Errors in Salah

Praise be to Allah and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone and no associate with Him in worship. I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

Salah is the core of religion and the second pillar of Islam. It is the first obligation a person is asked about on the Day of Recompense. Therefore, it is obligatory on Muslims to be keen to perform it as the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded and explained its performance to the nation.

Al Bukhari reported in his Sahih (book of authentic Hadiths) from the Hadith of Malik ibn Al Huwayrith (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Offer Salah as you have seen me offering Salah."[1]

At-Tabarany reported in Al Awsat from the Hadith of `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The first thing which a person will be held accountable for on the Day of Recompense is Salah. If it is complete, the entire action will be complete and if it is incomplete, his entire actions will be incomplete."[2]

There are errors done by some Musalli (people who offer Salah) and I loved to remind you with in order to advice the people as we were commanded by Allah. Of these errors:

Firstly, Offering Salah in tight clothes or tight trousers. Some scholars said: Wearing tight clothes which embody the private parts in general is forbidden; How [will it be] in Salah? Allah (May He be Exalted) says: "O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying and going round (the Tawaf of) the Ka`bah." [Surat Al A`raf: 31].

Secondly, Offering Salah in transparent clothes. As it is forbidden to offer Salah in tight clothes because they embody one's private parts and describe their shape and size, it is forbidden to offer Salah in transparent clothes which describe the skin underneath.

Jurists said regarding the conditions of the validity of Salah, chapter on covering one's private parts, it is stipulated that the clothes should be thick and covering, so transparent clothes are not sufficient.[3]

This takes place in summer where some people wear transparent clothes over panties then offer Salah therein.

Third, Salah in nightclothes, "Pajamas," or work clothes which may be dirty and of bad smell which harm the other Musalli. The reason for wearing these clothes is indolence and laziness to change them, whereas if a person wants to visit VIPs or lofty people, surely he will get ready for that. Therefore, the Lord of the worlds is more entitled that people would adorn themselves for. Allah (May He be Exalted) says: "Thus it is [what has been mentioned in the above said Verses (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) is an obligation that mankind owes to Allah]. And whosoever honors the Symbols of Allah, then it is truly from the piety of the heart." [Surat Al Hajj: 32]. Allah (may He be Exalted) said: "O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying and going round (the Tawaf of) the Ka`bah." [Surat Al A`raf: 31].

Fourth, Isbal (lowering the garment) in Salah including: the garment, "Al Bisht: a woolen robe worn by Bedouins," and trousers.

Isbal is forbidden in general because of Allah's Saying in the Hadith which was reported by Muslim in his Sahih (book of authentic Hadiths) on the authority of Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him): "There are three persons whom Allah will not speak to on the Day of Resurrection, will not look at, will not he purify them and theirs shall be a severe punishment. Abu Dhar said: they have perished and lost. Who are they, O Messenger of Allah? He said: "Whoever drags his clothes (on the ground) out of pride and arrogance, the one who harm others by mentioning his bounties to them, and the one who buys his goods with false oath."[4]

Al Bukhari reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The part of an Izar which hangs below the ankles is in the Fire."[5] If this severe threaten was given to the people who drag their garments in general, it will be severer in Salah. Abu Dawud reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever drags his garment in Salah out of pride, Allah, the Almighty, will neither pardon nor protect him from Hell."[6]

Fifth, perseverance on offering supererogatory Salah in the Masjid which is against the Sunnah.

It is recommended to offer the supererogatory Salah at home. Al Bukhari and Muslim reported in their Sahih from the Hadith of Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Offer (supererogatory) Salah at your homes, and do not make them like graves"[7]

Imam Muslim reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Jabir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "When someone offers Salah in his Masjid (mosque), he should assign some of his Salah at his house, Allah will give him good reward if he offers (supererogatory) Salah at home."[8]

Ibn Majah reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) which is better: Offering Salah in my house or in the Masjid? He said: "Do not you see that my house is near to the Masjid? To offer Salah in my house is more beloved to me than to offer Salah in the Masjid except it is the prescribed Salah."[9] There is no harm for a person to offer supererogatory Salah in the Masjid sometimes, however the followed Sunnah is to offer supererogatory Salah at home which is better as shown from the previous Hadiths.

Six, some people who offer Salah raise their voices during the secret recitation or in some invocations during Salah which distracts people from their Salah. Prohibition was made by Allah's Saying: "And offer your Salat (prayer) neither aloud nor in a low voice, but follow a way between." [Surat Al Isra': 110].

Imam Malik reported in his Muwatta' from the Hadith of Al Bayady (may Allah be pleased with him): that the Prophet (peace be upon him) came out to the people while they were praying and their voices were raised in the recitation. He said, "When you pray, you are talking confidentially to your Lord. So look to what you confide to Him, and do not say the Qur'an out loud so that others hear it."[10]

Seventh, some people enter Masjids with their mobiles which contain musical tones and these tones are not permissible (to hear) outside the Masjid, so what about the Masjid?

Allah (May He be Exalted) says: "Thus it is [what has been mentioned in the above said Verses (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) is an obligation that mankind owes to Allah]. And whosoever honors the Symbols of Allah, then it is truly from the piety of the heart." [Surat Al Hajj: 32].

Al Bukhari reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Abu Malik Al Ash`ary (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There will be some groups of my nation who will consider adultery, silk, alcohol, and musical instruments."[11]

The Permanent Committee has issued a Fatwa about the prohibition of musical tones coming from these mobiles.[12] No doubt that entering Masjids with mobiles is a clear violation to their sanctity, in addition to harming those who offer Salah and corrupting their Salah. Allah (May He be Exalted) says: "And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear on themselves the crime of slander and plain sin." [Surat Al Ahzab: 58].

Eighth, Offering Salah in clothes which contain paintings.

It is well known that pictures are forbidden in general so how will it be the case with Masjid? Al Bukhari and Muslim reported in their Sahih from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Houses which contain pictures are not entered by angels."[13]

Muslim reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Abu Al Hayyaj Al Asdy that Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: Would you like that I send you on the same mission as Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) sent me?: "Do not leave an image without obliterating it, or a high grave without leveling It. This Hadith has been reported by Habib with the same chain of transmitters and he said: (Do not leave) a picture without obliterating it."[14]

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.

[1] p. 137, No. 631.

[2] (2/240) No. 1859, Sheikh Al Albany graded it as Sahih all together authentic) in As-Silsilah As-Sahihah No. 1358.

[3] See Al Mughny (2/286- 287)

[4] p. 68, No. (106)

[5] p. 1132, No. 5787.

[6] p. 91, No. 637.

[7] p. 104, No. 432, and Sahih Muslim p. 307, No. 777.

[8] p. 307, No. 778.

[9] p. 152, No. 1378, Sheikh Albany Al it graded Sahih as sound (authentic) (may be Allah with Merciful soul his) in Irwa' Al Ghalil (2/190).

[10] p. 53, No. 218, The verifier said: an authentic Hadith.

[11] p. 1101, No. 5590.

[12] Fatwas of Permanent Committee (26/261) No. 20842.

[13] p. 1156 No. 5961, and Muslim p. 875 No. 2107.

[14] p. 374, No. 969.