Dar al-Ifta Ahl al-Sunnah

Dār al-Iftā Ahl al-Sunnah

1. Leaving some Quranic verses and reciting from further ahead in the next rakꜤah

Q: What do the scholars of Islam say about the following matter: In the first rakꜤat of salah, the person recited the first 6 verses of the second Quranic juz. In the next rakꜤat, he left out the next five verses without any need, and began to recite from یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا اسْتَعِیْنُوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ الصَّلٰوةِ. He recited five verses and concluded the salah. Is this a disliked practice?

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

A: Reciting in such a manner in an obligatory prayer, whereby a person recites some verses in the first unit (rakꜤat) and in the second, leaves a verse and recites from ahead, is slightly disliked (makrūh tanzīhī). So it is not a sin, but best avoided.  If a separation of two or more verses is made, it is not even slightly disliked, but it is better for there not to be the separation of two or more verses.

Remember that this ruling is regarding two units of prayer (rakꜤatayn). Reciting from different places within a single rakꜤat without need, is makrūh tanzīhī absolutely, even if there is a separation of two or more verses.

According to these specifics, in the mentioned scenario recital was commenced from the beginning of the second juz - سَیَقُوْلُ السُّفَهَآءُ مِنَ النَّاسِ. It was more superior that recital in the second rakꜤat be started from the place where it was concluded in the first. However, when the recital in the second rakꜤat was after leaving five intervening verses without a need, then, despite this action being non-preferable (khilāf al-awlā), the salah itself was offered without dislike.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

Answered by: Muhammad Sarfaraz Akhtar Attari

Affirmed by: Mufti Fuzayl Raza Attari

2. Only reciting in one’s heart during the prayer

Q: What do the scholars of Islam say about the following matter: If a person does not verbally recite in salah but merely recites “in the mind,” will such a prayer be valid with such a ‘recital’?

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

A: It is essential to recite the Quran verbally at a volume which would be audible to oneself in normal conditions, i.e., if there were no commotion, or a person was not hard of hearing, he would hear his own voice. Even the correct pronunciation of letters without hearing the voice with the ears is not sufficient according to the relied upon view; as recital is not performed by merely pronouncing the letters without hearing sound, according to the most correct view. However, merely imagining the recital in one’s mind is not recital by universal agreement. Therefore, in the scenario mentioned in the question, the obligation of recital will not be fulfilled by merely thinking of the recital, nor will the salah be valid. It is obligatory to repeat such a salah.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

Answered by: Mufti Fuzayl Raza Attari

3. The order when offering Witr at the time of Tahajjud

Q: What do the scholars of Islam say about the following matter: If a person offers Witr prayer at the time of Tahajjud, which salah will be offered first? Please guide us in this regard.

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

A: For someone who is sure about waking up on time, it is recommended to pray Witr in the last part of the night. In this scenario, it is recommended in the hadith to pray Tahajjud first then Witr. However, there is no problem in praying Witr before Tahajjud, although it is not the better practice.

It should be remembered that the person who offered Witr before sleeping due to not relying upon his ability to wake up later, and subsequently woke up and offered Tahajjud; although he will not attain superiority because he did not act on the hadith, “Make Witr the final salah of your night”, as he did not pray Witr last of all, he will still receive the superiority of offering Witr early. This is because it is mentioned in another noble hadith: “He who fears that he will not offer Witr at the end of the night, should offer it at the beginning of the night.” Due to this hadith, the jurists elucidate how it is more superior for a person who fears missing Witr to offer it before sleeping.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

Answered by: Muhammad Sarfaraz Akhtar Attari

Affirmed by: Mufti Fuzayl Raza Attari

4. The recommended method of performing sajdah tilāwah (recital prostration)

Q: What do the scholars of Islam say regarding the following matter: Should sajdah tilāwah be performed standing or sitting? Please guide us.

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

A: It is recommended to stand for sajdah tilāwah, go into prostration, and finally, return to the standing position. One should perform sajdah tilāwah in this manner. However, if someone performed it whilst sitting, it will also be valid, although it will be non-preferable.

Answered by: Muḥammad Sarfaraz Akhtar Attari

Affirmed by: Mufti Fuzayl Raza Attari