The Virtues of Being in the First Row in Solāh

The Virtues of Being in the First Row in Solāh

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.

Muslims are urged to go early to the mosque to attend congregational Solāh and be in the first row in order to get great rewards. Ibn `Umar (radiyallāhu`anhu) quoted the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) as saying "The reward of solāh performed in congregation outweighs that of Solāh performed individually by twenty-seven degrees" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. 

Elaborating more on this, we cite what Sheikh Sayyid Sabiq states in his well-known book, Fiqh us-Sunnah: 

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu`anhu) reported that the Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “If the people knew what was in the Adzlān and the first row (of the Solāh in virtue), and that they could not get it save by drawing lots, they would draw lots. If they knew the reward for praying the noon Solāh early in its time, they would race to it. And if they knew the reward for the night and the morning Solāh in congregation, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.” (Recorded by al-Bukhari and others)

According to Ubayy bin Ka`ab, (radiyallāhu`anhu) the Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “If the people come to know of the great rewards and benefits of the congregational Solāh, they would never stay back but would rush to the masjid for it. The first row merits the highest reward. Two persons praying together merit greater reward than the same praying individually, the rule being that the bigger the congregation the higher it’s worth in the Sight of Allah.” (Recorded by Abu Dawud) 

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (radiyallāhu`anhu) reported that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) noticed his Companions going to the back rows, and he said, “Come close and follow me and let those behind follow you. People will continue going to the back until Allāh will put them in the back” [Muslim, An-Nasā`ie, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Mājah]. 

‘Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) reported that the Prophet (Sallallāhu`alayhi wasallam) said, “Allāh and His angels send down blessings upon those who pray on the right side of the rows” [Abu Dawud and Ibn Mājah]. 

Abu Umamah (radiyallāhu`anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: "Allāh and the angels send down blessings upon the first row." The people inquired, "O Messenger of Allāh, and upon the second row?" The Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) again said, "Allāh and the angels send down blessings upon the first row." The people asked again, "O Messenger of Allāh, and upon the second row?" Finally he said, "And upon the second row." [Ahmad and At-Tabarāni]

And Allāh Almighty knows best.

[Via Islam Online (Syari’ah Researchers)]

Catching Up With A Raka`ah?

Ways of Catching Up With A Raka`ah?

Sheikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid

Question: If one comes and joins the Solāh when the imam is standing up from ruku’ (bowing), but he has yet to say the Takbir, does this counted as a raka`ah for him or not and why?

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 wa sallam is His Messenger.

If a person joins the congregation when the imām is bowing, one of the following three situations applies:

1- He says Takbirat Al-Ihram, “Allahu Akbar” to start the solah whilst standing, then he bows whilst the imam is bowing. In this case he has caught up with the raka`ah with the imām.

2- He says Takbirat Al-Ihram whilst the imām is bowing, but he bows after the imām has stood up from ruku’. In this case he is not counted as having caught up with the raka`ah with the imām, and he has to make it up.

3- He bows straightaway without saying Takbirat Al-Ihram. In this case his Solāh is invalid, because he has omitted one of the pillars or essential parts of the Solāh, which is takbirat al-ihram.

“The fuqaha’ agreed that whoever catches up with the imām in ruku’ has caught up with the raka`ah. The Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said:

‘Whoever catches up with ruku’ has caught up with the raka`ah.’”

This was narrated by Abu Dawud and classed as sahih by al-Albāni in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 496; on p. 262 he said: one of the things that strengthen the hadith is the fact that the Sahābah acted in accordance with this:

1 – Ibn Mas`ud (radiyallāhu`anhu), who said: “Whoever does not catch up with the imām when he is bowing has not caught up with that raka`ah.” Its isnad is sahih.

2 – ‘Abdullah ibn `Umar (radiyallāhu`anhu), who said: “If you come when the imām is bowing, and you put your hands on your knees before the imām stands up, then you have caught up (with that raka`ah).” Its isnād is sahih.

3 - Zayd ibn Thabit (radiyallāhu`anhu), who used to say: “Whoever catches up with the raka`ah before the imām raises his head has indeed caught up with the raka`ah.” Its isnād is jayyid.

See al-Mawsu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah, 23/133; al-Mughni, 1/298.

And Allāh Almighty Knows best.

[Via Islam Q&A]

Description Of The Prophet’s Solāh

1. The Introduction; 1.6. Clearing the Misconceptions
 2.1. Facing the Ka`abah ;  2.2. Standing in Solah ; 2.3. Intention ; 2.4. Takbīratulihram ;

2.5. To Gaze towards the Place of Sujud and Humility;

2.6. Opening Supplications of Solāh; 2.7. The Recitation;

 2.8. Ruku ;  2.9. Sujud;   2.10. Second Rak`ah ;  2.11. First Tashahhud;
 2.12. Standing up for the Third, and then the Fourth Rak`ah;
 2.13. The Final Tashahhud;  2.14. The Taslim.

3. Appendixes.; 4. Glossary ; 5. Bibliography.

All About The Solah

1.  The Purification; 2. The Menstruation; 3.  The Ghusul ;

4. Al-Wudhu’ ; 5. Tayammum;

6. The Adzān;

7.  The Status and Significance of Solāh; 

8.  The Pre-Conditions of Solāh; 9. The Pillars of Solāh; 10. The Sunnah Part of the Solāh;

11.   Adhkar in the Solāh; 12.   Du'ā Al-Qunūt;

13.   Places Where Offering Solāh Is Prohibited ; 14.   Placing a Sutrah In front of One Who is Performing Solah;

15.   What is permissible During the Solāh?; 16.   The Acts that Renders Solāh Invalid; 17.   Disliked Actions during the Solāh; 18.   The Solāh in Times of Fear or Danger; 19.   The Solāh of a Sick Person ;

20.   The Prostrations of Forgetfulness of Solāh;

21.   The Excellence of Nawafil Solāh;

22.   Solāh of a Traveler; 23. Solāh Qasar ; 24.  Solāh Jama’; 25. The Solāh Jama’ ;

26.   The Masajid; 27.  The Etiquette at the Masjid;

28.   The Excellence of Congregational Solāh ;

29.   Solāh al-Jumu`ah; 30. The Sanctified Hour of Jumu’ah.

31.   The Virtues of Friday; 32. The Etiquette for Solāh al-Jumu`ah ;

33.   Dzikirullāh after Solāh; 34. Du`ā Recited After the Solāh. ;

35.   Reasons for doing Sujud Al-Sahwi ;

36.   Solāh al-Hajjat ; 37. Solāh al-Tahajjud ; 38. Solāh al-Tarawih ;

39.   Solāh al-Dhuha ; 40. Solāh al-Hajjat ; 41.  Solāh al-Istikhārah ;

42.   Solāh al-Janāzah; 43. Solāh al-Jumu`ah;

44.   Solāh al-Kasuf ; 45. Solāh al-Khauf ; 46. Solāh al-Marid; 47. Solāh al-Tahajjud ;

48.   Solāh al-Tahiyyyatul Masjid; 49. Solāh al-Tarawih; 50. Solāh al-Tawbah ;

51. Solāh al-Witr; 52.   Solāh al-Wudhu’ ; 53. Solāh Eid ul Fitr