Part 19

These are the words of Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, and they are true. If this prayer were truly from the Prophet #%, the Imams would have transmitted it in a manner which left no doubt about it, due to the great benefit of it, and because it is different from the rest of the types of prayers, indeed the types of worship. For we know of no act of worship in which a person is free to choose in this manner whether he does it every day or once a week or once a month or once a year or once in a lifetime. If something is unlike

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anything else of its kind, the people would have been careful to transmit it, and it would be common knowledge among them, due to its unusual nature. Since this is not the case, then it is known that this prayer is not legislated, which is why none of the Imams recommended it.

Q. 294. What is the ruling on performing two Rak‘ahs on the wedding night before having sexual intercourse with the wife?

A. Some of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to offer a two-Rak‘ah prayer on the first night before having sexual intercourse with their wives,''! however, I know of no authentic Sunnah from the Messenger of Allah #8 in this regard.

It is prescribed to take the woman by the forelock and to ask Allah for the good in her and in the disposition which He has given her, and he should seek refuge with Allah from the evil in her and the evil which might come to him from her.'?! If he fears at this time that the woman will flee from him, he should take her by her forelock, as though he wishes to get close to her and supplicate using these words, quietly, so that she does not hear them, because some women might misunderstand if the husband said: I seek refuge with You from the evil which is in her and the evil which might come to me from her, and say: Is there evil in me?

Q. 295. What are the times when it is prohibited to offer prayer? And regarding the prayer of salutation to the Masjid before the Maghrib prayer, is it before the adhan or after it? Advise us, and may Allah reward you with goodness.

] See Al-Musannaf by ‘Abdur-Razzaq 6:191 and Al-Majma’ by AlHaithami 4:291

'2) Reported by Abu Dawud in the Book of Wedlock, in the Chapter: Regarding Sexual Intercourse in Marriage, Hadith (2160).

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A. The times when it is prohibited to offer prayer are:

1. From after the Fajr prayer until the sun rises casting a shadow as long as a spear, i.e. until between a quarter of an hour and twenty minutes after sunrise.

2. About ten minutes before the sun reaches its zenith, and that is about ten minutes before the start of the time for the Zuhr prayer.

3. From after the ‘Asr prayer until the sun has completely set. These are the times when it is prohibited to offer prayer.

As for the prayer of salutation to the Masjid, it is legislated at all times, so whenever you enter the Masjid, do not sit until you have offered two Rak‘ahs, even at the times when prayer is prohibited.

It should be known that the most authoritative opinion among the views held by the scholars, is that there is no prohibition regarding any of the supererogatory prayers for which there is a reason. In fact, they should be performed even at the times when prayer is prohibited.

Therefore, if you entered the Masjid after the Fajr prayer, you should offer two Rak‘ahs and if you entered it after the ‘Asr prayer, you should offer two Rak‘ahs and if you entered the Masjid just before the sun reached its zenith, then you should offer two Rak‘ahs and if you entered it at any time of the day or night, you should not sit until you have offered two Rak‘ahs.

Q. 296. What is the ruling on the congregational prayer?

A. The scholars are in agreement that it is one of the greatest acts of obedience, one of the most confirmed of them, and one of the best of them. Allah, the Most High has mentioned it in His Book, and commanded it even in times of fear, for He, the Most High says:

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“When you (O Messenger Mi uhammad 3%) are among them, and lead them in As-salah (the prayer), let one party of them stand up [in salah (prayer)] with you taking their arms with them; when they finish their prostrations, let them take their positions in the rear and let the other party come up which have not yet prayed, and let them pray with you taking all the precautions and bearing arms. Those who disbelieve wish, if you were negligent of your arms and your baggage, to attack you in a single rush, but there is no sin on you if you put away your arms because of the inconvenience of rain or because you are ill, but take every precaution for yourselves. Verily, Allah has prepared a humiliating torment for the disbelievers.’"")

In the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah #%, among the

numerous Ahadith which prove the obligation to offer the

prayers in congregation, is the saying of the Prophet 2:

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OL gist pelle sel “I intended to order someone to pronounce the Iqamah for the prayer, then order someone to lead the people in prayer, then I intended to order some men with bundles of fire-wood to go to those people who did not attend the (compulsory, congregational) prayer and burn their houses over them.’'*}

OY An-Nisa 4:102. '2) Reported by Al-Bukhari in the Book of the Afhan, in the Chapter: The Obligation of the Congregational Prayers, Hadith (644); and by Muslim

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0 be VS ile 6 ed AB ttn as Ba “Whoever heard the call (to prayer) and did not answer it, there is no prayer for him, unless he has an excuse."

And the words of the Prophet #% to the blind man who sought permission from him to pray in his house:

“Do you hear the call (to prayer)?’ He replied: “Yes.” The Prophet #% said:

“Then respond to it.’'?)

Tbn Mas‘ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “You have seen us (i.e. the Companions) with the Messenger of Allah #. No one keeps himself from it (ie. the congregational prayer) except the hypocrite whose hypocrisy is well known, or the invalid. A man would be brought supported between two men to make him stand in the line.”'?!

The correct view necessitates its obligation, because the Muslim community is one community, and unity will not be achieved without them gathering to perform their acts of worship, and

in the Book of Masjids, in the Chapter: The Virtue of Praying in Congregation, Hadith 251 (651) and it is explained in the next answer.

") Reported by Ibn Majah in the Book of Masjids, in the Chapter: The Stern Treatment for Absenting Oneself From the Congregational Prayers, Hadith (793).

'2] Reported by Muslim in the Book of Masjids, in Chapter 43: It is an Obligation Upon One Who Hears the Call (to Prayer) to go to the Masjid, Hadith 255 (653).

‘51 Reported by Muslim in the above-mentioned location (654).

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the greatest of acts of worship, the best of them and the most confirmed of them is prayer. Therefore it is an obligation upon the Islamic community to congregate for this prayer.

The scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, have differed, after agreeing that it is the most confirmed of the acts of worship, and the greatest act of obedience, as to whether it is a condition for the validity of the prayer, or whether the prayer is valid without it, even though it be a sin; and there are other differences of opinion.

The correct opinion is that it is an obligation in prayer, and not a condition for its validity. But that whoever abandons it is a sinner, unless there is some legal excuse for him. The evidence that it is nota condition for the validity of the prayer is that the Messenger #% declared prayer in congregation to be better than prayer alone,'"! and prayer in congregation being better than prayer alone is an evidence that there is virtue in prayer alone, and this would not be so unless the prayer is valid.

In any case, it is an obligation upon every rational, adult, male Muslim to attend the congregational prayers, whether he is on a journey or at home.

Q. 297. A number of people live in one place; is it permissible for them to form a congregation in that dwelling, or are they obliged to go out to the Masjid?

A. It is an obligation upon those people who are in a dwelling to pray in the Masjids. For every person who is near a Masjid is obliged to pray in the Masjid. It is not permissible for an individual or for a group to pray in the house. Some people have claimed regarding this matter, based upon the saying of some of the scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, that what is meant by congregational prayer is that the people gather for

m Reported by Muslim in the above-mentioned location, in Chapter 44,

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prayer, even if it be in some place other than a Masjid, and that if the people pray in congregation, even if it be in their houses that they have fulfilled the obligation.

But the correct view is that the congregational prayers must be in the Masjids, according to the words of the Prophet #:

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“I intended to order someone to pronounce the Iqamah for the prayer, then order someone to lead the people in prayer, then I intended to order some men with bundles of fire-wood to go to those people who did not attend the (compulsory, congregational) prayer and burn their houses over them.”'')