Shahada
Salah (prayer)
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Hajj
Many people wonder why we perform the rituals of Hajj in the way that we do. We know that they were prescribed by the Prophet ﷺ, and that our worship is to follow what he taught us, exactly as he taught it. At the same time, scholars throughout Islamic history have reflected on the deeper…
Umrah is a highly rewarded act of worship performed by entering the state of ihram, completing tawaf around the Kaʿbah, praying two rakʿahs, performing saʿi between Safa and Marwah, and finally trimming or shaving the hair. This guide is written to be practical, simple to follow, and based on mainstream Sunni fiqh. The pillars and…
Islam makes a clear distinction between ḥayḍ (menstrual bleeding) and istiḥāḍah (irregular or non-menstrual bleeding). If the bleeding is istiḥāḍah, even if it is very heavy, the rulings of menstruation do not apply. This means that prayer, fasting, and other acts of worship remain obligatory. Fāṭimah bint Abī Ḥubaysh (may Allah be pleased with her)…
Combining salah in the Hanafi School According to the Hanafi school, combining between prayers is not permitted. Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali opinion on combining Jumu’ah with Asr Salah In the Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali it is allowed to join Dhuhr with Asr, and Maghrib with Isha when travelling or under specific circumstances. By extension, Jumu’ah…
Every Muslim recites the ṣalāt al-Ibrāhīmiyyah in their prayer, sending blessings upon both our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ and Prophet Ibrāhīm (ʿpeace be upon him). Why do we mention Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) in our salah? 1. The supplication of Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) prayed: وَٱجۡعَل لِّی لِسَانَ…
Though it is a common feature of masajid that they separate men and women, it is not a necessity to have a physical barrier between men and women during congregational (jamāʿah) prayer or in the mosque generally. It is important to clarify this point, as not all mosques have the space to create separate men…
The Friday prayer (ṣalat al-Jumuʿah) is an obligation upon Muslim men, as well as an opportunity for huge reward. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gave us guidance on how to maximize the reward as well remain focused and have khushoo (concentration and tranquilty). Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an: “O you who…
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…