Issue No.675- Maghrib is the time when the sun disappears in the horizon. The time for maghrib and ‘ishā’ prayers arrives at sunset and continues until “canonical midnight” [which will be explained in upcoming issues]. As a recommended precaution, one should wait until the redness that appears in the east after sunset, passes over one’s head towards the west.
Issue No.681- The criterion for fajr adhān (whether it is a moonlit night or not) for prayer and fast, is the appearance of the morning twilight in the horizon, even though it may not be visible due to the moon shining in the sky. The time for fajr prayer begins from the true dawn (al-fajr al-ṣādiq) [1] and continues until sunrise. The true dawn is a whiteness which spreads out in the eastern horizon. It is better to offer fajr prayer during the first darkness in the morning before it becomes bright.
Issue No.696- Ẓuhr and ‘aṣr prayers should be offered in sequence. That is, one should offer ‘aṣr prayer after the ẓuhr prayer. Similarly, maghrib prayer should be offered before ‘ishā’ prayer, and if ‘aṣr is offered intentionally before ẓuhr, or ‘ishā’ is offered before maghrib prayer, the prayer will be void.
Issue No.612- Tayammum should be performed instead of wuḍū or ghusl in the following seven circumstances:1. When it is not possible to acquire sufficient water.2. When using water is not possible.3. When using water is harmful.4. When there is a fear of death.5. When there is only water enough for making the body ṭāhir.6. When water or the container is usurped. 7. In shortage of time.
Issue No.637- Tayammum can be done on earth, sand, gravel, clod (dry lumps of earth), or stone, provided that they are ṭāhir.
Issue No.625- If a person has access to water yet fears that if he uses it he will become sick or the illness from which he is already suffering will be prolonged or aggravated, or the treatment will become difficult, he should perform tayammum in all these cases. However, if he can avoid the harm by using warm water, he should perform wuḍū or ghusl with warm water. It is not necessary for one to be sure of harmfulness, rather, fear of it suffices.
Issue No.628- If a person has enough water, but fears that if he uses it for wuḍū or ghusl, he, his children or his friends and companions will suffer an acute thirst which may result in their illness or death, or it may cause intolerable hardship, he should perform tayammum and keep the water. Also, if a non-Muslim’s life is in danger, he should give the water to him and perform tayammum. The ruling applies to animals too.
Issue No.632- When the time left for offering prayer is so little that if a person performs ghusl or wuḍū, the entire prayer or a part of it will fall after the prescribed time, he should perform tayammum.
Issue No.570- There are five takbīrs (saying Allahu Akbar) in the prayer for the dead individual and it is sufficient if one recites those five takbīrs in the following order: After making intention to offer the prayer and pronouncing the first takbīr one should say:اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لا إلهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وَ اَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللهِ(I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s messenger).After the second takbīr he should say:اللهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلي مُحَمَّد وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد(O’ Lord! Bestow peace and blessing upon Muhammad and his progeny).After the third takbīr he should say:اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤمِنينَ وَ الْمُؤمِناتِ(O’ Lord! forgive all believers -- men as well as women).After the fourth takbīr he should say:اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِهذَا الْمَيِّتِ(O’ Lord! Forgive this dead individual)If the deceased is a woman, he should say:اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِهذِهِ الْمَيِّتِThereafter he should pronounce the fifth takbīr.It is, however, better that he pronounces the following supplications after the takbīrs respectively:After the first takbīr:اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لا إلهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيکَ لَهُ وَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ اَرْسَلَهُ بِالْحَقِّ بَشيراً وَ نَذيراً بَيْنَ يَدَىِ الساعَةِ“I testify that there is no deity but Allah who is One and has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, sent by Him on a righteous mission to warn His servants about the Resurrection and the Judgment Day and to give them glad tidings.”After the second takbīr:اَللهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلي مُحَمَّد وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد وَ بارِکْ عَلي مُحَمَّد وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد وَ ارْحَمْ مُحَمَّداً وَ آلَ مُحَمَّد کَاَفْضَلِ مَا صَلَّيْتَ وَ بارَکْتَ وَ تَرَحَّمْتَ عَلي إبْراهيمَ وَ آلِ اِبْراهيمَ إنَّکَ حَميدٌ مَجيدٌ وَ صَلِّ عَلي جَميعِ الاْنْبِياءِ وَ الْمُرْسَلينَ وَ الشُّهَداءِ وَ الصِّديقينَ وَ جَميعِ عِبادِ اللهِ الصالِحينَ“O’ Lord! Bestow your peace, blessings, and mercy on Muhammad and his progeny just as you blessed Ibrahim and his progeny with your peace, blessings, and grace, for you are the most exalted and high, and bless all divine Prophets, Messengers, the Witnesses, the Truthfuls and all the righteous slaves of Allah.”After the third takbīr:اَللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤمِنينَ وَ الْمُؤمِناتِ وَ الْمُسْلِمينَ وَ الْمُسْلِماتِ الاْحْياءِ مِنْهُمْ وَ الاْمْواتِ تابِعْ بَيْنَنا وَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْخَيْراتِ إنَّکَ مُجيبُ الدَّعَواتِ إنَّکَ عَلي کُلِّ شَىْء قَديرٌ“O’ Lord! Forgive all male and female believers, both those who have passed away and those who still live, and accept our prayers and charitable gifts for them all, for you are He who accepts prayers and you are He who is able to do whatever He wills.”After the fourth takbīr if the deceased is male:اَللهُمَّ إنَّ هذا عَبْدُکَ وَ ابْنُ عَبْدِکَ وَ ابْنُ اَمَتِکَ نَزَلَ بِکَ وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْزُول بِهِ اَللهُمَّ اِنا لا نَعْلَمُ مِنْهُ إلا خَيْراً وَ اَنْتَ اَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنا اَللهُمَّ اِنْ کانَ مُحْسِناً فَزِدْ في اِحْسانِهِ وَ اِنْ کانَ مُسيئاً فَتَجاوَزْ عَنْهُ وَ اغْفِرْ لَهُ اَللهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ عِنْدَکَ في اَعْلي عِلِّيينَ وَاخْلُفْ عَلَي اَهْلِهِ فِي الْغابِرينَ وَ ارْحَمْهُ بِرَحْمَتِکَ يا اَرْحَمَ الراحِمينَ“O’ Lord! This is your servant, son of your servant and that of your bondwoman, who has come before You, and You are the best of hosts. O’ Lord! We know him not but with goodness and You know best how he is. O’ Lord! If he is a righteous servant of yours, then add more to his reward, and if he is an evildoer, forgive him his sins and pardon him and let him rest in peace in the highest of ranks and be a guardian over his family who live among the living, and have mercy on him, O’ most merciful of those who show mercy.”And then recite the fifth takbīr.If the deceased is female, one should say:اَللهُمَّ اِنَّ هذِهِ اَمَتُکَ وَ ابْنَةُ عَبْدِکَ وَ ابْنَةُ اَمَتِکَ نَزَلَتْ بِکَ وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْزُول بِهِ اَللهُمَّ اِنا لا نَعْلَمُ مِنْها إلا خَيْراً وَ اَنْتَ اَعْلَمُ بِها مِنا اَللهُمَّ اِنْ کانَتْ مُحْسِنَةً فَزِدْ في اِحْسَانِها وَ اِنْ کَانَتْ مُسيئَةً فَتَجاوَزْ عَنْها وَ اغْفِرْ لَها اَللهُمَّ اجْعَلْها عِنْدَکَ في اَعْلي عِلِّيينَ وَ اخْلُفْ عَلي اَهْلِها فِي الْغابِرينَ وَ ارْحَمْها بِرَحْمَتِکَ يا اَرْحَمَ الراحِمينَ“O’ Lord! This is your bondwoman, daughter of your servant and that of your bondwoman, who has come before You now and You are the best of hosts. O’ Lord! We know her but with goodness and You know best how she is. O’ Lord! If she is a righteous servant of yours, then add more to her reward, and if she is an evildoer, forgive her, her sins and pardon her and let her rest in peace in the highest of ranks and be a guardian over her family who live among the living, and have mercy on her, O’ most merciful of those who show mercy.”Thereafter, he should pronounce the fifth takbīr.In case one is performing prayer for several men, he should say:اَللهُمَّ اِنَّ هوُلاءِ عَبيدُکَ وَ اَبْناءُ عَبيدِکَ وَ اَبْناءُ اِمائِکَ نَزَلُوا بِکَ وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْزُول بِهْ...And use plural and masculine pronouns instead of other relevant pronouns and in case the prayer is offered for several women, one should use pronouns and demonstratives in feminine and plural form. The same rule must be followed if there are two dead bodies (dual form).
Issue No.588- It is recommended to observe the following acts in the burial of a dead body hoping that these may obtain the pleasure of Allah the almighty.1- The depth of the grave should be equal to the height of an average person.2- The dead body should be buried in the nearest graveyard, except when the graveyard which is situated farther is better on some account, e.g., when pious persons are buried there or more people go there to recite al-fātiḥa for the deceased.3- The coffin is placed on the ground a few yards away from the grave and then lifted up for three times and carried gradually toward the grave and finally it is lowered into the grave at the 4th time.4- If the deceased is a male, it is recommended for it to be lowered into the grave from its head. And in case the deceased is a female, it is recommended for it to be lowered into the grave by side of the body and a cloth should be spread over the grave while lowering it. 5- The dead body should be gently taken out of the coffin and lowered into the grave gently and the prescribed supplications should be recited before and during burying the dead body.6- The grave should have a niche in it, i.e., it should be made in a way that earth does not cave in on the dead body. In order to achieve this, the lower part of the grave should be made narrower and after placing the dead body in the grave, bricks should be laid on the upper part of the corpse, or the bottom of the grave from the qiblah side should be expanded a little so that the dead body can be placed in it.7- Some earth or bricks should be placed behind its back so that the dead body may not fall on its back after being initially placed on its right side.8- After the dead body is placed in the grave, the ties of its shroud should be unfastened and its cheek should be placed on earth, and a pillow of soil should be made under its head.9- It is recommended that the person who lowers the dead body in the grave be with wuḍū, bareheaded and barefooted. Moreover, persons, other than the relatives of the deceased, should push the dust into the grave with the back of hand and recite the following: Innā lillāh wa innā ilayhi rāji‘ūn. If the dead person is a woman, her maḥram and in the absence of a maḥram her relatives should lower her into the grave.10- Before closing the niche, it is recommended that one taps with his right hand on the shoulder of the dead body, shaking it and saying three times:اِسْمَعْ اِفْهَمْ یا ... (here the name of the deceased and his father should be called) For example, if the name of the deceased is Muhammad and his father’s name Ali, it should be said three times: “Isma‘ ifham yā Muhammad ibn Ali”. Then the proper Islamic beliefs should be dictated to the deceased in the following order:هَلْ اَنْتَ عَلَى الْعَهْدِ الَّذى فارَقْتَنا عَلَیْهِ مِنْ شَهادَةِ اَنْ لا اِلهَ اِلاَّ اللهُ، وَحْدَهُ لا شَریکَ لَهُ، وَ اَنَّ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَیْهِ وَآلِهِ، عَبْدُهُ وَرسُولُهُ، وَسَیِّدُ النَبِّییّنَ، وَخاتَمُ الْمُرْسَلینَ، وَ اَنَّ عَلِیّاً اَمیرُ الْمُؤْمِنینَ، وَسَیِّدُ الْوَصِیّینَ، وَاِمامٌ افْتَرَضَ اللهُ طاعَتَهُ عَلَى الْعالَمینَ، وَ اَنَّ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَیْنَ، وَعَلِىَّ بْنَ الْحُسَیْنِ، وَمُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِىٍّ، وَجَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّد، وَ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَر، وَعَلِىَّ بْنَ مُوسى، وَمُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِىٍّ، وَعَلِىَّ بْنَ مُحَمَّد، وَالْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِىٍّ، وَالْقآئِمَ الْحُجَّةَ الْمَهْدِىَّ صَلَواتُ اللهِ عَلَیْهِمْ اَئِمَّةُ الْمُؤْمِنینَ، وَحُجَجُ اللهِ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ اَجْمَعینَ، وَاَئِمَّتُکَ اَئِمَّةُ هُدَىً اَبْرارٌ، یا ... (here the name of the deceased and his father should be called)And then says: اِذا اَتاکَ الْمَلَکانِ الْمُقَرَّبانِ، رَسُولَیْنِ مِنْ عِنْدِاللهِ تَبارَکَ وَتعالى، وَ سَئَلاکَ عَنْ رَبِّکَ، وَعَنْ نَبِیِّکَ، وَعَنْ دینِکَ، وَعَنْ کِتابِکَ، وَعَنْ قِبْلَتِکَ، وَعَنْ اَئِمَّتِکَ، فَلا تَخَفْ وَقُلْ فى جَوابِهِما، اَللهُ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ رَبّى، وَمُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَیْهِ وَآلِهِ نَبِیّى، وَالاِسْلامُ دینى، وَالْقُرْآنُ کِتابى، وَالْکَعْبَةُ قِبْلَتى، وَاَمیرُالْمُؤْمِنینَ عَلِىُّ بْنُ اَبیطالِب اِمامى، وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِىٍّ الْمُجْتَبى اِمامى، وَالْحُسَیْنُ بْنُ عَلِىٍّ الشَّهیدُ بِکَرْبَلاءَ اِمامى، وَ عَلِىٌّ زَیْنُ الْعابِدینَ اِمامى، وَمُحَمَّدٌ باقِرُ عِلْمِ النَّبِیّینَ اِمامى، وَجَعْفَرٌ الصّادِقُ اِمامى، وَمُوسَى الْکاظِمُ اِمامى، وَعَلىٌّ الرِّضا اِمامى، وَمُحَمَّدٌ الْجَوادُ اِمامى، وَعَلِىٌّ الْهادى اِمامى، وَالْحَسَنُ الْعَسْکَرىُّ اِمامى، وَالْحُجَّةُ الْمُنْتَظَرُ اِمامى، هؤُلاءِ صَلَواتُ اللهِ عَلَیْهِمْ اَجْمَعینَ اَئِمَّتى، وَسادَتى وَقادَتى وَشُفَعآئى، بِهِمْ اَتَوَلّى، وَمِنْ اَعْدآئِهِمْ اَتَبَرَّءُ فِى الدُّنْیا وَالاْخِرَةِ، ثُمَّ اعْلَمْ یا فُلانَ بْنَ فُلان، اَنَّ اللهَ تَبارَکَ وَتَعالى نِعْمَ الرَّبُّ، وَ اَنَّ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى الله عَلَیْهِ وَآلِهِ نِعْمَ الرَّسُولُ، وَ اَنَّ اَمیرَ الْمُؤْمِنینَ عَلِىَّ بْنَ اَبى طالِب، وَاَوْلادَهُ الاْئِمَّةَ الاَْحَدَ عَشَرَ نِعْمَ الاَئِمَّةُ، وَ اَنَّ ما جآءَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَیْهِ وَآلِهِ حَقٌّ، وَ اَنَّ الْمَوْتَ حَقٌّ، وَسُؤالَ مُنْکَر وَنَکیر فِى الْقَبْرِ حَقٌّ، وَالْبَعْثَ حَقٌّ، وَالنُّشُورَ حَقٌّ، وَالصِّراطَ حَقٌّ، وَالْمیزانَ حَقٌّ، وَتَطایُرَ الْکُتُبِ حَقٌّ، وَالْجَنَّةَ حَقٌّ، وَالنّارَ حَقٌّ، وَاَنَّ السّاعَةَ آتِیَةٌ لارَیْبَ فیها، وَاَنَّ اللهَ یَبْعَثُ مَنْ فِى الْقُبُورِAnd then says:اَفَهِمْتَ یا ... (here the name of the deceased and his father should be called)Then should recite:عَرَّفَ اللهُ بَیْنَکَ وَبَیْنَ اَوْلِیائِکَ فى مُسْتَقَرّ مِنْ رَحْمَتِهِ اَللّهُمَّ جافِ الاَرْضَ عَنْ جَنْبَیْهِ، وَاصْعَدْ بِرُوحِهِ اِلَیْکَ، وَلَقِّهِ مِنْکَ بُرْهاناً، اَللّهُمَّ عَفْوَکَ عَفْوَکَ11- The grave should be rectangular in shape and should be higher than the ground by four fingers’ height, and a sign should be fixed on it for the purpose of identification and water should also be sprinkled on it, and then those present should place their hands on the grave and drive the fingers into earth and recite sūrah al-Qadr seven times and pray for the forgiveness of the departed soul.12- Thereafter, recite the following supplication:اَللهُمَّ جافِ الاْرْضَ عَنْ جَنْبَیهِ وَ اَصْعِدْ اِلَیْکَ رُوحَهُ وَ لَقِّهِ مِنْکَ رِضْواناً وَ اَسْکِنْ قَبْرَهُ مِنْ رَحْمَتِکَ ما تُغْنِیهِ بِهِ عَنْ رَحْمَهِ مَنْ سِواکَOf course, if the deceased is a female, it is better to use pronouns and nouns in feminine form.
Issue No.597- It is haram to open the grave of a Muslim even if it belongs to a child or an insane person. Exhumation means to dig up a grave in a way that what is remaining of the dead body is seen. However, there would be no problem if the body is not seen unless digging up the grave is considered to be disrespectful.
Issue No.594- It is recommended to offer Prayer of Fear (waḥshat) on the first night of the burial of a dead body with the hope of it being desirable to Allah the Almighty. The method of performing this prayer is as follows:In the first rak‘at, after reciting sūrah al-fātiḥa one recites āyatulkursī once, and in the second rak‘at, sūrah al-Qadr should be recited ten times after sūrah al-fātiḥa; and after ending the prayer with salām, the following supplication should be recited:اللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّد وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد وَ ابْعَثْ ثَوابَهَا اِلَى قَبْرِ... (Here the name of the deceased should be mentioned)
