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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
For someone who is ill and finds it too difficult to stand during prayer, it is allowed for them to sit. If sitting is also challenging, they may pray while lying down. Prayer of the Sick Person Al-Quduri (973–1037 CE), the prominent Hanafi jurist and scholar, laid out the following rules in his best known…
If one is praying a Sunnah or Nafl prayer other than Fajr, it is generally advised to end the prayer and join the Fard Salah, as the congregational prayer holds greater importance.
This understanding is based on the principle that congregational prayer has a higher priority, and missing the Fard prayer with the congregation should be avoided if possible.
Visibility and Connection and following the Imam Traditionally, it is preferred that the Imam and the congregation are in the same physical space, maintaining a direct line of sight or at least a clear physical connection. The ability to follow the Imam’s movements and recitations is crucial for the validity of the congregational prayer. Though…