Shahada
Salah (prayer)
Ramadan and fasting
Zakat
Hajj
Everyone raises their hands to open the salah for takbirat al-ihram. But is it also necessary to raise the hands in takbir before other positions in the salah, such as going into ruku’ and rising from rukuʿ? This is a matter of scholarly discussion. The Hadith of Ibn ʿUmar عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنهما:أَنَّ…
Can Tahajjud be combined with ‘Isha? Is it permissible to combine Tahajjud with the ‘Isha prayer, particularly in the summer when the window between ‘Isha and Fajr is short? The short answer is: no, Tahajjud cannot be prayed immediately after ‘Isha and still be considered true Tahajjud. This is because Tahajjud is defined as voluntary…
The position of women during salah in the Hanafi Madhhab In the Hanafi school of thought, the manner in which a woman performs salah differs in several key ways from that of a man. It differentiates between the prayer posture of men and women based on modesty and humility. 1. Standing (Qiyām) A woman…
The Prophet (peace be on him) used to reciteSurat Al-‘Ala and Surat Al-Ghashiyah at Eid. These are Makkah surahs, which characteristically mention imaan, the challenges of society and the temptations of dunya and reward for obedience contrasted by the punishment for ignoring or defying Allah. The same theme is repeated in both surahs. This way…
Is my slate wiped clean when I go for Umrah or Hajj? It is a common perception that going for ʿUmrah or Ḥajj erases one’s sins, and this is indeed true to a great extent. Both acts are immense opportunities for purification and renewal, but there are important nuances to understand. Hajj as a purifier…
The call to Hajj In Surat al-Hajj, Allah Almighty says: وَأَذِّن فِی ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡحَجِّ یَأۡتُوكَ رِجَالࣰا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرࣲ یَأۡتِینَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِیق And announce the pilgrimage to mankind—they will come to you on foot and on every lean mount; they will come from every distant pathway, لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي…
There are multiple hadith regarding Surah Yaseen. Though there are different opinions on their levels of authenticity, the number of hadith on Surah Yaseen are evidence for its recommendation. In particular, in an authentic hadith, the Prophet (peace be on him) recommended reciting it when someone is dying. Ma’qil ibn Yasar (may Allah be pleased…
There are simple deeds that carry extraordinary rewards. One of these is performing the voluntary prayers that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) consistently prayed alongside the obligatory prayers. In a beautiful hadith, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever prays twelve rakahs in a day and night, a house will…
It is recommended to pray Tahiyyatul Masjid (two rak’ahs to greet the mosque.) when you enter the mosque. Additionally it is recommended to pray Sunnah before Jumu’ah (either 2 or 4 rak’ahs). You may combine the intention of Tahiyyatul Masjid with the Sunnah ra’kahs. So if you pray 2 rak’ahs intending both Tahiyyatul Masjid and…
What to do if a salah has started when you arrive If someone joins the congregation after the salah has begun, they are considered a masbuq (a latecomer). If you arrive late, and the jama (congregation) has began to pray the salah, how do you join in? How you complete your salah depends on how…
Can you perform Umrah or Tawaf on behalf of someone else? Can you perform Umrah or Tawaf on behalf of a loved one who has passed away or someone unable to go themselves? The answer is: yes, you can. Here’s what you need to know. Performing Umrah for someone else (Umrah Badal) You can…
Salah is a prescriptive form of worship. It is performed in accordance with the way the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed it. Based on the various hadith that recorded the way the Prophet (peace be upon him) sat during his salah, different schools of thought vary in their understanding. As all schools follow authentic…
Heavenly Food Blessed are the ones who seize the opportunity of Ramadan. They improve themselves and they become closer to Allah. The ayahs of fasting were revealed in the 2nd year after Hijra in Madinah when it became an obligation to fast for the whole month of Ramadan. It is our chance to rejuvenate and…
There are different opinions on this depending on the different schools of thought. The opinions are as follows: Hanafi School: Blood that flows out of the body and spreads (i.e., beyond the wound site) nullifies wudu. Maliki & Shafi’i Schools: Blood does not break wudu, regardless of the amount, unless it comes out from the…
Never delay taking the shahada Anyone who is considering becoming Muslim, should not delay their shahada. None of us know how long we have in this world. This life is temporary and we must all leave it. As only Allah knows the time and place of our death, someone who has a terminal condition may…