Sunday, March 11, 2012

Disliked Actions During the Solāh

Disliked Actions During the Solāh

By Sayyid Sābiq


In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-'ālamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam is His Messenger.


1 - Fidgeting with one's clothing or one's body is disliked unless there is some need to do so 

Ma’yaqib (radiyallāhu`anhu) said: “I asked the Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam)  about dusting [away] the pebbles during the Solāh, and the Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: ‘Do not dust [away] the pebbles while you are praying, but if you must do it, then do it only once in order to level the pebbles.’” This is recorded by the group. 

Abu Dharr (radiyallāhu`anhu) reports that the Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “When one of you stands for the Solāh, mercy is facing him. Therefore, he should not wipe away the pebbles.” This is recorded by Ahmad, at-Tirmidzi, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa`ie, and Ibn Mājah. 

Umm Salamah (radiyallāhu`anha) reports that there was a boy called Yassar who would puff out some air during the Solāh. The Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said to him: “May Allah fill your face with dust!” This is recorded by Ahmad with a good chain. 

2 - Placing one's hands on hips during the Solāh 

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu`anhu) relates: “The Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) prohibited putting one's hands on one's hips during the Solāh.” This is recorded by Abu Dawud. 

3 - Raising one's sight to the sky or upwards 

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu`anhu) reports that the Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “Those who raise their sight to the sky during the Solāh should stop doing so or their sight may be taken away.” This is recorded by Ahmad, Muslim, and an-Nasa`ie.

4 - Looking at something which distracts attention 

'Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) reports that the Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) prayed in a cloak which had some designs on it. He said: “These designs have distracted me. Take [this cloak] to Abu Jahm [i.e., the person who gave it to the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam)] and bring me a plain cloak.” This is recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Al-Bukhari (rahimallāh) records that Anas bin Malik (radiyallāhu`anhu) said: “‘Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) had a curtain to cover [the doorway of] her house. The Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said to her: ‘Remove your curtain for its pictures always distract me during my Solāh.’” This hadith proves that looking at some writing or design does not invalidate the Solāh.

5 - Closing one's eyes 

Some say that this act is disliked while others hold that it is allowed, though disliked. Those hadith which state it is disliked are not authentic. 

Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimallāh) said: “The correct position is: if keeping one's eyes open does not affect one's attention, then it is preferred to keep them open; however, if there is something in front of the person, such as some ornament or decoration, which could affect his attention, then it is, in no way, disliked to close his eyes. In fact, under such circumstances, to say it is preferred to close one's eyes is more consistent with the principles and goals of the shari`ah than to say that it is disliked.” 

6 - Motioning with both hands while making the salutations [i.e., the Taslim] 

Jabir ibn Samurah (radiyallāhu`anhu) said: “We solat behind the Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) and he said: ‘What is wrong with them that they make salutation with their hands as if they were the tails of horses? It is enough for you to place your hand on your thigh and say, as-Salāmu`alaikum, as-Salāmu `alaikum!’” This is recorded by an-Nasa`ie and others. 

7 - Covering the mouth and letting one's garment down until it touches the ground 

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu`anhu) said: “The Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) prohibited assadl in the Solāh and prohibited a man to cover his mouth.” This is related by the five and by al-Hākim who says that it is sahih according to Muslim's conditions. Al-Khattabi explains: “As-sadl is to lower one's garment until it reaches the ground.” Al-Kamal ibn al-Hamam adds: “This also applies to wearing a cloak without putting one's arms through its sleeves.” 

8 - Performing the Solāh while the food has been served 

‘Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) reports that the Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “If dinner is served and the Solāh is ready, start with the dinner [first].” This is recorded by Ahmad and Muslim. 

Naf'i’ (radiyallāhu`anhu) reports that the food would be served for Abdullah Ibn `Umar (radiyallāhu`anhu) while the iqamah was being made, but he would not come to the Solāh until he finished his meal although he could hear the reciting of the imam. This is recorded by al-Bukhari. 

Al-Khattabi says: "The Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) ordered that one should begin with one's meal in order to satisfy his need. In this way, he will come to the Solāh in calm and his desire or hunger will not disturb the completion or perfection of his ruku' and sajud and the rest of the acts of the solāh." 

9 - Solāh when one needs to answer the call of nature and other things that may distract a person 

Thawban (radiyallāhu`anhu)  reports that the Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “There are three acts which are not allowed: For a person to lead a people in Solāh and then make supplications for himself without including them, for then he would be dishonest to them; to look inside a house without obtaining permission, for if he does so (it is as if) he has already entered it (without permission); and to offer Solāh while he needs to answer the call of nature until he relieves himself.” This is recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and at-Tirmidzi who call it hasan. 

‘Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) reported that she heard the Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) say: "No one should Solāh when the food is served nor when one needs to answer the call of nature." This is recorded by Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu Dawud. 

10 - Solāh when one is overcome by sleep 

‘Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) reports that the Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “When one of you becomes drowsy in Solāh, he should lie down until he is fresh again; otherwise, he will not know if he is asking forgiveness or vilifying himself.” This is related by the group. 

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu`anhu) reports that the Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “When one of you gets up at night for Solāh and his tongue falters in reciting the Qur'an and he is not certain about what he is reciting, he should sleep.” This is recorded by Ahmad and Muslim. 

11 - Solat at a fixed place in the masjid [except in the case of the imam] 

'Abdurrahman ibn Shabl (radiyallāhu`anhu) said: “The Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) prohibited pecking like a crow [i.e., while prostrating], imitating a lion's manner of sitting and a man to pick a special place in the mosque [to pray] like a camel has his own place [to sit].” This is recorded by Ahmad, ibn Khuzaimah, ibn Hibban, and by al-Hākim who calls it sahih. 

And Allāh Almighty Knows best.


 [Fiqh-As-Sunnah,  Volume 2: Actions which are disliked during the Solāh by Sayyid Sābiq Fiqh via http://ymsite.com/home/]

All About The Solah

4. Al-Wudhu’ ; 5. Tayammum;
29.   Solāh al-Jumu`ah; 30. The Sanctified Hour of Jumu’ah.

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