Combining salaat while traveling...and other stuff

[DanyalSAC]

Asalaamu alaikum -

I know that combining salaat while traveling is an accepted ruling in Islam. But I have a question:

If we combine Dhuhr and Asr, do we have to do it during Asr's "window"? Or can we do the 2 rakaat traveler Asr after Dhuhr? Yesterday four of us from Sacramento did a road trip to Oakland and when I said we could do our 2 rakaat Asr after the Jumuah prayer I was met with opposition from two of the brothers who claimed we can ONLY pray that during the Asr time. Same thing happened when Maghrib came - a Muslim merchant allowed us to pray in his shop and when I suggested we add the two rakaat Isha to our salaat once again I was told no, we can only combine when we pray at the later salaat's time. I had never heard this.


Sidebar: I had heard that there's a hadith that said something like you never know someone until you travel with them, and its 100 percent right. Even when I've discussed Islam with non-Muslims I was never made to feel as horrible a person as my Muslim brothers made me feel yesterday. I was lectured for hours because I pray with my hands right over left (I guess, according to them, the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salaam prayed with his arms straight down, and all hadith to the contrary are false) and because I practice masa, the act of wiping over my socks for wudu - in spite of the fact that I don't wear leather socks (according to them that's the ONLY time this is permissible and there's no ahadith to the contrary). Its no wonder the Ummah can't unite!

Ma salaama
D.

 

[ditta]

As-salaamu'Alaykum,

For the first part of your question:

1) Go to this thread and click on the link 'Summary of Islamic Jurisprudence Vol 1'. http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38547

2) When the PDF has downloaded, there is a small box near the top where you can navigate to a page number. Put page no. 254 in there.

3) There you will see the the sub-topic, 'Third: The Prayer of a Traveler'. It answers your question from how I understood it, that is combining let's say, Zuhr and Asr at either time (meaning praying it at either time).

The book Fiqh-us-Sunnah baiscally confirms what is in the above but with some more evidences.

I hope my instructions make sense.

For the question about wiping over the socks, navigate to pg. 65 (of the PDF document, not the page printed). It is only a couple of pages long. I think the explanation given in there will be more easier compared to some of the Q&A's in Fatawa Islamiyah.

About the placing of the hands:

It was narrated that Sahl ibn Sa’d said: the people used to be instructed to place the right hand over the left forearm when praying. (narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 840)

​

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “We Prophets have been commanded to delay our suhoor and to break our fast straight away, and to place our right hands over our left hands when praying.” (narrated by Ibn Hibbaan in al-Saheeh, 3/13-14).

From these two ahaadeeth it is clear to us that the one who puts his hands by his sides in prayer is making a mistake. Putting the right hand over the left hand is the teaching of our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and of the Prophets who came before him.

(See Zaad al-Ma’aad, 1/202)

Source: http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/6109/

You can refer to the full answer if necessary.

I hope I've helped.

Walaykum Salaam.

 

[ditta]

Sidebar: I had heard that there's a hadith that said something like you never know someone until you travel with them, and its 100 percent right. Even when I've discussed Islam with non-Muslims I was never made to feel as horrible a person as my Muslim brothers made me feel yesterday. I was lectured for hours because I pray with my hands right over left (I guess, according to them, the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salaam prayed with his arms straight down, and all hadith to the contrary are false) and because I practice masa, the act of wiping over my socks for wudu - in spite of the fact that I don't wear leather socks (according to them that's the ONLY time this is permissible and there's no ahadith to the contrary). Its no wonder the Ummah can't unite!

Ma salaama
D.

As-salaamu'Alaykum,

I thought I would create a separate post in order not to muddle up the question portion.

I think people get too eager sometimes and seem to leave their manners and gentleness at the door. Sadly, many people (of any creed) have lost the capability to explain something calmly and gently. Also there are some things where it is not right to argue and become angry over (create dissension). For example, when in tashahhud, some people will keep their finger raised until taslim while others will move it quickly - it is not something to become angry/argue over. (Obviously if it is something that is not from the Prophet then we have to explain with the correct etiquette. Without a doubt it is difficult because people can be stubborn).

We just have to be patient when explaining aspects of the deen according to the Qur'aan and Sunnah.

Walaykum Salaam.

 

[DanyalSAC]

As-salaamu'Alaykum,

For the first part of your question:

1) Go to this thread and click on the link 'Summary of Islamic Jurisprudence Vol 1'. http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38547

2) When the PDF has downloaded, there is a small box near the top where you can navigate to a page number. Put page no. 254 in there.

3) There you will see the the sub-topic, 'Third: The Prayer of a Traveler'. It answers your question from how I understood it, that is combining let's say, Zuhr and Asr at either time (meaning praying it at either time).

The book Fiqh-us-Sunnah baiscally confirms what is in the above but with some more evidences.

I hope my instructions make sense.

For the question about wiping over the socks, navigate to pg. 65 (of the PDF document, not the page printed). It is only a couple of pages long. I think the explanation given in there will be more easier compared to some of the Q&A's in Fatawa Islamiyah.

About the placing of the hands:

You can refer to the full answer if necessary.

I hope I've helped.

Walaykum Salaam.

JazakAllah khairn brother for your help. I forwarded this information along to the brother and he rejected it; he said there is no proof that we can wipe over anything other than leather. I told him basically that he's adding restrictions to that which Allah nor Rasoolullah s.a.w. did not add restrictions on, so that's all on him. Allahu alim.

Thank you again.

D.

 

[samiha]

:salam2:

JazakAllah khairn brother for your help. I forwarded this information along to the brother and he rejected it; he said there is no proof that we can wipe over anything other than leather. I told him basically that he's adding restrictions to that which Allah nor Rasoolullah s.a.w. did not add restrictions on, so that's all on him. Allahu alim.

When people remain blind to legitimate differences of opinion in Islaam, then it's quite sad. I mean it's one thing to -hold- the opinion that you can only wipe over leather (which I have heard some say), but quite another thing to say that this is the only valid way, when it's clear that other scholars have said and defined otherwise. So I'd say it'd be best to leave each to the others' opinion and go along with what your heart feels most satisfied with. Allaah knows best.

However, what did come to mind while reading your account was the fact that it's prescribed in Islaam while traveling that if there's more than three people you assign one to be the leader. This of course places responsibility on said leader for decisions, but makes things like when to pray etc ... much easier on the rest because then there's someone to fall back on. Not that others can't have a say, or be forced to pray differently per say, but in general things go more smoothly when there is an understood and stated leader of the group. Just a thought.

 

[DanyalSAC]

:salam2:



When people remain blind to legitimate differences of opinion in Islaam, then it's quite sad. I mean it's one thing to -hold- the opinion that you can only wipe over leather (which I have heard some say), but quite another thing to say that this is the only valid way, when it's clear that other scholars have said and defined otherwise. So I'd say it'd be best to leave each to the others' opinion and go along with what your heart feels most satisfied with. Allaah knows best.

However, what did come to mind while reading your account was the fact that it's prescribed in Islaam while traveling that if there's more than three people you assign one to be the leader. This of course places responsibility on said leader for decisions, but makes things like when to pray etc ... much easier on the rest because then there's someone to fall back on. Not that others can't have a say, or be forced to pray differently per say, but in general things go more smoothly when there is an understood and stated leader of the group. Just a thought.

Yeah they tried to assign to me the position of amir as they called it. Usually when we make road trips like this we choose the driver. But they wanted me as I was the oldest and the only one with a lehya (go figure). But I declined. Next time I will know better.

 

[thariq2005]

Assalaamu `alaykum,

Just a point of note, the brother is correct to an extent. There is no authentic proof that the Messenger of Allaah :saw2: wiped over normal socks. Majority of the scholars from the past who held the view that one can do mash over Socks (normal socks) did not base it on a hadeeth that was related from the Messenger of Allaah :saw2: but rather 1) the actions of the Sahaabah [Ibn Mundhir rahimahullaah reported 9 Sahaabah to have wiped over their socks and some of them include `Alee, `Umar, Ibn Mas`ood, Anas ibnu Malik and others RadiyAllaahu `anhum. Abu Dawood narrated something similar] 2) Doing Qiyaas between leather socks and normal socks.

However, as Sister Samiha and brother Ditta rightly mentioned: You should advise them to be more lenient towards people who hold different (valid) opinions.

Wassalaamu `alaykum