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 Mr. Burhan,

I have several questions and would appreciate your answers:

1.) When I drive back-and-forth to work, I pray several small surahs of the Quran-e-sharif during the drive. I have shoes ON and I do not have a cap ON and I am not in a state of wudu. Is it permissible to pray surahs from the Quran-e-sharif (like Surah al-fateha, al-falaq, al-nass, etc. etc.) from memory while driving? If not, can you suggest what else is permissible to recite while driving?

2.) A lot of calenders/other items have the photo of the Holy Kabba (or the name Allah written in Arabic) on them. What is the appropriate way to dispose off such calenders etc. after the years are past? Along similar lines, if some pages from the sacred text or other holy books (like a small book with the 99 names of Allah) have come off or are torn, what, if any, is the appropriate way to dispose them off.

3.) In countries like the US (or many other countries) many times in summer men wear shorts (half pants that cover up to the knees). Can we say prayers or pray the Quran-e-sherif in shorts?

4.) These are the days of Muharram and I heard a statement in the wiaz that I want to check with you. The bhai-saheb said: Rasulallah (SAW, PBUH) said that, even though it is not right to beat yourself (mataam) for anybody else, that to do mataam for the Ahul-Bayat is allowed. I seek forgiveness from Allah if I have mis-quoted what I think I heard.

To the extent possible, please answer based on interpretation from the Holy Book or from the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH), as you usually do. If not and it is your (team’s) best judgment, please do let us know clearly that it is so.

Thanks and I appreciate your help. Regards.

(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:

Wearing cap while praying quran

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: When I drive back-and-forth to work, I pray several small surahs of the Quran-e-sharif during the drive. I have shoes ON and I do not have a cap ON and I am not in a state of wudu. Is it permissible to pray surahs from the Quran-e-sharif (like Surah al-fateha, al-falaq, al-nass, etc. etc.) from memory while driving? If not, can you suggest what else is permissible to recite while driving?

Sunan of Abu-DawoodHadith 229 Narrated byAli ibn AbuTalib

The Messenger of Allah (saws) came out from the privy and taught us the Qur'an and took (ate) meat with us. Nothing prevented him from (reciting) the Qur'an except sexual defilement.

There is absolutely no restriction on the wearing of shoes, or the adorning or not of a cap or head-cover, or being in the state of wudu while reciting the Quran from memory. The only restriction in reciting the Quran from memory is when one is in the state of post-sexual defilement. Other than this one restriction, one may recite the Glorious Quran whenever and in whatever state one wills and expect its reward from the Lord Most Merciful.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2137 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If anyone recites a letter from Allah's Book he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim are one letter, but ‘alif’ is a letter, ‘lam’ is a letter and ‘mim’ is a letter."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2210 Narrated by Abidah al-Mulayki

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Do not make the Qur'an a pillow, but recite it as it deserves to be recited during the night and the day. Recite it aloud, chant it and consider its contents, perhaps you may prosper; but do not seek to obtain reward for it in this world, for it provides rewards."

Q-2: A lot of calenders/other items have the photo of the Holy Kabba (or the name Allah written in Arabic) on them. What is the appropriate way to dispose off such calenders etc. after the years are past? Along similar lines, if some pages from the sacred text or other holy books (like a small book with the 99 names of Allah) have come off or are torn, what, if any, is the appropriate way to dispose them off.

The best way of disposing anything whose contents include the Sacred Text is either to bury it or burn it.

Q-3: In countries like the US (or many other countries) many times in summer men wear shorts (half pants that cover up to the knees). Can we say prayers or pray the Quran-e-sherif in shorts?

The ‘satr’ of the man or the obligatory parts of the body that a believing man must cover from all except his spouse are from his navel to his knees inclusive. Thus there is absolutely no harm if a believer wears shorts, provided his body parts from his navel to his knees are completely covered.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.113a

Preferred to wear two garments in salat

It is preferred for a person to wear at leat two garments in salat, but he can wear just one if that is all he has. Ibn 'Umar reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "If one of you is going to pray, he should wear two garments, for Allah has the most right that you should look good for Him. If one does not have two garments, he shoud cover himself with a cloak when he prays, but not like the Jews do." (Related by at-Tabarani and al-Baihaqi.)

Abdurazaq related that Ubayy ibn Ka'b and 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud had an argument. Ubayy thought it was permissible to pray in one garment, while Ibn Mas'ud said that that was allowed only if one had no other clothes. 'Umar mounted the pulpit and said, "The correct position is: If Allah gives you more provisions, you should wear more clothes. A man can gather his clothes about him, or pray in a waist cloth and a cloak, or in a waist cloth and a shirt, or in a waist cloth and a caftan, or in trousers and a cloak, or in trousers and a shirt, or in trousers and a caftan, or in leather trousers and a caftan, or in leather trousers and a shirt.'

Buraida reported that the Prophet forbade one to pray using an improperly-affixed sheet to cover his 'aurah’ (private parts), and to pray in trousers while not wearing a cloak. (Related by Abu Dawud and al-Baihaqi.)

It is related that when al-Hassan ibn 'Ali prayed, he would wear his best clothes. He was asked about that and he said, "Verily, Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty, so I beautify myself for my Lord." Such a view is in accord with Allah's words, "And wear your adornment for every prayer."

In light of the above guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) it would be preferable and best for the believing men to pray in at least two garments, one covering the lower part of the body and the other covering the upper part of the body. But if one is in a situation where he has only one garment in his possession and has no means to cover his upper part of the body, then he should cover his lower part and perform his prayers, making sure that the lower garment covers the body parts between his navel and his knees inclusive.

Q-4: These are the days of Muharram and I heard a statement in the wiaz that I want to check with you. The bhai-saheb said: Rasulallah (SAW, PBUH) said that, even though it is not right to beat yourself (mataam) for anybody else, that to do mataam for the Ahul-Bayat is allowed.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2829 Narrated by Hadrat Ali ibn AbuTalib (r.a.)

Hadrat Ali (r.a.) heard Allah's Messenger (saws) invoked the curse of Allah on those who took usury, those who paid it, those who recorded it, and those who refused to give sadaqah. And he (saws) used to prohibit wailing.

Nasa'i transmitted it.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 2033 Narrated by AbuMalik al-Ash'ari

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘Among my people there are four characteristics belonging to pre-Islamic period which they do not abandon: 1. boasting of high rank, 2. reviling other peoples' genealogies, 3. seeking rain by stars, and 4. wailing. And he (further) said: If the wailing woman does not repent before she dies, she will be made to stand on the Day of Resurrection wearing a garment of pitch and a chemise of mange.’

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3122 Narrated by AbuSa'id al-Khudri

The Messenger of Allah (saws) cursed the wailing woman and the woman who listens to her.

Umm 'Atiyyah reports: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) made us pledge that we will not wail over (the dead)" (Bukhari and Muslim).

Al-Bazzar has transmitted, at the Prophet (saws) said: "Two sounds are accursed in this world and in the hereafter: the sound of wind instruments (to celebrate) good fortune, and of moaning aloud when afflicted with a misfortune."

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said in an authentic narration “He is not a believer, who beats his face, or tears his clothes, or wails, when afflicted by a misfortune.”

There are several authentic narrations from the Messenger of Allah (saws) whereby he specifically prohibited the acts of wailing or beating oneself (matam) when afflicted with any misfortune. There is absolutely nothing in the authentic narrations of the Prophet (saws) whereby he encouraged waling or the beating of oneself (matam) under any circumstances.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.390 Narrated by Anas bin Malik

We went with Allah's Messenger (saws) to the blacksmith Abu Saif, and he was the husband of the wet-nurse of Ibrahim (the son of the Prophet (saws)). Allah's Messenger (saws) took Ibrahim and kissed him and smelled him and later we entered Abu Saif's house and at that time Ibrahim was in his last breaths, and the eyes of Allah's Messenger (saws) started shedding tears. 'Abdur Rahman bin 'Auf said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws), even you are weeping!" He (saws) said, "O Ibn 'Auf, this is mercy." Then he (saws) wept more and said, "The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord, O Ibrahim! Indeed we are grieved by your separation."

There is absolutely nothing in the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) whereby he encouraged the performance of wailing (marseeyah, etc.) or beating oneself (matam) in memory of the afflictions of the ‘ahle-bayt’ or anyone else.

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