Question and Answer with Allamah Shaikh Zayd ibn Hadee al-Madkhalee during a Live telelink that took place on the 17 of December 2011 at Markaz as-Salafi, Manchester.
Translated by Abu Muaa’dh Taqweem Aslam (Graduate of Madinah University).
Recently, someone asked Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee (hafidhahullaah) : “How did the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) respond to someone giving (him) salams while he was praying?“
The Shaikh said the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to respond to the salaam – while engaged in prayer - by indicating with his hand without speaking.
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu ‘anhumma): I asked Bilaal (radiallaahu ‘anhu), “How did you observe the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) replying to their (the Companions’) salutation while he was engaged in prayer?” He (Bilaal) said: “He used to do this way,” and he (Bilaal) demonstrated by spreading his palm. [Reported by Abu Daa`ud and At-Tirmidhi. The latter graded it 'Sahih.']
This hadeeth is from the way of Hisham ibn Sa’d Al Madani who is disagreed upon, what is most correct is that he is dha’eef. However, the hadeeth has other narrations that make it authentic, as is the hadeeth of Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah in Saheeh Muslim Vol.4 P.195, Ma’ Sharh Nawawee.
Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) sent me on an errand. I (having done the business assigned to me came back and) joined him as he was going (on a ride). Qutaiba said that he was saying prayer while he rode. I greeted him. He gestured to me. When he completed the prayer, he called me and said: You greeted me just now while I was engaged in prayer. (Qutaiba said): His (Prophet’s face) was towards the east, as he was praying. [Saheeh Muslim, The Book of Prayer, N0.1100]
Its origin is in Bukharee without the wording, “fa ashara eelaih”. (Saheeh Al Bukharee #1217)
Benefits from this hadeeth:
1. The impermissibility of talking in the salaah.
2. The permissibility of greeting the one who is praying with karaha; this is the saying of Ahmad (rahimahullaah). And the Majority of the People of Knowledge said it is not Makrooh, as in Fathul Baree #1217. The saying of those who say it is Makrooh to greet the one who is praying is refuted because the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) did not prevent them (the sahaaba) from doing so, but rather, he taught the one who is praying how to respond by gesturing with the hands and the reply is not verbalized.
Translated by Rasheed ibn Estes Barbee Presented to you by Markaz Tawheed was-Sunnah in Durham, NC http://mtws.posterous.com
Shaykh Abdur Razzaq: Perhaps some of the people may be frequently immersed in various fields of knowledge, memorization, and studying; but they are negligent, especially concerning the Fajr prayer; they are very negligent concerning it.
If this is an obligation, a great obligation, and it is the greatest pillar of Islam after the two testimonies of faith, and the first affair the person will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment; the first affair the person will be questioned about is the prayer; if the person is negligent concerning it, (negligent concerning) this obligation, then where are the effects of knowledge?!
He misses the Fajr prayer?! While the Companions may Allah be pleased with them, as it has been narrated by ibn Masood, he said:
If a man missed Fajr prayer they would accuse him of hypocrisy. The heaviest prayers upon the hypocrites are the Fajr prayer and Isha prayer.
And during this time of ours, the era of staying awake throughout the night, many people miss the Fajr prayer, and many people pray it alone.
And perhaps some of them spend the night engaged in knowledge based discussions concerning various issues or subjects then he sleeps through Fajr prayer.
If a person spent the entire night with the Quran, memorizing it and reciting it; if this is at the cost of the Fajr prayer, then his staying awake is haram and it is not permissible for him, and he is sinning for staying awake throughout the night.
And the prayer which is neglected the most during this day and time is the greatest of all the prayers without exception. Do you know which prayer it is?
It appears in a hadith, and Shaykh Al Albani has declared it hasan in some of his books. The Prophet, prayers and peace are upon him said:
The best of all the prayers is the Fajr prayer on Friday, in congregation.
The Fajr prayer, on Friday, in congregation. Shaykh Al Albani declared it to be hasan with this wording.
The (Fajr prayer) on Friday in congregation is now the prayer which is neglected the most. And the Imaams of the Masjids will be asked about this.
This is because the night before Friday, is the night for relaxation, the night to stay awake. The people remain awake until late into the night then go to sleep late, and then they sleep through Fajr prayer.
And the best of them go to the Fajr prayer late, and in lazy fashion. He comes while his head is heavy with sleep, he is tired. Thus he does not perform this prayer as it is befitting.
And if he knows that the Imaam of that Masjid is going to recite Soorah Sajdah and Soorah Al Insaan, then he does not come until the end of the second rakat.
Where is the benefit of knowledge if he takes this position with the first thing he will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment?! As for the one who is negligent concerning it then he will be more negligent concerning other affairs.
On the authority of Abu Hurrairah (radiallaahu ‘anhu): The Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujaahid (fighter) who fights for Allaah’s cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day.
