Q AND A
Q. When reciting the short Dua after Fardh Salaat, should the hands be raised?
A. The short Dua after Fardh is recited with hands raised. Q. I have been told that Tahajjud Sa- laat consists of 11 raka’ts. Is this cor- rect? A. Tahajjud Salaat is from 2 raka’ts to 12 raka’ts. You may perform any number of raka’ts. It is incorrect to say that Tahajjud is 11 raka’ts.
Q. Some musallis after the Fardh Salaat immediately get up and walk out of the saff. They don’t wait until the Imaam has completed the Dua. Is this not disrespectful?
A. It is not disrespectful for anyone to walk out of the Saff whilst the Imaam is making Dua. After the Imaam’s Salaam, everyone is free to move away. In fact, the musallis en- gaging in long duas after the Fardh Salaat are inconveniencing those who wish to move to the back to perform their Sunnat and Nafl Salaat. Whilst Salafis do not make dua at all, we make a short Dua after the Fardh of Zuhr, Maghrib and Isha. After the Fardh Salaat, the musallis should re- main seated for the duration of the short Allaahumma antas salaam dua. Thereafter they are free to leave the saff.
Q. Is there a special Dua to recite when occupying a new house?
A. There is no special Surah/Dua to recite when taking occupation of a new house. Recite the usual Masnoon Dua when entering the apartment. You could perform two raka’ts Salaat there and make dua for aafiyah and for protection against the evil of the house. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had mentioned that there can be evil in a house.
Q. What are the permissible methods for physical fitness?
A. Swimming, physical exercise, martial arts, running, walking, not filling the stomach with food, abstaining from eating processed foods laced with chemical ingredients, abstaining from eating the halaalized carrion, diseased chickens. abstention f r om s i n a n d a bundanc e of Thikrullaah are the Muslim’s way for achieving physical as well as spiritual fitness.
Q. The social security in the country gives me (the mother) a monthly grant for my orphaned children. Am I permitted to use of the money?
A. If the social security gives the money specifically for the children, then you have to use it only for them. The money will be an amaanat in your possession.
Q. When should the latecomer stand to complete his missed raka’ts?
A. The Masbooq (the one who has missed a raka’t or more) should wait at least until he is sure that there will be no Sajdah Sahw (Prostration for any error). He should stand up when the Imaam begins to make his second Salaam.
Q. If the Imaam’s Salaat is for some reason not valid, will the Salaat of the muqtadis too be invalid? Is the ruling the same in the Hanafi and Shaafi’ Math-habs?
A. Whenever the Salaat of the Imaam is invalid, the Salaat of the entire Jamaat is also invalid. This is in terms of the Hanafi Math-hab. According to the Shaafi’ Math-hab, the Salaat of the muqtadis (followers) will be valid.
Q. What is the Iddat of a woman in a Khula’ separation?
A. The iddat of Khula’ is the same as the iddat for Talaaq which consists of three haidh (menses) periods, and if the woman is pregnant, then until delivery of the babe.
