Part 23

“Perform As-salah (Iqamat-as-salah) from mid day till the darkness of the night (i.e. the Zuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, and ‘Isha’ prayers), and recite the Qur‘an in the early dawn (1.e. the morning — Fajr prayer). Verily, the recitation of the Qur’an in the early dawn (i.e., the morning — Fajr prayer) is ever witnessed (attended

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by the angels in charge of mankind of the day and the night).’""! So, if the prayer is obligatory, and is to be offered at fixed times. Then it is necessary that the obligatory prayers be offered at their stated times, which is summed up in the Words of Allah, the Most High:

bona 33a yi Ae “Perform As-Salah from midday.”

up to the end of the Verse. And the Prophet #% has explained this in detail, saying:

wl te pbs ea & 55 reel oll 3 aa 3

cht si Sy tll 255 Gb Cs Go al “The time for the Zuhr prayer is when the sun passes the zenith and a man’s shadow is the same (length) as his height, (and it lasts) as long as the time for the ‘Asr prayer has not come. The time for the ‘Asr prayer is as long as the sun has not become pale; the time of the Maghrib prayer is as long as the twilight has not ended, and the time of the ‘Isha’ prayer is up to the middle of the night.’'*!

Since the Prophet #% has defined the times of the prayers in precise detail, then performing the prayers at times other than their stated times is a transgression of the limits imposed by Allah:

isnt (A IGE Sk Se Bp “And whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allah, then such are the Zalimun (wrongdoers).’'?) So, one who knowingly, and intentionally offered a prayer

'] Reported by Muslim in the Book of Masjids, in the Chapter: The Times of the Five Prayers, Hadith 174 (612).

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before its stated time, then he is a sinner and he must repeat it. But if he did not do it knowingly and intentionally, then he is not a sinner, but he must repeat it. This occurs when a prayer is brought forward and combined with the earlier prayer (e.g. ‘Asr with Zuhr) without a valid legal cause. In that case, the prayer brought forward is not valid and he must repeat it.

Whoever knowingly and deliberately delayed a prayer from its stated time, he is a sinner and his prayer is not accepted, according to the most authoritative opinion. This occurs when a prayer is delayed without a valid legal cause, because a prayer which is delayed is not accepted according to the most authoritative opinion.

Therefore, itis an obligation upon the Muslim to fear Allah, the Most High and not to be careless in this important and weighty matter.

As for the Hadith which is confirmed in Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, in which it is stated: “The Prophet # combined the Zuhr and the ‘Asr prayers and the Maghrib and the ‘Isha’ prayers without being in a state of fear or rainfall.”

There is no evidence in this for being careless in this matter. Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, was asked: “What did he (i.e. the Prophet #%) intend by this?” He said: “He intended that his people should not be put in difficulties.”")

This is evidence that the reason for permitting combining of prayers is difficulty in performing every prayer at its stated time. So, if a Muslim encountered difficulty in performing every prayer at its stated time, it is permissible for him to combine them, or it is legislated for him to do so. But if he does not find

. any difficulty, then it is an obligation on him to offer each of the prayers at its stated time.

Based upon this, mere cold does not permit the combining of

'"l The reference for this Hadith was mentioned previously under no. 312.

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prayers, unless it is accompanied by a wind which would harm the people if they went out to the Masjids, or it is accompanied by snowfall which would harm people.

So, my advice to my Muslim brothers, especially the Imams, is to fear Allah in this matter, and seek help from Allah, the Most High in performing these obligatory prayers in the manner which pleases Him. Written by Muhammad As-Sahih Al- “‘Uthaimeen on 8/7/1413 A.H.

Q 315. What are the licenses granted to the traveller?

A. The licenses granted to the traveler are four: 1. That the four Rak‘ah prayers may be reduced to two Rak‘ahs.

2. That he may break his fast during Ramadan and make it up for at a later date.

3. That he may wipe over his socks for three days and three nights starting from the first time he wipes over them (when performing ablution for prayer).

4. That he is not required to offer the regular Sunnah prayers of Zuhr, Maghrib and ‘Isha’. As for the regular Sunnah of Fajr and the other voluntary prayers, they remain allowed and preferred.

So, a traveller should offer the night prayer, the Sunnah of Fajr, the two Rak‘ahs of Ad-Duha, the Sunnah of ablution, the two Rak‘ahs upon entering the Masjid, the two Rak‘ahs performed when arriving from a journey — for it is a part of the Sunnah for a person when he arrives from a journey, to begin by praying two Rak’ahs in the Masjid before entering his house.!"!

") This was reported in the long Hadith of Ka’b bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, in the story of his repentance, and the wording of it is: “When he returned from a journey, he would go first to the Masjid and perform two Rak‘ahs therein.” Reported by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Battles, in the Chapter: The Hadith of Ka’b bin Malik (4418); and by Muslim in the Book of Repentance, in the Chapter: The Hadith of the Repentance of Ka’b bin Malik, Hadith 53 (2769).

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Likewise the remainder of the voluntary prayers remain allowed for the traveller (rather than recommended), except those which I have mentioned previously the regular Sunnah of Zuhr, the regular Sunnah of Maghrib and the regular Sunnah of ‘Isha’, because the Prophet ## did not perform these three regular Sunnah prayers (while travelling).

Q. 316. When does the first hour of the Friday prayer begin?

A. The hours which the Messenger # has mentioned are five in number; he said:

UNI ates 2 aor ai Heed oe eal (3 dete oa j BUI Bebe tag BE OS HS

2 cb ger) ES OS iss ge ravall 3 tb bA3 iol BL 8 25 fas ees 3 race Biperatal BS y BAG aes

“Whoever bathed on Friday, performing the Ghus! of major ritual impurity (Janabah), then went (to the Masjid) in the first hour, he is like one who offers a camel as a sacrifice, and he who comes at the second hour is like one who offers a cow, and he who comes at the third hour is like one who offers a ram with horns, and he who comes at the fourth hour is like one who offers a hen, and he

who comes at the fifth hour is like one who offers an eqg.’"!!

So, he has divided the time from sunrise until the arrival of the Imam into five parts. Each part might be equivalent to the well known hour (i.e. 60 minutes), or the hour might be more or , less, because the time changes, so the hours are five between

"] Reported by Al-Bukhari in the Book of the Friday Prayer, in the Chapter: The Virtue of the Friday Prayer (881); and by Muslim in the Book of the Friday Prayer, in the Chapter: Perfume and Siwak on Friday (850).

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the sunrise and the arrival of the Imam for the prayer. It begins from sunrise, although it has been said that it is from the start of Fajr, but the former is more likely, because before sunrise is the time for the Fajr prayer.

Q. 317. Is it permissible for a Muslim to offer the Friday prayer in his house, if he is able to hear the voice of the Imam?

A. It is not permissible for him to perform the Friday prayer except with the Muslims in the Masjid. If the Masjid is full and the rows reach into the streets, then there is no sin in praying in the streets due to necessity.

As for a person praying in his house or in his shop, that is not permissible, nor is it lawful for him to do so, because the purpose of the Friday prayer, and the congregational prayers, is for the Muslims to gather together, and for them to be a single community, and for harmony and love to exist between them, and so that the ignorant ones among them may learn from the knowledgeable ones.

If we were to open up the door for every person and we said to them: Pray with the radio, or pray with the loudspeaker while you are in your house, there would be no benefit in buiiding Masjids and the attendance of the worshippers.

And also (it is forbidden) because it would really lead to the abandonment of the Friday prayer and prayer in congregation if this door were opened.

Q. 318. How many Rak‘ahs should a woman offer in the Friday prayer?

A. If a woman offers the Friday prayer with the Imam, then she should pray as the Imam prays, but if she offers it in her house, she should offer the Zuhr prayer of four Rak‘ahs.

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Q. 319. If a person has performed the Friday prayer, should he perform the Zuhr prayer?

A. If a person has performed the Friday prayer, then this Friday prayer is the obligatory prayer for the time, i.e. Zuhr time. Accordingly, he should not offer the Zuhr prayer, and performing the Zuhr prayer after the Friday prayer is an innovation. This is because it has not been mentioned in the Book of Allah, nor in the Sunnah of His Messenger #% so it must be prohibited, even if the Friday prayers are performed in a number of Masjids. Because it is not legislated for a person to pray Zuhr after the Friday prayer; indeed, it is a detestable innovation, because Allah, the Most High did not order people to offer more than one prayer at the same time, and that is the Friday prayer, and he has already performed it.