A Research-Based Review of 40 Issues of Salah with Evidences and Rebuttal of Doubts
Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 77
Preface
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد:
The book “Chehl Ḥadīth Masā’il-e-Namāz” by Ḥāfiẓ Ẓahūr Aḥmad Deobandī Hazrōī is being popularized among the common public. This book has been written against the Ahl al-Ḥadīth school (the true path) and promotes blind following of the senior Deoband scholars. Upon review, numerous scholarly fallacies, weak narrations, and unreliable evidences have come to light. Presented here is a comprehensive yet concise refutation with evidences.
Introduction: The Imitation (Taqlīd) of Senior Deoband Scholars and the Reality
- Deobandīs are not true followers (muqallidīn) of Imām Abū Ḥanīfah رحمه الله, rather they adhere to a self-fashioned Deobandī fiqh.
- A real, substantiated connection between Deoband practice and Ḥanafī fiqh or Imām Abū Ḥanīfah رحمه الله does not stand established.
Ḥadīth Nos. 1 to 40 — Rebuttal in Order of the Claimed Evidences
- Virtue of Praying at the Beginning of Time
- Ḥadīth of Sayyidunā Ibn Mas‘ūd رضي الله عنه: The earliest time for prayer is most virtuous. (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadiyyat al-Muslimīn)
- Two-shadow limit for Ẓuhr cannot be authentically attributed to Imām Abū Ḥanīfah.
- Evidences for delaying Ẓuhr and ‘Aṣr are invalid.
- Times of Ẓuhr
- Ẓuhr begins at zawāl and ends at one shadow length. (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah)
- The instruction to delay due to heat while travelling is specific; the general ruling is to pray early.
- Praying Ẓuhr Early
- Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه: Due to heat, they would prostrate upon their garments. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Muslim)
- Time of ‘Aṣr
- ‘Aṣr should be prayed at one shadow length. (Sunan al-Tirmidhī)
- Reports favoring delay for ‘Aṣr are weak.
- Time of Maghrib
- From sunset until the disappearance of shafaq. (Majma‘ az-Zawā’id)
- Two Rak‘ahs Before Maghrib
- Established in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī.
- Delaying ‘Ishā’ is More Virtuous
- Though any time after its entrance is permissible.
- Praying Fajr in Darkness
- The Prophet ﷺ continued to pray Fajr in darkness until his passing. (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, al-Mustadrak of al-Ḥākim)
- Nafl Prayers in Prohibited Times
- Unlegislated nafl are prohibited; prayers with evidence (e.g., janāzah) are allowed.
- Adhān & Iqāmah
- Sunnah method: Adhān with tarjī‘; iqāmah doubled. (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Āthār as-Sunan)
- Raf‘ al-Yadayn to Shoulders or Ears
- Both modes are established by authentic aḥādīth. No distinction between men and women in this.
- Do Women Raise Hands to Shoulders or Chest?
- The report is weak; Umm Yaḥyā is majhūlah. (al-Mu‘jam al-Kabīr)
- Placement of Hands
- The Prophet ﷺ placed his hands upon the chest. (Musnad Aḥmad)
- Reports of below-navel are weak or problematic.
- Bismillāh Aloud or Quietly
- Both are valid. Saying it aloud is established from Sayyidunā ‘Umar رضي الله عنه. (Sharḥ Ma‘ānī al-Āthār)
- Sūrat al-Fātiḥah in Every Rak‘ah
- Proven from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Muslim. Deobandīs hold it unnecessary in the last two rak‘ahs, which is incorrect.
- The Follower (Muqtadī) Must Recite al-Fātiḥah
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever does not recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah, his prayer is not [valid].” (Kitāb al-Qirā’ah by al-Bayhaqī)
- Is the Imām’s Recitation Sufficient for the Follower?
- The report’s chain is weak and its narrators are criticized.
- Saying Āmīn Aloud
- The Prophet ﷺ and the Companions said Āmīn aloud. (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
- Raf‘ al-Yadayn Before and After Rukū‘
- Established in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Muslim. The report from Ibn Mas‘ūd is weak.
- Tranquility in Prayer
- Stillness in rukū‘ and sujūd is obligatory. Deoband positions downplay the obligation of i‘tidāl.
- Hands or Knees First in Sujūd?
- The Prophet ﷺ placed his hands first. (Sunan Abī Dāwūd)
- The knees-first report is weak.
- Not Sitting Like a Dog
- Prohibition established in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī. The exception for women is based on a weak narration.
- Sitting After the Second Sajdah
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī emphasizes sitting after sajdah.
- Posture in Tashahhud
- First sitting: Left foot laid down, right upright. Final sitting: Tawarruk.
- Tawarruk for Women?
- The chain is fabricated; the narrator is a liar; thus, it is unacceptable.
- Pointing with the Index Finger in Tashahhud
- Established in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.
- Moving the Index Finger
- Established in an-Nasā’ī, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Ḥibbān. The opposing report is weak.
- Method of Taslīm
- Saying salām to both sides is Sunnah. (Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Muṣannaf ‘Abd ar-Razzāq)
- Sujūd as-Sahw Before or After Salām?
- Both are permissible.
- Collective Supplication After Ṣalāh
- Not established from the Sunnah. Some Deoband scholars also deem it an innovation.
- Witr as One or Three Rak‘ahs
- Both modes are Sunnah. Deoband scholars also acknowledge this.
- Qunūt in Witr Before or After Rukū‘?
- Both are permissible; raising hands is valid in both ways.
- Number of Rak‘ahs in Qiyām al-Layl
- The Prophet ﷺ prayed eleven rak‘ahs. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
- The twenty-rak‘ah report is weak; eleven is established from Ibn ‘Umar.
- Nafl at the Time of Iqāmah?
- Other than the obligatory prayer, it is not permissible. Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما prohibited it. (as-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī)
- If the Sunnahs of Fajr Are Missed
- They may be prayed immediately after the farḍ or after sunrise. (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Ḥibbān)
- Two Rak‘ahs Before Maghrib
- It is Sunnah but not obligatory. The opposing narration is weak.
- Time of Jumu‘ah
- Begins after zawāl. The sermon before or after zawāl — both are valid.
- Jumu‘ah for Villagers
- Obligatory. ‘Umar رضي الله عنه: “Wherever you are, pray Jumu‘ah.” (Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah)
- Takbīrs of ‘Eid
- Seven in the first rak‘ah and five in the second — authentic. The four-takbīr report is weak.
- Sūrat al-Fātiḥah in Janāzah Prayer
- It is Sunnah. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Sunan an-Nasā’ī)
- Recitation aloud or quietly — both are permissible.
Summary and Cautions
- Ẓahūr Aḥmad Hazrōī’s book employs weak and fabricated narrations and distortions.
- It diverts from authentic aḥādīth and āthār, emphasizing blind adherence to elders.
- Deoband authors, at numerous points, have omitted ḥadīth wording or used faulty translations, resulting in breach of trust.
Final Word
Ṣalāh is a critical act of worship whose method has been clearly explained by the Prophet ﷺ. We should perform worship only in light of authentic aḥādīth and the understanding of the Salaf, avoid blind following, and refrain from acting upon fabricated narrations.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
