Daily Salat Times

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Basically, we pray five times daily prayer services. Whether in congregation which could be conducted in a mosque, a small mosque known as musalla or prayer rooms, or just anywhere as long as we do not disturb non-Muslims. One can also perform them alone if there are no Muslim community around or while working with non-Muslim majority. Just explain to them if they do not understand and if they do not want to listen or still do not understand. Just let them be. We can always perform the qadha' salat or substitution for the services that we were not able to perform due to certain restrictions. The Divine Path is very easy very flexible never make it a fuss... Most of non-Muslims that I found are actually tolerant to me because I am tolerable to them. 

Subh Prayer Service

We begin our day with the Fajr or Subh prayer service. It means morning prayer service. It occurs when the sun light could be seen from the East and we call that as Fajar Saadig. Some people might wake up earlier than that maybe around two hours or one and half hour before the morning time because they are going to perform fast for certain desires for e.g for the sake of memorizing the Quran, musing one self, getting strength to face the heavy day time or studying sciences, vanquishing evil selfishness, performing optional services and sacrifices which involves some rituals where only the God knows because that is the time they communicate with the God in private. Nowadays, we have calender which also indicate the prayer time so we could get ready as early as we can in this busy modern world. The reason why we look at the sun is not that because it is a powerful nature force or some kind of god or deity. But it is because we are determining the time as we live in the realm of time and space.

The prayer service for this time consists of two units of prayer or twice bows and twice prostrations. We begin the prayer service with intention as based from the sacred hadith which says that every deeds and acts we commit are based on our intentions. So, we say our intention for the prayer service whether mentally or maybe a little bit aloud as most of people in my country use to do as they are non-Arabic speakers. The intention means I perform the salat service in the morning two units as a sacrifice to be closer to the God. We recite the al-Fatiha recitation strictly in Classical Arabic based on the written scripture as it was orally revealed but those who are just learning to recite it may use their mother tongue. However, as long as they master the surat, it is an obligation for them to recite it in Arabic and to understand it in their mother tongue by mental. It is recited in every unit of prayer and is obligatory. We are advised to sleep early at night as to perform this prayer is obligatory. It has to do with self-discipline too.

Dzuhr Prayer Service

This occurs when the sun is a bit inclined to the west. It is few minutes after the mid day or afternoon. We check it with our shadow if we are in a huge open place.  It consists of four units with two tashahuds.

Usually this time is the break time in government offices in my country. I could see some people actually do not perform the salat service although they are Muslim and are given the chance and opportunity. Now, we are in peace. What happens if we are in war like in Palestine or in Syria and everywhere? Perhaps we would bring all sort of "religious notions" just to gain sympathy. This kind of attitude is actually the attitude of all of human-being and it lies in our selfish self no matter if we are Palestinian, Israeli, Syrian, Arabs, Pakistani, Sunnah Muslim, Shi'a Muslim or whatever we are. 

I always feel disgusting watching at over emphasizing in the TV or anywhere about Palestine or whatever it is. It is not that I am inhumane, supporting Israel government deeds or selfish but I view those who always talk about the issue like some kind of trend as selfish and inhumane. We never emphasize on simple basic matters like salat services, fasting, morality or adaab and other important things but emphasizing on petty matters; later we take advantage from that campaign or this campaign to promote business and trade with the portrayal of blood bath.

'Asr Prayer Service

The time is when we see the shadow of an object expands a little bigger than its normal size. This happens daily after few hours of Dzuhr prayer service. This prayer service contains of four units with two tashahuds. After this prayer, ones may perhaps go for exercises, relaxing or having some stroll or perhaps having some tea with friends, family or alone just to relax if one is free from any work or returning from the office.

Maghrib Prayer Service

We know that it is Maghrib when the round shape of sun sunken down into the sea or the earth or when the red cloud could be seen at the western sky or we call it as megha as in Sanskrit. The sun actually is appearing the west and that is why we call this time as Maghrib. 

This prayer service consists of three units with two tashahuds but only three times of bows and prostrations.  The time is very short so we always have to be careful with this prayer service time. Well, when talking about the sun sunken down into the Earth. I know some people might question that we believed that the Earth was flat. It is not likely so. We know the Earth is round but it is the way we see around us that makes it looks like flat. 

'Isha' Prayer Service

'Isha' occurs when the red clouds completely disappear from the western sky. It consists of four units, just like the Dzuhr and 'Asr prayer services.

Miscellaneous 

The time for the specific prayer services to end is about two or three minutes before the latter prayer service time. So, always be mindful and careful. After the prayer services, we have litanies from the simplest ones to the complicated ones depending on where we are or how busy we are. Some people are quite free or untied to busy jobs so they have more times to sit nicely and chanting litanies or even reciting the Quran. Some are not... So, maybe I would include them in Arabic script. I am afraid of tainting them when someone copied them and printing them down. There are several precaution acts that I have to take...Try to get the help of closest local Islamic center for the prayer service time, maybe they could help providing calender with prayer time or check them in the net as the time varies as according to geographical region. The Earth is round and it whirling in circles around the eye of the day.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin! 

Study the "Shari'a" and Sunnah for Life

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

My cousin brother in-law, Suffiyan had just arrived at our house with maternal cousin sister, Naysa to attend their daughter's convocation ceremony. I am not sure where it is but I am proud to know that the girl is going to further her undergraduate studies in the United Kingdom (UK). She is a wonderful, diligent and quite a polite girl. They drive all the way from Perlis. I am sure it is a tiring journey. She said that she had a hard time studying technical courses for her diploma and her hairs fallen down which is scary for her. The same thing goes to her mother, Naysa. She studies for an undergraduate certificate in education methodology back there in Perlis at her 40s. She said she was deceived when she listens to her friends and she repents. She hates studying in the university, haha. I understood them. I am still in the torturing period of releasing myself from this post-graduate studies. I get some ideas to finish up the thesis from Azren. He came to see me and handing me his copy of thesis as a guide. We discussed a little. Thanks Azren only Allah blesses You for helping me while you are busy with your job and life.  

Regret for People's View

Brother Suffiyan managed to get to know me a little during the Friday prayer service and during Night prayer sessions in Zainal Abiddin Mosque. He is around his 40s and he just opened a fish farm. He works for himself as a fish dealer in the village. For Maghreb, my mother had suggested us to pray with brother Suffiyan there since he had never been to the metal mosque. Usually I would just pray at musallas closer to our neighborhood. If I have enough time I could walk to all three out of four musallas here which is counted as an act of ziyarat. My "real" life is quite hidden even to my own family members. As for cousins, for sure they too do not really know me well and I usually would never show my face to people around. We just arrived late at the mosque since there are many traffic lights and junctions to go through.

While in the car we just talked about how sorry our life is when we leave behind our "religion". We would rather choosing the "world" and misguided with the notions that it is the goal. Bro. Suffiyan said that last time he also thought that sending his children to madrasah would make them suffer and living like a beggar in the future. But it was in the contrary as he had seen many religious teachers who established humble madrasas could live happily without having to face anxiety. He regret it but it is already fated by Allah so we could just repair ourselves and get prepared to see Him. My mother said that I should also finished my studies in Shari'a stream and perhaps she should not put me in the religious school in Selangor which had caused me troubles but maybe shifting me to another private madrasah under reliable and specific teachers to guide me. She was busy paying attention to all of her children so she could not properly see what is my tendency, ability and the problems that I had to face while I was the only teenage boy at home. I know she loves me and she had tried all she can but this is also fated by Allah. I would never blame her nor anyone. I was also an immature young teenage. Anyone to be blamed is only myself. Not my mother nor anyone. For now I am actually memorizing, doing exercises with all of my Shari'a kitabs and trying to memorize the Quran while understanding it. When I face problems in these "studies" I would get the assistance of the authority of the kitabs and references. So, brothers and sisters. Don't only study in the website but please at least have some effort to see specific teachers. For ladies, please see female teachers so they could teach and assist you with jurisprudence for ladies. Be respectful to Shari'a field and its teachers just like we respect teachers from other fields.

Last few days, I recalled that I watched a program in Astro channel which I barely could remember its name and the channel name because there are currently two channels for Islamic information. The program featured Ustad Abu Hassan Din who talked about contemporary issues in our society. The issue is about Fardh al-Kifaya and Fardh al-'Ayin and how we differentiate them based on their importance.

Definitions of Fardhu al-'Ayin and Fardhu al-Kifaya

There are from what I understood as I had listened about these since I was a young child. Of course we learned about these and not simply appearing in our mind like from "no where". We perhaps forgotten about these and when we clear our mind only it comes out, hehe. 

Fardhu al'Ayin refers to individual tasks or responsibility. They are mostly related to our acts of worship and daily discipline of life. As a Muslim, we must have knowledge about these and we must perform these. It is an obligatory individual responsibility. If one leaves them, he is sinful according to the jurisprudence terms and jurisprudence refers to our structures of path based from the basis of Quran and Sunnah. Examples of these responsibilities are the salat services, tithe for the eight eligible receivers or seeking the knowledge as in general. So, basically it is something which is related to the obligation of every Muslim both male and female. 

Fardhu al-Kifaya refers to the obligation or a responsibility of some part of society in order to protect the interest of society. The whole of society will be sinful if nobody performs it or everyone neglecting it. What are the examples? It is divided into two types of field. Firstly, it is related to the earthly studies and jobs for example those related to living skills such as technology, medicinal knowledge or medical, business, management, administration, politics, financial, engineering and others. Secondly, it is related to heavenly one which is the studies and jobs related to the Quran, the Sunnah and the Shari'a. 

Framing the Issue

It looks like my European policy thesis now, hehe. In the program that I watched. It shows a conversation of three fathers who are discussing about their children future after their children finished their primary school period. One of them had said that one of a friend in their neighborhood is deciding to send his son to a seminary to memorize the Quran in Kedah state. They commented that the boy is pitiful to have such a backward father and they laughed. They said that the boy has no "certificate" and how could he find job to survive in this "modern" world? Then, one of those fathers interfered saying that what is so weird with the father's measure? He mentions about Fardhu al-Kifaya and Fardhu al-'Ayin and mentions that memorizing Quran is also a Fardhu al-Kifayah while most people only talk about having degrees in fields such as technology, nuclear, petro-bomb and etc. He said to those two laughing fathers: "You two who laughed to others if people asked you to be a praying leader in masjid when nobody could hold the position would be sweating hardly and you just recite simple surats". He further said: "What is wrong with memorizing Quran and having no "certificate" as in the form of paper? It is all about the mental image!" 

Jobs related to Shari'a: Quran and Sunnah traditionally was conducted by "poor" people because they are not supposed to ask for "material" gifts and live only according to moderate way of life. The job is not so popular in its name nor glamorous like the earthly ones. It is only known as the da'awa job. 

When I was studying in Shari'a streams, we as the students in the class were looked down upon by people who studied the earthly matters until many of us ran to secular studies, losing our faith in our own religion and not even finishing our Thanawi level and leaving behind our gateways to Higher Religious Council papers while it is our responsibility.  Those "knowledge" is actually still lingering within us though we're tested by Allah but we just never show it up to people other than we feel low-self esteem.

Nowadays, I feel quite funny when I saw some students in Islamic movements whether those recognized by the Islamic Center or those transnational movements' members talking about religious issues. Or perhaps wearing the turban with "tail" as it is "sunnah". I will explain what is the meaning of this statement later. It is not because I am a "secular" type of person but it is because I left the responsibility since the "studies" is looked down after the introduction of government policies in 1990s and we were the victims of political rantings among those politicians. When I asked those students (except brother Zaidi), they answered me they were almost being sent to this "religious school" or that "religious school" but it ends up they are in schools such as Maktab Rendah Sains Mara or Primary Science Institute because it is more promising in their future and it was their dreams, hehe. They still can be the da'ie by studying in circles around but Shari'a and jurisprudence is not like we snap our fingers. 

Say that I studied religion since my kindergarten time until I finished my high school, then I just started to study science or technology studies for example modern medical or engineering and start to learn explanations for complicated formulas when I am quite old because I begin to realize that religious studies is no more relevant in the future and I could only survive with "atomic" formula. Can I speak like a specific teacher in "Science"?  It is not wrong to talk about certain issues in Islam but there are also some high issues which could not be discussed by lay men among lay men because it will raise up debates among ignorants.

I just wanted everyone to know, what is our feeling as Shari'a students and I am also representing those non-recognized students in private madrasas in our state who studied Shari'a Islamiah. We had to sacrifice our "future". When we were "cast" into the Shari'a stream, it means that we are fated to hold the obligation by Allah but what happens to some of us who were punished by politicians and society perceptions around? Actually I still can survive living in the village and grating coconut like what the "leader" said to us in his speech broadcasted in the radio around 2001. I have my "religion" to guide me to a happy, less-stressful and peaceful life. Grating coconut is not a bad idea yet I can open up home stay and promote tourism in the village or selling the coconut milk in market while in I have many times to study kitabs, hehe. Those who live in the "modern" world facing fears for survival, having to pay bills, facing higher goods prices with limited salary, fear to be sacked especially nowadays the economy is flopping and so on. The world is also a temporary place for us and it is not our goal. We will have to die and "religion" is only for those who is living. What can we study after we die? hahaha...

Though many people including those in the Middle East are impressed to that 'old leader" but I would have to say sorry and having to disagree! I studied Political Science and International Relation though I was a Shari'a student. I had also experience being a Buddhist in certain points of my life in terms that I practiced Buddhism. The notion of Shari'a students are not at par with students in "Universities" is not practical anymore. I am a Shari'a student and I will continue my studies that I had stopped after I am finished with this thesis, Insha Allah. I had tried to study it again when I was 19 years old by taking the related papers for Shari'a in A-Level. Just after I returned from pilgrimage in Holy Mecca, I drew out from proper school and registered for A-Level with Shari'a papers at the Education Office in Jalan Semarak. But Allah had arranged me until this stage. I don't know how many fellow Shari'a stream students who turned to be like me but I believe many of us are in "secular" streams as the result of what happened in 1990s. One of my maternal nephew who studied with me in the early madrasah that I was sent is a plumber. If you people stumbled here please share your experience. I could also learn from your experiences besides with those who remained in the stream. Everything is in His boundless wisdom.     

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters who are blessed by Allah Azza wa Jalla. I am calling myself and also you who accidentally coming by as a fellow Muslim. If you love your children, start educate them with Quran and train them to memorize the glorious Quran. Then teach them with Nawawi Hadiths compilation as a basis for them because each hadith of the compilation is gravely useful for them to survive and enough for them to practice. No need for traditional memorization but only teach them in point forms including with the sources of narration. Important thing is on how it is being "nurtured" in their "heart" because it would shine out in their daily acts.     

Regarding young ustad like Ustad Don Danial Biyajid, I am proud to know that there are young educators like him as an example for others and he speaks English well. I had discussed with Azren and he loves the way on how the ustad taught people because we also talked about approaches of da'awa and its presentation to people around. I just used other term when talking with Azren but it is still referring da'awa. Those students from da'awa groups in my university are not really speaking in English. Maybe they thought that I am pretending not to speak Malay with them but I speak and think in "few languages" in real life. Some of those kids who speak in Kedah Malay, I still talked with them in "Hybrid Kedah Malay" because I am fluent in it as compared to "normal" Malay spoken in our capital. What is wrong speaking in English as a medium of da'awa? I am also starting to speak in Arabic again after I completed my fathers' lineage from 17th century down to now and tracing our clan name. Last time Arabic was only my written language and I love the language. 

I end up this post with a short Quranic verse meaning on what Allah says related to the da'awa works:

"And the people who works hard in Our courses, indeed We will lead them into Our ways and indeed God is with the good doers" (Surat al-'Ankabut verse 69). 

Allah will surely grant these people with happiness, His pleasure and assistance when they try to perform acts of charity. About the turban with tail, it actually refers to a faqih. I saw member in movement for example in Tabligh Jama'at lay men karkuns who wear the turban. Yea, it is a "Sunnah" but based from our understanding as "Shari'a" people and those of mission circle lineages. If you wear the "turban with tail" it shows that people can consult anything related to "jurisprudence" and "religion-life" from you or in the other word you are a faqih, hehe. It is not only Sunnah but it is also with significance. We can wear that and practicing the specific "Sunnah" but only until we reach certain level. That is why I am only wearing the skull cap and not turban. I am not trying to put people down. I believe that it is a good thing to practice Sunnah but we should also know their significance. It is not only about appearance and how we look like. People are taking religion easily and taking it at the "surface" because it is not respected by our own people : )

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin! 

Worship: The Qasar of Salat

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Banna Masjid, Yunnan China

Introduction

I found that it is frustrating when discussing this thing with people who don't understand because they never practice this and don't try to understand this. This is an angle of sunnah or prophetic traditions. I don't do anything without any basis from sunnah! Even some things that I perform before I didn't even realize were apart of prophetic traditions but it is not looking so puritanical because the practices were ingrained in ourselves so we may practice it according to our own consideration and creatively being suited according to necessities. 

Now let us study this. If this note is not so comprehensive than try to find a real-living teacher in front of us. Get advices from sharia teachers of your schools of jurisprudence. It is to make sure we do not leave our salat without any valid reason. I don't look like a decent person in the real life out here with sharban or jubah either, but I always make sure that I consult sharia teachers when it is related to daily life routines. I went to masjid and doing everything with the sincerity ingrained in heart and never try to show off my faith to others because it is my "precious treasure". I will try to separate the parts for this topic so we could understand this matter in detail.

So, as to begin I would like to talk about the Qasar Salat first. Firstly for myself. Secondly for brothers and sisters. Maybe there are many sites talking about this. But on my behalf, I would like to tell brothers and sisters. This is our heritage and traditions. We must be aware about ourselves. I learned about "self-awareness" through previous experiences and most of them are bitter periods. Knowledge is very important to save our selves from sufferings as ignorance is a root of sufferings. I don't have any intention to defame Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab. I respect this figure may Allah bless him and I read his written books but I somehow found that those "mere followers" who talked in masjids including those who had some chat with me in my university are not fully aware about themselves. That is why they create sufferings on themselves and extend them to everyone around them through their acts which are rooted from their ignorance. Their adab and akhlak is not to the standard of sunnah which they always mention when they condemn others and confident on "their" stance. It will also bear out evil characteristics and personalities such as riyaa', takabbur and 'ujub. I found the same things also in groups and movements around us which makes me staying away from them without saying any word. Naudzubillahu min dzaalik we seek protection of Allah from those things may they never reach us, amin!

What is Qasar Salat?

Allah says as recorded in Surat an-Nisaa' verse 101 which means: "And when you walk on the earth thus there is no prevention for you to simplify your salats".

So, in Arabic qasar simply means short or simple. When it refers to salat, it means a simplified salat or a shortened salat. From four unit or prayer to two units of prayer.  

What prayer service consists of four units of bows and prostrations? They are:

1. Dzuhr or the mid day prayer service

2. 'Asr or the after noon prayer service     

3. 'Ishaa' or the night prayer service

When we simplify these prayer services, the number of units will be shortened to two units of bows and prostrations. This is what we call as the qasar of salat.

What about other two daily prayer services? They are:

1. Fajr or dawn prayer service

2. Maghrib or dusk prayer service

Both of these services have nothing changing in the number of units. For Fajr, we still have to perform it full which is two units and for Maghrib we must perform it three units. No simplification nor shortening of the units for these prayers! 

How Do We Perform Qasar Salats?

The manner to perform a simplified or shortened salat is the same with the manner we perform it in the normal way. The differences are the intention and number of units.

For example dear beloved brothers and sisters, the obligatory prayer service of 'Ishaa' when we perform it in normal manner, we may mentally state the intention: "I perform the Ishaa' prayer service four units only for Allah the Most Highest". For the qasar or the simplification of this salat, we may mentally state: "I perform the Ishaa' prayer service two units only dedicated to Allah the Most Highest".

What is the Ruling for Qasar Salat?

How Many Days a Person May Perform Salats in Qasar Form?

According to Hanbali madzhab, if a person who travels to an area and in his intention he wanted to simplify in the particular area or place for more than four days or up to 20 days, so he cannot simplify the daily obligatory salats. The Hanbali madzhab counts the arrival day and the departure day into the days for a person being considered as residing in a place or not. If a person does not have any intention to reside in the particular place he is traveling, then he may perform the obligatory in qasar form until he finish up with his matters or business there. There are many hadiths which shows that it is permissible. So, this has to do with terms as the act of worship is apart of the law of nature. When we talk about law, the involvement of linguistics could not be avoided. 

Ibnu Qayyim mentions that there is no explanation that mentions about whether Muhammad s.a.w performs the four units prayer services while he was traveling. Ibnu Qayyim mentions that Muhammad s.a.w always simplify his salats (while traveling). He also mentions that Umar, Ali, Ibnu Mas'ud, Ibnu Umar, Jabir and Imam Abu Hanifah decided that Qasar Salat is obligatory while traveling and with the intention not to reside in a certain place.       

Their decision perhaps based from a hadith which was collectively being narrated by a group of narrators from Ya'la bin Umaiyya who says that Umar al-Khattab had once asked Muhammad s.a.w about the simplification of salat and Muhammad s.a.w mentions: "It is the donation of Allah given to all of you, thus accept His gift!".

And one thing to mention, Qasar and Jama' of the salats are two different things but may be combined. Many people including previous me was confused about this. Why we were confused? Because we never bother to study this issue. Other thing I would like to mention, our paternal community were once the da'is representing Fatimid empire but they're from various branches and were equipped with the knowledge of at least two schools of jurisprudence. Due to their condition, they have to travel so when people don't see them really praying since it is because they have to perform jama' and qasar prayer services. Insha'Allah we will try to talk about this issue in more detail when we are free. I'm just posting this as a reminder so everyone will keep talking about this when seeing each other. Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'alaa aali Muhammad.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Repentance: Salat at-Tawbah

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I don't know if I had posted this. I don't care this is a reminder for me to repent to Him. I think while living in this area of Bukit Gambir I had eaten doubtful foods and also haram foods. There is no Malay restaurant here. Usually I only believe Malay restaurant. If I can't find Malay restaurant I can't also eat in Indian Muslim restaurant I am not familiar with their food so I sometimes have to take Chinese food as to avoid from stomach ache. When I try to eat anything now I feel like vomiting. Any musalla or masjid brother who knows me please forgive me if I just don't spend time with you people. I care about you people I don't want to spoil your appetite. It is so torturing. Allah orders and commands me and brothers and sisters to repent. He says in the message of glorious Quran surah at-Tahrim verse 8: "O the faithful ones, repent to Allah with the "true" repentance".

Allah opens up the portal of hopes for His servants and slaves and says: "Say (dear Muhammad): "O My servants who had stepped over the limit tyrannizing themselves do not lose hope from the mercy of Allah. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving to all of your sins. Indeed He is all-forgiving and the Most compassionate" (Surah az-Zumar v. 53). 

How to Perform It?

Just like normal prayer services. Ablution like always with perfect ablution. Stand at a clean place facing the qiblah.

1. Time: any time when one feels had committed sins except in the time prohibited to perform any prayer services. The most good time is at 2/3 night which is around 2:00 above while waking up for salat. 

2. Intention: "I perform this salat sunat at-tawbah two units of prayer only for Allah". Just enough by mentally reciting it or according to our school of jurisprudence.

3.First unit of prayer, it is optional to recite the iftitah supplication and followed by al-Fatihah. After that recite any surah in glorious Quran that we could remember.

4. In the second unit final prostration or the second prostration, recite the supplication of Jonah a.s 40 times in order to ask for forgiveness from Allah followed by the sincerity to repent: "There is no gods but only the God/Allah, indeed I am among those cruel people". It is ok to mentally recite the supplication in our language if we could not remember the Arabic sounds as long as we recite other obligatory prayers and supplications in Arabic.

5. After the salaam, recite the sayyidul istighfar or the lord of all repentance/the main repentance supplication. It could be found in brothers' and sisters' mission orders prayer books or in ma'athurat stamped by local religious departments. It means: "Dear Allah, You are my Lord, there is no one except You who created me, and I am your slave (not slave to fellow human, genies, demons, money, women, men, property, etc), and I am bound to Your covenant and Your promises and obeying them as possible as I can. I seek refuge from my evil deeds. I admit all of the grace are from You. I confess my sins to You. Nobody forgives my sins except You".    

Insha Allah I will always perform this optional prayer services. I also recommend my dear brothers and sisters to always perform this to purify ourselves and asking forgiveness from Allah. We commit sins everyday whether we notice it or not. Sometimes when people turning away from me, I know that I had committed sins. In the beginning I might be very sad and it actually makes me thinking deeper and trying to find faults in myself. When I realize it I actually do not blame anyone. So, I always ask forgiveness from Allah. I also wanted to ask forgiveness to people around from brothers and sisters if I sinned you people. I will be sad if people do not tell me what is my wrong-doing. I am just human-being like you, I am not an angel nor a genie. If I did wronged you, please inform me don't be shy. I am not a person who quickly lost temper but I appreciate people who tell me what is wrong. I always explain things to people as to avoid misunderstanding though I don't speak much.       

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Simplify the Daily Obligatory Prayer Service

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I feel so relieved after checking with a jurist about prayer service being simplified and they told me according to my school of jurisprudence. In Arabic we call it as jama' and qasar. Because I would have a class on Monday at the time where it could affect my Dzuhr prayer service and I can't find any place to perform salat. 

I can't suddenly perform salat anywhere because I had seen this happened in a bus where an uncle had performed optional salat in Rapid Penang bus when I was an undergraduate student and everyone in the bus including Muslims ringing the bell and get down from the bus because they think that the uncle was nutty.

The daleel came from Imam Nawawi rahimahullah who mentions that we could perform the prayer simplification if we are occupied and afraid that we might skip the prayer service. It is according to the sunnah where our noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w had also simplified his prayer service while he was in Medina due to that he was occupied but he was not in travel. However the jurist mentioned that we should not make it a habit but it is just a rukhsah (special authorization) for us in order to be in contact with our Lord if there is a necessity to do that.

The Hanbali school mentioned that it is permissible to perform the jama' and qasar in the time where one is busy with his task or when being too occupied. Urmm, I think that I would still perform the qadha (accomplished) salat once I finished my class but if the case that I missed the Dzuhr prayer service because the class ends late then I would simplify and gather the services in one salat service which is in 'Asr prayer service time. Then I would perform it again in full. I am also doing that for my optional prayers that I had skipped because I can't be a qualified spiritual leader for salat services if I skip all of those optional prayer services beside the obligatory ones.

This is from Sunnah sources and not from Shi'a jurisprudence (I have the same respect to Shi'a jurists). Next time I will check the detailed description about the Sunnah from jurists again beside asking for the number of references for me to check inside the Sunnah kitabs of my school of jurisprudence. An advice for myself, please don't skip salat because it is the way we show Him how much we love Him and devoted to Him.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!  

Salat: Keep the Row Close?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

This is what I had been taught when I was in Mecca. I am not sure if it is different in other regions.

This is what happened in the mosque when the uncle tapped me. Last time when I was a little child I had also prayed like this. But most people of hadith regardless manhaj either Hanbali, Hanafi, and Shafi'ie had told me that this is not favorable when I was in Mecca and philosophically it shows that people are selfish and arrogant unless if there are reasons like illness : (

Thank You the God, we had completed the service for Aidul Adha which is a celebration in commemoration of our patriarch Abraham a.s and Ismael a.s. I was in the middle of a Chinese national and a Malay uncle who wears turban. While we are praying, the imam had advised people to close the row and it means that we have to keep our shoulder or feet close to each other as to prevent gap in the صف saff (row).

So, I keep my feet close to both of these guys. But at my right side which is the Malay uncle, he keep taking away his feet, so I thought that the gap of the line is not filled yet. So, I move my right foot bit by bit until the uncle tapped my thigh saying: "tak moh sentuh kaki." Urmm, excuse me... I'm not doing that because I wanted to touch his foot nor feeling curious to compare how smooth is his foot skin. I just thought that the gap is not filled and I am focusing my intention to pray to the God. Perhaps he was afraid that he would sit on my feet. We don't sit like Malays in the act of second witnessing just before we complete our prayer service. 

Why some people are so shallow in their adherence of manhaj of Sunnah? I mean this to Shafi'ies as Malays are mostly of Shafi'ie school. There are also some Arabs who adhere to Hanbali and they are also like the Shafi'ies. Sometimes they could also develop quarrel because of some differences and their shallowness in adhering to something. They only know their method. We are performing dzikrs, reciting Quran with melodious voices and styles but we had forgotten that we need to take care about our salat performance too. Salat is the heart of a Muslim. Besides, we also should know about others' methods as well. It is ok to follow something in the beginning. But once we had been following something, we need to also know what we are doing and what are the sources for that. If we blindly following something, we would be a blind-followers. That will always make us paranoid to everything because we have no knowledge while the God had mentioned in many verses of Quran that we must seek knowledge in everything.

There are several sunnah and hadith regarding the row of salat such as in the Bukhari no. 723 and Muslim no. 1003. In the narration of Ibnu Majah, it is also mentioned that we would be in disagreement if we perform salat without checking the gaps between our brothers or sisters. In narration and report of Imam Ahmad, it told us that noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w mentioned that "satan" will slip in between gap caused by the space between shoulders and it will cause us to loose your concentration (no.22317). There are many other hadiths about this. We just need some time to check the books and asking teachers to help with the references.     

Actually, I just don't understand these people of Sunnah. They claim themselves as people of Sunnah. Sometimes they are cursing Shi'ite brothers or Wahhabis and refuse to proclaim others as brothers and sisters. But they claim themselves as Sunnah Muslims while they have no knowledge even about the sources of their acts in rituals. 

I feel quite sad too because I have to stay here alone without my sisters or parents. I am still browsing my thesis and the supervisor had asked me to send it to her before 8th of Nov. I can't go to Alor Setar or Kangar just to visit mosques and temples to ease my boredom. I almost cried while reciting supplications in the mosque but I quickly wiped my tears before it flows down as it will make people around feel weird to see an old boy crying like a baby, hahaha. If I am alone I just don't care I will just cry like my nephews and nieces, hahahaaha. 

Usually, I would drink some tea with dad at mamak restaurant if I am at home during celebration time. Just spending some good time with elderly and respecting elders. All of friends I am familiar with had also graduated. Yesterday I went to Chinese restaurant having some drink because I can't mix with Malays. I just don't know... I can't mingle close with them though I always try my best :'( I feel like being looked as a lower creature when I mingle with them. My senior and ex-colleague, Azren is also a Malay but he is bit more open compared to most Malay students that I come across.

Other Malay junior who're older four years than me had also left me. Last time he was the one who came to me. Lani sebok lah apa kononnya, mai tang orang tanya ke diah. Orang lain pun busy jugak... Bukan kita seorang sahaja. This deceiving world is always busy with matters that bring us away from Him. When they have no friends, they would approach us. Tak layan depa, dikatanya kita sombong. When they have many friends or occupied with matters either which makes them happy, tired, or etc... They forgotten people very easily. That's why I hate to entertain people who came by to me nor I like to look direct at people's face. But when we stay silent and just focusing on our own business, they would come to us and say things like "tegur-tegur lah," mingle more with others, develop brotherhood, perform da'awa with others, combine our efforts and energy, don't just stay alone. Satan will deflect you if you're alone. I had experienced this circumstance where my iman being tested many times, even to the extend I wanted to die and sitting at the window. Remembrance to the God that saved me from sin. In the end, these people who "advised" me don't walk their talk. As for me, I am a friend for one. I am not a friend for all. If anyone alone and need assistance, I am there. I don't like many people to see me. Hurmmm, my future would also be like this I guess. Never mind, He is with us.     

Anyway, I am wishing brothers and sisters in iman, wherever you are happy celebrating Aidul Adha and we commemorate the Qurban/Sacrifice of patriarchs in the mean to please the God, to be close with Him and devotion only for Him. The blood and meat of animals sacrificed do not reach the God because the God needs not offering from meat and burnt sacrifices but the God accepts our sincerity and devotion to Him.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!

Acts of Worship: Conditions to Perform Salat

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

Source picture from View Iran.

For compulsory salat, we must meet these conditions which are:

A Muslim

Those who believes in the six articles of the pillars of faith are bound to five articles of the pillars of the law of life.

Sane

Possess sound mind and aware of what he or she is up to. A drunk person can not perform salat because his or her mind is not sound. He or she does not know what is she talking about when communicating with the God in salat.

Meet the Age Requirement

A person who reached 10 years old are bound to this article of the law of life (salat). Seven years old age is a good time to teach children to perform salat.

Pre-Salat Conditions 

Confidence on the Time

We must have confidence that we meet the prayer time for five times daily prayers. We may check the shadows under the sun for Dzuhr and 'Asr prayer services. Nowadays we have announcements in TV and radio for those who live in majority Muslim countries like in Malaysia while for those who live in the country administrated by non-Muslims like in Thailand or any other place, they could get the information or taqwim (calender) from their associations, centers and councils. No confidence although the time is correct, our salat will be invalid.

Facing Quiblah

Turning our face and chest facing the direction of Ka'aba in the city of Mecca. Those who are unable to perform this because of troubles are given leniency to face any direction since East and West belongs to Him.

Covering 'Awrah

It is compulsory for a men to cover from his belly-button down to his knees. For women, covering according to what is prescribed in the scripture for example wearing reasonably loose-fitting garment. It is a common sense. We are summoning the God and not flirting around looking for a date, taking part in miss universe, or playing snooker while performing salat. I had talked about this with my Muslim European teacher in her room too, it is regarding fashion. I am a moderate person, I don't judge people based on their looks or attire but when we perform salat or prayer it is not a sin to follow the prescription of scripture. When we perform salat, we are communicating and summoning the God. So, we must make sure that we are in proper attire. When we meet royalties, or VIPs, or in formal occasions or to Halloween parties for example, we perhaps wear proper attire according to their dress code or theme. But when we summon Him who has the Dominion over the Universe, should we just wear skimpy, stinky, and filthy clothes without any dress code? Summoning Him is not like when we go for the Cannes Film Festival. He is more than that. 

Purity

Pure from feces and physically clean. It means clean clothes, clean body, and the place to prostrate is clean from ritual impurity mentioned in scripture. There are jurists who summarized these into their kitab (books) for practices as to make it easy for laymen who have no time to revise, studying the branches of religious science or analyze the scripture. For Hanbali jurisprudence, the impurity at the cloth is still tolerated but I don't recommend it to others if we are able to make sure that everything is clean. A woman who are in menstrual state are given the leniency not to perform salat or entering prayer hall. It is called as holiday for women here. Personally I don't like to be close to women in menstrual state, hormones imbalance and they are quite moody. I can sense that from far without having to ask them, lol.

Ritual Purification

There are three kind of ritual washing. The first one is ma'amad or ghusl. Ghusl means shower or ma'amad means we dip ourselves into the river if there is a river or pond. Ghusl is a major cleansing. Then we have tayammum, for those who can't find water such as when the area is in drought or in desert. The most common one is wudhu' or ablution which is minor cleansing. We always see people perform this at mosque too before performing salat or contact prayer with the God. After we perform this, it is the state of pure from hadath. 

Sutrah

What is this? It means barrier from people passing by in front of us while we perform salat. It is best to have a barrier when we perform salat alone. It could be a wall or simply blocking the way of passers with hands. It is forbidden to walk in front of a person who perform salat, or walking between the barrier and the person who perform salat. A person may pass in front of person who perform salat in congregational row, usually in the mosque.  

I guess this is it for our note regarding pre-conditions to perform salat.  May it benefits brothers and sisters. I apologize for false words if it happens to pop out in here. We are just ordinary human-being and no perfect but we try to do as best as we can, His Will. Thank you for passing by, may everyone be blessed.

Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love, amin!

Act of Worship: How We Perform Salat?

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

I believe that there are many books and materials talking about this particular matter. I just want to revise again what I have in my head regarding this subject matter. When we keep our own notes, we tend to remember more rather than just reading. Salat is one among those basic things in acts of worship and core matter in pillar of Islam. If our salat is not perfect and we do it without understanding, we will face the problem regarding our daily life. This temporary life is the bridge for us to the hereafter.

First of all, what does salat mean? Salat means the act where we seek connection with the God. It is a formal prayer for us where we prostrate to Him with several rules. This word comes from the semitic root word which is صل sil. From this word only, we could derive many other words related to soul and connection between souls and the God such as صلاة salat, صلوات salawat, صلاة الرحيم silaaturraheem and etc.

In our national language, we simply say sembahyang when refering to salat. It literally means respecting the heaven. Hyang refers to anything up the heaven and our forefathers who came by to South East Asia since 10th C as missionaries had used local words used by natives when teaching the path to people around as to make it easy for everyone to grasp the essence of teachings. Northern Muslim Indians may say namas which means bowing to the God and it was derived from Sanskrit root word. When we perform salat, we are communicating with the God through these categories of acts...

Categories of the Acts in Salaat

There are 3 categories of the acts in salaat:

1. قلبِ qalbi which means heart and mental related to intention.

2. قولِ qawli which means oral related to recitation

3. فعلِ fi'liy means acts performed in salat.

These three categories can be seen in the pillars of salat which consists of 13 articles. There are also conditions which obligate a person to perform salat and also the condition for a validate salat. We could check it ourselves after we slowly learn about these, don't worry.

Pre-Salat Acts

First of all before we perform any salat, we have to perform ritual washing which is called as wudhu'. As for me, I am following the method of Hanbali angle of sunnah. Not much different to Syafi'ie jurisprudence. I would like to inform that, most Wahhabis whom most people in Malaysia always associate with those from Hejaz are following Hanbali method of jurisprudence. There is no such thing of madzhab Wahhabi and I also despise those 'Wahhabis' who simply accuse this and that as innovation because they are not masters of Quran, hadiths and sunnah while just depending on their syeikhs. I would talk about how to perform wudhu' maybe later if I am free and I could find my notes that I jot down. Those from Syafi'ie angle of sunnah please perform it according to the imam which you have your naqal (riding for practices) on him.

Pillars of Salat   

Basically, pillars of salat altogether consists of 13 articles in it. They are:

Beginning the salat

Standing straight

For those who are able to stand straight since leaning or not standing upright in salat will invalidate the salat. For those who can't because of illness, they may perform it in postures that they are comfortable with.

Intention

In Arabic it is called as النية an-niyyah. Usually we will recite the intention such as: "I perform this obligatory salat (the name of salat) (how many units) only for Allah the Most Highest." We also mentally recite it in our heart because heart is the place where sincerity comes. Niyyah is to make sure that we are aware that we are performing the salat.   

Takbeeratul Ihram

It is spelled like this تكبيرة الأحرام in Arabic. What does it mean? It literally means saluting to magnify the God. It is done simultaneously with intention. Raising our hands up to the level of shoulders. Our fingers slightly apart and touching earlobes. When doing this, we say الله أكبر Allahuakbar which means, the God is the Almighty.

Reciting the al-Fatihah

In every unit of salat, we need to begin with al-Fatihah. The first verse of al-Fatihah is بسم الله basmallah which means "in the Name of the God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful." In obligatory salat, we must also recite another surah for first two units. But in superoregatory salat, al-Fatihah is sufficient. If a person could not yet memorize the Arabic version, just recite them in his or her mother tongue. But make sure to learn the Arabic verses for recitation time by time. Al-Fatihah is a supplication and it ends with amin.

In Every Units of Salat   

Ruku' and Tama'ninah

ركوع ruku' means bowing like we see the Japanese always do when greeting others. We bow after the recitation of surah al-Fatihah and another surah. What is طمأنينة tama'ninah? Tama'ninah is not my girlfriend, lol. Tama'ninah means tranquility or stopping for a second after we perform such an act like ruku' or others. While performing ruku' we will recite three times, سبحان ربِّىَ العظيم وبحمده subhaana rabbiyal 'azeemi wa bi-hamdihi which means glory be to the God the Most Greatest.

I'tidal and Tama'ninah

After we perform ruku', we will perform إعتدال i'tidal. I'tidal is standing again after bowing. While we raise up to stand again, we would raise up also our hands to the level of shoulders and saying سمعَ اللهُ لِمَن حمدَه samee'allahu li-man hamidah. It means, the God is listening to those who praise Him. Say ربنا و لكَ الحمد rabbanaa wa la-ka-l hamd which means our Lord, for You praises and say الله أكبر Allahuakbar before perform the sujud or prostration.

Prostration

Prostration or سجود sujud involves seven of body parts placed upon the floor where we prostrate. Those parts are: bare forehead including the point of nose, both palms, both knees, and base of toes for both feet. While prostrating, we say سبحان ربى الأعلى و بحمده subhaana-rabbiya-l a'alaa wa bihamdihi which means glory be to the Lord the Most Highest and praises only for Him. For each unit of salat, we have two prostrations. Between those prostrations, there is a sitting posture. We say, اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَاجْبُرْنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي، وَارْفَعْنِي allahumm-aghfirli-wa-r-hamni-wa-hdini-wa-jburni-wa-'aafiniy-wa-rzuqniy-wa-r-fa'niy and it means our Lord please forgive us, and have mercy on me, and guide me, and support me, and protect me, and sustain me, and elevate me from evil. 

Concluding Salat

Sitting for Tashahod Akhir

Tashahod akhir must be done in sitting posture. It is the conclusion of every salat.

Tashahod Akhir

تشهد أخر tashahod akhir is the last testimony. We have several things that we say to conclude our salat. I just provide their meanings here as it is tedious to alternately write in Arabic. We would say: "the respect for the God, blessings and greeting and the goodness and peace may it be poured upon prophet Muhammad s.a.w." We then say, "the peace may it be poured upon us and to all of the servants of the God who are pious." Say: "I bear witness that there is no gods except the God, and I bear witness that Muhammad s.a.w is His servant and His messenger to us." 

Prayers for prophet Muhammad s.a.w and patriarch Abraham a.s

 

Then say the greeting and prayers for both prophets Muhammad s.a.w and patriarch Abraham a.s: "Our Lord please be in connection with our prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family as you had been in connection with our patriarch Abraham a.s and his family. Our Lord, please bless our prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family. As you had blessed our patriarch Abraham a.s and his family before. In the Universe and worlds, indeed only You are the One worth receiving praises and glory."

First Greeting 

We call this as duruud. Turn to the right side and say: "peace be upon you and mercy of the God and His blessings." Turning to the left and say the same to our brothers or sisters if in congregational salat service.

Tartib

Movements are done step by step. Other movements and recitations while performing these steps are prophetic traditions (make sure they are with valid evidence). 

For Muslim brothers and sisters of Shi'ite branch, please refer Ayatullah's and Imam Ja'afar guidelines regarding articles of salat and recitations. I wish that we could get benefit from our learning, making us closer to Allah day by day.

Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love, amin!