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Bohra revert questions

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Burhan

I request you to answer the following questions-

1. What is the significance of offering the prayers with the syedna? I have read the larger the congregation the more sawab there is in the prayers. But does the Imam matter in increasing the sawab?

2. Can you tell us something about wearing the ridah, topi, saya kurta etc and keeping a beard?

3. Do you personally read every question and answer or do you send an automated reply from your library of answers? Many of my previous questions have not received an answer. How long has this site been in operation?

4. What is really disturbing is- are we performing the prayers in the right way, is the misaq ceremony that we performed wrong and was my nikaah prayed in the right way as given in the Quran without any additions or subtractions in the duas to be prayed. Also if this is not the right way then how do I learn the perfect way of Islam and prayers. Which mosque should I go to pray as you will agree with me that all sects pray in a slight different manner and a person from one sect is not very welcome in a mosque of another sect?

5. How do I teach my son prayers and other things. Normally mulla sahab would teach us when we were small?

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Bohra revert questions

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Q-1: What is the significance of offering the prayers with the syedna? I have read the larger the congregation the more sawab there is in the prayers. But does the Imam matter in increasing the sawab?

If the Imam leading the prayer is the Messenger of Allah (saws) himself, indeed it would be safe to assume Allah Subhanah would increase the reward of those who were fortunate enough to pray in congregation with the Prophet (saws).

 

But other than that, there would be no increase if a particular Imam was leading the prayer, other than what is stated by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.618 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "The prayer in congregation is twenty seven times superior to the prayer offered by the person alone."

 

Although the Imam has no bearing on the increase of rewards of a prayer, there are three places as stated by the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws) where the rewards are increased manifold by Allah Subhanah.

 

Hadrat Jabir (r.a.) reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Prayer in the inviolable mosque [in Makkah] is like 100,000 prayers [elsewhere]. And prayers in my mosque [in Medinah] is like one thousand prayers [elsewhere]. And a prayer in Bait al-Maqdis [in Jerusalem] is like five hundred prayers [elsewhere].

Related by alBaihaqi.

 

Q-2: Can you tell us something about wearing the ridah, topi, saya kurta etc and keeping a beard?

The Messenger of Allah (saws) did not dictate a particular type of clothing for the believers. There is absolutely no harm if a believer wears any type of decent clothing which covers his satr, except the type of clothing which the Messenger of Allah (saws) declared illegal for the believers. (like silk for men, transparent or tight fitting clothing for women in public, etc.)

 

Ref: Rida

If the Rida covers the complete zeenah or beauty of the woman, including her hair completely; there is absolutely no harm if one chooses to wear this type of clothing.

 

Ref: Topi

It was customary in the time of the Prophet (saws), that the men would wear something like a turban on their head; thus if one wishes to cover his head with a topi there is no harm.

 

Ref: Saya Kurta

There is absolutely no harm if one wishes to wear the saya-kurta, as it adequately covers the complete satr of the man.

 

But if one wears the above, or is forced to wear the above because that would differentiate him as a particular sect of Islam; then the making of sects in Islam is absolutely prohibited by Allah Subhanah in the Holy Quran.

Just look at the Anger and Wrath of Allah described on those who break up their religion into sects:

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Surah Muminoon verse 52-55: And you all belong to one and the same ummah, and I(Allah) am your Lord; so fear Me Alone! Yet afterwards the people divided themselves into different sects, and each sect rejoicing in what it has. Well, leave them deeply involved in their heedlessness up to an appointed time. What? Do they think that, by continuing to provide them with wealth and children, We are solicitous for their welfare? Nay, they do not understand the reality of the matter!

 

Allah says in Chapter 30 Surah Rum aayat 31-32:"This (Islam) is the right and true faith, but most people do not know. (Be steadfast on this) turning wholly and sincerely towards Allah Alone, and fear Him, and establish the Salat, and do not be like the mushriks, who have set up their separate creeds and divided themselves into sects, each sect rejoicing in what it has."

 

Ref: the beard

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.780 Narrated by Nafi

Ibn Umar said: The Prophet said, "Do the opposite of what the pagans do. Keep the beards and cut the moustaches short."

 

To grow a beard is the preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws); and every muslim should be proud to follow this Sunnah of not only Prophet Mohamed (saws), but all the Messengers who came before him.

 

Q-3: Do you personally read every question and answer or do you send an automated reply from your library of answers? Many of my previous questions have not received an answer. How long has this site been in operation?

Beloved brother in Islam, Allah Subhanah has blessed us to serve His Cause through this humble forum for almost three years. Although I would love to read each and every question that we receive on the forum, the influx and back log of unanswered questions does not allow me the time to do so. But I assure you that the brothers and sisters who moderate and selflessly spend their time on operating the forum read each and every single question that is asked on the forum; and if the question has been answered before, they send the reply from the archive.

 

Q-4: What is really disturbing is- are we performing the prayers in the right way, is the misaq ceremony that we performed wrong and was my nikaah prayed in the right way as given in the Quran without any additions or subtractions in the duas to be prayed.

 

Ref 4A: are we performing the prayers in the right way

The correct way to offer the salaah is the way the Prophet (saws) offerred them, as no one who ever walked this planet earth worshipped Allah Subhanah in a better manner. The Prophet (saws) himself learned the rites of salaah directly from Gibrael (a.s.) at the very beginning of his (saws) term of Prophethood in Makkah. During that time the Prophet (saws) and the believers used to pray the salaah in two rakah formations. The commandment of the five obligatory prayers were received one year prior to the Hijrah, during the night of Isra-wal-Mairaaj (Night of Accession of the Prophet(saws) to the Heavens).

 

The Quran itself is silent on the actual rituals or acts of prayer. But this is an act, which was conducted by the Prophet (saws) five times a day until his (saws) death, and witnessed by tens of thousands of his companions (r.a.). Whatever the Prophet (saws) said, saw, did, approved and dissapproved, some noble companions (r.a.) wrote it down for future generations to follow.

 

There is actually no dispute between all the factions of Islam on the fundemental rites of salaah and almost all the sects pray in a similar manner. For instance, there are absolutely no disputes in the following matters in any sect of Islam:

To observe 5 obligatory prayers

The number of rakahs in each obligatory prayer.

To observe Taharat before the prayer. (wudoo, clean place, clean clothes, etc.)

To face towards the Kaabah.

To make intention before salah (Neeyah).

To make Takbeer before the start of prayer

To do qiyam(stand) during prayer.

To pray Surah Fateha and another Surah (in the first two rakahs only).

To make ruku (bow down) after every rakah.

To make two sajdah (prostrations) after every ruku.

To pray tashahood and taheeyat after every two rakahs.

To end the pray with the act of salaams.

Etc.

 

There is absolutely no difference in the majority (maybe 99%) of the rites of salah in any school or sect of Islam. Yes, there are small differences in various sects and schools of Islam, like standing with ones hands folded or straight, etc., but these do not in any way negate the salah. If anyones intention is that either by folding his hands or keeping his hands straight in prayer, he is following the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws), there is absolutely no harm in either.

 

But if one knows that an act he does in the salah is an innovation added by somebody to the rites observed by the Prophet (saws), then he should not do it.

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His Angels, and by all the people.

Ref 4B: is the misaq ceremony that we performed wrong

Please read the accompanying attachments, which explains in detail the concept of meethak and also the translation of the meethak given by the Bohras.

 

Ref 4C: was my nikaah prayed in the right way as given in the Quran without any additions or subtractions in the duas to be prayed.

Beloved brother in Islam, it is not the dua which is prayed at the time of the Nikaah which sanctifies the Nikaah. The conditions of Nikaah are the following, without which the Nikaah would be deemed null and void in the sight of Shariah:

The proposal by the groom, and acceptance by the bride.

The determination of mehr.

The presence of the Wali (Guardian) of the bride

The presence of two witnesses to the Nikaah contract.

 

If any one of the above four obligatory conditions of Nikaah are missed, the Nikaah will be deemed invalid in the Sight of Shariah; regardless of who recites the dua or what duas are recited! The dua or supplication to bless the couple is not an obligatory condition of the Nikaah contract, and a Nikaah which is done without any recitation of dua, but meets all the above four conditions will be absolutely legal and valid in the sight of Shariah.

 

Ref 4D: Also if this is not the right way then how do I learn the perfect way of Islam and prayers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21: There is indeed the best example for you to follow, in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person who looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

 

The correct way to offer the salaah is the way the Prophet (saws) offerred them, as no one who ever walked this planet earth worshipped Allah Subhanah in a better manner. The Prophet (saws) himself learned the rites of salaah directly from Gibrael (a.s.) at the very beginning of his (saws) term of Prophethood in Makkah. During that time the Prophet (saws) and the believers used to pray the salaah in two rakah formations. The commandment of the five obligatory prayers were received one year prior to the Hijrah, during the night of Isra-wal-Mairaaj (Night of Accession of the Prophet(saws) to the Heavens).

 

The Quran itself is silent on the actual rituals or acts of prayer. But this is an act, which was conducted by the Prophet (saws) five times a day until his (saws) death, and witnessed by tens of thousands of his companions (r.a.). Whatever the Prophet (saws) said, saw, did, approved and dissapproved, some noble companions (r.a.) wrote it down for future generations to follow.

 

The perfect way to offer the salaah is to emulate the example of the Messenger of Allah (saws). Please read the following attachment answer 295. for the details and meanings of the Prayer.

 

Ref 4E: Which mosque should I go to pray as you will agree with me that all sects pray in a slight different manner and a person from one sect is not very welcome in a mosque of another sect?

Any masjid that is built for the worship of Allah Subhanah Alone is a good place to offer ones prayer!

 

The mosques are the declared Houses of Allah, and no muslim has a right to stop another muslim from worshipping Allah in any house of Allah. Thus if any muslim comes to any mosque, no matter what this differences are, no one has a right to stop the person from worshipping Allah in the mosques.

 

It is a grave sin for anyone to stop a muslim from entering any mosque, and thus stopping him from worshipping Allah Subhanah.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 72 Surah Jinn verses 18-19: And that the mosques are for Allah. Therefore, do not call upon anyone else in them along with Allah. And that when the servant of Allah stood up to invoke Him, the people got ready to assault him.

 

The truth is brother, that these sects of Shias, Sunnis, Bohras, etc. are all man made and have absolutely no basis in Islam. Islam is One Ummah, and anyone who propagates breaking this Ummah into sects and sub-sects is going against the clear commands of Allah Subhanah, and will be severely accountable in the Court of Allah on the Day of Judgement.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Surah Muminoon verse 52-54: And you all belong to one and the same ummah, and I(Allah) am your Lord; so fear Me Alone! Yet afterwards the people divided themselves into different sects, and each sect rejoicing in what it has. Well, leave them deeply involved in their heedlessness up to an appointed time.

 

Allah says in Chapter 30 Surah Rum aayat 31-32: "This (Islam) is the right and true faith, but most people do not know. (Be steadfast on this) turning wholly and sincerely towards Allah Alone, and fear Him, and establish the Salat, and do not be like the mushriks, who have set up their separate creeds and divided themselves into sects, each sect rejoicing in what it has."

 

Q-5: How do I teach my son prayers and other things. Normally mulla sahab would teach us when we were small?

Beloved brother in Islam, when you learn and perform your prayers emulating the prayers of non other than Prophet Mohamed (saws), it would be your duty to teach, or arrange for someone to teach your children how to pray. Go into any mosque and simply ask the Imam or leader of the mosque that you want someone to teach your son how to pray. Any true muslim would take it as an honor and a pleasure to teach another muslim how to pray for the Pleasure of Allah Subhanah.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allahs Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your Brother in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 


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