Saturday 9 Sept 2017
Chapter of Prayer: The Eclipse Prayer
- Brief recap of previous Lesson
- The Eclipse prayer: why is it prayed?
- The occurrence of an eclipse is a great sign from Allah
- Verse regarding the sun and the moon [Chapter Yunus: 5]
- Verse about how day and night as well as the sun and moon are all signs from Allah, and that we should worship him as he is the sole creator. “” [Chapter Fussilat: 37]
- The eclipse prayer is highly recommended (Sunnah Mu’akkadah)
- The eclipse occurred during the time of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), narration
- Prior to Islam, it was believed the eclipses occur when someone important is born or dies, however the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) clarified to the people that this isn’t the case, but that the purpose instead is for it to be among the great signs of Allah
- Hadith of the solar eclipse that occurred when the prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) son Ibrahim died (note: all the prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) children died before him except Fatima), and the people began to say the above and he instead told them that eclipses don’t occur for these reasons, and that they (eclipses) should be recognised as a great sign of Allah
- An eclipse is a magnificent sign
- Hadith of Abu Musaa (in Bukhari) that the sign of the eclipse should bring someone to remember Allah, invoking him and seek his forgiveness
- Timing:
- When do you start praying? [=when the eclipse starts]
- When do you stop? []
- Can you still pray after the eclipse has gone? [=no]
- Is there sin upon someone for missing it? [no]
- How is it prayed?
- Two rak’ah (units)
- To read out loud
- In the first rak’ah, begin with the Fatiha, then to recite a long chapter of the Quran
- Then the rukuu’ (bowing) which should be made long
- Then to raise one’s head and stand up straight (saying tasmii and tahmid) as usual
- Then to recite the Fatiha and another chapter of the Quran again
- The to bow (rukuu’) for a prolonged time
- Then to raise one’s head and stand up straight (saying tasmii and tahmid) as usual
- The to do sujuud (prostration), making it long. Then sit as usual (not making it long), and prostrate again for a prolonged time.
- Then to stand up for second rak’ah and pray it as you prayed the first.
- Then to end the prayer with tashahud and taslim, as usual
- Should it be prayed together in congregation? [=better to do it in congregation but it is possible to pray by oneself]
- After the prayer has finished and the eclipse has ended, the Imam should give a reminder to the people, for example about the significance of this sign, and not to be negligent or waste one’s life and instead to use it to worship our creator and make supplication to him [relevant hadith of Aisha radhiallaahu anhaa)
- Shaykh ul-Islam Ibnu Taymiyyah mentioned that if the eclipse is progressing quickly to make the length of the prayer roughly the length of the eclipse
Chapter of Prayer: The Rain (istisqaa) Prayer
- The rain prayer is another superogatory prayer
- It is done in times of drought or when water is scarce, dua (supplication) is made to Allah to send rain
- Quran mentions the story of Musaa (Moses) about when his people were in need of rain, and he made supplication
- When to pray it:
- When there is a shortage of rainfall or drought
- The rain prayer can be prayer independently or in congregation
- The Imam should make khutbah with a supplication afterwards
- After the obligatory prayers supplication, can also be made
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) made dua, faced the Qiblah, alternated his garment [Bukhari and Muslim]
- How is it prayed:
- Same as the Eid Prayer
- Two rak’ah
- Should be prayed outside and preferably not inside (however if not possible outside then it can be prayed inside)
- The rain prayer first, then the sermon after
- At the start, to make takbeer up to 7 (seven) times in the first rak’ah [this number is one common opinion]
- In the first rak’ah chapter 87 -Most High should be recited
- Up to 6 takbeer in the second rak’ah
- In the second rak’ah Chapter 88 – The Overwhelming should be recited
- The Imam may remind the people to remind the people to seek forgiveness for their sins for it may be that the drought or lack of rain is a consequence of our sins
- During the Sermon, likewise the Imam can remind the people to seek forgiveness for their shortcomings and to recite verses to that effect
- Narration about when a Bedouin came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to ask for him to pray for rain
- Narration that after the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had passed away that the companions used to ask Abbas (the prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) uncle)
Chapter of Prayer: The Funeral (Janaazah) Prayer
- The funeral prayer is a Fard Kifaayah, i.e. when a Muslim dies, as long as some of the Muslims of that community came to pray the funeral prayer then it removes the obligation for the rest, however if no one prayed
- Islam covers the life of a Muslim, from the start until even after death (e.g. even after one’s death there is guidance ion what the Muslims must do for him/her)
- Ibn Qayyim says
- It is recommended to encourage the dying person to make the testimony of faith, even if it is just you saying it yourself next to them to be a reminder. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) reminded his uncle as well as a Jewish boy who used to help him regarding the shahaadah. This shows that even a non-Muslim should be encouraged to accept Islam if nearing death.
- After death, a Muslim should be washed and shrouded
- The grave should be dug in a certain way
- The Grave should face the Qiblah
- Brief reminder about death:
- You should remember death often (it is the destroyer of desires, it prevents from chasing the world and reminds you of your hereafter)
- When someone is in their final moments, one should remain patient (mentioned in the Quran often), do not become despondent and hopeless. It is not wrong to inform those close that one is in their final moments. Using medicines which are available are not a negation of one’s trust in Allah, as long as they are halal derived. One should not use charms, lucky charms, bracelets or other superstitions as these negate the trust in Allah, you should put your trust in Allah alone.
- It is prescribed to visit the ill, one narration mentions that one of the RIGHTS of a Muslim upon another Muslim is to visit them when they are ill.
- Q&A:
- How often should the rain prayer be prayed?
- What types of medicines can be used in the final moments?
- Is organ donation permissible in Islam?
- Is pain relief allowed in cases like final moments?
Next Week Insha Allah: The Funeral Prayer continued (e.g. How is it prayed?)