Tag Archives: Fiqh

An Easily Avoidable Mistake Some Ladies Make in Their Prayers

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

It happens that some ladies neglect the issue of covering the feet properly for prayer, while it is an issue which leads to prayer being invalid and unaccepted, according to the majority of Islam’s scholars. Sometimes we underestimate the priority of an issue, and sometimes that can have very serious consequences!

Allah, the Exalted and Most High, commands us to tell the believing women to cover themselves fully with their modest garments. He says:

وقل للمؤمنات يغضضن من أبصارهن ويحفظن فروجهن ولا يبدين زينتهن إلا ما ظهر منها وليضربن بخمرهن على جيوبهن
“And say to the believing women that they are to lower their gazes and protect their private parts, and they are not to expose their beauty, except for what is apparent of it, and they must cover their bodies with their khimaars…” (24:31)

“Except for what is apparent of it,” refers to the face and the hands, according to Ibn ‘Abbaas and the majority of the scholars.(1)

And Allah, the Most High, says:

ياأيها النبي قل لأزواجك وبناتك ونساء المؤمنين يدنين عليهن من جلابيبهن ذلك أدنى أن يعرفن فلا يؤذين وكان الله غفورا رحيما
“O you Prophet! Tell your wives, daughters, and the [other] women among the believers to cover themselves [fully] with their jilbaabs (modest garments). This is so they could be recognized and not harmed. Allah is Oft Forgiving and Ever Merciful.” (33:59)

In these Verses, Allah commands ladies to wear hijaab, mentioning specifically the khimaar and jilbaab, which are modest garments worn to cover the entire body, from head to toe.

This is required when they are out in public, in situations visible to men not part of their immediate family, or in prayer. The 31st Verse of Soorah an-Noor, quoted previously, goes on to list the close family members around whom a woman does not need to cover completely.

As for when praying, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:

لا يقبل الله صلاة حائض إلا بخمار
“Allah does not accept the prayer of adult lady not dressed in a khimaar.”(2)

It is reported that Umm Salamah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), was asked about what a lady needs to wear when she prays. She replied:

تصلي في الخمار والدرع السابغ إذا غيب ظهور قدميها
“She prays in a khimaar and a long garment which covers over her feet.”(3)

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have Mercy on him) said:

لا تقبل صلاتها إلا بخمار، يعني ساتر، فلا بدّ من ستر شعرها كله، وبدنها كله في الصلاة، حتى أقدامها تسترها، إما بالجوارب، أو بالثوب الساتر المرتخي الذي يستر قدميها.
“Her prayer is not accepted without being dressed in a khimaar, meaning: which is fully covering. So she must cover her hair, entirely, as well as her entire body during prayer. She must even cover her feet, either with socks or with a long garment that hangs low enough to cover her feet.”(4)

The majority of the scholars consider the prayer of a lady with her feet exposed to be invalid, with the exception of some incidental exposure of the bottoms of her feet in prostrations.

What about qadhaa’ (repeating the prayer after covering the feet)?

  • Regarding a lady who is incapable of covering (completely) because she does not have access to enough clothing, or because she is in prison and prevented from covering fully, or because of winds that blow her garments in a way that exposes her in the prayer, or any other excuse which is outside of her control, then she has fulfilled her duty, and no qadhaa’ or anything further is required from her.
  • When capable of covering, regarding a prayer that was just offered in such a way (with the feet exposed), a lady is to be told to repeat the prayer, as it was invalid.
  • Regarding prayers offered in the past, the times of which have ended, then hopefully Allah would excuse what was done in the past because of ignorance of the ruling, and Allah knows best.
  • Regarding a lady who knows this ruling, but neglects this issue intentionally, then may Allah aid her in fulfilling genuine repentance and in overcoming whatever has led to such disastrous neglect in her worship of Allah. She should fear Allah and be afraid that a small matter of easily correctable negligence leads to great loss on the Day of Judgment. She should seriously consider that the first matter of all her deeds she will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment is incorrect and invalid with her Creator, and then all the rest of her deeds would all be similar, and this she would be absolutely ruined on the Day of Reckoning!

The Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:

إن أول ما يحاسب به العبد يوم القيامة من عمله الصلاة فإن صلحت فقد أفلح وأنجح وإن فسدت فقد خاب وخسر
“Indeed, the first of a worshipper’s actions he/she will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, he/she is successful and triumphant. If it is corrupt, he/she fails and loses.”(5)

In another hadeeth:

أول ما يحاسب به العبد يوم القيامة الصلاة، فإن صلحت صلح له سائر عمله وإن فسدت فسد سائر عمله
“The first thing a worshipper will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, all of the rest of his/her deeds will be sound. If it is corrupt, all the rest of his/her deeds will be corrupt.”(6)

So being that this issue is an easy one to correct, let us fear Allah and be more diligent in our worship, so our sworn enemy does not lead us into ruin and destruction in the Hereafter with an issue so easily correctable!

What about that “minority” opinion held by some scholars?

While there is a position among a minority of the scholars that the woman’s feet are not required to be covered in prayer, ask yourself the following questions in all sincerity:

  • When Allah has commanded me to cover myself fully, how certain am I that HE, the Lofty and Exalted, has exempted my feet from this command?
  • Am I upon clear, doubt-free evidence that ALLAH HIMSELF has exempted my feet from His Command to cover my body?
  • Am I comfortable offering a prayer that the majority of Muslim scholars throughout history would classify as invalid?
  • How important is it to me to stick to such a position when covering my feet is so easy; something that would remove me from an issue of differing over such a serious matter of such potentially disastrous results?

May Allah grant us success in worshipping Him in the best way, and may He forgive us and all the believing men and women.

And Allah knows best.

Written by: Moosaa Richardson (1447.06.06) 

RESOURCE: PDF of this article (with Arabic quotes fully voweled)

FOOTNOTES:

(1) Tafseer of Ibn Katheer (24:31)

(2) As narrated by ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and collected by Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, at-Tirmithee, Ibn Maajah, and others; authenticated in Irwaa’ al-Ghaleel (196).

(3) Collected by Maalik in his al-Muwatta’ and Aboo Daawood.

(4) As found on the shaykh’s official website [accessed by this link] [MP3 audio]

(5) As narrated by Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) and collected by Aboo Daawood, at-Tirmithee, and Ibn Maajah; authenticated in Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawwood (no.810-812)

(6) Collected by at-Tabaraanee in his al-Mu’jam al-Owsat. See: Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah (no.1358).

NEW PUBLICATION: When Allah Wants Good for Someone He Grants Him Fiqh (Understanding) in the Religion by Shaykh Rabee’ ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee

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Al-hamdu lillaah, we are pleased to announce that our latest publication is now available -by the Permission of Allah-, When Allah Wants Good for Someone He Grants Him Fiqh (Understanding) in the Religion, by the great scholar, Shaykh Rabee’ ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee (may Allah have Mercy on him):

*This article features affiliate links, through which we may earn a small commission which helps maintain our website and da’wah activities, so we thank you, jazaakum Allahu khayran!

BRIEF OVERVIEW:

  • Summary: A complete translation of a lecture delivered in 1426 (2005) in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, including the shaykh’s responses to seven questions posed after the lecture.
  • Laid out with the entire Arabic text on the right-hand page, the matching English translation on the left side, for easy comparison.
  • Includes a biography of the shaykh, a glossary, and three complete multiple-choice quizzes with answer keys.
  • 107 pages, 6×9″ size, glossy cover, cream-colored pages (paperback)
  • Available resources: MP3 recordings | Free PDF Version | Mobile version
  • Printed Workbook on Amazon (affiliate links):*

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Categories of People in How They Respond to Islamic Knowledge

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

The great scholar, Shaykh Rabee’ ibn Haadee al-Madkhlee (may Allah have Mercy on him) said:

The Messenger (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) provided a comparison about the knowledge he came with: “The likeness of what Allah sent me with of guidance and knowledge is like abundant rain which falls upon the land. Some areas have pure soil which absorbs the water and produces grass and much vegetation. Other areas have hard surfaces which hold the water and provide benefit to people; they drink it, give some to their animals, and irrigate [their crops] with it. The rain also falls on other areas which are merely barren lands which do not hold any water nor produce any vegetation. This is the likeness of someone who has understanding in the religion of Allah and benefits from what Allah has sent me with, as he learns and teaches, compared to someone who does not raise his head to heed any of that, nor does he accept any of Allah’s guidance which I have been sent with.” [1]

So people are of different types as it relates to benefitting from [Islamic] knowledge:

One type is like the pure soil, his heart accepts this goodness, and so it produces yields like when the soil absorbs rain, producing vegetation and harvests. It provides people with food for their animals and food for themselves, of fruits and other harvests. Such soil benefits [itself] from that rain and also provides benefit to others. This is like the one who gains understanding by memorizing knowledge and learning how to understand it and derive rulings, beliefs, and principles from it. Such a person presents these matters to the people so they could [also] benefit from them.

Another category is Continue reading →

Shaykh ‘Ubayd al-Jaabiree on Neglecting Child Support

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

The respected scholar of al-Madeenah, Aboo ‘Abdil-‘Azeez ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Abdillaah ibn Sulaymaan al-Jaabiree al-Hamdaanee (may Allah preserve him) was asked the following question:

One of my relatives divorced his wife and left his three children with her, and then refused to spend on the children, assuming himself to be free of them. He has continued in this way [of dealing with the matter], and he is still doing this now. What would you advise him with? May Allah reward you.

The shaykh replied (may Allah bless and preserve him): Continue reading →

Wiping over Headwear (Turbans, Caps, Khimaars) for Wudhoo’

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In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

I was asked about the issue of women wiping over their khimaars (head coverings) for wudhoo’. Seeking the Assistance of Allaah, I say:

The Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) wiped over his footwear and headwear, as found in Saheeh Muslim and other source books of hadeeth. Some scholars said this is not for women and their khimaars, however, to consider a ruling in Islaam specific to one of the two genders requires evidence, as all rulings in Islaam are for men and women alike, unless there is evidence to show an intended distinction.

All rulings in Islaam are for men and women alike, unless evidence establishes an intended distinction.

This is a very important principle in Fiqh. Furthermore, it has been reported from Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with her), that she used to wipe over her khimaar for wudhoo’. This is the short version of the answer. Stop reading here, unless you are interested in a more detailed discussion.

Some scholars said it is not allowed for women to wipe over their khimaars. This is due to either

  • [A] Their rejection of the entire issue of wiping over headwear, because the evidence for it had not reached them,
  • [B] Or because they affirmed the Sunnah of wiping over headwear in general, but no report from a female Companion reached them affirming their practice of it, so did not see any basis for it in the practical understanding of the female Companions. There are in fact many reports of women Companions reaching under their khimaars to wipe over their heads for wudhoo’. However, those who knew of the reports (of Umm Salamah, for example) are given priority over those did not have them.

Those who affirm the permissibility of women wiping over the khimaar either

From the Signs of the Last Day: Long Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) with Short Prayers

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In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

Shaykh Hammood ibn ‘Abdillaah at-Tuwayjiree (d.1413) – may Allaah have Mercy on him – said:

Long Khutbahs (Sermons) with Short Prayers: On this topic, there is the hadeeth of Ibn Mas’ood – may Allaah be pleased with him – who said:

You people are living in a time wherein prayers are made long, khutbahs (sermons) are short, there are many scholars, but few orators. A time will come upon the people when the prayer will be short, the khutbah will be long, a time of many orators but few scholars…

It was collected by at-Tabaraanee, and al-Haythamee said: Its narrators are those of the Saheeh (hadeeth collections of al-Bukhaaree and/or Muslim).

It was also collected by Imaam Maalik in his Muwatta’, with a similar wording:

…And the people shall encounter a time when the scholars of fiqh are few, but the reciters are many, the letters of the Qur’aan will be memorized, but the rulings will be lost, many shall be asked questions (about Islaam), few will be able to benefit anyone, they shall prolong khutbahs (sermons), and shorten the prayers. Their whims will become evident even before their actions.

…He (Ibn Mas’ood) – may Allaah be pleased with him – also narrated from the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) that he said:

إن قصر الخطبة وطول الصلاة مئنة من فقه الرجل، فأطيلوا الصلاة، واقصروا الخطبة، فإن من البيان سحرًا، وإنه سيأتي بعدكم قوم يطيلون الخطب ويقصرون الصلاة

“Verily, a short khutbah and a long prayer is a sign of a man’s fiqh (religious understanding), so lengthen the prayer and shorten the khutbah, as surely some types of speech are magical. People will come after you who prolong the khutbahs and shorten the prayers.”

It was collected by al-Bazzaar, and part of it was Continue reading →