The imaam pausing after reciting Soorah al-Faatihah Question: Is it legislated for the imaam to pause after reciting (Soorah) al-Faatihah so those behind him are able to recite (Soorah) al-Faatihah or not? (Please) provide us with a fatwa, (and may Allaah) reward you. Response: That which is established from the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) are two pauses:

The prostration of forgetfulness – before or after the tasleem? Question: Is the prostration of forgetfulness (sujood as-sahoo) to be done before the tasleem(completion of the prayer) or after it, or are there situations where it is to be done before thetasleem and (likewsie) situations where it is to be done after it?

Lifting one or both feet off the ground whilst in sujood Question: Noble Shaykh, I notice some people, whilst in the sujood (position) they lift one of their feet, or (even) both. So what is the ruling regarding this action? Response: It is not permissible for the one in sujood to lift any of the (required) seven (body) parts […]

Reciting two Soorahs in a single rak’ah Question: Is it permissible to combine (the reciting of) two Soorahs in a single rak’ah of an obligatory prayer? Response: There is no harm in combining (the reciting of) two Soorahs in a single rak’ah of an obligatory prayer. However, if doing so causes difficulty for the congregation behind him in an obligatory prayer, […]

Joining a praying individual and thereby performing the congregational prayer Question: I went to the masjid and found the congregational prayer had finished and found someone praying by himself; Is it permissible for me to stand beside him and pray (along with him) on the basis that this person is the imaam and I am following (him)?

Preventing the small child from passing infront of the one praying Question: What is the ruling regarding a small child under the age of 2 years passing infront of the one praying; is it imperative that he is prevented and not allowed to do so? Response: Yes, it is not permissible to leave a young […]

Performing the Dhuhaa prayer at work Question: Is it permissible for me to perform the Dhuhaa prayer during official work hours, keeping in mind that (doing so) does not cause any hindrance or delay in the work? Response: The Dhuhaa prayer is a Sunnah, and there is excellence in it, and if you are at work and performing it does […]

Pointing without moving the index finger in the tashahhud Question: What is the ruling regarding moving the (index) finger (of the right hand) during thetashahhud? Should it be moving or is it sufficient to point without moving it? Response: Whilst it is better to move (the finger), both are from the Sunnah of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa […]

Cutting short and dismissing the voluntary prayer upon the start of the obligatory prayer Question: I notice some people praying a voluntary prayer, and when the mu.adhdhin announces the start of the prayer, they cut short and dismiss their (voluntary) prayer even though they have already performed one rak’ah but not completed the second rak’ah. So is this permissible or […]

A woman’s prayer in her home is better Question: From that which is known is that the prayer of the woman inside her home is better than her praying in the masjid; So if she abandoned praying in al-Masjid al-Haraam (in Makkah) oral-Masjid an-Nabawee (in Madeenah) and (instead) prayed inside her home, would she be rewarded with the multiple reward for […]