Pop Quiz! Anybody sleeping?

I know lessons are boring. Just to see if anybody is awake, here is a pop quiz:

3 brothers performing solah in jama'ah. Being recent reverts to Islam, they know only basic rules of solah. In the middle of solah a mouse ran by in front of the imam.

Imam: That was one big mouse!
Ma'mum #1 : Hey no talking in solah!
Ma'mum #2 : Good thing I didn't talk!

Note: Ma'mum #1 is correct in that talking disallowed during solah, but there are concessions...

Question: Whose solah just became invalid (batal)? Explain.
Be a sport will you? Voice out what you know by leaving comments below. And state your mazhab please.

I will provide answer according to Shafi'i fiqh next week insha Allah.

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Sunnah Solah, End of Kitab

Munyatul Musolli 30th November 2008

Solah Tarawih – performed every night during month of Ramadan anytime after Isya’ until break of dawn, and to be performed in congregation.

“I perform solah sunnah Tarawih 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala.”

It is preferred to recite the Fatihah and surah loudly. Do the tashahhud every two raka’ahs and give the salam. Although every 4 raka’ahs counts as 1 unit of tarawih, it is not valid to do 4 raka’ahs with one salam. Repeat until completed 20 raka’ahs in total. Follow up the tarawih with solah witir. Important to note that during second half of Ramadan, the du’a qunut should be recited in the last raka’ah of the witir.

Solah Kusufi-Shams – performed during eclipse of the sun.

“I perform solah sunnah sun-eclipse 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala.”

You can choose to perform in either method:

Method #1
Just like any sunnah solah – 2 raka’ahs with 1 salam.

Method #2
Lengthier (and preferred) 2 raka’ahs. Each raka’ah has 2 qiyam, 2 ruku’, 2 i’tidal, 2 sujud.

After Fatihah of the first qiyam, recite surah al-Baqarah; after Fatihah of the second qiyam surah ‘Aali-Imran; the third qiyam Surah An-Nisaa’; the fourth qiyam surah al-Maidah.

The surahs mentioned above can be replaced with multiple surahs adding up to similar length.

Each ruku’ and sujud should be longer than done in a regular solah:
The first ruku’ and first sujud should be about the length to recite silently 100 ayaat of surah al-Baqarah.
The 2nd ruku’ and 2nd sujud should be about the length to recite silently 80 ayaat of surah al-Baqarah.
The 3rd ruku’ and 3rd sujud should be about the length to recite 70 ayaat.
The 4th ruku’ and 4th sujud should be about the length to recite 50 ayaat.


Solah Khusufi-Qamar – performed during eclipse of the moon.

“I perform solah sunnah moon-eclipse 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala.”

Choose to perform in one of 2 methods similar to the sun-eclipse solah.

After both eclipse solah, it is encouraged to give khutbah if performed in congregation - similar to solah of Eid, but without takbir. This is when Muslims should be called to repent, to return what they had taken away unrightfully, to set free captured animals, to give sadaqah, and to perform other good deeds.

Solah Istisqa’ – to ask for rain.

This solah is similar to the Eid; 2 raka’ahs; and preferably performed at the same time of the day as Eid. However it is OK to perform it at any time of day or night. This solah to be repeated until the rain falls.

The niat is: “I perform solah sunnah istisqa’ 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala.”

Raise hands for takbir 7 times in the first raka’ah during qiyam, and 5 times in the second. Say the tasbih between takbir just like in the Eid solah.

The person giving sermon should say the istighfar 9 times continuously at the beginning of first khutbah, and 7 times beginning of second khutbah.:

أَستَغفِرُاللّهَ العَظِيمَ الَّذِي لاَإِلٰهَ إِلاَّهُوَ الحَيُّ القَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ

As a side note:
When thunder or lightning strikes, it is recommended to say the du’a:

سُبحَانَ مَن يُسَبِّحُ الرَّعدُبِحَمدِهِ وَالمَلاَءِكَةُ مِن خِيفَتِهِ

Do not follow (look at) the lightning when it strikes nor when it withdraws.

Also it is recommended to say this du’a when it rains:

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًا


But when the rain is too heavy and could cause damage, say:

اَللّٰهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلاَ عَلَيْنَا اَللّٰهُمَّ عَلَى الآكَامِ وَالظِّرَابِ وَبُطُونِ الأَوْدِيَةِ وَمَنَابِتِ الشَّجَرِ

Solah Tahajjud

Among the non-fard solah recommended to be performed in jama’ah are tarawih and witir in Ramadan, the two Eids, the two eclipse, and istisqa’.

And among the non-fard solah not recommended in jama’ah are tahajjud, which is performed at night after sleep. Two rak’ahs is ideal, but if you like otherwise, perform 4, 6, or 8 rak’ahs.

“I perform solah sunnah tahajjud 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala.”

Solah Sunnah Mutlaq

This is a solah performed without relevance to any time frame or any cause. You could perform it day or night, even though night-time mutlaq is more preferred.

“I perform solah sunnah 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala.”


Final Advise From Shaykh Daud al-Fatoni On Solah

It should be impressed that we should safeguard all our solah. Priority should be given to the nightly solah, because they are hard to keep. Remember that with some persistence and patience, our nafs (evil-side) shall give way, so that the door to Allah opens and we start to taste the sweetness of communicating with Him.

Rest assured that once you get the hang of it, you will take no issue of waking up at night for solah, and quite possibly you would be hungry for it. We have been narrated with stories of how the pious did solah throughout the night – so engrossed that they perform Subuh with the wudhu’ they took before Isha’! These are the people guided by Allah, and we want to emulate them.

If too many a solah become too heavy on us, then perform only some of them. Keep in mind though, there is a hadith that says those who sleep a lot, will rise in the Day of Resurrection poor and destitute. People who sleep a lot also set to lose blessings of their life and waste away their youth.

Make it known that deeds that are little, but performed consistently scores very high by Allah compared to deeds that are many, but done intermittently. Nabi (saw) said:

أحب الأعمال إلى اللّٰه أدومها وإن قل

Allah has more love for deeds that are consistent, even if they are little.

Finally, it is recommended that we make up sunnah solah that we miss.


اَللّٰهُمَّ اجعَلنَا مِنَ المُحَافِظِينَ وَالمُقِيمِينَ الصَّلاَةَ المُخلِصِينَ لِوَجهِكَ الكَرِيمِ يَا رَبَّ العالَمِينَ

-* WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF SOLAH SECTION FOR THIS KITAB – MUNYATUL MUSOLLI *-

Ustaz Zakaria said:

• 20 raka’ahs for Tarawih is as per ijma’ sahabah. Ulama of old performed 4 raka’ahs, stopped for rest, then resumed with another 4 raka’ahs.
  
• When the sun/moon eclipses why behave like unbelievers and busy looking for telescope? There is nothing to see. We Muslims better do solah so we get reward from Allah.
  
• It is allowed to keep animals in cage if we can take benefit from its meat, beauty, or voice. This is fiqh ruling. Of course it is better to set them free.
  
• Ustaz Zakaria just got back from Rantau Panjang to deliver waqaf kitabs. The Baba (shaykhs) from Southern Thailand were very appreciative and shed tears accepting the precious kitab and al-Quran from us. They had to unload from back of truck in heavy rain.
  
• Never look at lightning for fear of diminishing your sight.
  
• Follow the path and become a salik. When the heart is clean, then solah becomes easy. Among conditions to be a salik:
  * You have a strong will
  * You join a group
  * You practice special wirid.
  
• “Waridat” is a state of ecstasy, a gift from Allah. It is spontaneous and you cannot pretend that you’ve attained it. Imagine an elated athlete who jump and pump his fist after winning first place.
  
• Study your religion diligently, the more shaykhs and more kitabs, the better.
  
• Ustaz Zakaria has ijazah for 3 ahzab: Bahri; Nawawi; Nasri.
  
• Only pangolins sleep a lot. Men do not.
  
• All debt to Allah has to be repaid. Missed solah has to be made up.
  
• Yesterday a generous person from Gombak donated a piece of land in Pekan, Pahang, as a site for another madrasah. Praise to Allah who has given us another opportunity to perform good deeds. Such good fortune is a form of rizq, not everybody get it.
  
• Recently somebody criticized our madrasah system - blindly. Shame on him for belittling us while his own children get no proper Islamic education. We follow a proven system here, we have schedules, and we take care of the live-in students.
  

Wallahu a'lam

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Sunnah Solah (continued)

Munyatul Musolli 23th November 2008

Solah Hajah - to ask Allah's favor for some neccessity. This is ghair-muakkad.

“I perform solah sunnah Hajah 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala.”

In the 1st raka’ah, recite “Qulyaa ayyuhal kafirun…”.
In the 2nd raka’ah, recite “Qulhuwallahu ahad…”.

After finishing the solah recite the du’a either (1) or (2) :

(1)

أَلحَمدُلِلّٰهِ حَمدًا يُوَافِي نِعمَهُ وَيُكَافِئُ مَزِيدَهُ يَا رَبَّنَا
لَكَ الحَمدُ كَمَا يَنبَغِي لِجَلاَلِ وَجهِكَ وَعَظِيمِ سُلطَانِك

Next recite salawat just like in the final tasyahhud, then ask Allah's favor to realize your special needs (hajat). Then salawat again, and recite:

سُبحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ العِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ وَسَلاَمٌ عَلَى المُرسَلِينَ وَالحَمدُلِلّٰه رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ

(2)


بِسمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
لاَإِلٰهَ إِلاَّأَنتَ سُبحَا نََكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمينَ حَسبُنَااللّٰهُ وَنِعمَ الوَكِيلُ،
إِنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ وأُفَوِّضُ أَمرِي إِلى اللهِ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ بَصِيرٌ بِالعِبَادِ يَا مَن ذَكرُهُ شَرَفُ الذَّاكِرِينَ يَا مَن طَاعَتُهُ نَجَاةُ الطَّاءِعِينَ وَيَا مَن رَأْفَتهُ مَلجَأُالعالَمِينَ وَيامَن لاَيَخفَى علَيْهِ نَبَأَاَرحَمنِي بِرَحمَتِكَ يَا أَرحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Among other ghair muakkad is the all-important Solah Tasbih. Ulama are of consensus that this should be performed everyday, or at least every Friday, or once a month or once every year. If you cannot do even once a year, then suffice to have performed it once in a lifetime. With this solah all previous sins shall be forgiven.

You can perform it 4 raka'ahs or 2 raka'ahs with one salam. Niat:
“I perform solah sunnah Tasbih 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala.” (or 4 raka'ahs).

In the 1st raka’ah, recite “Idza zulzilatil ard…”.
In the 2nd raka’ah, recite “Wal 'adiyaati…”.
In the 3rd raka’ah, recite "Alhakumuttakatsur…”.
In the 4th raka’ah, recite “Qulhuwallahu ahad…”.

This solah is unique in that we should recite a total of 300 Tasbih repetitions throughout:

(1a) 15x of Tasbih after finishing the surah (after al-Fatihah) in each raka'ah. OR
(1b) 10x Tasbih before al-Fatihah, followed by 15x Tasbih after the surah in each raka'ah.

(2) 10x Tasbih after the 3x "Subhanarabbial 'azimi..." during ruku'.
(3) 10x Tasbih during i'tidal.
(4) 10x Tasbih after the 3x "Subhanarabbial a'la..." in the first sujud.
(5) 10x Tasbih during sitting between 2 sujuds.
(6) 10x Tasbih after the 3x "Subhanarabbial a'la..." in the second sujud.

If you'd chosen (1a), then add step (7):
(7) 10x Tasbih during istirahah (momentary sitting between 2nd sujud and standing up) and 10x Tasbih during each tasyahhud.

The Tasbih is:

سُبحَانَ اللّٰهِ وَالحَمدُلِلّٰهِ وَلاَإِلٰهَ إِلاَّاللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ أَكبَرُ
وَلاَحَولَ وَلاَقُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللّٰهِ العَلِيِّ العَظِيمِ

You could recite the following Du’a Qutub after tasyahhud but before the salam:

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسأَلُكَ تَوفِيقَ أَهلِ الهُدَى وَأَعمَالَ أَهلِ اليَقِينِ وَمُنَاصَحَةَ أَهلِ التَّوبَةِ وَعَزمَ أَهلِ الصَّبرِ وَجِدَّ أَهلِ الخَشيَةِ وَطَلَبَ أَهلِ الرَّغبَةِ وَتَعَبُّدَ أَهلِ الوَرَعِ وَعِرفَانَ أَهلِ العِلمِ حَتَّى أَخَافَكَ ،
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسأَلُكَ مَخَافَةً تَحجُزُنِي عَن مَعَاصِيكَ حَتَّى أَعمَلَ بِطَاعَتِكَ عَمَلاً أَستَحِقُّ بِهِ رِضَاكَ وحَتَّى أُنَاصِحَكَ فِي التَّوبَةِ خَوفًا مِنكَ وَحَتَّى أُخلِصَ لَكَ فِي النَّصِيحَةِ حُبًّا لَكَ وَحَتَّى أَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَيْكَ فِي الأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا حُسنَ ظَنٍّ بِكَ سُبحَانَ خَالِقِ لنُّورِ

Sunnah Solah of the Two Eids

The solah is sunnah muakkad. Niat:

“I perform solah sunnah Eidul Adha 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala.”
Or
“I perform solah sunnah Eidul Fitr 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala.”

After takbir, recite the Du’a Iftitah, then raise both hands and say takbir (just like takbiratul-ihram). Repeat the takbir 6 more times. Between each takbir, say the tasbih:

سُبحَانَ اللّٰهِ وَالحَمدُلِلّٰهِ وَلاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ أَكبَرُ

After done 7 takbirs in all, recite the Fatihah and surah “Sabbihisma…”.

After raising up from the second sujud, do the same takbir interlaced with the same tasbih 5 times. Then recite the Fatihah and surah “Hal ataa..”

If this solah is performed in congregation, then it sunnah AFTER the solah to do the sermon (khutbah) as done in Friday solah. In the first khutbah, say the takbir 9 times continuously, and in the second khutbah, 7 times. If it is Eidul Adha, then it is proper to talk about animal sacrifice (udhiyah or qurban). On the other hand, talk about alms (zakah fitrah) if it is Eidul Fitr.

It is also sunnah to do the “takbir mursal” during the days for both Eid. The time for takbir mursal expires when you raise takbiratul-ihram for the day’s Zuhur (If you pray in congregation, it expires once the imam raises the takbiratul-ihram).

For Eidul Adha alone, the time window for takbir is longer, and this is called “takbir muqayyad”. It starts on Subuh of the day of ‘Arafah, and expires once the ‘Asr for the 3rd day of Tashriq ends. For a person performing the Haj, the window is between Zuhur of the Eidul Adha until end of Subuh 3rd day of Tashriq.
The lafaz for takbir both mursal and muqayyad is as follows:

اَللّٰهُ أَكبَرُ اللّٰهُ أَكبَرُ اللّٰهُ أَكبَرُ ، لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ أَكبَرُ ، اَللّٰهُ أَكبَرُ وَلِلّٰهِ الحَمدُ

3 times. It is recommended to add:

اَللّٰهُ أَكبَرُ كَبِيرًا وَالحَمدُلِلٰهِ كَثِيرًا وَسُبحَانَ اللّٰهِ بُكرَةً وَأَصِيلاً ،
لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اللّٰهُ وَلاَ نَعبُدُ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ مُخلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الكَافِرُونَ ٭
لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اللّٰهُ وَحدَهُ صَدَقَ وَعدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبدَهُ (#) وَهَزَمَ الأَحزَابَ وَحدَهُ ،
لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ أَكبَرُ

Perform solah Eid anytime between sunrise until the start of Zuhur. However the best is at the time of Dhuha (the sun about two feet up).

Ustaz Zakaria said:

• In Hidayatus Sa’il, Tok Kelaba Fatoni wrote following method prescribed by Nabi Khidir for Sunnah Hajah:
  - 2 raka’ahs; 1st surah is “Qulyaa…” 10x, 2nd surah is “Qulhuwallahu ahad…” 10x.
  - After giving salam, sujud and recite:
  Tasbih 10x,
  “La haula wala…”,
  “Rabbana aatina…” 10x,
  State your special need.
  
• Sometime ago a shopkeeper from came crying because some thieves stole dried latex from his store. Haji Mat Katang helped with solah and du’a. As Allah willed, he got back the latex after 2-3 days.
  
• Some people allege Solah Tasbih has no origin in Islam because the hadith supporting it is fabricated (maudu’). What we know is that lazy people would jump at every opportunity to make up stories to justify their laziness.
  
• Doa Qutub in solah tasbih has been written by a wali qutub, whose doa usually more accepted than ours. Recite it even if we’re weak in Arabic and don’t understand it fully.
  
• Doa Tok Kenali is recited by many Kelantan ulama. Originally written by Imam Ghazali (rh).
  
• Aqiqah can be performed for a deceased child even for infant who died due to miscarriage (of 6 months in pregnancy or more).
  
• The takbir during Eid can be done after any solah fard/sunnah/janazah.
  
• Refer to the takbir for Eid. At (*) you can replace with “mushrikun” instead of “kafirun”. And you can add “wa a’azzajundahu” at (#).
  
• In Malaysia, best time to perform Solah Eid is between 8-8.30am.
  

Wallahu a'lam

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Comments Musolli 8/11/08

Comments for Munyatul Musolli 8th November 2008

Ustaz Zakaria said:

• Solah rawatib done to make up for any flaw in the 5 fard solah. Considering many of us sit around in masjid making useless talk, might as well stand up for rawatib after completing the fard.
• It is a good practice to fill the gap between Maghrib and Isha’ with sunnah solah.
• We see more people in the cities attend solah in masjid compared to people in the villages.
• It is good to perform rawatib for zuhur and asar for 4 raka’ahs.
• Reward for perfect solah is higher compared to reward for zikir, fasting or other forms of worship.
• Sufis do a lot of supererogatory worship while keeping the obligatory ones.
• Perform sunnah solah before subuh; recite “Alam nashrah…” and “Alam taro kaifa…”. This would safeguard you from enemy’s scheming.
• In mazhab Hanafi, witir is obligatory. That shows how important it is in Islam.
• Some ulama maintain that solah ishraq and solah dhuha are the same thing.

Wallahu a'lam

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Sunnah Solah

Munyatul Musolli 8th November 2008

Sunnah Rawatib

Often those who take good care of their solah also take care to perform the rawatibs. These are the supererogatory (sunnah) solahs performed either before or after the obligatory (fard) solahs. If your fard is flawed due to inattentiveness or other mistakes, a rawatib can patch it up. Considering the huge rewards Allah has promised, a small mistake in performing a fard could mean missing a sizable chunk of divine returns.

In doing business, we want to get back the capital plus some profit. A fard solah is the capital and the sunnah is the profit.

In the after life, we will be taken account for our worldly actions. The first to be checked is quality of solah. If we score low in this department, then our sunnah solahs will be inspected so as to fill up the deficit.
The rawatib consists of 2 types:.

Muakkad rawatibs:

• 2 raka’ahs before Subuh.
• 2 raka’ahs before and 2 raka’ahs after Zuhur. (Same case for Jumu'ah) on Friday.
• 2 raka’ahs after Maghrib and 2 after Isya’.

Ghair-muakkad rawatibs:

• 2 more raka’ahs before and 2 more raka’ahs after Zuhur (on top of the above-mentioned rawatibs) .
• 4 raka’ahs before Asr.
• 2 raka’ahs before Maghrib.
• 2 raka’ahs before Isya’.
  

The rawatibs are performed just like the fard. When doing the niat (statement of intention), be precise whether you performing the before- (qabliah) or after- (ba’diah) rawatib. Examples:
"I perform solah sunnah before-Zuhur two raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala."
"I perform solah sunnah after-Zuhur two raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala."

When there is only before-rawatib, you need not be specific. Example:
"I perform solah sunnah Subuh two raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala."

Other Sunnah Muakkad Solahs

Witir is another sunnah muakkad that we should observe and be consistent with. The Prophet (saw) said:

الوترحق فمن لم يوتر فليس منا

Witir is for real, whoever does not observe it then he is not one of us.

Witir, by definition is anywhere between 1 and 11 raka’ahs but ideally should be performed at least 3 raka’ahs.
After the al-Fatihah in the 1st raka’ah, recite the surah "Sabbihisma…:
after al-Fatihah in the 2nd raka’ah, recite the surah "Qulyaa ayyuhal kafirun…"
after al-Fatihah in the 3rd raka’ah, recite the surah "Qulhuallahu ahad…"

For every two raka’ahs, the niat is:
أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ الْوِترِ رَكعَتَيْنِ لِلّٰهِ تَعَالَى

For the final 1 raka’ah, the niat is:
أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ الْوِترِ رَكعَةً لِلّٰهِ تَعَالَى

Among sunnah muakkad is the Solah Dhuha. The prophet (saw) said:

من حافظ على شفعة الضحى غفرة له ذنوبه وإنكانة مثل زبد البحر

Whoever observes 2 raka’ahs of Dhuha, his sins will be forgiven – even if his
sins number as much as foam floating in the sea.

Hasten to do sadaqah. For every tasbih is sadaqah, every tahmid is sadaqah,
every tahlil is sadaqah, every takbir is sadaqah, for every encouragement to do
good is sadaqah, every discouragement from doing evil is sadaqah. And 2 raka’ahs
of Dhuha suffice to top them all.

The statement for niat is
أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ الضُّحَى رَكعَتَيْنِ لِلّٰهِ تَعَالَى
"I perform solah sunnah Dhuha 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala."

The maximum number of raka’ah for Dhuha is 8 (a weaker position says max of 12). The time for Dhuha is when the sun has risen about 2 feet up in the morning (approx. 8 am Malaysian time).
In the 1st raka’ah, recite "Wasshamsi wa dhuhaha…" after al-Fatihah.
In the 2nd raka’ah, recite "Waddhuha wallaili iza saja…" after al-Fatihah.

Other Sunnah Ghair-Muakkad Solahs

It is also encouraged to perform sunnah Isyraq – in the morning just before Dhuha, as soon as the sun has risen (but outside the time that disallowed to do sunnah solah).

The statement for niat is:
أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ الإِشرَاق رَكعَتَيْنِ لِلّٰهِ تَعَالَى
"I perform solah sunnah Ishraq 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala."

In the 1st raka’ah, recite "Qulyaa ayyuhal kafirun…".
In the 2nd raka’ah, recite "Qulhuwallahu ahad…".

Sunnah Awwabin are the solah performed between Maghrib and Isha’, any raka’ah between 2 and 20.
"I perform solah sunnah awwabin 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta’ala"
Other sunnah solahs are listed as follows:
Zawwal, Tahiyyatul Masjid, Wudhu’
Safar - before starting a journey
Qudum, Taubah
‘Arus – upon getting married
Manzil – upon halting in middle of journey
Ihram – upon donning ihram for Haj or Umrah
Tawaf

Istikharah – asking for Allah’s guidance in making important decision .
"I perform solah sunnah Istikharah 2 raka’ahs due to Allah Ta'ala."
In the 1st raka’ah, recite "Qulyaa ayyuhal kafirun…".
In the 2nd raka’ah, recite "Qulhuwallahu ahad…".

After finishing the solah recite the du’a as has been done by Nabi (saw) and narrated by Imam Bukhari (rh):

أََللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَستَخِيرُكَ بِعِلمِكَ وَأَستَقدِرُكَ بِقُدرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ
مِن فَضلِكَ العَِظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقدِرُ وَلاَ أَقدِرُ وَتَعلَمُ وَلاَ أَعلَمُ
وَأَنتَ عَلاَّمُىالغُيُوبِ
أَللّٰهُمَ إِن كُنتَ تَعلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَاالأَمرَ(٭) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي
وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمرِي (٭) عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ فَاقْدُرهُ لِي
وَيَسِّرهُ لِي ثُمّ بَارِكلِي فِيهِ وَإِن كُنتَ تَعلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَاالأَمرَ
شَرٌّ لِي في دِينِي وَمَعَاشي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمرِي عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلهِ
فَاصرِفهُ عَنِّي وَاقدُرلِِي الخَيرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرضِنِي بِهِ

State your predicament at (*) - two times in total.

Wallahu a'lam

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Issue with Missing Solah

Munyatul Musolli 2nd November 2008

It is not allowed to make friends with those who deliberately forgo their obligatory solah, instead we have to show enmity towards them. We should not get acquainted with them, love them, or live in the same dwelling with them.

We behave so because these offenders clearly oppose the commands of Allah and His messenger. Allah has said:

لاَ تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّٰهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِر يُوَالدُّونَ مَن حَادَّ اللّٰهَ وَرَسُولَهُ
وَلَوْ كَانُوْا آبَاءَهُم أَوْ أَبْنَاهُم

You will not find a group of people who believe in Allah and the hereafter, in amity with those who stand against Allah and His messenger – even if those were their own fathers or their own children.
(to the end of verse).

Having good relations with this type of offender is clearly denying yourself the true faith (iman).

Making Up Missed Solah
Those who miss their solah being unwary of the time (i.e. being overslept or forgetful) are excused provided that:

• They immediately make up the solah once aware of the mistake.
• They repent and vow not to repeat the mistake.

Other than the above, it is a grave sin to deliberately miss a solah, even if it is made up afterwards. There is no excuse in skipping solah for the sake of trying to accomplish some worldly pursuit no matter how important.

People of authority are responsible to make sure his populace perform the 5 obligatory solah, the jama’ah and the Friday solah. Whoever miss them should be dealt with force.

For those who are simply too lazy (but they do admit obligationof solah), the authority should ask them to repent and force them to start doing solah. Then if they still resist, capital punishment is not too harsh a sentence upon them.

The authority, be it the king, president, or community leader who fail to enforce obligation of solah (or for that matter, obligatory fasting or zakah) is considered a sinner. This responsibility is not to be taken lightly.

Ustaz Zakaria added:

• All forms of worship must be done the right way (on basis of knowledge) so they don’t become helter-skelter.
• The opinion that missed solah need not be made up is a khariji – outside of ulama consensus, and rejected.
• It is preferred that you make up solah immediately if you miss it being unwary of time.
• It is compulsory that you make up solah immediately if you miss it deliberately.
• The community leader’s responsibility is not only to administer affairs of his people, he should also see that each person fulfil obligation to Allah.
• Your country implement Islamic law or not, you still responsible to guide your populace to obey Allah.
• Never punish your populace if you are not authorized (by your superiors) to met out punishment. But you still should command them to do good and prevent from doing evil (amar ma’ruf nahi munkar).
• It is bizarre that some people avoid marrying more than 1 wives on the grounds of afraid being unjust. Yet they pursue political positions, which always carry the tendency to be unjust (to thousands of people under his jurisdiction).

Wallahu a'lam

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Never Take Solah Lightly

Munyatul Musolli 26th October 2008

Indeed Rasulullah (saw) has labeled Muslims who forgo their solah as disbelievers. So did all the sahabahs and salafus-soleh.

You should always be afraid being careless with solah. If you don’t have such fear, then be worried because you about to ruin yourself and become a loser in this world and the hereafter.

A man has the responsibility of solah not only on himself, but also those under his guardianship. He should fulfil this responsibility by force if necessary. If even force is not effective, then he should show enmity and drive the offender away. A man who cares less if his family performs solah or not is a man who takes his religion lightly and makes a mockery the commands of Allah.

You should break relations with a person who neglects his solah. He is almost a satan - there is nothing good about him, and there is no benefit he brings to you.

Ustaz Zakaria commented:

• The period of salaf was the time within 300 years of death of Rasulullah. In a hadith, Rasulullah (saw) guaranteed that the best of people were his companions, then the generation that follows, and then the second generation that follows.
• Whenever you try to do something for the sake of Islam, you almost always find people with trying to sabotage you. Such is the case with running of our madrasah.

Wallahu a'lam

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Less Than 40, No Jumu'ah

Munyatul Musolli 19th October 2008

Responsibilities Within Community
People of authority are responsible to make sure that the common folks learn how to perform solah correctly. Everybody should learn at least how to recite Fatihah and identify which elements are rukun and which are not. The authorities are entitled to use force if necessary. Scholars and people of knowledge are under obligation to teach, because in some cases a handful of ignorant people could cause the whole Jumu’ah to become invalid.

As much as we show anger towards anybody who ruins our property, we should show even more anger towards folks who take their solah carelessly.

If there are not enough qualified people to make up the 40-congregant minimum, then it is not sinful to skip Friday solah for that community. In fact it is compulsory that everybody perform Zuhur instead. However the authority must force the ignorant ones to learn day and night. There are ulama who take this issue even more seriously - saying it is haram for the authority to sit alone performing worship, while neglecting to educate his people.

Indeed it has been an ittifaq (agreement among Shafi’i scholars) that Jumu’ah is not valid until there are 40 qualified congregants. There is a weak position that Jumu’ah could be performed with only 3 congregants – we really should steer away from this. It has been an ikhtilaf (disagreement among scholars) whether Imam Shafi’i *really* took that position.

Refuting Other (Lame) Excuse
Some crafty Muslim may give excuse that he is following (doing taqlid) opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah (rh) in performing Jumu’ah with 3 people, or taqlid on Imam Malik (rh) doing Jumu’ah with 8, or 12, or 20 people. In this case his Jumu’ah is still invalid unless he follows the Jumu’ah and solah requirements exactly as demanded by those mazhabs.

Mixing up acts of worship according to different mazhabs is called ‘talfiq mazhab’ and is not allowed to a common Muslim. A Shafi’i follower has no business assuming acts of worship as recommended by other mazhab while being careless to educate himself with Shafi’i rulings. It would be very bad to the whole community if they perform Jumu'ah which is invalid due to failure to observe the rules. Add to this the sin of abandoning Zuhur.

Safeguard Your Obligatory Solah
Showing disregard towards demands of religion – particularly solah – is the worst kind of defiance, the worst kind of sin among major sins, the most degenerate among the haraams. It has been conveyed to us that a Muslim who has abandoned his solah is no longer a Muslim.

Said Rasulullah (saw):

العهدالذي بيننا و بينهم الصلاة فمن تركهافقد كفر

The pledge that is between us and them is to perform solah. So whoever abandons
solah has become a disbeliever.

من ترك الصلاة متعمدا فقدكفر جهارا

Whoever deliberately abandon his solah, then he clearly turns a disbeliever.

من ترك الصلاة فقد برءت منه ذمة الله وذمة رسوله

Whoever abandons his solah, indeed he has wandered beyond the protection of
Allah and His messenger.

من حافظ على الصلاة كانت له نورا و برهانا ونجاة يوم القيامة

Whoever safeguards his solah, so for him nur (light) and burhan (guidance) and
escape from the trials of the Qiamah.

ومن لم يحافظ عليهالم تكن له نورا ولا برهانا ولا نجاة وكان يوم القيامة مع فرعون وقارون وهامان و أُبَيِّ بن خلف

Whoever does not safeguard his solah, there shall be neither nur nor burhan nor
escape. And at the day of Qiamah, he is grouped together with Fir’aun, Qarun,
Haman, and Ubai son of Khalaf.

Ustaz Zakaria said:

• It is haram for the authority to do personal acts of worship until he fulfil his responsibility with amar ma’ruf nahi munkar.
• Never do talfiq on mazhab. In extreme cases where you have to perform solah according to Hanafi, then you must take wudu’ according to their method.
• If you have skipped many obligatory solah before, you must make them up day and night. You are not allowed to do sunnah/nawafil until finish making up the missed ones.
• All Muslims must learn. One of neighboring masjids did ‘Eid Takbir after completing solah ‘Eidul-Fitr – this incorrectly done probably due to ignorance.
• Takbir for ‘Eidul-Fitr can be said anytime night of 1st Syawal until the imam commence sunnah solah ‘Eidul-Fitr. Takbir for ‘Eidul-Adha can be said Subuh (dawn) of 9 Zulhijjah until Asr (afternoon) 13th Zulhijjah.

Wallahu a'lam

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Permissibility For Multiple Jumu'ah

Munyatul Musolli 12th October 2008

Need for Multiple Jumu'ah
Due to various reasons (masjid overflowing etc), it could be inevitable that multiple Jumu'ah be performed in a single vicinity. The final position of Mazhab Syafi'i (Qaul Mu'tamad) is that it is permissible to do this in accordance with the need. However, significant to note that:

• Jumu'ah performed in the first (main) masjid is accepted. It is not allowed (haram) to follow it with Zuhur.
  
• Jumu'ah at other masjids due to the need are also accepted. It is sunnah to follow those Jumu'ah with Zuhur in respect of the other qaul that disallows multiple Jumu'ah.
  

40 People To Make It Valid
Jumu'ah is not accepted if you have doubt that there are 40 qualified congregants in the masjid. However if you sure there 40 present, you need not make sure every one of them perform their solah correctly.

Some people claim that within mazhab Syafi'i itself, there is a Qaul Qadim (older position) that permits Jumu'ah with only 3 congregants. We counter that fallacy as follows:

1. Did Imam Syafi'i himself said that? Ulama disagree on this. Hence this is a weak argument.
2. Even if Imam Syafi'i had said that, this allowance had been directed specifically at people of rural communities where it is difficult to group together 40 congregants. And this permissibility was merely harus (allowed), netiher sunnah (encouraged) nor wajib (compulsory).

As a general rule, steering away from committing haram is more preferred than threading the difficult line trying to commit a sunnah. Considering importance of solah, falling into this trap is very grave and catastrophic to the ummah as a whole. Performing solah incorrectly due to lack of learning is equivalent to no solah at all.

We should follow the stronger position that says 'haram' (disallowed) to perform Jumu'ah with less than 40 congregants.

The authorities is responsible to make sure all muslims learn and be well-informed. They have the rights to hand out harsh punishment to the jama'ah that ignore the 40-congregant rule. This is part of commanding to do good and preventing from doing bad. Authorities that fail to enforce this will place the sin of muslims onto themselves.

Said Ustaz Zakaria:

1. Basic ruling of Mazhab Syafi'i is that only one Jumu'ah performed within a vicinity. Exception given if the masjid cannot accommodate all congregants.
2. Don't worry if you have exactly 40 people, and there are unlearned people among them. Jumu'ah still valid.
3. It is preferred we follow the position that says Jumu'ah is invalid if you have less than 40 people. Play it safe.
4. We seek islamic knowledge to satisfy the obligation of seeking knowledge. We don't do it for the sake of paper certificates.
5. It is no good if you don't know basics of Islam, even if you hold high-ranking job.

Wallahu a'lam

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solat jumaat sembahyang juma'at

Solah Jumu'ah in Jama'ah

Munyatul Musolli 28th Sept 2008

Solah Jumu'ah = weekly solah on Friday
Jama'ah = congregation, a group of people, or a community.

Solah Jumu’ah (continued)
A latecomer who joins Jumu’ah during the second rak’ah counts as having fulfilled the Jumu’ah. Consider a second person coming to the masjid even later - after the imam concludes the solah - and follows this latecomer as a masbuq. If he joins before the ruku’ of the second rak’ah, this second person would get counted as part of the original Jumu’ah as well.

Prerequisites for Jumu’ah

The first prerequisite is the need for a jama’ah (congregation). There has to be at least 40 qualified congregants. Each of them has to be:

• ‘Aqil baligh – achieved puberty and having sane mind.
• Free – not owned as a slaved.
• Mastautin - a local resident.

In addition, each congregant should also be reliable to fulfil all requirements for individual solah.
A person (literate or not) unable to recite al-Fatihah well enough and neglects to learn and improve himself should not be counted as reliable. Thus he should not be counted among the 40. This is a consensus between Syaikh Ibn Hajar (rh) and Syaikh Ramli (rh).

In contrast, a person unable to recite well, but continually tries to learn and improve; or simply too unintelligent to improve, counts as reliable. Syaikh Ramli had the opinion that this person can be counted among the 40 provided that other competent congregant taking responsibilities as the imam and khatib. Syaikh Ibn Hajar however disagreed - this person should not be counted among the 40 no matter if he is the imam or khatib or neither.

It is acceptable if a congregant is not well versed with elements of solah, such as which element is obligatory(rukun) and which is only encouraged (sunnah). This holds true as long as he does not skip a rukun (convinced it being a sunnah). Both Syaikh Ibn Hajar and Syaikh Ramli concur that this person is reliable and included in the 40.

Zuhur and Jumu’ah
Once Friday solah (Jumu’ah) is fulfilled, then it is disallowed (haram) to accompany it with Zuhur because it is not right to perform 2 fardu solahs within a prescribed period. Nabi (saw) never did so, neither did the 4 Guided Caliphs nor the ulama of the old (mutaqaddimin) or the recent (muta’akhirin).

There may be some exceptions as done in Mesir (Egypt) due to the large population, many cities and different mazhab (fiqh school of thought). According to Hanafi mazhab, it is acceptable to have multiple Jumu’ah congregations within a city or village, even if each masjid is not filled to maximum capacity. However, within Syafi’I mazhab there is an opinion (qaul) that multiple jama’ah is not allowed within a city limit regardless of masjids being overflowed or not. When these two mazhab are practiced within the same city, inevitably the Syafi’I is at odd, because Hanafis perform Jumu’ah at many masjids due to distance or comfort. So Syafi’I jama’ah usually opt to perform Zuhur after their Jumu’ah in respect of the offended qaul. In this case, both their Jumu’ah and Zuhur are valid.

Said Ustaz Zakaria:

• People of Mastautin – local residents who do not intend to relocate elsewhere.
• People of Muqim – temporary residents who intend to relocate after 3 days.
• People of Musafir – those traveling beyond the boundary of his qariah (neighborhood).
• At Masjid Jamek and Masjid Negara (Kuala Lumpur), some more-knowledgeable people follow-up Friday solah with Zuhur.
• A person who has gone for lessons yet still fail to recite correctly is not qualified to become an imam if there is a more able person. His solah is valid for himself only.
• If you fail to recite a rukun correctly, then your solah is invalid. If you fail to recite a sunnah correctly, then you don’t get the reward. Your solah is still valid.

Wallahu a'lam

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Friday Solah (MM 21/9/08)

Munyatul Musolli 21st Sept 2008

Solah in Jama’ah (continued)
Solah in jama’ah is preferred over solah singly. All fardu solah is ranked as follows in the need for jama’ah:

1. Solah Jumu’ah (Friday congregational solah) – compulsory to perform it in jama’ah.
2. Subuh
3. Isya’
4. ‘Asr
5. Zuhur
6. Maghrib

Solah Jumu’ah (Friday)
It is bad enough if a Muslim miss a solah in jama’ah. It is even worse to miss Friday solah - the whole community should declare enmity towards the offender and burn down his house. This demand goes to show how immoral and appalling the offense is. It is a consensus among ulama that Friday solah is ‘fardu ain’ – obligatory on each Muslim, and skipping it is haram and sinful.

Nabi (saw) said:

من ترك ثلاث جمع من غير عذر طبع الله قلبه

Whoever misses 3 Friday solah without excuse, Allah will seal shut his heart.

Once Saidina ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (ra) was asked:
A man who regularly stand up at night to pray and fast during the day, but attend netiher Jumu’ah nor jama’ah, what will happen to him?

He answered: His place is in Hell!

Moreover Nabi (Saw) said:

من ترك الجمعة ثلاثا من غير عذر فقد نبذ الاءسلام
وراء ظهره

Whoever misses out on Friday solah 3 times without excuse, really he has tossed
Islam behind his back.

Virtues of Friday
Make it known that to Allah, Friday is the noblest among all days of the week. Adam (as) was created on Friday and the end of the world will also be on Friday.

Friday is also the best day of the week that the sun set to rise. On Friday, 600,000 people in Hell are forgiven and let out. It is no surprise either that a Muslim who dies on Friday is recorded a martyr and he is safeguarded from trials in the grave.

We are encouraged to say a lot of salawat to Nabi (saw), and recite surah al-Kahf on Friday and the night preceding it.

It is sunnah to make intention (niat) for Friday when starting morning shower. Then go to the masjid early before solah, and listen carefully to the sermon (khutbah). Some folks intentionally delay Friday solah in waiting for the congregants to fill up the masjid. This is bid’ah (later-day innovation) and you should take care to avoid it.

The community leader has the obligation to force all muslims to attend Friday solah. Failure to attend should be made punishable by law. The enforcement is mandatory upon the leader, and shall not be taken half-heartedly. Friday solah is one of symbols of Islam, and enforcing it shows that religious duties should not be taken lightly.

If the authority take enformencent lightly, the sin of the offender is borne on him as well. This is for neglecting “amar ma’ruf wa nahyu ‘anil munkar” (Command people to do good and prevent them from doing evil).

Coming Late For Friday Solah
To qualify as having performed Friday Solah, a latecomer has to make sure he joins the jama'ah at least 1 full rak'ah. If he joins when the imam is doing ruku' of the 2nd rak'ah, then his Friday Solah is fulfilled. Of course after the imam gives salam, this latecomer must raise and perform 1 more rak'ah alone (taking care to recite loud because this is a Friday solah).
On the other hand, if the latecomer join the jama'ah when the imam has completed ruku' of the 2nd rak'ah, then he misses that Friday Solah. Once the imam gives salam, he should raise and perform 4 rak'ahs of zuhur (and recite silently).

Said Ustaz Zakaria:

1. We Malays recite Yasin and tahlil on Thursday night taking advantage of Friday's special status, and in line with 600,000 people being relieved from Hellfire.
2. Other surahs recommended recited on Friday: ad-Dukhan, al-Qiyamah etc.
3. Those who die on Friday counted as 'syahid aakhirah', so we still wash them and give proper burial.
4. Some masjids wait until khutbah, then start collecting donation from the congregants. This is not good practice as it spoils the reward Allah reserves for being attentive to khutbah.
5. Friday shower is sunnah only to those having intention to attend solah Jumu'ah.
6. A latecomer who is aware that he is too late to be counted as Friday solah can opt to state his niat (at takbiratul-ihram) as performing Zuhur.

Wallahu a'lam

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Solah in Jama’ah (MM 13/9/08)

Munyatul Musolli 13th Sept 2008

Virtues of Solah in Jama’ah (continued)
Solah in a jama’ah is like a rope or lifeline that we should hold on to. Allah the Most High has said so in the Quran:

وَاعتَصِمُوا بِحَبلِ اْللّٰهِ جَمِيعًا

A person who ignores jama’ah on purpose has committed a great mischief to his religion. This shows his dislike in provisioning for the akhirah (afterlife). If he continues belittling jama’ah, Allah considers him a ‘munafiq’.

If you cannot avoid skipping jama’ah in the masjid due to illness or urgent business, then it is compulsory that you perform solah at home with your children, wife or your servant.

Allah gives even more bonus for a solah jama’ah:

1. Relative to the size of congregation.
2. Bonus if the jama’ah is led by a pious imam.
3. For every footsteps taken to go to the masjid, Allah gives 10 reward and erases 10 vice (as we gather from several ahadith).
4. Sitting idle int he masjid waiting for the next solah is rewarded as if one performs a solah.
5. The angels plea forgiveness on behalf of a person remain sitting after completing a solah. They continue pleading to Allah until the person voids his hadas or starts talking something inappropriate.
6. Extra points for performing solah in the first row.
7. Extra points for filling up the front rows before starting the next rows.
8. Extra points for making sure the heels are aligned straight.

Said Ustaz Zakaria:

• We should invite people over for the weekly halaqah zikir so that our community becomes strong.
• A person who is strong in faith will be unwavering in establishing his religion. A person with weak faith get swayed over with money or wealth.
• Better get used to pray behind an imam, before the imam prays behind you (solah janazah).
• We should imitate the tabligh folks in inviting people to come to jama'ah.
• There is a special wirid after Friday jama'ah called 'Aurad Madaniah' or 'Aurad Qasasiah' named after Syaikh Ahmad Qasasi. Ahmad Qasasi was the syaikh of Syaikh 'Abdul Rauf Fansuri. People of Madinah used to recite this every week in Masjid Nabawi. The foreigners who invaded Madinah later put a stop to this practice, unfortunately.

Wallahu a'lam

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Wirid (continued) and Jama'ah (MM 6/9/08)

Munyatul Musolli 6th Sept 2008

After finishing the doa (Allahumma inni as-aluka muujiba…), Nabi (saw) used to recite the mu’awizatain (surahs al-Falaq and an-Naas).

[Specifically for Subuh and Maghrib, he recited this 3 times:

رَضِيتُ بِاللّٰهِ رَبَّاوَبِالإِسلامِ دِينَاوَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيَّا
]

Then this 3 times:

اللَّهُمَّ أَجِرنَا مِنَ النَّارِ

and this 3 times:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسأَلُكَ الجَنَّةَ

Next he said this 3 times:

أَعُوذُبِكَلِمَاتِ اللّٰهِ التّامَّاتِ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

and this 3 times:

بِسمِ اللّٰهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ العَلِيمُ

Next Rasulullah (saw) this 3 times:

اللَّهُمَّ اَنتَ رَبِي لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اَنتَ خَلَقتَنِي وَ أَنا عَبدُكَ وَأَنا عَلَى عَهدِكَ وَوَعدِكَ مَااستَطَعتُ
أَعُوذُبِكَ مِن شَّرِّمَا صَنَعتُ أَبُوءُ بِنِعمَتِكَ عَلَى وأَبُوءُلَكَ بِذَنبِي
فَاغْفِرلِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغفِرُالذُنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنتَ

Extra Wirid After Solah
And it is appropriate for us to recite the following aurad due to their immense benefit.

[ This wirid would ensure the reciter a good ending at the time of death (husnul khatimah). Recite 3x after Subuh and Maghrib:

سُبحَانَ الدَّاءِمِ القَاءِمِ سُبحَانَ القَاءمِ الدَّاءِمِ
سُبحَانَ الحَيَّ القَيُّومِ سُبحَانَ اللّٰهِ العَظِيمِ وَ بِحَمدِهِ
سُبحَان المَلِكِ القُدُّوس سُبحَانَ رَبِّ المَلاَءِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ
]

Recite 3x:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُبِكَ مِنَ المَكرِ وَالإِسْتِدْرَاجِ

[ And read 4 times “istighfar al-‘Arif al-Amjad as-Syed Syarif ‘Abdullah bin al-‘Alawi al-Haddad ‘alaihi minallahi tawalla wal-amdad” after Maghrib, again for husnul khatimah:

أَستَغفِرُاللَٰهَ العَظِيمَ الَّذِي لاَءِلٰهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الرَّحمَانُ الرَّحِيمُ
الحَيُّ القَيُّومُ الَّذِي لاَ يَمُوتُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ رَبِّ اغْفِرلِي
]

‘Arif al-Bakri said whoever recited this salawat once in his lifetime will be safeguarded from Hellfire, and guaranteed a husnul khatimah.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ الفَاتِح لِمَا أُغلِقَ وَالخَاتِمِ لِمَاسَبَقَ
وَالنَّاصِرِالحَقَّ بِالحَقِّ وَالهَادِي إِلَى صِرَاطِكَ المُستَقِيمِ
صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحبِهِ حَقَّ قَدرِهِ وَمِقدَارِهِ العَظِيمِ

[ As written by Sidi Muhammad Ghausullah in “Jauhar” , a person reciting the following 70 times on the day of ‘Asyura,:

حَسبِيَ اللّٰهُ وَنِعمَ الوَكِيلُ نِعمَ المَولَى وَنِعمَ النَّصِيرُ

and followed by the following du’a 7 times, it is assured that he will not die that year. If he was predestined to die, then he would not be inspired to read it:

سُبحَانَ اللّٰهِ مِلءَ المِيزَانِ وَمُنتَهَى العِلمِ وَمَبلَغَ الرِّضَى وَزِنَةَ العَرشِ
لاَ مَلجَأ وَلاَمَنجَا مِنَ اللّٰهِ إِلاَّ إِلَيْهِ سُبحَانَ اللّٰهِ عَدَدَ الشَّفعِ وَالوِترِ
وَعَدَدَ كَلِمَاتِهِ التَّامَّاتِ كُلِّهَا أَسأَلُكَ السَّلاَمَةَ بِرَحمَتِكَ يَا أَرحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ
وَلاَحَولَ وَلاَقُوَّةَ إِلاَّبِاللّٰهِ العَلِيِّ العَظِيمِ وَهُوَ حَسبِي وَنِعمَ الوَكِيلُ
نِعمَ المَولَى وَنِعمَ النَّصِيرُ
وَصَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا خَيرِ خَلقِهِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَصَحبِهِ أَجمَعِينَ
]

[
More wirid follows. In his risalah ‘Mujarabaat’, al-‘Arif billah Sidi as-Sanusi (may Allah benefit us with his barakah) said “whoever recite this du’a every day and night, he would not be wounded by an arrow or by a sword, would not be troubled by a foe, would feel no pain, and would not die. If it was his destiny to die, then Allah would make him forget to recite it”. The du’a is:

بِسمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ وَصَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَصَحبِهِ
وَسَلِّم تَسلِيمًا دَاءِمًا حَرَستُ نَفسِي وَأَهلِي وَمَالِي وَمَاحَضَرَنِي أَوْ غَابَ عَنِّي
بِالحَيِّ القَيُّومِ الَّذِي لاَيَمُوتُ وَأَلجَأْتُ ظَهرِي فِي حِفظِي ذٰلِكَ لِلحَيِّ القَيُّومِ
وَ أَصبَحتُ (وَأَمسَيْتُ) فِي جِوَرِاللّٰهِ الَّذِي لاَيُرَامُ وَلاَيُضَامُ وَلايُستَبَاحُ وَفِي
ذِمَّتِهِ وَضَمَانِهِ الَّذِي لاَيَخفِرُ ضَمَانَ عَبدِهِ وَاسْتَمسَكتُ بِالعُروَةِ الوُثقَى
رَبِّي وَرَبِّ كُلِّ شَيْءِوَرَبِّ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالأَرضِ لاَإِلٰهَ إِلاَّهُوَ
فَاتَّخِذهُ وَكِيلاً تَوَكَّلتُ عَلَى اللّٰهِ وَاعتَصَمتُ بِاللّٰهِ
وَفَوَّضتُ أَمرِي إِلَى اللّٰهِ نِعمَ القَادِرُاللّٰهُ
فَاللّٰهُ خَيْرٌ حَافِظًاوَهُوَ أَرحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
إِنَّ وَلِيَّيَ اللُّهُ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الكِتَابَ وَهُوَ يَتَولَّى الصَّالِحِينَ
وَصَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَصَحبِهِ وَسَلِّم تَسلِيمًا
عَدَدَ خَلقِهِ وَرَضَاءَنَفسِهِ وَزِنَةَ عَرشِهِ وَدَوَامَ مُلكِهِ
وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ
٭ لَقَد جَاءَكُم رَسولٌ مِن أَنفُسِكُم عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَاعَنِتكُم
حَرِصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ فَإِن تَوَلَّوا فَقُل حَسبِيَ
اللّٰهُ لاَإِلٰهَ إِلاَّهُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ العَرشِ العَظِيمِ

And repeat 7 times

…٭ لَقَد جَاءَكُم
]

Virtues of Solah in a Congregation

It his highly encouraged to perform solah in a congregation (jama’ah). As mentioned in a hadith, solah in a jama’ah is rewarded 27 times better than solah performed alone. It is like investing in a business that yields exceptionally high return. What better is that the capital outlay is so cheap.

A person who takes jama’ah lightly is considered not serious with his religion. Some ulama consider solah in jama’ah is ‘fardu kifayah’, and skipping it intentionally warrants a severe punishment from the authority. Some ulama also say that a person who lives close to a masjid has no option but to perform solah with the jama’ah in the masjid.

Solah in a congregation is like water in a container. The larger the jama’ah, the larger quantity of water. If some impurity (najis) falls into it, the water would absorb away the foreign color or smell, and there’s no (noticeable) changes. Compare this to water in little container, small amount of najis already render the water unusable.

Satan also is stronger against a person praying alone. Since reward for your solah is directly proportional to degree of khusyu’, you don’t stand much chance to reap a 100% reward. In contrast, solah in jama’ah is always a perfect 10 regardless of how focused you are.

Commented Ustaz Zakaria:

• “A’uzubikalimaatillaahi taammaat…” also recommended to be recited prior to takbiratul-ihram.
• Salawat al-Fatih by ‘Arif al-Bakri should be recited daily.
• Laqad jaa-akum to be recited 7 times in the morning, and 7 times afternoon. It is a multi-purpose ayah.
• Allah will always help those who have established relationship with Him.
• Ustaz Zakaria recites doa as-Sanusi daily. He has a “general” ijaza for own practice only.
• In do’a as-Sanusi, say ‘asbahtu / amsaitu” as per time of the day (morning/afternoon respectively).
• Imam Nawawi’s (rh) position on solah in jama’ah – Fardu Kifayah.

Wallahu a'lam

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Wirid After Solah (MM 31/8/08)

Munyatul Musolli 31st August 2008

Wirid After Solah

Among the sunnah activities after solah is wirid and do'a. Nabi (saw) after completing his solah would wipe his hand over his head and would recite:

بِسمِ اللّٰهِ الَّذِي لاَإِلٰهَ إِلاَّهُوَالرَّحمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ اللَّهُمَّ أَذهَب عَنَّي الهَمَّ وَالحَزَنَ

[ And specifically for Subuh or Maghrib, he next recite 10 times:

لاَإِلٰهَ إِلاَّاللّٰهُ وَحدهُ لاَشَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ المُلكُ وَلَهُ الحَمدُ يُحيِ وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَعَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍقَدِيرٌ
]

Followed by 3 repetitions of:

أَستَغفِرُاللّٰهَ العَظِيمَ


Then:

أَللَّهُمَّ أَنتَ السَّلاَمُ ومِنكَ السَّلاَمُ فَحَيِّنَارَبَّنَا بِالسَّلاَمِ وَأَدخِلنَا لجَنَّةَدَارَالسَّلاَمِ تَبَارَكتَ يَا ذَالجَلالِ وَالإِكرَامِ

Then ayat al-Kursi and “Syahidallahu…” until the end.

Followed by:
33x Subhanallah ( سُبحَانَ اللّٰه )
33x Alhamdulillah ( أَلحَمدُلِلّٰهِ )
34x Allahuakbar ( أَللّٰهُ أَكبَرُ )

Followed by:

لاَإِلٰهَ إِلاَّاللّٰهُ وَحدهُ لاَشَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ المُلكُ وَلَهُ الحَمدُ يُحيِ وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَعَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍقَدِيرٌ

Then:

أَللَّهُمَّ لاَمَنِعَ لِمَا أَعطَيْتَ وَلاَ مُعطِي لِمَا مَنَعتَ وَلاَ يَنفَعُ ذَالجَدِّ مِنكَ الجَدُّ


Then the do’a:

أَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحمَتِكَ وَعَزَاءِمَ مَغفِرَتِكَ
وَالغَنِيمَةَ مِن كُلَّ بِرٍّ وَالسَّلاَمَةَمِن كُلِّ إِثْمٍ وَالفَوزُ بِالجَنَّةِ وَالنَّجَاةَمِنَ النَّارِ
أَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرلَنَاوَارْحَمنا وَارْضَ عَنَّا وَتَقَبَّل مِنَّا وَأَدخِلنَاالجَنَّةَ وَنَجِّنَا مِنَ النَّارِوَأَصلِح لَنَا شَأْنَنَا كُلَّهُ
أَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسأَلُكَ الثَّيَاتَ فِي الأَمرِ وَالعَزِيمَةَ والرُّشدَ
وَأَسأَلُكَ شُكرَنِعمَتِكَ وَحُسنَ عِبَادَتِكَ وَلِسَانًا صَادِقًا وَقَلبًا سَلِيمًا
وَأَعُوذُبِكَ مِن شَرِّمَا تَعلَمُ وَأَستَغفِرُكَ مِمَّا نَعلَمُ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلاَّمُ الغُيُوبِ
وَصَلّى اللّٰهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحبِهِ وسَلَّمَ
سُبحانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ العِزَّةِعَمَّا يَصِفُونَ وَسَلاَمٌ عَلَى المُرسَلِينَ وَالحَمدُللّٰهِ رَبِّالعالَمينَ.

Wallahu a'lam

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Sujud Sahwi and Makruh Elements (MM 24/8/08)

Munyatul Musolli 24th August 2008

Sujud Sahwi (continued).

Sujud sahwi is done only once (2 sujuds with 1 sitting in between). This is regardless the count of sunnah ab’ad being missed.

1. State your intention (niat) to do sujud sahwi before actually performing it.
2. Perform it after saying the salawat of the final tasyahhud, and before salam.
3. Observe the rules as in doing regular sujud in solah.
4. Recite “سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لاَ يَنَامُ وَلاَ يَسْهُو”. This is recommended (sunnah).

If you intentionally skip sujud sahwi, you’re not allowed to make up for it after concluding solah. But if you forget it and proceed to give salam, you have a second chance to do it. Make intention to reenter solah and to do sujud sahwi, and bend down for sujud. Conditions for this:

1. The time passed since the 2nd salam is not too long.
2. Behave as if you are back in solah. Give salam again after completing the sujud sahwi.
3. If you do something that nullify solah during this time, the whole solah is considered null, and need to be redone completely.

Sunnah Arrangements Prior to Performing Solah
Among the preferred arrangements before performing solah are:

1. Azan and iqamah.
2. Find a place that has enclosure like a wall or a pillar. Or a place fenced off by anything 2/3 of hasta (elbow length) in height. If not, spread a sajdah (prayer mat) or draw a line around you to show the boundary.
3. Make sure that the enclosure or the line length is no longer than 3 hasta from your heel towards the qiblah.
4. If you mark the boundary with a single pillar, take care not to be directly behind it, but a bit to the right, or bit to left.

Makruh Elements During Solah
The makruh (disliked) doings in solah are numerous, among them:

1. Do not turn the head right and left.
2. Do not turn the face skywards. This could lead to many diversions by syaitan.
3. Do not cover the mouth with a piece of cloth or any other article. But it’s encouraged to cover the mouth with hand when yawning. This is in conjunction with a hadith that encourages so to prevent syaitan from entering the body.
4. Do not tie the hair in knot, except for women.
5. Do not spit while performing solah. If you really need to, then spit towards the left or under your feet, then cover the spit with earth. If you pray inside a masjid, you’re not allowed to spit at all so as to preserve cleanliness. In a hadith, spitting inside a masjid is unlawful.
6. Do not clutch your hands on sides of the hips. This is specifically prevented in a hadith. It is a symbol of boastfulness and aggression. People do this in Hell - when being relieved from torture.
7. When doing ruku’ do not overly lower the head such that it’s not even with the back.
8. Do not pray while holding back urge to go to the toilet or pass wind. If you need to go, then put off solah until you relieve yourself.
9. Do not pray while there’s tempting food or drinks in front. There’s a hadith: “ There’s no (complete) solah in front of food.
10. Do not pray inside the bathroom, near a cliff-edge, in the middle of a public road, sewage-disposal, or places of idol-worship.
11. Do not pray inside animal herding places. Do not pray near a non-muslim cemetery. If praying on a grave that has been exhumed, make sure there is a spread between you and ground because the earth is considered unclean and would nullify the solah.
12. Do not solah inside a Christian church, Jewish synagogue, or idolater’s temple.

Ustaz Zakaria added:

• If you don’t state intention to do sujud sahwi before actually performing it, then your solah is batal.
• In case you forget to do sujud sahwi, re-enter solah and perform sujud sahwi, but make sure:
1. Duration from salam to the time you re-enter solah is not too long.
2. Nothing that could have nullified solah occurred between the salam and point you re-enter solah.
3. After re-enter solah and performed sujud sahwi, you give salam again twice.
4. If something happens that nullifies a solah before giving first set and second set of salams, the whole solah is considered batal and need to be redone completely.


• It is also encouraged to call out the Azan:
  1. On the right ear of newly born babies (just softly).
  2. When starting a long journey.
  3. When stopping over at isolated places that might be occupied by syaitan or jinns.
  4. On the ears of a person possessed by syaitan or jinns.
  5. To halt advance of fire.
  6. When confronting enemy troops.
  7. When about to bury a janazah (deceased). However ulama differed on this verdict (khilaf).
     
• Do not read writings on tombstones. This would weaken your understanding in lessons. If you really need to identify a grave, a simple glance on the name should suffice.
• Turn your palms upward during do’a (supplication) and you can raise them high, but keep your face downwards in humility.
• Among generosity of Allah: you can get reward when yawning (if done in proper manner). You can even be rewarded for going to the toilet.
• When yawning, cover your mouth with the right hand because mouth is a dignified place.
• It is haram (disallowed) to desecrate a masjid with filth. Smoking in its vicinity is haram because it fouls the air.
• Spread a cover before doing solah on the grounds of non-muslim cemetery and there’re signs that bodies have been dug up. The dug-up ground is considered najis (unclean) and you have to stay out of contact from it.
• Wiping the face at the end of solah (after salam) is a good thing. The face is a noble place. Why dispute the legality of it?

Wallahu a'lam

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Grounds For Sujud Sahwi (MM 10/8/08)

Munyatul Musolli 10th August 2008

Grounds For Sujud Sahwi (continued).

We said last week:

In other circumstances, you forget to sit for tasyahhud awwal, and rise to
qiyam. About midpoint (exactly at the border or past ruku’ position), you become
aware of the mistake and re-sit for tasyahhud. You should complete the
tasyahhud, and remember to do sujud sahwi later.

Likewise, in 2nd raka’at of Subuh (or witir during 2nd half Ramadan), you forget to recite Do’a Qunut, and proceed for sujud. Halfway down (exactly or past ruku’ position), you put in reverse gear and straighten up. You should complete the Qunut, and remember to do sujud sahwi later.

It is important to mention that all the above (reverse after ruku’s position and sujud sahwi later) are permissible only if you’re ignorant of the rules or if you in doubt of it. On the other hand, a learned person – after aware of missing tasyahhud/qunut- should proceed to the next position and patch up his mistake with sujud sahwi. If he reverse after passing the ruku’ position, his solah is nullified (batal).

The next cases relate to those who forget to do tasyahhud or qunut, but yet to move past the ruku’ position.

1. You forget tasyahhud awal and raise, but before reaching the ruku’ position, you become aware and sit down and redo tasyahhud. The tasyahhud becomes valid, and you are not required to do sujud sahwi.
2. You forget qunut and stoop for sujud, but before reaching the ruku’ position, you become aware and raise back and redo qunut. The qunut becomes valid, and you are not required to do sujud sahwi.

In contrast, if you forget tasyahhud and already completely standing, you’re not allowed to go back and sit for tasyahhud. Deliberately going back would make the solah batal. Likewise if you forget qunut and has completely started sujud, you’re not allowed to raise back for qunut. (A complete sujud means you have all feet, knees, hands, forehead on the floor).

The previously discussed situations on sujud sahwi of course meant for a person performing solah alone, or for an imam to a congregation (jama’ah). It does not apply for a follower (ma’mum).

Sunnah Ab’ad Situations For a Ma’mum.

A ma’mum has no choice but to follow actions of his imam at all times, except when the imam commits something that could nullify a solah. In this particular case:
Suppose the imam forgets his tasyahhud and has risen completely in standing (qiyam), then stoops back and sit for tasyahhud.

1. If the ma’mum is already in the proper standing position, then he has to remain standing and wait until the imam finishes his tasyahhud.
2. The ma’mum has not yet reached the standing position when he sees the imam bend down to redo tasyahhud. Here the ma’mum has to continue rising and stand completely waiting for the imam to finish his tasyahhud.

In the above cases (1 and 2), the ma’mum has to wait and only follow the imam’s subsequent actions (recite al-Fatihah and onwards).

Suppose the imam forgets his qunut and has sujud completely, then raises back and recite qunut.

1. If the ma’mum is already in sujud position, then he has to remain sujud and wait.
2. The ma’mum has not yet sujud when he sees the imam raise back. Here the ma’mum has to continue bending down and sujud completely and wait.

In the above cases, the ma’mum has to wait and only follow the imam’s subsequent actions (recite al-Fatihah and onwards).

The ma’mum has to ‘play a sport’ (husn dzon) and assume that the imam reversed his actions not deliberately. Remember that doing something illegal inadvertently or in overlook will not nullify solah.
In short, whenever an imam commits something in forgetful a ma’mum should not follow that action. This is regardless whether that action nullifies solah or not.

Ustaz Zakaria summarized:
You forget tasyahhud awwal:

• You rise, but just before ruku’ position, reverse and re-sit for tasyahhud. You don’t need sujud sahwi later.
• You rise, on or after ruku’ position, reverse and re-sit for tasyahhud. You need to do sujud sahwi later.
• You rise completely, then re-sit for tasyahhud. Your solah is batal.

Ustaz Zakaria commented:

• Knowledge has to come from lesson properly transmitted with sanad (chain of transmission). Teacher and student must know each other. This would ensure barakah (blessings).
• Hadith: A major sin is forgiven with any of the following conditions: Recited al-Ikhlas 100,000 times; Performed a 1st-class pilgrimage (Haj-Mabrur); Martyred while fighting for Allah’s cause.
• Building a masjid: Make intention (niat) - that this building is a masjid - only after construction completed, since its easier to preserve masjid-manners (adab) then. Any building could be upgraded into masjid upon the owner’s niat. A masjid can never be ‘downgraded’ to a lesser status.
• Missed solahs must be made up (qodo). It’s like a debt to Allah that you must pay back.
  If our parents pass away and we know they missed solah some point during lifetime, it is recommended that we qodo on their behalf. We also could pay other people to qodo for them. Still, we could also pay fidyah to the poor (1 fard solah missed = 1 cupak of rice). This is qaul daif mazhab Syafi’I, and it is known that Imam as-Subki paid fidyah on behalf of his deceased mother.

Wallahu a’lam.

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Sujud Sahwi (MM 3/8/08)

Munyatul Musolli 3rd August 2008

From Hassan Basri (rh), Nabi (saw) said that there are 3 benefits for those who perform solah:

1. Virtues shower onto his head from the skies.


2. Angels surround him from the feet up to the skies.


3. The angels would say “If only he and the people with him knew what’s in store for them, surely they would never turn away from their solah”.

Sunnah Elements in Solah

In Arabic, we ‘safeguard’ and ‘construct’ a solah, instead of merely ‘performing’ it. To construct a complete solah, it is good manners (adab) to take care the sunnah elements also, not only the compulsory ones.
There are 2 kinds of sunnah: Hi’ah and Ab’ad. Both are voluntary elements, missing which (intentionally or not) would not nullify solah. However points lost by missing sunnah ab’ad should be recovered by performing extra set of prostration, called ‘sujud sahwi’.

Basis for Sujud Sahwi

There are 8 elements under Sunnah Ab’ad as we learned in previous sections (e.g Tasyahhud Awwal, Do’a Qunut). Regardless of how many sunnah ab’ad elements we miss or skip, we should patch them up only with one set of sujud sahwi.
Make it known that there are some activities that if we carry out on purpose would nullify a solah, yet if we do inadvertently, would not. Should you commit such mistake, it is proper to recover them by performing sujud sahwi as well. Examples of these activities include:

1. Lengthening a ‘short’ rukun such as standing too long during i’tidal or sitting too long between sujuds.


2. Talking or eating a little.


3. Adding extra unit (rak’at) of solah being doubtful of the count.


4. Misplacing ‘rukun qauli’ (compulsory recitation). This includes reciting the Fatihah during ruku’ or sujud, or reciting the tahiyyat when standing up.

If you are in doubt whether you have performed any of the 8 sunnah ab’ads, you are still encouraged to do sujud sahwi. If you are in doubt whether you have completed 3 or 4 raka’ats, then it is compulsory for you to assume 3, and add another 1. After that, you are encouraged to do sujud sahwi. Even if you become convinced on the number of raka’at just before giving salam, you still owe a set of sujud sahwi.

Say after sujud on 2nd raka’at you forget to sit for tasyahhud awwal, and rise to qiyam. About midpoint (exactly bordering or past ruku’ position), you become aware of the mistake and re-sit for tasyahhud. You should complete the tasyahhud, and remember to do sujud sahwi later.

Likewise, in 2nd raka’at of Subuh, you forget to recite do’a qunut, and proceed for sujud. Halfway down (exactly or past ruku’ position), you put in reverse gear and straighten up. You should complete the qunut, and remember to do sujud sahwi later.

Ustaz Zakaria explained:

1. Hassan Basri (ra) narrated many hadith mursal.


2. ‘Sahwi’ comes from Arabic ‘sahwun’ = forget. Sujud sahwi is performed twice before salam, with sitting in between.


3. Both tasyahhud awwal and qunut must be accompanied by salawat upon Nabi (saw).


4. Talking “a little” does not nullify a solah, as long as unintentional and no longer than 6 words.


5. Talking intentionally with a word 2 letters long, or 1 letter with ‘maad’ will nullify solah. If you cough with equivalent of 2 letters or 1 letter with ‘maad’- even if to clear the throat - would nullify solah.


6. Nibbling and swallowing food those stuck between your teeth is considered ‘eating’. You should be careful with this.


7. 2 ‘short’ rukuns in solah: I’tidal should not be longer than time taken to recite Fatihah. Sitting between sujuds should not be longer than time taken to recite tahiyyat. If you deliberately stand or sit longer, your solah becomes invalid.


8. Always assume positive with the person leading a congregation (imam). If you pray behind a Hanafi imam, and you don’t hear him starting Fatihah with “Bismillah…”, then convince yourself that he already recited it silently. For Hanafi mazhab, it is only sunnah to say “Bismillah…”, while for Syafi’i, it is compulsory. Once you start to doubt the imam, you are supposed to break away from him.

Wallahu a’lam.

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Reason I’tidal, Prostrate, Sitting, Tasyahhud, Salam (MM 27/7/08)

Munyatul Musolli 27th July 2008

I’tidal
Raising yourself to the upright position saying:

سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Keeping in mind that Allah has forgiven those who say His name and obey Him.

Once firmly upright, say :
رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Reminding yourself that that all praise due to Him who has made it easy for you to stand before Him.

Prostrate
Then you stoop down for sujud. This action is a sign of surrender and acknowledge your inferioriority to Allah, who is all-superior and all-forgiving.

Sitting between sujuds
You raise from the first sujud and say:

رَبَّ اغْفِرْلِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَعَافِنِي وَاعْفُ عنِّي
O Allah pardon all my wrongdoings, be merciful to this servant who is full of error. Bestow upon me your bounty, patch up my weakness. Guide me, make me healthy, and forgive me.

Tasyahhud
During tasyahhud, you recite:

أَلتَّحِيَّاتُ الْمُبَارَكَاتُ الصَّلَوَاتُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلَّهِ
Make it clear to yourself as if you’re saying this:
All glory to Allah, who presides over his dominion. He who owns the rights to be worshipped 5 times in a day. There’s no one else to be worshipped but Him.

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
You attest this:
Peace conveyed to you O Rasulullah, just like how you conveyed the commands and guidance of Allah to your people. May Allah’s mercy and pleasure be blessed and guaranteed upon you and your family.

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ
You imagine this:
May Allah’s forgiveness conferred upon us and those before us (the prophets, the truthful ones, and those who follow their path until the day of resurrection).

أَشَّهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ
Make it firm in your heart:
We enslave to no one (in heavens or earth) but Allah, the only God there is.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Affirm that:
Indeed Muhammad (saw) is the seal of all prophets (be it Nabi or Rasul), and he is the chosen one over all creations.

Next you present the salawat to Nabi Muhammad (saw), and pray that Allah give good tidings to you and to all faithful people.

Give Salam
You give salam once to the right, and another to the left. Make a resolve that you shall spare your fellow muslims from your evil intentions and and treachery.

Said Ustaz Zakaria:

• Raising from ruku’, the imam (leader) says “Sami’Allahu-liman-hamidah” followed by “Rabbana-lakal-hamd”. The ma’mum (follower) should the same. If you blindly follow what people in certain part of the world do – only saying “Rabbana-lakal-hamd” alone, you’re liable for 3 errors:
  1. Error for not saying “Sami’Allah…”. Even if it doesn’t nullify your solah, it spoils it.
  2. Error for misplacing “Rabbana…”. It shouldn’t be said until you’re completely in the standing position.
  3. Error for saying “Rabbana…” out loud. Only “Sami’Allah…” should be said loudly.
• This book states the 6 wau’s (“Rabbighfirli…”) to be recited during sitting between sujuds. However, we follow the more famous opinion of reciting 7 wau’s (“Rabbighfirli…warfa’ni…”).
• Perform ablution (wudu’) before solah. There’re 6 obligatory elements of wudu’. As said by Tok Kenali, 4 of them “wet” (W) and 2 “dry” (D):
  1. State the niat (D)
  2. Wash the face (W)
  3. Wash both hands from the fingertips down to the elbow (W)
  4. Wipe some water to the head (W)
  5. Wash both feet from toe to the ankle (W)
  6. Follow the above sequence (1&2 together) until 5 (tertib) (D)
• When calling out the azan, it is better to say “Alla-hu-akbar” instead of “Alla-ha-akbar”. “hu” is the stronger opinion (qaul rajih) of ulama, while “ha” is the weaker (qaul marjuh). Why follow the weak opinion when there’s a stronger one?
• The more you send salawat to Rasulullah, the better for yourself.
• Completing a first-class solah should prevent you from betraying fellow muslims.
• With the first salam, you can get more reward if you accompany it with the intention to terminate the solah. Never state this intention before the first salam! – that would nullify the solah.
• A big turnout at Surau Taman Anggerik the night before. But alas! Not to listen to Ustaz Zakaria’s lesson, but to listen to Anwar Ibrahim's (political) speech!
  

Wallahu a'lam

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Reason Behind Elements in Solah (MM 20/7/08)

Munyatul Musolli 20th July 2008

It is appropriate that a person who performs solah aware there is reason behind every activity. Hopefully this would make him grateful, that Allah has made things easy for him.

Truly in a solah there are various virtues in terms of bodily activities and remembrance to Allah.

Takbir
When standing up and say “Allahu Akbar”, state the intention (niat) in the heart. Know that Allah is indeed great and exalted, and you are standing in service for him. As a matter of fact, at this time Allah is also facing you saying: “My servant is standing before me, proclaiming that I am the Greatest”.
Raising both hands level to the ears, you are making commitment to enslave yourself to nothing else besides Allah.

Do’a Iftitah
You continue with the do’a iftitah, and with every verse, you become aware with the message:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ- Dignified You are Allah, free from error or imperfection,
وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ - Blessed is any doing that commence by saying Your name,
وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ - So Exalted and Great You are,
لاَإِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ - Only You the Creator and the One Giving Sustenance. Nothing else worshipped but You, nothing precedes and nothing succeeds You.

Note: The above is a shorter version of do'a iftitah.

Recite al-Fatihah
Then you continue with reciting al-Fatihah, keeping in mind the message:


أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الْشَّيْطَانِ الْرَّجِيمِ
I ask Your protection from calamity caused by the accursed satan.
بِسْمِ اللهِ الْرَّحْمَانِ الْرَّحِيمِ
In everything I do, I ask for help with Your gentleness, love, and mercy.

[Recite al-Fatihah until the end.]
All praise to Allah who did not make me one of those He is angry with (the Jews), nor one of those who have gone astray (the Christians). Instead He made me from those on the path of the prophets, martyrs, and the honest.

Bowing
Bowing down (ruku’) is as if sending a salute to Allah by placing yourself low in front of Him. You present yourself while being sinful and full of offense, and with hope that He forgives you. Doing this, you recite:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
I present myself humbly to God the Great and Generous.

I’tidal
Next you raise yourself to the upright position saying:
سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Allah has forgiven those who say His name and obey Him.

Ustaz Zakaria said:

• In obtaining Islamic lesson, make sure you get it from authorized syaikhs, who carry a valid sanad (authority to transmit particular knowledge).
• An old man from Besut – Tok Ayah Pomen – obtained many ijazahs (authorization) to practice various hizibs. From syaikhs in Makkah alone, he obtained 21 ijazahs.
• Tariqah is a good thing for Muslims. Do not reject it simply because some people have tainted it with extremities.
• Satans who make journey to the sky and spy for divine news will be chased away with fiery objects (meteors). Some of them get hit and fall to earth. Incapacitated, they now take pleasure in doing mischief to people. These are what we call “ghosts” or “evil spirits”.
• It is preferred that at the end of al-Fatihah, we join together “صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِم “ with “غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِم” without waqaf (stopping).
• On reciting a surah after al-Fatihah, you get more reward if you recite a surah in full. So better to read a short surah completely compared to a long surah partially.
• Method in fiqh: Any ‘amal (religious practice) must be done in accordance with authentic position (qaul sahih). Only if you encounter difficulties, you are permitted to follow the weaker position. Even then, this position is for your own use only, do not force other people to follow it.
• Today Ustaz Zakaria gave ijazah to practice Hizib Bahr (Hizbul-Bahri) of Imam Abu Hassan As-Syazili (rh). He also mentioned the wirids to fight off satan.
• Interesting story about a pious man named “Pak Long Bismillah” from Besut, who gained Allah’s favor from simply reciting “Bismillah” 786 times a day, and consistently travel to different masjids to clean ablution water-tanks. Also called "Pak Long Kolah".
• It is sunnah to say “Bismillah” before performing any respectable work. Cleaning up dirt, even though virtuous in its intention, is not considered “respectable”.

Wallahu a’lam.

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