635. Do WOMEN Have To Untie Their Hair For Salaah?

 By Asma bint Shameem 

Women *CAN* offer their prayers in a bun or ponytail etc. 

And there’s *nothing wrong with that. *

Although the hadeeth is authentic, it does NOT apply to women. 

Rather, it applies only to *MEN*.

You see men in those days usually had long hair. 

And the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam instructed the men to let their (long) hair prostrate with them when they go into sajdah. 

The hadeeth:

Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhumaa said that he saw ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Haarith praying, and his hair was braided and tied up at the back. 

He went and started to undo it. 

When he finished praying, he turned to Ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu and said: 

“What do you have to do with my hair?”

He said: 

“I heard the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam 

say: 

“The likeness of this one is that of a man who prays with his hands tied.”

(Muslim 492)

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“*This ruling APPLIES ONLY to MEN*, NOT WOMEN, because when praying the woman is commanded to cover herself and if we were to tell the woman to undo her hair when praying or let her braids prostrate with her, as we tell men to do, that might lead to it (her hair) becoming uncovered whilst praying, and it is not permissible to uncover it because it is ‘awrah. 

But the hair of a man is not ‘awrah, as is quite obvious.”

(Al-Liqa’ Al-Shahri 17)

And the statement of the scholars shows that they *understood clearly* the hadeeth *applies to MEN only*. 

And NOT women. 

They said:

“The fuqaha’ are unanimously agreed that it is makrooh to tie back the hair when praying. 

What is meant by tying back is wrapping the braid around the head *as women do*, or gathering the hair and tying it at the back of the head. 

This is makrooh but if a person (man) prays like that, his prayer is still valid.”

[al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah (26/109)]

It’s logical!

Just think about it....

The hair is part of the awrah of a woman and when she prays she must completely cover ALL her awrah, including the hair. 

If she were to “undo” her hair, then there’s a big chance that her hair would show from under her headcover, since women usually have long hair. 

So the hadeeth applies to MEN. 

And there’s nothing wrong with women tying their hair during prayer. 

And Allaah knows best

634. Got Distractions In Salaah? Then Do This

By Asma bint Shameem

When you get too distracted in Salaah and can’t seem to focus no matter how hard you try, then don’t worry. 

There is  a solution. 

One of the Sahaabah complained about the same thing to the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam. 

He said:

"The Shaytaan comes between me and my Salaah and causes me problems with my recitation." 

So the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

"That is a shaitan called *Khanzab*, so if you feel his presence, seek refuge in Allaah and spit drily (spittle) to your left three times." 

He  (the Sahaabi) said: "I applied this advice and Allaah has rid me of him." (Muslim)

Alhamdulillaah, what a beautiful Deen! 

It has a solution for every situation and every problem. 

So the next time you can’t concentrate in your Salaah, do the following:

1- Say Aoodhu billaahi min ash-Shaytaanir-Rajeem. 

2- Turn your head to the left and spit DRILY three times. 

3- Continue with your prayer. 

4- You can repeat this several  times as needed and in ANY position in the Salah. 

How do you spit drily?

Blow air out of your mouth in a manner that the minutest drops of saliva also come out with it. 

And Allaah knows best.

633. The Mercy Of The Most Merciful

By Asma bint Shameem 

The Mercy of the Most Merciful is boundless, unsurmountable, and BEYOND comprehension. 

And His Love for us is unimaginably profound. 

 Masud radhi Allaahu anhu said:

"A person may hope for some matter of trade or position of authority, until he is close to attaining it. 

Thereupon Allaah looks at him and says to His angels: "Divert it from him, for if he attains it I shall enter him into the Hellfire." 

Thus, Allaah diverts it from him and the slave of Allaah remains pessimistic, saying "So and so preceded me to it, So and so outwitted me," when in fact, it is a *FAVOR* from Allaah." (Ibn Rajab in Jami al-Ulum wal Hikam)

And Ibn al Qayyim said:

"The divine decree related to the believer is *ALWAYS* a bounty, _even_ if it is in the form of *withholding* (that which is desired), and it is a *blessing*, even if it appears to be a *trial*. 

And an *affliction* that has befallen him is in reality a *cure*, even though it appears to be a disease!

Unfortunately, due to the ignorance of the worshipper, and his transgressions, he does not consider anything to be a gift or a blessing or a cure unless he can enjoy it immediately, and it is in accordance with his nature. 

If he were only given a little bit of understanding, then he would have counted being *withheld* from as a *blessing*, and the *sickness* as a *mercy*, and he would *relish* the *trouble* that befalls him MORE than he relishes his *ease*, and he would *enjoy poverty* MORE than he enjoys *richness*, and he would be *more thankful* when he is blessed with *little* than when he is blessed with a *lot*." (Madaarij al-Salikeen 2/215-216)

And lastly, Sufyaan ath-Thawri said:

"Verily, when Allaah withholds, He actually *GIVES*, because He did not withhold on account of miserliness or stinginess, but rather He looked at the BENEFIT of the servant.

So the fact that He withheld is actually HIS CHOICE for the servant and His *excellent decision*."(Madaarij as-Salikeen 2/215)

Subhaan Allaah! 

The affliction is a *BLESSING*. 

The sickness is a *MERCY*. 

The problem is actually *RELIEF*. 

Allaah, ar-Raheem is actually  *blessing* us with every problem, every calamity. 

What a Merciful Master of such an ungrateful slave...

And yet we complain....?

فَبِاَىِّ اٰلَاۤءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِۙ‏

“So which of your Lord's favors will you then deny?”

632. Etiquette Of Naming A Child In Islaam

By Asma bint Shameem 

1. A child should be given a good name from the names of Muslims 

- the *best* of names are those that include “Abd” and added to one of the Names of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala 

For example:

The best names are:

Abdullaah or Abdur Rahmaan 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The most beloved of names to Allaah are ‘Abd-Allaah and ‘Abd al-Rahmaan.” 

[Saheeh Muslim 1398)]

Or we can use the word Abd with other Names of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala. 

Other good names include the names of Prophets, the Sahaabah and other righteous people. 

Besides these, ANY good Islaamic names that have good meanings may be given. 

2. Names of Angels?

As for naming your child with one of the names of the angels, there’s a difference of opinion among the scholars about that. 

Some of the scholars said that it is makrooh or disliked. 

And some of them said there’s nothing wrong with that. 

Ibn ul-Qayyim said:

“... and among them are the names of the angels such as Jibraa'eel and Meekaa'eel and Israafeel, it is makrooh to name human beings with these names. 

Ash'had said: 

“Imam Maalik was asked regarding naming someone the name Jibreel he abhorred it and it didn't please him;”

Judge 'ayaad said: "... and others allowed it." 

Abdul-Razzak said in al-Jaami' via Ma'mar: 

"I said to Hammaad ibn Abi Sulaiman what would you say regarding a man whose name is Jibreel or Mikaa'eel, and he responded, 

'There is no objection.' (laa ba's bi-hi)"

(Tuhfat il-Mawdood fi Ahkaam il-Mawlood)

Ibn Katheer said:

“The meaning of Jibreel is Abdullaah and likewise Mikaa'eel.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, aayaat 97-98/Surat il-Baqarah)

The better option would be to avoid naming your child with the names of Angels if you want to be on the safe side. 

3. Makrooh or disliked names 

It is makrooh or disliked to name your child after immoral people or names that have provocative meanings, etc

4. Self-praising names 

Similarly it is makrooh to name your child names that are names of 

“self-righteousness” and “too much praise”. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam *discouraged* the use of such names. 

For example:

Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Ata’ said: 

“I called my daughter Barrah, but Zaynab bint Abi Salamah told me that the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam had forbidden this name. 

(She said) I was given this name, but the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“Do not praise yourselves, for Allaah knows best who among you is righteous.” 

They said: 

What should we call her? 

He said: “Call her Zaynab.” 

[Saheeh Muslim (2142)]

And Samurah ibn Jundub radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

The Messenger of Allaah radhi Allaahu anhu forbade us to give our slaves four names: Aflah (prosperous), Rabaah (profit), Yasaar (wealth) and Naafi‘ (beneficial).”

(Saheeh Muslim 2136)

Imaam Al-Nawawi said: 

“What these hadeeths mean is that bad or disliked names should be changed to good ones and there are hadeeths which prove that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam 

changed the names of many of the Sahaabah, and he explained the reason in two cases: 

where it has to do with the meaning, and where it implies self praise or the fear that the name may be used in a wrong context.”

(Sharh Muslim)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“With regard to Bayaan, I do not think that this should be given as a name. 

The same applies to the name Imaan (meaning faith), because it has an element of self-praise. 

The same applies to the name Abraar (meaning righteous).”

(Liqaa’aat al-Baab al-Maftooh, no. 16/question no. 26)

5. When to name the baby?

It’s recommended to name the baby on the seventh day when he/she should also have the Aqeeqah done and his head shaved. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said;

“Every child is in pledge for his ‘aqeeqah, which should be slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day, when he should be named and his head shaved.” 

(al-Tirmidhi, 1522; Abu Dawood, 3838; saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 1165)

But if the baby is named earlier or later than that, then that’s also permissible. 

Someone asked Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin Al-Abbaad:

“The one who slaughters the animal for the Aqeeqah before the seventh day, does it count for him?”

The Shaykh said:

“What is apparent is that it counts for him because slaughtering on the seventh day is not obligatory, but only recommended”.

[Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood no. 334]

And the scholars also said:

“If the child is named or the ‘aqeeqah slaughtered on a day other than the seventh, there is nothing wrong with that, or with slaughtering the ‘aqeeqah on one day and shaving the child’s head on a different day.” 

(Islamqa Fatwa # 20646)

And Allaah knows best