn Hibbaan; See "Misbaah-uz-Zujaajah" (1/191) of Al-Busairee
[19] Reported by At-Tirmidhee, Abu Dawood, and An-Nasaa'ee; Refer to my treatise "Tawfeeq-ul-Baaree fee Hukmis-Salaat baina-Sawaaree."
 

to be continued....

Imran Ayub

Salat - Common mistakes - Urdu

Salat - Common mistakes - English

The Prophet's Prayer: Episode 8 (Common Errors in the Prayer)

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