◈ Innovations (Bid‘ah) Related to Salah
❖ In our times, many Muslims delay prayers unnecessarily. For example, they offer Dhuhr at 2 or 2:30 PM and ‘Asr at 5 PM. Additionally, many perform Sunnah prayers during prohibited times, such as after Fajr and after ‘Asr, which contradicts prophetic teachings.
✿ Warnings Against Abandoning Congregation and Misaligned Rows
❖ The Prophet ﷺ said:"The Salah of a person in congregation is twenty-seven times superior to his prayer alone."
(Sahih Bukhari: 645)
❖ Narrated Nu‘man ibn Bashir (RA):
The Prophet ﷺ turned to the people and said three times:
"Straighten your rows! If you do not, Allah will cause disagreement among your hearts."
So they aligned shoulder to shoulder and ankle to ankle.
(Abu Dawood: 662)
❖ A man praying alone behind the row was instructed by the Prophet ﷺ to repeat his prayer.
(Abu Dawood: 682)
✿ During the Iqamah
❖ Once the Iqamah is pronounced, no Sunnah prayer should be performed."After the Iqamah is called, there is no prayer except the obligatory one."
(Sahih Muslim)
✿ Turning Only to the Right is Not Mandatory
❖ Ibn Mas‘ud (RA) said:"Do not designate Satan's portion only to the right side; I saw the Prophet ﷺ turning to the left as well."
(Sahih Bukhari: 852)
✿ Hastening Before the Imam
❖ The Prophet ﷺ warned:"Do you not fear that if you bow or raise your head before the Imam, Allah might turn your head into that of a donkey?"
(Bukhari: 691)
✿ Position of the Female Imam
❖ Umm Salamah (RA) used to lead women in Salah and would stand in the middle of the row.(Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/89)
◈ Disliked Acts (Makruhat) in Salah
① Fiddling with Clothes, Ground, or Body:The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Do not smooth the ground (pebbles) during Salah, except once if necessary."
(Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah)
② Placing Hands on the Hips:
Prohibited during Salah.
(Abu Dawood)
③ Looking Up to the Sky:
The Prophet ﷺ warned that such people risk losing their sight.
(Muslim, Nasa’i)
④ Visual Distractions in Front:
The Prophet ﷺ ordered removal of decorative curtains and garments that distracted him in Salah.
(Bukhari)
⑤ Gesturing with Hands During Salam:
The Prophet ﷺ prohibited waving hands like restless horses’ tails during Taslim.
(Nasa’i)
⑥ Dragging Clothes or Covering Face:
The Prophet ﷺ prohibited letting garments drag and covering the face during prayer.
(Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah)
⑦ Praying While Food is Served:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"If food is served and prayer is called, eat first."
(Muslim)
◈ Duas When Entering and Leaving the Masjid
Entering the Masjid:بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ، اللّٰهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
(In the name of Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open the gates of Your mercy for me.)
(Muslim, Abu Dawood)
Note: Simply reciting اللهم افتح لي أبواب رحمتك is sufficient.
Exiting the Masjid:
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ، اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
(In the name of Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, I ask You from Your bounty.)
(Ibn al-Sunni, Abu Dawood, Muslim)
Note: Reciting اللهم إني أسألك من فضلك alone is also sufficient.
