The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No.671- Friday prayer (ṣalāt al-jum‘ah) consists of two rak‘ats and replaces the ẓuhr prayer on Friday. It is obligatory at the time of the presence of the holy Prophet (ṣ) or an Infallible Imam (as) and his specific deputy. However, during the major occultation (of the Imam Mahdi (as)), Friday prayer is a Takhyīrī Wājib , which means that we have an option to offer either Friday prayer or ẓuhr prayer. However, at a time when a just Islamic Government is ruling, the obligatory precaution is not to miss it.

G) Friday prayer consists of two rak‘ats like fajr prayer. It has two qunūts, one recited before the rukū‘ in the first rak‘at and the other recited after the rukū‘ in the second rak‘at. It is recommended for the imam to recite sūrah Jumu’ah after al-fātiḥa in the first rak‘at, and recite chapter Munafeqeen in the second rak‘at. Moreover, as an obligatory precaution, if the imam starts reciting one of these two it is not permissible to switch to another sūrah.

Issue No.670- It is obligatory to perform the following five prayers during the day and night:The ẓuhr and ‘aṣr prayers each consist of four rak‘ats, the maghrib prayer of three rak‘ats, the ‘ishā’ prayer of four rak‘ats and the fajr prayer of two rak‘ats. However, while travelling, a traveller should reduce the four rak‘at prayers to two. The conditions for reducing the rak‘ats will be covered later inshallah.

Issue No.672- The time for ẓuhr and ‘aṣr prayers is from the beginning of canonical noon (i.e., when the sun starts declining at midday towards the west) until sunset. The best way to find out the start of ẓuhr time is to use an indicator (Shākhiṣ). That is, if we drive a stick or a rod into a flat ground vertically, its shadow will fall westwards when the sun rises in the morning, and as the sun continues to rise, the shadow cast by the indicator will reduce in size. When the shadow is the shortest, it is ẓuhr time, and as it begins getting longer again, and the shadow turns eastwards, it is the beginning of ẓuhr and ‘aṣr prayers. However, in some cities, e.g., Mecca, the shadow disappears totally sometimes because the sun shines completely vertically. In these regions, when the shadow reappears, it indicates the time for ẓuhr and ‘aṣr prayers [1].

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.