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Q. 1. Dear Maulana, your lecture on June 6, 1997 at MCA, increased our knowledge and Iman. May Allah give you great reward Ameen! I would like to thank you for visiting MCA Santa Clara. Dear Maulana, we need your Fatwa on the following three Fiqhi issues :

1) The time of Salah al-Zuhr (what is the beginning, the end of the Zuhr time and what is the definition of Zawal?)

2) The Qiblah’s direction (Should the Qiblah be identified by the strict directions West, East, North and South only? Are otherdirections such as north-east and south-west also considered? should the shortest direction to Makkah be considered as a reference to define Qiblah?)  Read more... (1996 words, estimated 7:59 mins reading time)

Hadrat Abu Hurairah (Radi Allaahu Ta’ala Anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: “It is the duty of every Muslim to take bath once a week (i.e. on Friday), washing his head and body.” [Bukhari, Muslim, Marif -ul- Hadis]

Hadrat Samura bin Jundab (Radi Allaahu Ta’ala Anha) narrated that the Messenger of ALLAH said: If any one performs ablution on Friday, well and good; but if any one takes bath, bathing is more excellent. [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmizi, Marif -ul- Hadis]  Read more... (162 words, estimated 39 secs reading time)

Today you are to perform the most important fundamental of Hajj, without which Hajj does not stand performed. Today, when the sun rises a bit high you are to set out for Arafat from Mina. Outside the precincts of Haram and at a distance of 9 miles from Mecca, Arafat is that great open field where the Holy Prophet Hazrat Adam and Hazrat Hawwa were mutually acquainted and met together after their separation. This very acquaintance (ma’rifa or t’aruf) is said to be the root of the name of Arafat.  Read more... (296 words, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)

(بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم)

With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful.

إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ (1)

[81:1] When the sun will be folded up,

وَإِذَا النُّجُومُ انكَدَرَتْ (2)

[81:2] and when the stars will swoop down,

وَإِذَا الْجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتْ (3)

[81:3] and when the mountains will be set in motion,

وَإِذَا الْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ (4)

[81:4] and when the ten-months pregnant she-camels will be abandoned,

وَإِذَا الْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ (5)

[81:5] and when the wild beasts will be gathered together,

وَإِذَا الْبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتْ (6)

[81:6] and when the seas will be flared up,

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful.

وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا (1)

[91:1] I swear by the sun and his broad light,

وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلاهَا (2)

[91:2] and by the moon when she follows him,

وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا جَلاَّهَا (3)

[91:3] and by the day when it shows his brightness,

وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَاهَا (4)

[91:4] and by the night when it envelops him,

وَالسَّمَاءِ وَمَا بَنَاهَا (5)  Read more... (265 words, estimated 1:04 mins reading time)

(1) It is Mustahab to hasten with Iftar (breaking the fast) as soon as the sun has set.

(2) Iftar should be made before the Maghrib Salat.

(3) The Muath-thin should make Iftar before proclaiming the Athan.

(4) At the time of Iftar it is Sunnat to recite the following dua:

“Allahuma inni laka sumtu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu”.

“O Allah! for thy sake I have fasted and now I break the fast with the food that comes from thee.”

 Read more... (191 words, estimated 46 secs reading time)

In abnormal time zones where the sun either does not rise or set for months, the times of the nearest normal region should be taken for beginning and ending the Saum.

It is mustahab (preferable, praiseworthy) for men to perform fajr when there is more brightness in the sky. For women it is mustahab when it is not yet bright.

In summer zuhr salaat should be performed at a time when the day is cooler, and should be hasten in winter, except when it is overcast.

It is permissible to delay the asr as long as the sun does not change color (becomes yellow). To delay more than this is highly disliked. In overcast conditions asr should be hastened.

Maghrib should also be hastened except when overcast.  Read more... (152 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)

Some things, while not breaking the fast, are nevertheless Makrooh to do during fasting. Makrooh means detestable and in this context Makrooh things are sinful. Makrooh things bring about a decrease in the thawab of the Saum. It is, therefore, essential to abstain from committing Makrooh acts. The following acts are Makrooh during fasting:

(1) Tasting. Tasting food, etc. is Makrooh if done unnecessarily. If an ill-tempered husband shows his unjustified wrath when food has not been prepared to satisfy his taste, it will be permissible for the wife to taste the food while she is preparing it. As long as nothing goes down her throat, her fast will be valid and her act of tasting will not be makrooh.  Read more... (345 words, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful.

وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى (1)

[92:1] I swear by the night when it covers (the sun),

وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى (2)

[92:2] and by the day when it unveils itself,

وَمَا خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالأُنْثَى (3)

[92:3] and by the One who created the male and the female,

إِنَّ سَعْيَكُمْ لَشَتَّى (4)

 Read more... (338 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)