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:

AssalamoAlikum dear brother,

First of all i want to thank u alot for doing this great job for the muslim ummah to come to the right path and to believe in the Almighty Allah alone and in the sunnah of the prophet mohammad(SAW).

Well actually iam collecting information about shia`s because one of my friend is shia and i want to give her every right information about the truth and the sunnah of the prophet mohammad (SAW).Well i know about shia`s that they pray zuhr & asr together and maghrib & isha together.While searching on net,I found one site (www.shia.org) and was reading on that site about prayers and it was just explained with the AHADITH and it was written that prophet mohammad prayed zuhr & asr together AND maghrib & isha together and we prayed five times which i know the CORRECT and i just wanted to be explained about this so that i can explain it to my friend so brother iam copying these AHADITH to u so that u can answer me well ...

___________________________________________

It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas, that he said that the Messenger of Allah prayed Zuhr and Asr together, and also Maghrib and Isha, although he was neither in a state of fear nor on a journey.

Saheeh Muslim, Vol. I, p.264

Ibn Abbas narrates that the Messenger of Allah recited the Zuhr and Asr prayers together, and also said the Maghrib and Isha prayers, although he was neither in a state of fear, nor was there any other cause, e.g. rain. It is related from Waki that he asked Ibn Abbas the reason (for the joint prayers). Ibn Abbas replied: So that the followers (of the Prophet) may not experience inconvenience and difficulty.

(1) Saheeh Muslim, Vol. I, p.265

(2) Jami Tirmizee, p. 54

-------------------------------------------------

Abdullah Bin Shaqeeq narrates that one day after the Asr prayer, Ibn Abbas began delivering a sermon which was so long that the sun set and the stars appeared. People began to shout: Salat! Salat! (as it was time for Maghrib prayer). Ibn Abbas paid no heed to them until someone from Bani Tameem stood up and shouted continously: Salat! Salat! Ibn Abbas responded: Woe unto you! You wish to teach me the Sunnat? He said: I have personally seen the Messenger of Allah pray the Zuhr and Asr prayers together, and likewise, the Maghrib and Isha prayers.

The narrator says: This statement of Ibn Abbas kept disturbing my conscience until I went and asked Abu Huraira about it, and he attested to what Ibn Abbas had said.

Saheeh Muslim, Vol. 1 p. 265

-------------------------------------------------

It is related from Ibn Abbas that the Prophet at one time recited seven rakats of prayers, and at another time eight rakats, i.e. he recited the Maghrib and Isha prayers together, and the Zuhr and Asr prayers together.

Saheeh Bukhari, Part I, p.72

-------------------------------------------------

It is narrated by Ibn Abbas that in Madina the Prophet used to recite two prayers together (Zuhr and Asr, and Maghrib and Isha), without there being any fear or rainfall. When asked about the reason for this, he said: The Prophet desired that his followers may not suffer inconvenience, and therefore the two prayers may be recited together.

Sunan Nasaee, p. 290

___________________________________________

Here are the AHADITH which they quoted about prayers and prostration and these AHADITH are those which we believe are right ... But can u tell me if these AHADITH are correct? ...please brother reply me soon as possible.jazakAllah

Fee AmunnALlah

(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:

Prophet prayed prayers together 3 times

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.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 103: Indeed the Salaat is a prescribed duty that should be performed by the believers at (their) appointed times.

Your Question: Here are the AHADITH which they quoted about prayers and prostration and these AHADITH are those which we believe are right ... But can u tell me if these AHADITH are correct?

The hadiths quoted on the particular subject are indeed considered authentic by the recorders of Hadith.

Dear and Beloved Sister in Islam, the above quoted authentic hadiths are only a few of the hundreds of hadiths regarding the timings of the prayers, whereby it is made absolutely and abundantly clear that the general and normal condition was that the Messenger of Allah (saws) led his companions in prayer at five different and appointed times of the day. Prayer was something that was made obligatory in Islam, and the general condition was that the Messenger of Allah (saws) and even the believers after him always prayed at the five different appointed times of the day.

In times of travel, or in severe rain, or during wars, etc., the Messenger of Allah (saws) did indeed join the prayers; but in normal situations in Medinah, he would always lead the prayers at the five different appointed times of the day. The above quoted hadiths by you are indeed authentic, but in none of the hadiths has it been stated that joining the prayers was a general and normal condition of the Messenger of Allah (saws) during his life in Medinah.

Besides, almost all the hadiths that state that the Messenger of Allah (saws) joined the prayers without rain or travel are mostly related by one companion: Hadrat Ibn Abbas (r.a.). It is possible that the Messenger of Allah (saws) had a specific reason for joining the prayers without rain or travel, but Hadrat Ibn Abbas (r.a.) was not fully aware of the specific condition.

The obligatory prayers were something that the Messenger of Allah (saws) did five times a day for a prolonged period of time in the presence of thousands of his companions; and when in normal conditions, he (saws) almost always led the prayers at the five different appointed times of the day. In light of the hadith which you have quoted from Hadrat Ibn Abbas (r.a.), it is indeed true the Messenger of Allah (saws) might have combined his prayers on this occasion without fear, or rain, or being on a journey; but in light of the various Aayahs of the Glorious Quran, and the various narrations of the Messenger of Allah (saws), and the numerous accounts of the thousands of his noble companions … it is an accepted fact that the Prophet (saws), the noble companions, the Ahle-Bayt and all the believers prayed the five obligatory prayers at their five different appointed times of the day; the believers continue doing so until today and if Allah Wills, until the end of time, Insha Allah.

It would not be considered guidance and righteousness for the believers today to take a hadith related by one companion, and disregard all the hundreds of authentic hadiths related by several companions which clearly state that the Messenger of Allah (saws) prayed at five different and appointed times of the day.

Joining the prayers was a mercy and a permission allowed in Islam under certain circumstances, and practiced as an exception by the Messenger of Allah (saws) and his noble companions. It does not behove the believers who sincerely love Allah and the Messenger (saws) to take an exception in the deen, and apply it as a general rule. The merciful deen of Islam is vast, and many an exception are allowed as a Mercy and a Provision in the deen by Allah and His Messenger (saws); but to take an exception and make it a general rule would definitely not be considered following Islam at its best.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), he can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), he can be assured of being led astray.

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 in Islam,

Burhan