BaKhabar, June 2010, Page-8

better light a candle than curse the darkness

Prayers in Islam, Part-6

- Gheyas S Mahfoz Hashmi, Jeddah

(hgheyas@savola.com)

……. Continued from previous issues.

In May 2010 issue we have precisely described about the importance of sincerity in prayers (Nimaz) as all worship and prayers at top of them must be performed in accordance with Quran & Sunna (outer sincerity) keeping the heart and attention towards Allah (inner sincerity). All worship will be weighted by Allah with these two traits.

namaz, prayer anywhere salaat

Let us discuss here importance of performing obligatory prayers in Mosque. Five-time obligatory prayers (17 Rak’at / day) for men should always be in congregation at mosque. If any of them missed in congregation at mosque without any legal justification its performance will not compensate the missing. Although among most of the scholars obligatory prayers in congregation at Mosque is Confirmed Sunnah it is Wajib among Tabaye scholars (Atta, Hassan Basri, Awzayi and Abu Thour), and also according to Imam Ahmad, Ibn Khuzaimah, Ibn Habban and Saudi scholars Bin Baz and Othaiman. That is why there is no evidence of second congregation of obligatory prayer in Mosque from the prophet (S) and his companions (R). Imam Zarkashi has reported in his book (Elamussajid Be-EhkamulMasajid) that there was no evidence of second obligatory prayers at Mosque before 7th century. Let us see how our prophet (S) and his companions see the missing of congregation in Masque. The prophet (S) says:
"I think I order the prayer to be established. Then, I go to the houses of those who are not present in the congregational prayers and burn them together with their houses." (Muttafaq Alaih at the authority of Abu Hurairah)

There is a highly authentic Hadith in which one of the companions, Abdullah bin Um-Makhtoom says he has requested the prophet (S) if he can pray at home as he is weak, his eye-sight has defects and he is living far away from mosque. In addition, there is a garden and a valley between home and mosque. The prophet asked him ,"Does he hear calls of prayer(Aazan)?". He replied in affirmative. The prophet said," Respond to it".

namaz (salah) in the cricket field

When our prophet (S) orders his companion, who is physically feeble and on top of that there are garden and valley between his home and mosque, to attend prayers in mosque, what would be the fate of today's healthy Muslims who have been negligent of it. Once, Caliph Omar (R) went to the house of a person who did not report for prayers at mosque. He asked him the reason for not coming to the mosque. He replied he was sick and if he had not heard his voice, he would not have come out of the house. Omar told him he did not heed to the call that is more important than his call. He stated people must ensure their attendance to the mosque. Otherwise, he will send some people to drag them to Mosque holding their necks.

It is the Fatwa of Sahaba Ibn Masud (R) and Sahabah Abu Ashari (R) that obligatory prayers that performed in places after hearing the Aazan in other than Mosque without legal justification were invalid. Also according to Hazrat Hassan bin Ali (R) that obligatory prayers of those who have heard Aazan and not reported to Mosque don’t go above their head. As per Hazrat Ali (R) the prayer of neighbour of the Mosque is in that neighbourhood Mosque only.

Now, let us think coolly and conscientiously that warning is available for those who pray but at home. What about those who have been ignorant of performing prayers.
….… to be continued.

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Khuda ne aaj tak us qaum ki haalat naheen badlee
na ho jisko khyal aap apni haalat ke badalne ka

--- Allama Iqbal

mita de apni hasti ko gar koi martaba chahe
ke dana khak mein he milkar gule gulzar hota hain

--- Allama Iqbal

Yaqeen mahkam, amal paiham,
Mohabbat fateh-i-alam;
Jehad-e-zindgani men
Hain yeh mardon kee shamsheeren.

--- Allama Iqbal

Dil se jo baat nikalti hain , asar rakhti hai ,
Par nahi taqat- e- Parwaaz magar rakhti hai ...

Ki Mohammed se wafa Tune to hum tera hain
Yeh jahen cheez hain kya' lau - wo- kalam tera hain

--- Allama Iqbal

Email: bakhabar@biharanjuman.org 8