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:

1.Please let me know why beter namaz is prayed in jamaat in the mosque during Ramzan    since we are told the Sunnat and beter is best prayed at home

2. Over my lifetime so far I must have missed many Rozas. How do I make amends 

3.Can we pay Zakat in advance if required and adjust the advance with the zakat in the following year?

Shall appreciate your expert and caring opinion.

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Answer:

Sunnah prayers at home better

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: Please let me know why beter namaz is prayed in jamaat in the mosque during Ramzan    since we are told the Sunnat and beter is best prayed at home

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that the reward of offering any voluntary (Sunnah or Nafl) prayers at one’s home is more meritorious than at the masjids; but if one wishes for any reason or finds it more convenient to offer one’s voluntary prayers in the masjids, there is absolutely no harm.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.393 Narrated by Zaid bin Thabit

One Ramadan, Allah's Messenger (saws) made a small room with a palm leaf mat. Allah's Messenger (saws) prayed in it for a few nights till the people gathered (to pray the night prayer (Tarawih)) behind him. Then on the fourth night the people did not hear his voice and they thought he (saws) had slept, so some of them started humming in order that he (saws) might come out. The Prophet (saws) then said, "You continued doing what I saw you doing till I was afraid that this (Tarawih prayer) might be enjoined (made obligatory) on you, and if it were enjoined on you, you would not (be able to) continue performing it. Therefore, O people! Perform your (supererogatory) prayers at your homes, for the best (supererogatory) prayer of a person is what is performed at his home except the obligatory (congregational) prayers."

Most believers find it more convenient to offer their ‘qiyam-ul-layl’ (tarawih or late night prayers) of Ramadan in congregation in the masjids; and although it would be more meritorious and rewarding if one offered these voluntary prayers at their homes, offering them in the masjids is obviously better than not offering them at all.

Your Question: Over my lifetime so far I must have missed many Rozas. How do I make amends 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185:

185 Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (or witnesses) the month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

If one has in their past been so negligent in the observance of their obligatory fasts that they have missed their obligatory fasts of Ramadan for years…. then the absolute first thing one must do is immediately is turn back to their Lord Most Gracious in sincere ‘Taubah’ for their severe negligence and lapse of their obligatory duty, and make a solemn and sincere intention that from this day forward, they will strive to observe every obligatory fast. If the person is sincere in seeking repentance, it is expected that they will find his Lord Merciful and Forgiving.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumur verses 53-54:

(O Prophet) say: “O My servants who have wronged their own souls….Do not despair of Allah’s Mercy! Surely, Allah forgives all sins. He indeed is the All Forgiving, All Merciful. Return to your Lord and submit to Him before the scourge overtakes you; for then you may get no help from anywhere.”

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 135-136:

Allah likes such good people very much, who, if ever they commit a base deed or wrong their own soul by the commission of a sin, remember Allah instantly, and ask for forgiveness from Him for their shortcomings. For who, but Allah, can forgive sins? (And Allah loves those) who do not knowingly persist in the wrongs they did. These will be rewarded with forgiveness from Allah, and with Gardens beneath which canals flow, and they will reside therein forever! How excellent is the reward of those who do good deeds!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 54:

When those come to you who believe in Our Signs, say: "Peace be on you! Your Lord had inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy. Verily if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented and amended (his conduct), Lo! He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

As a manifestation of their sincere repentance, the person should then strive their utmost to estimate the number of fasts they might have missed and make up the missed fasts before they meet with their appointment of death …..if one is indeed sincere in one’s repentance and in the manifestation of one’s repentance, it is expected that their Lord Most Gracious will not only forgive them their negligence, but will reward them abundantly for their repentance.

Other than making sincere ‘taubah’ and repentance, and manifesting their repentance by making up their missed number of fasts one does not have to pay any other type of ‘kaffarah’ or atonement. Their sincere ‘taubah’ and the making up of their missed fasts would suffice as their ‘kaffarah’ or atonement, Insha Allah.

Your Question: Can we pay Zakat in advance if required and adjust the advance with the zakat in the following year?

Respected brother in Islam, although the ‘zakah’ on one’s excess assets is only due after it has been in one’s possession for a full calendar year, there is an allowance and an option in Shariah for one to disburse one’s zakah in advance, if one indeed wishes to do so for any reason whatsoever.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 1620 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

Al-Abbas asked the Prophet (saws) about paying the ‘zakah’ in advance before it became due, and he (saws) gave permission to do that.

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