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:

I have been told by one of my Shia' Irani Friend that the way we (Bohras) are praying Namaz is wrong. Now I asked him what is the right way. He says that, after every ruku and sujud when we get up for other Ra'kat you should pause for few seconds on sitting position then you have to get up, and after the second Ra'kat before the ruku you should lift your hands in begging position and should be exactly in front of your face but away atleast a feet and pray "Qunood".

Can you please explain, me the various way or if only one way of praying namaz, with complete detail.  

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Answer:

Prayer Details

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever 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.

Your Comment: I have been told by one of my Shia' Irani Friend that the way we (Bohras) are praying Namaz is wrong. Now I asked him what is the right way.

We have been commanded by Allah in the Holy Quran to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

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

Q-1: He says that, after every ruku and sujud when we get up for other Ra'kat you should pause for few seconds on sitting position then you have to get up, 

On normal occasions the Prophet (saws) did not sit after the sujood, but used to get up directly for the next rakah.

But there is an authentic narration from one of the wives of the Prophet (saws), that the Prophet (saws) used to sit down after the ‘sujood’ and then get up for ‘qiyam’, when he got a little old.

The scholars of Islam have said in their analysis that both of them are acceptable, if one’s intention is to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws). Thus if one sits after the sujood for a moment, or stands up directly after the sajdah, there is no harm in both; as long as one’s sole intention is to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws).

Q-2: and after the second Ra'kat before the ruku you should lift your hands in begging position and should be exactly in front of your face but away atleast a feet and pray "Qunood".

In light of the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws), it is recorded that in normal circumstances, he (saws) did not pray the ‘qunoot’ supplications, except the ‘fajr’ prayers. But when the atrocities and tyranny of the disbelievers increased, and they waged severe wars against the believers, the Prophet (saws) used to pray the ‘qunoot’ supplications at the end of the last rakah of every prayer. It has been reported that during the battle of the Trench, he (saws) prayed the ‘qunoot’ prayers regularly for one month. But under normal circumstances, he (saws) did not offer the ‘qunoot’ supplications, except in the ‘fajr’ prayers, where some narrators have said that the Prophet (saws) almost always prayed the ‘qunoot’ supplications to Allah.

Thus, because the Prophet (saws) prayed both ways, with and without ‘qunoot’ in the fajr prayers, both ways are considered fine. If you are praying your prayers in congregation, you have to follow the ‘imam’; thus if the imam prays the ‘qunoot’ supplication you should follow him, and if the ‘imam’ does not pray the ‘qunoot’ supplication and goes directly to sajdah, you should do as the imam goes.

It has also been reported that the Messenger of Allah prayed the ‘qunoot’ prayers before the ruku, and also after the ‘ruku’, thus both are acceptable.

Brother, the truth is these are small differences between the various scholars of Islam, and as long as the believer prays with the intention to follow Sunnah or way of the Prophet (saws), then Allah will Insha Allah accept it. But we cannot do anything in the prayers which is not substantiated by the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws).

In all the major or obligatory commandments of the prayers, there is absolutely no difference of opinion between the eminent scholars of Islam. Eg, everybody is unanimous on the number of prayers (5), the sequence of the prayer, the intention, the takbeer, the qiyaam and praying of Surah Fateha and other aayahs of the Quran, then the ruku, then sujood, then the tashahood, and then ending the prayers with ‘salaams’. These are the obligatory acts of the prayers, and there is absolutely no difference of opinion about these.

There might be small differences of the finer aspects of prayers, like where should one hold his hands, if at all. The fact is that it has been reported that at most times, the Prophet (saws) used to fold his hands, and sometimes he would not. Thus both are considered his Sunnah (saws) and both are acceptable.

These small issues are not obligatory, and if one’s sole intention is to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and does accordingly, Allah will Insha Allah accept your prayers. Other than the obligatory actions of prayer, without which the prayers become invalid, the other acts hold the position of ‘mustahab’ in prayers. If one does them, it is good; and if one does not do them, there is no sin.

And Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

May Allah guide you and us to read and understand the simple and plain words of the Glorious Quran. May Allah increase our knowledge from the Holy Quran. May Allah guide us to the Siraat al Mustaqeem.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan