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 Brother As salam alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.I had earlier as well posed these questions but did not get any reply from your side.Could u please tell me the correct way of performing salaat ul witr in accourdance with the authentic ahaadith and if you could qoute them as well.Kindly also explain the status of using siwak before making ablution,is it obligatory/mustahab and should it be used for all the five salaats and could we use a tooth brush instead.Also i would like to know if we miss a jammah in a mosque should we say the adhan and the iqamah a fresh for starting another jamaah.Kindly explain.Jazakallah khair

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Answer:

Miswak tooth brush adhaan

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 none 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: Could u please tell me the correct way of performing salaat ul witr in accourdance with the authentic ahaadith and if you could qoute them as well.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.13

It is permissible to perform the witr prayers by praying two rak'at combinations [and concluding each of them with a tashahud and the tasleems] and then praying one rak'ah with a tashahud and taslim. Likewise, it is allowed to pray all the rak'at with two tashahuds and one taslim. One may pray an even number of rak'ats, one after another, without making any tashahud, save in the one before the last rak'ah in which case one makes the tashahud and then stands to perform the last rak'ah wherein one will make another tashahud and end the prayer with the taslim. One may also make only one tashahud and the taslim, in the last rak'ah of witr. All of that is permissible and can be traced to the Prophet (saws).

Al-Bukhari and Muslim quote 'Aishah saying that the Prophet (saws) would perform thirteen rak'at during the night and would make the witr prayer, and he would not 'sit' except in the last rak'ah of them. In another hadith, 'Aishah reports that the Prophet (saws) would perform nine rak'at during the night and that he would not sit during them until the eighth rak'ah in which he would make remembrance of Allah, praising Him, and would make supplication. Then, he would stand without making the taslim and pray the ninth rak'ah, after which he would sit, make the tashahud and make the taslim in such a manner that we could hear him.

The Prophet (saws) said: 'The night prayer is sets of two rak'at. If one fears the coming of the dawn, he should perform one rak'ah, thereby making all of them odd [witr].'

Since the number of rakahs of the voluntary night prayers are not specified, one may pray as many rakahs as is easy for him, either in a two rakah combination with a tashahud and tasleem for each, or all of them together with only a tashahud at the end of the prayer with no tasleem; then end these voluntary night prayers with one rakah of witr with a tashahud and tasleems thus making all of them ‘witr’ or an odd number. The Messenger of Allah (saws) prayed the night voluntary prayers in both ways, thus if one follows any one of the ways he would be in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

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.'"

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.112 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar

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

Your Question: Kindly also explain the status of using siwak before making ablution,is it obligatory/mustahab and should it be used for all the five salaats and could we use a tooth brush instead.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.154 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Narrated Amir bin Rabi'a, "I saw the Prophet (saws) cleaning his teeth with Siwak while he was fasting so many times as I can't count." And narrated Abu Huraira, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'But for my fear that it would be hard for my followers, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak on every performance of ablution.' " The Prophet (saws) did not differentiate between a fasting and a non-fasting person in this respect (using Siwak).

Aisha said, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'It (i.e. Siwak) is a purification for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah's pleasure.'

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.13 Narrated by Anas

Allah's Messenger (saws) I said, "I have told you repeatedly to (use) the Siwak.’ (The Prophet put emphasis on the use of the Siwak.)

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 389 Narrated by Aisha

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘The preference for prayer in which miswak is used, to prayer in which it is not used, is seven times (and in another narration ‘seventy times’).

It is indeed an extremely preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and thus ‘mustahab’ to use the siwak during one’s ablution or before one’s prayer.

Your Question: …..and should it be used for all the five salaats

The using of the ‘siwak’ during one’s wudu or before prayer is neither obligatory, nor a pre-condition of prayer in Shariah….but it is definitely a ‘mustahab’ or preferred practice and a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Thus if one chooses to use the ‘siwak’ before all his five obligatory prayers, one would obviously be closest to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws); but if for any reason one chooses to use it in a few of his prayers, there is absolutely no sin and no harm. The absolute maximum that can be said of one who chooses not to use the ‘siwak’ before their prayers is that they missed a great opportunity to earn extra rewards from Allah Subhanah.

Your Question: …….and could we use a tooth brush instead.

Beloved brother, obviously there was no such thing or concept of a tooth-brush during the time of the Prophet (saws); if one wished to take care of their teeth or the foul smell from their mouths, one would utilize the ‘siwak’ for that purpose.

The scholars and jurists in Islam have differed in their opinion regarding whether one would get the same reward for using the tooth-brush/paste as one would for using the ‘siwak’, which was so sufficiently recommended by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

The majority of the contemporary scholars are of the opinion that the ‘spirit’ or the wisdom behind the guidance of using the ‘siwak’ is sufficiently fulfilled by one using the modern tooth brush/paste; thus one who intends to follow the Sunnah and uses the tooth brush/paste before he makes himself available for prayer would be sufficiently rewarded for obeying and following the ‘spirit’ and the wisdom behind the Sunnah and the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws). And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Your Question: Also i would like to know if we miss a jammah in a mosque should we say the adhan and the iqamah a fresh for starting another jamaah.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) always prayed his ‘fard’ or obligatory prayers in congregation, thus the ‘Adhaan’ was announced by the caller to prayer, and after the appointed time when the believers had gathered in the mosques, the ‘Iqaamah’ was announced, and the believers would stand in the rows and make themselves available for prayers. Thus the absolute majority of the scholars are unanimous in their opinion that it is obligatory to announce the ‘adhaan’ and the ‘iqama’ when praying in congregation.

The main reason and wisdom behind the declaration of the ‘adhaan’ aloud is to make aware to the believers that the time of offering the prayer has begun.

If one is praying alone at home, it is not obligatory for him to give the ‘adhaan’ or the ‘iqaamah’ before one starts ones prayer. If one has heard the ‘adhaan’ being called from the mosques, or if one is sure the time of prayer has approached, they may simply make the intention and start their prayer. But if one praying alone, for any reason declares the ‘adhaan’ or the ‘iqaamah’, there is absolutely no harm and will not effect the validity of his prayers in any way.

But whenever there are two or more believers gathered at any place and they intend to offer their prayers in congregation; then it would be best if they announce the ‘adhaan’, then the ‘iqaamah’, and then start their prayer in congregation; but if one does not announce the ‘adhaan’ afresh and declares only the ‘iqamah’ that too would suffice. What is of paramount importance is that when two or more believers intend to offer their prayers in congregation, one amongst them must declare the ‘iqamah’ before they start their prayer in congregation.

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