600. A Sajdah Outside Of Salaah Just To Make Duaa Or For ‘Shukr

By Asma bint Shameem 

QUESTION

I see some people, after they're done with Salaah, doing a separate sajdah to make duaa? Is that okay?

ANSWER

Doing this is not correct. 

That’s because there’s NO EVIDENCE of making a separate sajdah outside of Salaah, ‘specifically’ to make duaa in the Sharee’ah. 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam himself NEVER made a sajdah separately outside the salah just so that he could make duaa NOR did he teach his sahaabah to do so. 

If it was something good, he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam would have done it himself and would definitely have taught us. 

But we see that there's no proof of him doing that. 

Why is that wrong?

1. Dua is an act of worship. And the basic principle as far as acts of worship are concerned is "tawqeef", which means doing NOTHING EXCEPT that which is PROVEN from the Qur’aan and Sunnah. 

 

So we should worship Allaah ONLY in the ways that He has prescribed. 

Anything else is NOT ALLOWED, NOR is it CORRECT. 

2. When we look at the Qur'aan and authentic Sunnah, we see that there's NOTHING  to suggest that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam made a separate sajdah outside of salah for ANYTHING, EXCEPT sajdah at-Tilaawah (prostration when reading Qur’aan) or sajdah ash-Shukr (prostration of gratitude). 

Nothing else is proven. 

3. Any act that's not proven from the Qur'aan and authentic Sunnah falls under the category of *bid'ah*, which is a huge sin and is not even accepted by Allaah.  

May Allaah protect us. 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“Whoever introduces anything into this matter (Deen) of ours that is not part of it, will have it rejected.” 

(al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

But isn't the slave closest to his Rabb in sajdah?

Yes it's true that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

"The closest that a person can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so say a lot of du’aa’.”  (Muslim)

But that's WHILE we are *IN* Salaah. 

And NOT as a “separate” sajdah after we say salaam. 

*What do the ulama say?*

Ibn Taymiyah said: 

"Worse than this is what some people do, when they do a single prostration after saying the salaam. 

This is an innovation and it was not narrated from any of the Imams that this is mustahabb.

Acts of worship are based on sharee’ah and following, NOT on whims and desires or innovations. 

Islaam is based on two principles: that we do not worship anyone but Allaah alone, and we worship Him in the way that He prescribed on the lips of His Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam, and we do not worship Him on the basis of whims and desires or innovations." 

(al-Fataawa al-Kubra 2/242)

Imam al-Haramayn said: 

“My Shaykh – i.e., Abu Muhammad – denounced this prostration sternly, and they quoted as evidence for that the analogy with bowing. If a person were to worship Allaah by bowing only, that is haraam according to scholarly consensus, because it is bid’ah (an innovation), and every innovation is a going astray.” 

(al-Majmoo’ (3/565)

 So what's proven from the Sunnah? 

Go ahead and make Duaa in your sujood DURING SALAH. 

And it doesn’t matter if the prayer is fardh or Sunnah or Nafl. 

We can make Duaa in ALL the prayers and there’s no proof to say that we can not make Duaa in Fardh Salaah. 

We can also make Duaa in other places ‘within’ the Salaah that are proven from the authentic sources. 

Or we can simply raise our hands and ask. 

Any time. 

Any place. 

There's no need for us to go into a *separate* sajdah to ask Him. 

That was NOT the practice of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam  nor the Sahaabah. 

And Allaah knows best.

599. Is It Allowed For A Muslim Women To Cut Hair?

 By Asma Bint Shameem

1. First of all, 

It’s *allowed* for a Muslim woman to cut her hair if she wants and make herself beautiful for herself and her husband. 

Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan said:

“The wives of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam 

used to cut their hair until it came just below their ears.” (Muslim)

So it’s *permissible* for a woman to cut her hair. 

But she shouldn’t be copying any hairstyle that’s “specifically” of *immoral* or non-Muslim women and should not resemble *men’s* haircuts. 

That’s because the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam CURSED those women who imitate men. 

Ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhumaa said: 

“The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men.” 

(al-Bukhaari, 5435)

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“We do not know anything (to disallow) cutting women’s hair. 

What is forbidden is *shaving* it. 

You should not shave your hair but you may cut it and reduce its length or volume; we know of nothing wrong with that. 

But that should be done in a proper manner which will please you and your husband. 

You should come to some agreement with him on a kind of haircut that does not resemble kaafir women, because if you leave it long, it will be a lot of trouble to wash it and comb it. So if the hair is very long or thick, and the woman cuts it to reduce its length or volume, that doesn’t matter. Cutting some of it will make it more beautiful, which will please both the woman and her husband. 

So we do not know of any reason to disallow that. 

But shaving it altogether is not permissible, except in the case of sickness.”

(Fataawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah, part 2, p. 515)

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“In the past, women were keen to have long hair and would be proud of it, and they would not cut it unless there was a shar‘i reason or health-related need to do so. 

Now things have changed, so the view that it is forbidden is weak and there is no proof for it. 

The view that it is disliked needs further reflection and examination. 

*The view that it is *permissible* is closer to the basic principles of Islam*. 

Muslim narrated in his Saheeh that the wives of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam used to cut their hair so that it came down no lower than their earlobes.

But if a woman cuts her hair too short, so that it looks like a man’s hair, then this is undoubtedly haraam, because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam cursed women who resemble men.

Similarly, if she cuts it in a style that resembles the hairstyles of disbelieving women and immoral women, then whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

(Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb)

2. It is NOT allowed for us to donate hair.That’s the basic principle.  

BUT if a person wants to donate hair for a VALID REASON then it’s allowed. 

For example if it’s for cancer patients or those who have lost their hair for a medical reason. 

But if it’s donated just to make wigs for beautification purposes then it’s not allowed. 

Also there should be NO monetary compensation. 

The International Islamic Fiqh Academy said:

"Sharee’ah permits the necessary and needed plastic surgery with the purpose of concealing the defects resulting from burns, accidents, diseases and the like. 

For example, dermatoplasty and hair transplant for women who suffer from hair loss.

In conclusion, it is permissible to donate hair to victims of cancer in order to conceal the defects resulting from chemotherapy. 

This provided that no material compensation is taken in return because Sharee’ah highly values man`s dignity; therefore, it doesn’t sanction making any part of his body a commodity in a commutative contract.” [Fatwa # (173)/2007]

And Allaah knows best.

598. Praying Two Rak’aat At Midnight For The Upcoming New Year Or For The Past Year?

By Asma bint Shameem 

This is *not* from the Sunnah. 

Rather this is *bid’ah*. 

And the shuyookh have *warned* against this. 

Someone asked Shaykh Saalim Baamihriz:

“Many messages are circulating and reaching some of the people saying that we must pray two Rak'ats around 12:00 midnight so that we end the Gregorian year with prayer and begin the New Year with prayer. What is the ruling on this?”

Here’s what the Shaikh said:

“May Allaah bless you, this is from *”innovation”, “misguidance”, and “superstition”* which has no basis in the religion. 

O brother, may Allaah bless you, *the prayer is not legislated for these things.*The prayer is either obligatory and legislated or a Sunnah which the Messenger, clarified; Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam. As for making the prayer to be for the commencement of the year and to conclude the year, or to commence the day, or to conclude the day this is from the *deviation* of those who are astray and leading others astray; and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the fire. 

When the people distanced themselves from the Book and the Sunnah they fell into these innovations.

Akhee, had it been the Hijri year, it would've been innovation and misguidance, so what do you think regarding the Gregorian year?! 

Have Taqwa of Allaah, may Allaah bless you and beware of these innovations. 

The Muslim must worship Allaah in every instance, at all times, either by way of a legislative obligation or a clearly defined Sunnah known from the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.

As for these innovations and misguidance which the ignorant, astray commoners who are similar to animals introduce, beware of these deviations may Allaah bless you. 

By Allaah, I am amazed that in a time in which knowledge is wide spread, the Sunnah is wide spread, and the people know the truth from falsehood, that there are people still upon these deviations and innovations. 

Whenever an innovation is born, a Sunnah dies. 

So have Taqwa of Allaah. 

This is from the innovations which pass upon the people every year. 

Every month they have an innovation; every year they have an innovation; in every condition they have an innovation. 

Have Taqwa of Allaah, my brother. 

Acts of worship are only either obligatory or Sunnah clarified by the Prophet, upon him be prayers and peace, and the pious predecessors. Leave off these innovations and stay far away from them. Safeguard your religion and the safety of your Aqeedah and the Sunnah. 

May Allaah bless you, and Allaah’s Aid is sought.”

And Allaah knows best

597. What Is Mannat (Conditional Vow) And Why Is It Wrong ?

By Asma bint Shameem 

Mannat is making a promise to Allaah in EXCHANGE for some act of ibaadah and is a kind of vow and an oath (yameen). 

So they say 

“Oh  Allaah, if you get me that job, I will read 100 rak’aat of Nawaafil as shukr.”

Or “if my child will get cured, I will give $100/ sadaqah.”

Or other acts of ibaadah in ‘exchange’ for what they need. 

People think that by making a vow or ‘mannat’ as they say in Urdu, they will be able to CHANGE their destiny and kind of ‘push’ Allaah to give them what they want from Him Aa’oodhu Billaah. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said, 

"Allaah says, 'The 'nadhar' (vow) does not bring about for the son of Adam anything I have not decreed for him, but his 'nadhar' (vow) may coincide with what has been decided for him, and by this way I cause a miser to spend of his wealth. 

So he gives Me (spends in charity) for the fulfillment of what has been Decreed for him what he would not give Me before but for his vow!" 

(al-Bukhaari)

 WHY is it WRONG

1. It is disliked to make oaths and vows because it’s kind of like ‘bargaining’ or making a ‘deal’ with Allaah. 

It’s like saying...

“If you’ll give me this, then I’ll do such and such” 

That’s NOT the correct Adab with Allaah. And therefore it’s discouraged to make vows and oaths. 

And some ulama even consider it *forbidden*. 

That’s because it is *DISRESPECTFUL* to Allaah and is a kind of *UNGRATEFULNESS*.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

‘Do not make vows, for vows do not change qadar (the divine decree) in the slightest, but they make the stingy person give something up.’” (Muslim)

2. Think about it this way...

You say “Oh Allaah, if you get me that job, I will read 100 rak’aat of Nawaafil as shukr.”

Or “if my child will get cured, I will give $100/ sadaqah.”

Ask yourself this:

Will you NOT do shukr if you didn’t get that job?!

Will you NOT spend in the path of Allaah any more if your child is still sick?!

Will you NOT BE GRATEFUL to your Rabb, even if He *DIDN’T* give you what you wanted?!

Aren’t we supposed to be thankful and grateful to Him in ALL situations and under ALL  circumstances?

3. Another point to think about...

How do YOU KNOW whatever you’re asking Allaah for and ‘bargaining’ with Him for, is actually ‘good’ for you in the long term?

How do you know it’s not bad for you?

Aren’t we supposed to TRUST Allaah and KNOW and BELIEVE that whatever He does is GOOD for us?

Allaah says:

“But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allaah Knows, while you know not.” 

(Surah al-Baqarah:216)

Allaah is clearly telling us 

“Allaah Knows, while you know NOT.”

Maybe the thing you’re SO desperately after, may NOT be good for you after all. 

So trust Him and LEAVE it to Him. 

If it’s good for you, He will give it to you. 

And if you didn’t receive it, KNOW that it was NOT good for you, after all. 

So there’s NO NEED to resort to vows and mannats. 

If however someone does make an oath or vow, then they should fulfill it, UNLESS it’s a vow to do something sinful or against the Sharee’ah. 

In that case, they should NOT fulfill their vow. 

If someone does not fulfill their oath or mannat, they have to offer an expiation. 

The kaffarah or expiation of breaking an oath is called ‘kaffaratul yameen” in Arabic.  

Allaah says:

“Allaah will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation (a deliberate oath) feed ten Masaakeen (poor persons), on a scale of the average of that with which you feed your own families, or clothe them or manumit a slave. But whosoever cannot afford (that), then he should fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn. And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much).  Thus Allaah makes clear to you His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) that you may be grateful”

(Surah al-Maa’idah :89)

So Allaah has given us three choices:

Either 

1. Feed ten poor people. 

(Feed them what you would normally eat yourself)

OR 

2. Give clothes to ten poor people 

(Clothe each of the ten people with what you would normally wear and such clothing that is suitable for praying in)

OR

3. Free a believing slave. 

And if you CAN’T do any of three things, THEN you’re supposed to fast for three days. 

The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“It is not sufficient to fast when one is able to feed or clothe poor persons or free a slave, because Allaah stated that one should fast only if one is unable to feed or clothe poor persons or free a slave.” (Fataawa Al-Lajnah Al-Daa’imah Li’l-Ifta’, 23/13)

If you made the same oath over and over and broke it then you have to offer only ONE expiation. 

But if you made DIFFERENT oaths, and broke them, then you have to offer multiple expiations. 

The scholars said:

“It is sufficient for you to offer one expiation for all previous transgressions, if the vows all had to do with the same action...If the vows had to do with different actions then you have to offer one expiation for each action.” 

(Islamqa Fatwa #38934)

SOLUTION 

INSTEAD of making vows when we need something, we should just make DUAA to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala sincerely and with humility, OBEY Him to the best of our abilities and have GOOD HOPES with Him. 

SURELY He will respond.

After all, what ELSE is duaa for, if we can’t simply ASK our Rabb, the One Who gives us EVERYTHING, for our needs and wants? 

And WITHOUT resorting to these vows and mannats. 

Allaah says:

"And your Lord said: ‘Invoke Me [i.e. believes in My Oneness and asks Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation). 

Verily, those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!’” 

(Surah Ghaafir: 60)

So let us GIVE UP these bad habits of making vows in exchange for what we want and need. 

Stop trying to ‘bargain’ with Allaah. 

Simply spread out your hands and ASK. 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“Nothing can change the Divine decree except *Duaa*.” (Ahmad and others- hasan by al-Albaani)

And Allaah Knows Best