592. Sneezing While Offfering Namaaz

By Asma Bint Shameem

You should say “Alhamdulillaah” even during your Salaah. 

But say it so that you say it to yourself without disturbing others. 

Proof:

Rifaa’ah ibn Raafi’ radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

“I prayed behind the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and I *sneezed* and said: 

الحمد لله حمداً كثيراً طيباً مباركاً فيه ، مباركاً عليه ، كما يحب ربنا ويرضى

‘Praise be to Allaah, much good and blessed praise, as our Lord loves and is pleased with.’

When the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam had finished praying he said: 

“Who is the one who spoke during the prayer?” and no one said anything. 

Then he said it a second time, “Who is the one who spoke during the prayer?” and no one said anything. 

Then he said it a third time, 

“Who is the one who spoke during the prayer?” 

and Rifaa’ah ibn Raafi’ said: 

It was me, O Messenger of Allaah. 

He said: 

“What did you say?” He said: 

I said: 

الحمد لله حمداً كثيراً طيباً مباركاً فيه ، مباركاً عليه ، كما يحب ربنا 

ويرضى

Praise be to Allaah, much good and blessed praise, as our Lord loves and is pleased with. 

The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam 

said: 

“By the One in Whose hand is my soul, thirty-odd angels competed to see which of them would take it up.” 

(al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood and al-Nasaa’i; hasan)

By this hadeeth we can see that if we sneeze while praying, we can say “Alhamdulillaah”. 

If it was wrong to say it, the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam would have corrected Rifaa’ah radhi Allaahu anhu. 

But he didn’t. 

In fact he praised him and asked about what he said. 

The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“If a person sneezes whilst he is praying, it is prescribed for him to say al-hamdu Lillaah, may He be glorified, whether the prayer is obligatory or naafil. 

This is the view of the majority of scholars among the Sahaabah and Taabi’een, and it was also the view of Imam Maalik, al-Shaafa’i and Ahmad, but they differed as to whether he should say it silently or out loud. 

The correct view and the view of Imam Ahmad is that he should say it out loud, but only loud enough that he can hear himself, lest he distract other worshippers. 

That is indicated by the general meaning of the report narrated by Abu Hurayrah radhi Allaahu anhu, that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“If one of you sneezes, let him say ‘Al-hamdu Lillaah’…” 

The hadeeth was narrated by al-Bukhaari”

And Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“Yes, it is prescribed for him to say al-hamdu Lillah, because it is proven in the saheeh hadeeth that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam heard someone say al-hamdu Lillah after sneezing and he did not rebuke him, rather he said: 

“I saw such and such a number of angels, all of whom were hastening to write it down.” 

And because praising Allaah is akin to the phrases of prayer, and is not contrary to it.” 

[Majmoo’ Fataawaa (29/348)]

Shaikh al-Albaani said:

“The one who sneezes in the prayer can say alhamdulilah in a low voice as long as it is not the audible prayers and as long as he is not saying it in between his recitation.”

And Allaah knows best

591. Cracking Knuckles

By Asma Bint Shameem

Yes you can crack your knuckles. 

There’s no prohibition regarding that. 

And the “hadeeth” that mentions is that is *NOT authentic. 

However the scholars say that it is makrooh (disliked) to crack knuckles while you’re praying it during the Friday Khutbah. 

That’s because it is distracting and will make you lose concentration. 

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said: 

“Cracking the knuckles does not invalidate the prayer, but cracking the knuckles is a kind of fidgeting, and if that is during a congregational prayer, it will inevitably disturb those who hear it, and that is more bothersome than if there is no one around him.”

(Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam p. 341)

And Allaah knows best

590. Bathroom Etiquette For Muslims

By Asma bint Shameem 

Alhamdulillaah, our Deen teaches us good manners about EVERYTHING. 

And that includes even using the bathroom. 

At the time of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam, one of the mushrikeen said to Salmaan al-Faarisi radhi Allaahu anhu:

“Your Prophet has taught you everything, even how to defecate!”

(Muslim)

Just goes to show the beauty and perfection of this beautiful religion. Alhamdulillaah. 

1. Say Bismillaah and the duaa to enter the bathroom 

بِسْمِ الله 

 اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ

Bismillaah,

Allaahummaa innee Aa’oodhu bika min al-khubuthi wal-khabaa’ith

“With the name of Allaah,

O Allaah! I seek Your refuge from male and female devils.”

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“These toilets are haunted (inhabited by devils), so when anyone of you goes to the toilet let him say, 

‘A’oodhu Billaahi min al-khubthi wa’l-khabaa’ith 

(I seek refuge Allaah from the male and female devils).” (Abu Dawood- saheeh by al-Albaani)

2. CONCEAL yourself. 

“The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam used to prefer to go behind a rise in the ground or a garden of date palms.”

(Muslim)

So SHUT the bathroom door when you want to relieve yourself. 

And don’t pee in front of others (like men do these days in front of each other in public bathrooms)

3. Once you’re done, use the left hand to clean yourself. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“None of you should touch his privates with his right hand whilst urinating nor should he wipe off feces with his right.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim) 

4. Use water (istinjaa) and/or toilet paper (istijmaar)

BOTH are allowed as long as the najaasah is completely removed. 

Anas radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“When I was a boy, when the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam entered the toilet I would carry a small vessel of leather filled with water, and he would clean himself with water.” (Muslim)

5. Using toilet paper to clean yourself is the SAME as when the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam used stones after relieving himself and this is called istijmaar. 

When using toilet paper, make sure to use three or more odd number of times. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“When anyone of you cleans himself (istijmaar -with stones or similar material) let him use an ODD NUMBER.” (Ahmad- hasan by al-Albaani)

6. Make sure to remove ALL najaasah COMPLETELY 

That’s because one of the reasons of the punishment of the grave is not cleaning yourself properly from urine or feces. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam passed by two graves, and said: 

“They are being punished, but they are not being punished for any major sin. One of them used not to protect himself (i.e. keep himself clean from) his urine, and the other used to walk about spreading malicious gossip.” (al-Bukhaari)

7. Do not pee in the bathtub, unless there’s a place for it to drain. 

“Allaah’s Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam forbade that he should urinate in the place where he takes a bath.”  

(an-Nasaaii- saheeh)

But if the urine can be washed away, it is permissible to urinate in the shower. 

Someone asked Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen:

“Is urinating in the bathtub when having a shower included in the hadeeth that forbids urinating in the place where a person washes himself or is it not, because the water is draining out of the tub?”

The Shaykh said: 

“No, this is not included in that hadeeth, because if he urinates, he can pour water over it and the urine will be removed, but he should not start taking his shower until the urine has been removed by pouring water over it.

Usually there is another place for urinating, but if it happens that a person needs to urinate whilst he is having a shower, he should stop washing himself until he has urinated and washed away the urine.”

8. Do your business and come out. 

Don’t linger unnecessarily in the bathroom, or use your telephone or read, eat or drink, etc. 

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“The bathroom is a place for relieving oneself only and one should not stay there longer than is necessary. 

Eating or doing other things there requires staying there for a length of time, that is not appropriate.”

(Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 11/110)

9. Don’t talk to anyone or say salaam or reply to the salaam. 

The majority of scholars say that it is makrooh (disliked) to speak in the restroom unnecessarily.

A man passed by the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam when he was urinating, and greeted him. 

The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said to him later:

“If you see me in this state, do not greet me, because if you do, I will not respond.” (Ibn Maajah- saheeh by al-Albaani)

10. Don’t say any Dhikr or Duaa out loud

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said;

“A person should not remember his Lord inside the bathroom, because this place is not appropriate for that. 

If he remembers Him in his HEART there is nothing wrong with that, but he should not utter the words out loud. 

It is better not to speak the words out loud in this place, and to wait until he has come out of it.

With regard to places for doing wudhu that are *outside* the toilets where one relieves oneself, there is nothing wrong with remembering Allaah there.”

(Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 11/109)

11. Wash your hands 

Abu Hurayrah radhi Allaahu anhu said that after cleansing himself, the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam  would rub his hand on the ground (to clean it) and then he would perform wudhu.” (at-Tirmidhi -hasan by al-Albaani) 

12. When done, exit the bathroom and say the duaa of exiting the bathroom.

Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

“When the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam 

exited the toilet, he used to say 

غفران

Ghufraanaka 

(Your forgiveness).” 

(at-Tirmidhi -authenticated by al-Albaani)

*OTHER ISSUES*  

Can I pee standing up?

You should SIT DOWN and use the toilet. 

Don’t pee standing up unless there’s a need or reason. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam would normally sit down and relieve himself. 

That was his regular practice. 

Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

“Whoever tells you that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam used to urinate standing up, do not believe him. 

He only ever used to urinate sitting down.” (at-Tirmidhi- saheeh by al-Albaani)

That’s the default. 

But if there’s a REASON or NEED, it’s PERMISSIBLE to pee standing up, although it’s discouraged and disliked. 

“Hudhayfah radhi Allaahu anhu said that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam went to the garden of some people and urinated standing up.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim) 

Do I need to cover my head when I use the bathroom?

There’s NO AUTHENTIC hadeeth from the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam that would prove that he covered his head before going to the toilet. 

However some of the salaf did that out of modesty especially when using the toilet outdoors. 

But it’s not necessary especially nowadays when the bathrooms are indoors. 

So there’s no harm in covering or uncovering the head. 

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“There is nothing wrong with entering the bathroom with the head uncovered, but the fuqaha’ regarded it as mustahabb to cover the head when entering the toilet.”

(Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (11/68). 

And Allaah knows best

589. Where Should I Look When I’m Offering Salaah?

By Asma bint Shameem 

When we pray we should *look at the place of SAJDAH* (prostration) *throughout the Salaah* EXCEPT when we sit in *tashahhud*; then we should look at the *tip of our index finger*. That’s the opinion of the majority of the scholars. 

*PROOF:*

Our Mother Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

“The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam entered the Ka’bah and his gaze did not go beyond the site of his prostration until he came out.” 

(Ibn Hibbaan- saheeh by al-Albaani)

And:

Abd-Allaah ibn al-Zubayr said: 

“When the Messenger of Allaah sat during the prayer, he would place his left foot between his thigh and calf, and tuck his right foot underneath him, and place his left hand on his left knee, and place his right hand on his right thigh, and point with his finger.” (Muslim)

In another narration, he said:

“And he should not let his gaze go beyond his pointing (right) finger.” 

(Abu Dawood- saheeh by al-Albaani)

Abdullaah ibn Umar said:

“He (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) put his right hand on his thigh and pointed with the finger that is next to the thumb towards the qiblah, and he fixed his gaze on it.” 

Then he said: 

“This is what I saw the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam doing.” (al-Nasaa’i- saheeh by al-Albaani) 

Imaam Ahmad said:

“Proper focus and humility (khushoo’) in prayer means that (the worshipper) should fix his gaze on the place of prostration”

Our Mother Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

“I asked Allaah's Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam about looking hither and thither in as-Salaah. 

He replied, "It is a way of *stealing* by which Shaytaan takes away (a portion) from the Salaah of a person." (al-Bukhaari) 

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“The Sunnah is for him to look at the place of his prostration whilst he is standing and also when bowing. 

But when he is sitting, he should look at his pointing finger when he sits for the tashahhud or between the two prostrations; he should look at his pointing finger, as is mentioned in the Sunnah from the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.” 

[Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz (29/241)]

The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“When doing rukoo’, the worshipper should also look at the place of his sujood. 

When he is reciting the tashahhud, he should look at the finger with which he is pointing. 

When he is doing sujood he should look at the ground directly beneath his eyes.”

[ Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Iftaa, 7/25)]

However if there’s a NEED or valid reason, it is permissible to look at the Imaam or at something else, while still facing the qiblah and that does not invalidate the Salaah. 

Imaam al-Bukhaari said:

"A person looks to the place of his prostration in Salaah, and if there is a NEED to glance or look away, a need related directly to the salaah, or a need to defend oneself or one's family or property, then it is permissible to do so, without turning away from the qiblah. 

And if he glances at something or someone *without need*, ie. out of forgetfulness or curiosity, and then returns his gaze back to his place of prostration, then this is not something desired however it does not nullify the person's Salaah."  

(Saheeh al-Bukhaari, kitaab al-athaan Chapter 93/94)

 Haafidh Ibn Hajr said: 

“It is possible that the origin of the one behind the Imaam is to gaze at the place of the prostration because that is desirable for Khushoo’ except if he needs to look at what the Imaam is doing to follow his example.” [Fathul-Bar (2/233)]

And Allaah knows best.

588. Are Women Included In Hadeeth “Those Who Pray Fajr Then Remember Allaah Until Sunrise"?

By Asma bint Shameem

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allaah until the sun rises, then prays two rak‘ahs, will have a reward like that of Hajj and ‘Umrah, complete, complete, complete.”

(at-Tirmidhi - hasan by al-Albaani)

This is Salaat ad-Duhaa and if prayed at its early time, it’s called Salaat al-Ishraaq. 

The time to pray this beautiful prayer is when the sun is about a spear’s length above the horizon (about 15 minutes after sunrise).

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“This prayer is mustahabb after the sun has risen and reached the height of a spear, that is approximately fifteen or twenty minutes after the sun rises.” 

(Fataawa ash-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 25/171)

Although the hadeeth mentions praying in congregation in the masjid, then remembering Allaah until sunrise, women who pray Fajr at home then sit and remember Allaah until sunrise will also achieve the same reward. 

*Proof*:

Juwayriyyah radhi Allaahu anhaa used to sit in her prayer area (musallaa) when she would pray the morning prayer until Salaat

adh-Dhuha. (Saheeh Muslim)

In any case, Allaah is not unfair. 

And most women pray Fajr at home and it’s not possible for them to leave the kids at home and come to the masjid. 

And of course there are other issues.

Someone asked Shaikh Ibn Baaz:

“Is the woman included for this reward if she prays in her house?”

He said:

“If a woman prays in her Musalla then after Fajr remembers Allaah by Dhikr or reading the Qur’aan until sunup then offers two Rak’ah *she gets reward mentioned in the hadeeth.*”

(Majmoo’ Fatawa vol 11)

And Shaykh Muqbil said:

“Yes she is (included in the rewards mentioned in the Hadeeth).

If a woman prays fajr in her house and sits and remembers Allaah until sunrise.” 

[Verdicts for the Muslim Woman pg. 121]

So just because the ladies can’t come to the masjid, Allaah will not deprive them of the rewards. 

As for those women who pray Fajr then get involved in the dunya affairs, kids, household chores etc, but then they pray Ishraaq, they will  get the reward of following the Sunnah of praying Salaat al-Ishraaq. 

But as for the rewards specifically mentioned in the hadeeth of a “complete Hajj and Umrah”, no one can really say and only Allaah knows about that. 

That’s because that reward mentioned in the hadeeth is associated with “remembering Allaah until sunrise”. 

But Allaah is al-Kareem. 

And His reward is vast. 

And we hope with Him always. 

And Allaah knows best