Dār al-Iftā Ahl al-Sunnah
Mufti Abu Salih Muhammad Qasim Attari
1. Latecomers reciting Thanāˈ behind the imam
Q: What do the noble muftis say concerning the following matter: if a latecomer joins the imam in prayer whilst he is in the standing position, should he recite thanāˈ (i.e. subḥānak Allahumma wa bi ḥamdika…)?
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
A: If the latecomer joins at the point where the imam has begun reciting Surah al-Fātiḥah aloud, then the ruling is that he should utter the takbīr, fold his hands, remain silent, and listen attentively to the Quranic recital. He is not permitted to recite thanāˈ at this stage.
However, if the imam is reciting in a low voice (such as in the Ẓuhr and ꜤAṣr prayers), or he is yet to start reciting the Quran in a prayer of loud recital, then the latecomer should recite thanāˈ straight after the opening takbīr.
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
2. Use of ‘masculine’ hairbands
Q: What do the noble muftis say concerning the following matter: what is the ruling of male hairbands that are in use nowadays?
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
A: Firstly, it is important to note that males are allowed to grow their hair up to the shoulders, but it is haram for them to grow their hair below the shoulders as this holds resemblance to women. Similarly, wearing a hairband is impermissible for men due to its resemblance to women. Men who resemble women have been condemned in hadith. Another reason for this prohibition is due to the prevalence of this fashion among those in society who openly sin, and resembling such people is also forbidden. Therefore, the use of hairbands for men is impermissible.
As for the hairbands that are commonly considered to be masculine, they are not exclusive to men. On the contrary, it is seen that women also use such hairbands to maintain or beautify their hair. Hairbands were originally made for women, so merely calling them masculine hairbands will not eliminate the resemblance. Furthermore, when a man wears such a band, people generally tend to look at him strangely and consider this to be feminine.
If there is such a hairband available which is only for males, then even if resemblance to women is not found in that scenario, it will still be impermissible due to its resemblance to open sinners. In our society, young men who openly sin wear such hairbands; therefore, masculine hairbands will not be permitted.
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
3. Joining the congregational prayer when the imam is bowing
Q: What do the noble muftis say concerning the following matter: if a latecomer finds the imam in the bowing (rukūʿ) position, is it necessary (wājib) upon him to stand for the duration of saying subḥān Allah (سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه) once after the opening takbīr?
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
A: When the imam is in the bowing position and a latecomer wishes to join the congregation, he should pronounce the opening takbīr in the standing position. Then, he should recite Thanāˈ if he knows that the norm of the imam is such that he will be able to complete the recital and still join in with the imam in the bowing position. If he is unaware of the norm of the imam, or there is a possibility that the imam will stand up before he can recite Thanāˈ, the latecomer should immediately join the imam in the bowing position after the opening takbīr. It is not necessary upon him to stand for the duration of saying subḥān Allah (سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه) once after the opening takbīr.
However, it is necessary for the opening takbīr to be recited whilst standing. Therefore, if one recites the opening takbīr in such a way that he has lowered himself before its completion to the extent that his outstretched hands would reach his knees, the prayer will not be valid. Remember, after reciting the opening takbīr in the standing position, one should recite the takbīr for the rukūʿ (bowing position) too as it is a sunnah.
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
4. Children’s drool
Q: What do the noble muftis say concerning the following matter: if a child drools on the clothing of the person carrying them, what will be the ruling concerning the purity of the clothing and the prayer offered in such clothes?
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
A: The drool that comes from a child’s mouth is pure. If it falls on clothing, the clothes will also remain pure, and there will be no harm in offering prayer in such clothing.
The detail concerning this is that the drool that comes from a person’s mouth is produced from his saliva, and one’s saliva is pure. Furthermore, the jurists have explicitly mentioned that during sleep, if drool comes out from a person’s mouth onto his clothing, his clothing will remain pure, even if this drool originated from the stomach and is odorous. Hence, the drool from a child’s mouth that falls onto a person’s clothing will not make it impure. Consequently, according to Islamic law, there is no issue in praying in such clothing. However, one should pay attention to cleanliness in relation to prayer.
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
Comments