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:

Dearest Brother in islam.

Assalamualaikum.
Please let me know about prayers. When we go for sujud should our hand or our knee touch the floor first

Another question please. After isya i go to sleep and wake up in the midnight and pray tarawih and follow by tahjud and witr. Is it correct or should i pray after isya, tarawih.

Is there any prayers call solat hajat. Did Rasulullah pray solat hajat.  

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Answer:

Tahajjud

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.

Your Question: Please let me know about prayers. When we go for sujud should our hand or our knee touch the floor first.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.151

Sunnah acts of prayer, How To Prostrate

Most scholars prefer that one place his knees on the floor before his hands. Ibn al-Mundhir related this from 'Umar an-Nakha'i, Muslim ibn Yasar, Sufyan al-Thauri, Ahmad, Ishaq and other jurists. Abu at-Tayyeb said that most jurists agree with this. Ibn al-Qayyim said, "When the Prophet (saws) prayed, he would place his knees (on the floor) before his hands, then his hands, his forehead and nose.” This is what is authentic and has been related by Shuraik from 'Asim ibn Kaleeb on the authority of his father from Wa'il ibn Hajr who said, 'I saw the Messenger of Allah (saws) while prostrating, placing his knees (on the floor) before his hands. Upon getting up, he would raise his hands before his knees. I never saw him do otherwise."

Some scholars and jurists of the likes of Imam Malik, al-Auza'i, Ibn Hazm and Ahmad maintain that it is preferred to place the hands down first and then the knees. Says al-Auza'i, "I saw the people placing their hands on the floor before their knees." Ibn Abu Dawud comments, "That is the statement of the people of hadith."

It is preferred for the one who is prostrating to follow the following points:

• One should place one's nose, forehead and hands and toes upon the floor.
• The hands should be separated from the sides of the body. Wa'il ibn Hajr reported that when the Messenger of Allah (saws) prostrated, he (saws) would place his forehead between his palms and separate his arms from the sides of his body. (Related by Abu Dawud.) Abu Humaid reported that when the Prophet (saws) prostrated, he would place his nose and forehead upon the floor, keep his arms away from his sides, and place his hands parallel to his shoulders. This is related by Ibn Khuzaimah and at-Tirmidhi.
• One should place one's hands parallel to one's ears or shoulders
• As both of these acts have been related. Some scholars combine these two acts by placing the ends of the thumbs parallel to the ears and the palms parallel to the shoulders.
• One should have one's fingers together and stretched out. AlHakim and Ibn Hibban record that when the Prophet (saws) bowed he would have his fingers separated and when he prostrated he would keep his fingers together.
• One should have one's fingers facing the qiblah
• Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Humaid that when the Prophet (saws) prostrated, his fingers would be neither spread out nor clasped together, and his toes would be directed toward the qiblah.

From what has been authentically narrated from the practice of the Prophet (saws) it would be best if one touches the knees on the ground first before placing one’s hands when going into prostration. But if one is of old age or limited physical abilities, there is absolutely no harm if one balances himself by placing the hands first before the knees.

Your Question: After isya i go to sleep and wake up in the midnight and pray tarawih and follow by tahjud and witr. Is it correct or should i pray after isya, tarawih.

Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Our Lord Descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring: 'Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?"'

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

Amr ibn Abasah reports that he heard the Prophet (saws) say: "The closest that a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latter portion of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allah, the Exalted One, at that time then do so." Related by al-Hakim, An-Nisai, and Ibn Khuzaimah.

Abu Muslim asked Abu Dharr: "Which late-night prayer is the best?" He said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah (saws) the same that you asked me and he (saws) said, 'The (best one is done during) middle of the latter half of the night, and very few do it.'"

Related by Ahmad.

Abdullah ibn 'Amr reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "The most beloved fast to Allah is the fast of Prophet Dawood (a.s.). And the most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of Prophet Dawood (a.s.). He would sleep half of the night and then pray during the next third of the night and then sleep during the last sixth of the night. And he would fast one day and not fast the next."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

If one could divide nightfall into three equal parts, then the absolute best time to offer one’s late night voluntary prayers (tarawih in Ramadan or tahajjud or qiyam-ul-layl) during the last third of the night and end the night prayers with the performance of the witr prayers.

But if one fears that if one sleeps one might not be able to get up again to offer the night prayers, there is absolutely no harm if one offers one’s voluntary night prayers and witr before one goes to sleep for the night.

The supererogatory prayers offered after Isha or before going to sleep for the night are absolutely permissible and good; but if one delays one supererogatory prayers until the last third portion of the night, that would be the absolute best. Thus the difference between the two times is not one of permissible/impermissible or wrong or right…but rather one of absolutely best or good.

Whatever time one offers ones supererogatory night prayers, it is preferred and a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to perform the ‘witr’ prayer as the absolute last prayer of the night.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.112 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar

The Prophet (saws) said, "Make Witr as your last prayer at night."

It is reported that Hadrat Ali (r.a.) said: "The witr prayer is not required like your obligatory prayers, but the Prophet (saws) would perform the witr prayer and say: 'O you people [followers] of the Qur'an, perform the witr prayer, for Allah is One and He loves the witr.'"

Your Question: Is there any prayers call solat hajat. Did Rasulullah pray solat hajat. 

To the best of our knowledge there is absolutely nothing in the established and authentic Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) called the ‘salaat-ul-haajah’; and when the Messenger of Allah (saws) has not given or assigned a particular name for a prayer, it does not behove and befit one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to give or assign a name to it from himself!

When one has a ‘hajaah’ or need, one may simply raise one’s hands or bow down to their Lord in prostration and in absolute awe, humility, fear, and hope implore and beseech their Lord Most Gracious to fulfill their need; for He Alone suffices as a Disposer of all affairs. If one wishes to offer a prayer or do a good deed before making one’s supplication, there is absolutely no harm in doing so…but one should not give or assign a name to that prayer or deed when no name is assigned to it by the Messenger of Allah (saws)!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 186:

And if My servants ask you, O Prophet, concerning Me, tell them that I am quite near to them. I hear and answer the prayer of the suppliant, when he calls on Me. So let them respond to My call and believe in Me. (Convey this to them), perhaps they may be guided aright!

Abu Hurairah reported, "The Prophet (saws) said, "Nothing is more dear to Allah than one's supplication to Him.''

Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

Salman reported that the Prophet (saws), said, "Your Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted One, is Modest and Generous, and He loathes to turn away His servant empty-handed when he raises his hands to Him in supplication."

Narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one 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), one 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 alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan