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 in Islam,

Kindly request your guidance in light with Quran and Sunna

1. Is it a must to recite the initial supplication before Al Fathiha.

2. Sometimes after reciting this, there is no much left to recite Al Fathiha. Is it ok?

5. is said to be sunnah to raise hands after retuning from second raka. Here how raka is referred? Is it related imams raka or on the real count of mine ( for example late joined with imam)

6. Which leg to put out first when coming out of masjid

7. Which leg to use first to wear and remove shoes.

Jazakallahu Khairan

May ALLAH bless all of Umma.

(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:

Questions in Prayer

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:: Is it a must to recite the initial supplication before Al Fathiha.

Although the raising of one’s hands and declaring the ‘takbeer’ to start the prayer and the recitation of the Surah Al-Fatehah are an absolutely obligatory part of offering prayer in Shariah, the initial supplication before the recitation of Surah-Fatihah in the first rakahs of prayer are a preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and not obligatory; one may do so if one wills, and if one for reason does not make these initial supplications or forgets, it would not effect the validity of their prayers in the least.

Your Question: Sometimes after reciting this, there is no much left to recite Al Fathiha. Is it ok?

If one is offering one’s prayer alone and wishes to recite the initial supplications before the recitation of Surah Fatihah in their prayer, one may do so….but one must recite the complete Surah Fatihah after the supplications for the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah in every rakah of prayer is absolutely obligatory and a condition of a valid prayer in Shariah.

Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 1.723 Narrated by Ubada bin As Samit

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Whoever does not recite Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid."

But when while offering one’s prayer in congregation, one chooses to recite the initial supplications and finds that before they have completed the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah the ‘Imam’ declares the movement to the ‘ruku’ in prayer, one should put an immediate end to their recitation and move to the ‘ruku’ signaled by their ‘Imam’….for the prayer of the ‘Imam’ is the prayer of the ‘muktadee’ (those in the rows behind the ‘Imam’ in congregation).

Your Question: …..is said to be sunnah to raise hands after retuning from second raka.

All the scholars of Islam are absolutely unanimous in their opinion, that one must practice ‘Rafayadain’ or lift both his hands unto his shoulders or ears when one starts his prayers by saying ‘Allah-o-Akbar’. This practice of ‘Rafayadain’ signaling the start of prayer is an obligatory part of prayer.

But practicing ‘Rafayadain’ in the prayer when one goes into ‘ruku’, or when one stands up from ‘ruku’, or going from a ‘qiyam’ (standing) posititon to sajdah in prayer, etc. does not constitute an obligatory part of the prayer. There is a difference of opinion amongst the scholars in the practicing of ‘Rafayadain’ during the prayers because there are authentic narrations to both arguments. Most companions of the Prophet (saws) narrated that he (saws) used to practice ‘Rafayadain’ in the beginning as well as in between his prayers, while some other state that he did it only once at the beginning of prayers. Thus, both are part of the Sunnah or Way of the Prophet (saws).

Reported Ibn 'Umar, "When the Prophet (saws) stood to pray, he would raise his hands until they were the same height as his shoulders and then he would make the takbir. When he wanted to bow, he would again raise his hands in a similar fashion. When he raised his head from the bowing, he did the same and said, 'Allah hears him who praises Him.' (Related by al-Bukhari, Muslim and al-Baihaqi.)

Reported bn Mas'ud : "I prayed with the Prophet (saws) and he raised his hands only once (at the beginning of prayer)."

Related by At-Tirmidhi.

Thus if a believer today gives weight to the narration reported by Hadrat Ibn Umar (r.a.) and prays and practices ‘Rafayadain’ in the beginning of prayer as well in his movements, his intention being to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws), it is fine. And if a believer giving weight to the narration reported by Hadrat Ibn Masud (r.a.), prays by practicing ‘Rafayadain’ only at the beginning of prayer, his intention also being to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws), that too is fine. What is important is that every believer does an act or a deed with the intention to follow the Sunnah or Way of the Prophet (saws).

Your Question: Here how raka is referred? Is it related imams raka or on the real count of mine

(for example late joined with imam)

If for any reason one has joined a congregation already in process, then one would count the number of ‘rakahs’ they offered with the congregation, and after the ‘imam’ finishes the prayer, one should stand up and complete the ‘rakahs’ one had missed.

Your Question: Which leg to put out first when coming out of masjid

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.69

Topic: Supplications upon entering and leaving the mosques

It is a Sunnah for one who enters a Masjid to enter with his right foot first and to say: " In the name of Allah! O Allah, shower blessings upon Muhammad (saws). O Allah, forgive my sins for me and open for me the doors of Your Mercy."

When one wishes to leave the Masjid one should step with his left foot first and say: "In the name of Allah! O Allah, shower blessings upon Muhammad (saws). O Allah, forgive my sins for me, and open for me the doors of Your Bounty.”

Your Question: Which leg to use first to wear and remove shoes.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.747 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "If you want to put on your shoes, put on the right shoe first; and if you want to take them off, take the left one first. Let the right shoe be the first to be put on, and the last to be taken off."

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