The Obligation Of Attending The Congregational Prayer In The Mosque

Ibn Al-Qayyim said:

“Reflecting on the Sunnah deeply, one could realise that it is an obligation on a Muslim man to perform the congregational Salāh in the mosque unless there is an incidental cause that deters one from doing so. Both abandoning the mosque and the congregational Salāh – with no Islāmic reason – have the same ruling and hence the meanings in the ahādīth could be easily joined.

When the Prophet (saw) died and the bad news reached the people of Makkah, Suhayl Ibn ‘Amr delivered a speech and gave safety to Attāb Ibn Usayd, who was the Prophet’s deputy in Makkah and who concealed himself from the people of Makkah out of fear.

The people of Makkah remained on their Islām. Then Attāb delivered his speech saying, “O people of Makkah, by Allāh whoever abandons attending the mosque and doing Salāh with the congregation, I will cut off his head.”
The Prophet’s companions admired Attāb’s words which raised his rank in their eyes.”

[As-Salāh Wa Hukmu Tārīkhuhā, p.137]

Ash-Shaam: Then And Now

In the general masjid of Damascus, Abu Dardaa (ra) conducted a large circle of learning, one that was attended by more than 1600 students. Aboo Dardaa (ra) would teach them in groups, with each group consisting of 10 students. There was a spirit of competition in the air, with each group wanting to spend the most time with, and therefore benefit the most from, Aboo Dardaa (ra).

For his part, Aboo Dardaa (ra) was readily accessible to his students, he would often stand in a designated place in order to answer their questions about how to recite the Quraan.

Of all the Prophet’s Companions, Aboo Dardaa (ra) is deemed to have had the most influence on the inhabitants of Damascus, as he was their faqeeh and their judge.

[Ghaayatun Nihaayah Fee Tabqaat Al-Qurraa, by Ibn Al-Jawzee, p. 1607]

‘Proof’ For Building Masjids Over Graves

The grave-worshippers try to use te story of the Companions of the Cave whose people took their locations of death as a masjid as a proof for the permissibility of building masjids on graves.

Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer answered this doubt in two ways:

1) This was an action of an idol-worshipping and disbelieving people, so this in itself is not a proof.

2) Even if this was a action of Muslims, then they were not praised for doing this.

[See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/78]

Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr’s Position On Venerating Graves

Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr said:

“It is prohibited for the Muslims to take the graves of the Prophets, ‘Ulamaa’ and righteous as masaajid.”

[At-Tamheed, 1/168]

Regarding the hadeeth where the Prophet (saw) supplicated, “O Allaah do not make my grave an idol that is worshipped.” Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr said:

“…Allaah’s Anger is severe on the one who does this and the Messenger of Allaah (saw) used to caution his companions from it. The Messenger of Allaah (saw) informed f the destruction and wrath that will befall the people from Allaah if they commit this major shirk which does not please Allaah, as he (saw) feared that what happened to the people before would befall the Ummah also.”

[At-Tamheed, 5/45]

Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee’s Position On Venerating Graves

Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee said:

“It is ‘deemed as forbidden’ to plaster graves and to write on them the name of the person within the grave and the likes. It is also ‘deemed as forbidden’ to build on them.” (1)

Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee said:

“I have seen from the leaders those of them who destroy whatever has been built on graves and the fuqahaa did not see any problem in what the leaders did.” (2)

Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee said:

“It is ‘deemed as forbidden’ to glorify the creation so that its grave becomes a masjid, this is out of the fear that it would be a fitnah for the person and for those people after him.” (3)

Footnotes:

(1) Al-Majmoo’ 5/266

(2) Al-Muhadhdhab, 1/456

(3) As-Siraaj Al-Wahhaaj, 1/114

Means To Shirk Which The Shaafi’ee Scholars Have Forbade

It has been transmitted from Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee and his followers that there is a prohibition of the means to shirk such as:

– tajsees of graves (plastering them in order to make them into permanent structures) (1)

– building on top of them (2)

– writing on them (3)

– placing lights on them (4)

– taking them as masaajid (5)

– praying to them (6)

– facing them in du’aa

– making tawaaf around them (7)

– sitting on them (8)

– kissing them (9)

– touching them (9)

– placing sun-shades on them

– to say ‘by Allaah and by your beloved’ (10)

Footnotes:

(1) Based upon the hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim that, “The Messenger of Allaah (saw) forbade that the graves should be plastered (made into permanent structures), used as sitting places (for the people) or building over them.” To know more about the position of Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee and many of his followers refer to Rawdat At-Taalibeen, 1/652, Al-Majmoo’, 5/266 & Sharh Musilm Lin-Nawawee, 7/37-38.

Pacing To The Masjid Is Not From the Sunnah, By Shaykh Mashhoor

Aboo Hurairah (ra) narrated that the prophet (saw) said:

“When you hear the Iqaamah [while going to the mosque] walk to the mosque in calmness and do not haste, whatever part of Salaat you get with the people perform it, and complete that which you have missed“. [Bukhaaree]

In another narration, the first part of the hadeeth is stated in a more general sense; it says: “when you attend the [congregational] Salaat…” [Bukhaaree]

The former narration does not however, restrict the ruling of the later; the ruling applies also to the later. According to Fiqh, this is called the “Afortiori principle”.

The one who hears the Iqaamah is more eager to catch up Takbeeratul Ihraam with the Imaam than the one who goes to the mosque before the Iqaamah is recited. And since the former is not allowed to haste to the mosque, the later is more entitled not to do so.

Other Fuqahaa’ interpreted the hadeeth in a different way. They said:

“The ruling applies to the one who hears the Iqaamah, for he reaches the mosque and joins the Imaam in his Salaat while being breathless. So, he does the Salaat without being fully given to it unlike the one who reaches the mosque before the Iqaamah is recited; he could take a rest before Salaat is performed”.

This view entails that the ruling in the hadeeth applies only on the one who hears the Iqaamah; the thing which contradicts the meaning included in the hadeeth which states “when you come to Salaat” which encompasses the later as well.

In fact, the [Iqaamah] specified narration only presents the reason that makes many people in general haste to the mosque. (1)

Hasting or pacing to the mosque, in order to catch the Rukoo‘ or even part of the congregational Salaat with the Imaam is an act of disrespect to the Salaat and causes calmlesseness and inconvenience amongst the praying people.

Footnotes:

(1) “Fathul Baaree” (vol. 2 / p. 117).

[Taken from “The Clarified Ruling Of Mistakes Done In Salaah”, By Shaykh Mashhor, Pp. 176-177]

Reciting The Qur’aan In A Group, By Shaykh Bin Baaz & Shaykh ‘Abdur-Razzaaq ‘Afeefee

Question:

When we are gathered in the masjid, may we recite the Qur’aan in unison with others?

Answer:

Your question is too general for me to give just one answer.

If by your question, you mean that people recite verses as if they were one voice, each person in the group reciting in harmony with the others, all reciting each letter at exactly the same time, then (no) it is a practice that is not allowed in the sharee’ah, and at the very least it is makrooh (hated, though not haraam), because it is neither related from the Prophet (saw) nor from his companions (ra).

If, on the other hand, you are referring to the same practice, but for the purpose of instruction and education, we hope that there is nothing wrong in that.

And if, by your question, you mean people getting together to recite the Qur’aan, not as one voice, but each person at his own pace and rhythm, then it is a practice that Islaam recommends, since the Messenger of Allaah said,

“No group of people gather in one of Allaah’s houses to recite His book and to study it among them, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelops them, the Angels surround them, and Allaah mentions them to those that are with Him.”

[Taken from “Islamic Rulings Regarding The Qur’aan”, Pp. 26-27. Quoting from “Fataawa Al-Lajnah Al-Daai’mah” of ‘Abdur-Razzaaq ‘Afeefee (Vice-President) and ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn ‘Abdullaah Ibn Baaz (President)]

Feed The Fasting In Madeenah!

Feed the Fasting inside al-Masjid an-Nabawee / The Prophet’s Mosque for as little as £2 per fasting person:

http://www.ummahservices.com/feedthefasting_madeenah.htm

Feed the fasting inside al-masjid an-nabawee (al-madeenah an-nabawiyyah)

The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) said:

“He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting persons reward.“, [Ahmad, at-tirmidhee (who declared it saheeh), ibn maajah and ibn hibbaan]

Reserve a serving spread for a minimum of 12 fasting people inside al-masjid an-nabawee (al-madeenah an-nabawiyyah) as follows:

i) during the blessed month of ramadhaan;
ii) on a monday;
iii) on a thursday;
iv) on the 13th, 14th and 15th of any islamic calendar month.

…for as low as £2.00(*) per person, per day!

The iftaar (breaking the fast) meal comprises:
– yoghurt tub;
– duqqah – mixture of ground spices;
– freshly baked bread – shurayk;
– fresh dates;
– fresh arabic coffee.

Note: The prices listed include a full layout and disposal service within al-masjid an-nabawee comprising:

i) plastic serving spread;
ii) serving trays;
iii) spoons;
iv) napkins;
v) coffee flask.

…the service shall begin daily right after the ‘asr prayer until after the maghrib prayer, inshaa.-Allaah.

Masjid Locator For iPhone

iMosque founded by a group of brothers with one vision, hoping to help the UK ummah locate their nearest mosque….iMosque will be your companion on your golden journey whether you are in Aberdeen or York, a local mosque is only one click away.

Help us make this a full and useful service by tipping us on developments, masjids we have not yet added to our database or new masjids being developed to help us spread the word.

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Success and Perfection are in the Hands of Allah and we request you all for your pious prayers.

iMosque Team

Please visit: http://www.goldenjourney.co.uk/

Masjid Locator

Masjid Locator

http://mosques.muslimsinbritain.org/maps.php

A very useful tool indeed…