Bouquets and Brickbats

In the November 1999 Issue of your magazine under “Prophet’s Medicine”, you published an article by M. Laiq Ahmed Khan on Henna. I shall be grateful if you please provide me the reference hadith on the narration on page 2 by Wasila (R).
Email: hussain@qi-a.com


The narration on page 2 by Wasila (R) - on investigation, it is found that this hadith is weak and does not have a sound chain of narrators. (As it has been a long time since this article was published, if necessary we shall contact the writer of this article and obtain further information).

Editor

I was hoping you can point me in the right direction to learn more about ‘Salat’. When I read your response to a question on meditation in Islam http://www.islamicvoice.com/april.2000/dialogue.htm I became very interested in learning more about Salat. I tried to look it up and found that most people seemed to not know the difference between Salat and prayer or namaz. You seem to indicate in your writings that Salat is different. I quote you “Salat is a meditation of the highest order but most Muslims have forgotten it. They read Namaz or recite Namaz or even offer Namaz but they do not meditate in it though it was pre-requisite. A Salat does not even start without the state of meditation.” Have I misunderstood? I’m begining to think I may have. I am very interested in learning more about this thing that you say most Muslims have forgotten. How can I learn to reach this meditative state?
Email: f.kaplan@optusnet.com.au



Salat is obligatory on every Muslim five times a day. However busy or otherwise occupied he may be, at these particular times he leaves everything and turns towards his Creator, not only in praise and thanksgiving, but also for ‘dhikr’ (meditation) and du’a (supplication). Salat is a combination of all these.

Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah 45 and 46 [interpretation of the meaning “And seek help in patience and As-Salat and truly, it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khaashi’uun [i.e. true believers in Allah - those who obey Allah with full submission, fear much from His punishment, and believe in His Promise (Paradise) and in His Warnings (Hell). (They are those) who are certain that they are going to meet their Lord and that unto Him they are going to return.”

Please read the english translation of the book by Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid titled ‘Ways of developing Khushuu’ in salaah’ by visiting the ‘Books’ Section at site www.islamqa.com.

Most Muslims have come to regard salat as a ritual in the sense that they do not involve themselves fully in its essence. Salat does not mean just reciting the various Arabic expressions, but by knowing their meanings and involving themselves wholeheartedly, concentrating in such a way that you feel that Allah is watching over you, or that you are standing in front of Allah [refer hadith No. 9, Saheeh Muslim, the portion on Ihsaan (perfection). Also refer to the Hadith Al-Qudsi, No.8

Editor

The abbreviated letters in Qur’an (IV March 07), wherein the Qur’anic letters Alif Laam Meem Raa. is in chapter 13, Surah Al-Raad. But in the article it is noted as Chapter 8 Surah Al-Anfal. Please correct it in the next issue.


We appreciate the correction and the same is duly noted.
Editor

Can you clarify if Juma Namaaz can be performed in Prisons? Give your views in your monthly news paper because the brothers here have different views regarding same.



The Committee of Senior Scholars issued a fatwa stating that they did not agree with prisoners praying Jumu’ah or in congregation behind one imam in Jumu’ah or congressional prayers, and following him via loudspeakers whilst they are in prison cells because they are not obliged to pray Jumu’ah since they cannot go to the prayer, and for other reasons.


But anyone who is able to attend Jumu’ah prayers in the prison mosque - if there is a mosque there - should pray it in congregation. Otherwise a person is not obliged to pray Jumu’ah and he should pray Zuhr instead. The group in each cell should pray the five daily prayers in congregation inside their cell if it is not possible for them to gather in the mosque or in one place.


Taken from ‘Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allah ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him), part 12, page 345.

Editor