Offering Salah when making Tawbah

بـسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The Second question of Fatwa no. 19045 (Volume 24)

Q 2: I returned in penitence to Allaah and made Tawbah (repentance to Allaah) of all my sins. I beg Allaah for forgiveness! But I heard that it is necessary for the repentant ones to offer two Rak‘ahs (units of Prayer) with deep concentration during which they experience no Waswasah (insinuating thoughts from Satan) and then to make Tawbah after this or during the Salah (Prayer). When I asked a brother of mine in Islam about this, he told me that Tawbah can be made without this; it can be done at any time and I do not have to perform Salah. What should I do? Please advise me and may Allaah reward you with the best!

A: Offering a two-Rak‘ah prayer is not a condition of a valid Tawbah. The conditions of Tawbah include giving up the sin, resolving never to commit it again, regretting having committed it, and returning people’s rights. May Allaah accept your repentance and ours. However, anyone who performs ablution, offers two Rak‘ahs and then expresses Tawbah to Allaah (Exalted be He) by regretting past sins, giving them up, and sincerely resolving never to commit them again, their Tawbah is more perfect and more likely to be accepted, according to the authentically reported Hadith from Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is no person who commits a sin then performs ablution, performing it well,then offers two Rak‘ahs and asks Allaah for forgiveness, but Allaah will forgive them.” (Related by Imam Ahmad in Al-Musnad)

(Part No. 24; Page No. 310)

May Allaah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

The  Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

http://www.alifta.net/fatawa/fatawaDetails.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=9594&PageNo=1&BookID=7

Leaving to say Du'a'-ul Qunut during some Tarawih Prayers

The first question of Fatwa no. 20815

Q 1: Is true that Du‘a’-ul-Qunut (supplication recited while standing after bowing in the last unit of Prayer) should not be constantly made in Ramadan i.e. the Imam can supplicate once or twice during the same night either in the first, middle, or last ten nights of Ramadan? Did that happen during the lifetime of the Messenger (peace be upon him) and his Sahabah (Companions)? What is actually followed in Madinah, Makkah the central city of Masjids (mosques), and Riyadh? If Du‘a’-ul-Qunut is permissible once or twice during Ramadan, please explain this to the Ummah (nation based on one creed) to be made clear in every Masjid no matter big or small.

A: Du‘a’-ul-Qunut in Witr (Prayer with an odd number of units) is Mustahab (desirable) because of the Hadith reported by Al-Hasan ibn ‘Aly (may Allah be pleased with them) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) taught me some words to say during Qunut in the Witr Prayer. They are, 'Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayta, wa ‘afini fiman ‘afayta, wa tawallani fiman tawallayta, wa barik li fima a‘tayta, wa qini sharra ma qadayta, fa inaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alaik, wa inahu la yadhilu man walayta, tabarakta Rabana wa ta‘alayta [O Allah! Guide me among those You have guided. Protect me among those You have protected. Take me into Your Care among those You have taken into Your Care. Bless me in what You have bestowed (on me). Guard me from the evil of what You have decreed, for You are the One Who decrees, and none can decree over You. Truly, the one whom You patronize can never be abased. Blessed and Exalted are You, our Lord].' (Related by Ahl-ul-Sunan [authors of Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes: Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Al-Tirmidhy and Al-Nasa’y])

(Part No. 6; Page No. 71)

It is permissible for the Muslim to say this Du‘a’ sometimes and leave it at other times, whether during Ramadan or in any other month.

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

https://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=35&PageNo=1&BookID=10

Offering Tarawih Prayer At Home

Q 4: The month of Ramadan has come and it is time to offer Tarawih (special supererogatory night Prayer in Ramadan), is it better to go and attend it in the Masjid (Mosque) or offer it at home?

 (Part No. 7; Page No. 202)

I am not an Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer), but a Ma’mum (person being led by an Imam in Prayer). I love to recite the Qur’an and prefer reciting to listening. Is there any sin if I pray Tarawih at home?

A: There is no sin on you if you offer Tarawih at home, because it is a Nafilah (supererogatory prayer). However, it is better to pray it with the Imam in the Masjid following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them). When the Prophet (peace be upon him) led his Sahabah in Tarawih on some nights until the end of the first third of the night, one of them said to him: We wish that you would lead us in Nafilah Prayer for the rest of the night. He (peace be upon him) replied: <Anyone who prays Qiyam (optional Night Prayer) with the Imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him as spending the whole night in prayer.> (Related byAhmad and the Compilers of the Sunan through a good Isnad [chain of narrators] from the Hadith of Abu Dhar)

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

https://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=36&PageNo=1&BookID=10

Ruling on delaying making up for missed days of fasting without an excuse - Fatwa of Ibn Baz

Q: Five years ago, I experienced a serious illness during Ramadan and therefore, I could not fast. Until now, I have not made up for this month that I missed. Is it permissible for me to make up for it during these days? Am I sinful for this delay? Please, advise!

(Part No. 15; Page No. 341)

May Allah reward and safeguard you! 

A: We urge you to repent to Allah (Exalted be He) for this long postponement. You were to make up for the days in which you did not fast before the next Ramadan of the year in which you failed to fast. Therefore, you must give half a Sa` for each day you missed (1 Sa` = 2.172 kg) from the staple food of your area such as dates, rice, and the like to some poor people or to one poor person. May Allah accept your repentance and forgive you! He is the best One asked for help.

Source: Fatwas of Ibn Baz, Volume 15, Book on Fasting, Part No. 15; Page No. 341|alifta.net

What is the ruling on women advertising their descriptions in newspapers and magazines seeking marriage?

The first question of Fatwa no.17930

Q 1: What is the ruling on women advertising in newspapers and magazines their descriptions seeking marriage?

A: A woman advertising her desire to marry in newspapers and magazines and listing her descriptions conflicts with chastity, modesty and decency. It is not a Muslim custom at all. Thus, it is obligatory to refrain from doing it. Furthermore, it conflicts with the responsibility of her Waliy (a legally accountable person acting for a woman seeking marriage) by whose approval she may be given in marriage.

(Part no.18;Page no.41)

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!

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Source: Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta)|www.alifta.net

The Movements Of A Believer - Sayings of the Salaf (by Owais al-Hashimi)

It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

The believer speaks little and does alot, whereas the hypocrite (munâfiq) speaks a lot and does little. When the believer speaks, it is with wisdom, when he is silent, it is in deep thought, when he sees, he takes lessons, and when he acts, it is a cure. If this is the way you are, then you are in the constant worship [of your Lord.]

Abû Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyâ` 8:98.

Source: https://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/the-movements-of-a-believer/

A Fly Or A Mountain?

‘Abdullah b. Mas’ûd – Allah be pleased with him – said:

The believer sees his sins as if he is sitting at the foot of a mountain fearing that it might fall on him, while the sinner (fâjir) sees his sins as a fly that lands on his nose, he just waves it away.

Al-Bukhârî, Al-Sahîh, The Book of Supplications, Chapter on Tawbah.

Ibn Hajr quotes in his commentary, Fath Al-Bârî:

Ibn Abî Jumrah said, “The reason for this [fear] is that the heart of a believer is illuminated; so when he sees from himself something that goes against what he illuminates his heart with, it is very distressing to him. The wisdom behind giving the example of a mountain is that a person might find some way to escape from other dangers, but if a mountain falls on a person he does not survive. In short, the believer is dominated by fear (of Allah) due to the strength of îmân he has; he does not therefore feel falsely secure about being punished because of his sins. This is the way of the Muslim: he always fears and checks on himself, his good deeds are little to him and he fears even the small bad deeds he has done.”

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Source: https://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/a-fly-or-a-mountain/