FASTING BY A TRAVELLER.

1. A traveler for whom it is obligatory to shorten a four rak’ats prayers to two rak’ats,  should not fast. However, a traveler who offers full prayers, like, a person who is a traveler by profession or who goes on a journey for a haraam purpose, should fast while traveling.
2. If a person does not know that the fast of a traveler is invalid and observes fast while journeying, and learns about the rule during the day, his fast becomes void, but if he does not learn about the rule till maghrib, his fast is valid.
3. If a person forgets that he is a traveler or forgets that the fast of a traveler is void, and observes fast while journeying, his fast is invalid.
4. If a fasting person travels after zuhr, he should, as a precaution, complete his fast.
5. If a fasting person travels before zuhr and had an intention from the previous night to do so, he cannot fast on that day. As a precaution, he cannot fast on that day even if he had no intention to travel from the previous night. In both the cases, he cannot break the fast till he has reached the limit of tarakkhus. If he does, he will be liable to give kaffarah. Note: Masaels relating to the limit of tarakkhus can be obtained from your Resident Aalim or refer to Taudhihul Masael book in the section of Prayers of a traveler.)
6. If a traveler reaches his hometown or a place where he intends to stay for ten days or more before zuhr, and if he has not committed an act which invalidates a fast, he should fast on that day. But if he reaches after zuhr, he cannot fast on that day.

CONTEMPORARY RULINGS.
Q. What about one whose duty is to fast while traveling. After dawn has appeared in his city, he
travels by air with the intention to fast. He arrives in another city where the dawn has not yet
emerged. Is he permitted to eat, drink, etc.?
A. Apparently, it is permissible.

Q. What about one who travels from his city in the month of Ramadhan after noon and arrives in
a city where the sun has not begun its descent. Is it obligatory for him to abstain (from things
that break the fast) and complete his fast?
A. That is a better precaution.

Q. If a fasting person in the month of Ramadhan travels by air in a westenrly direction after maghrib --
without breaking (iftar) his fast in his city -- and arrives at a place where the sun has not yet set, is
it obligatory for him to abstain from things (that break the fast) until maghrib?
A. Apparently, it is not obligatory although it is a better precaution.

Q. What about one whose duty is to fast while traveling. If he travels from his city, in which the
crescent of Ramadhan has been seen, to a city where the crescent has not yet been seen
because of a variation in their horizon?
A. He is not obliged to fast on that day.

Q. What if he observes the Eid in a city in which the crescent of Shawwal has been seen, and then
travels to a city where the crescent has not been seen due to a variation in their horizon?
A. It is a better precaution for him to abstain (from things that break the fast) for the rest of the day
and, also, to observe its qadha.

NOTE: RELEVANT DETAILS OF THINGS OR ACTS WHICH ARE MAKROOH/MUSTAHAB FOR A PERSON OBSERVING FAST, QADHA FASTS, KAFFARA, ETC. CAN BE OBTAINED
FROM YOUR RESIDENT AALIM OR REFER TO THE ISLAMIC LAWS BOOK.

THINGS WHICH MAKES A FAST VOID

There are nine acts which invalidate fasts:
(i) Eating and drinking.
(ii) Sexual intercourse.
(iii) Masturbation (istimna) which means self abuse, resulting in ejaculation.
(iv) Ascribing false things to Almighty Allah, or His Prophet or to the successors of the Holy Prophet.
(v) Swallowing thick dust.
(vi) Immersing one’s head completely in water.
(vii) Remaining in Janabat or Haidh or Nifas till the Adhan for Fajr prayers.
(viii) Enema with liquids.
(ix) Vomiting.

Details of these acts will be explained in the following articles:

(i) EATING AND DRINKING. 

• If a person eats or drinks something intentionally, while being conscious of fasting, his fast becomes void, irrespective of whether the thing which he ate or drank was usually eaten or drunk and it is more or less; even if a person, who is fasting, takes the tooth brush out of his mouth and then puts it back into his mouth, swallowing its liquid, his fast will be void, unless the moisture in the tooth brush mixes up with the saliva in such a way that it may no longer be called an external wetness.
• If a person who is fasting eats or drinks something forgetfully, his fast does not become invalid but the moment he realizes he should immediately throw out the food or drink from his mouth.
• If a person observing fast intentionally swallows something which remained in between his teeth, his fast will be invalidated. Note: If a person knows that some particles of food which have remained in between his teeth, will go down into his stomach during the day, then he must clean his teeth with toothpick.
• Swallowing saliva does not invalidate a fast, although it may have collected in one’s mouth owing to thoughts about sour things, etc..
• There is no harm in swallowing one’s phlegm or mucous from head and chest as long as it does not come up to one’s mouth. However, if it reaches one’s mouth, the obligatory precaution is that one should not swallow it.

(ii) SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.

• Sexual intercourse invalidates the fast, even if the penetration is as little as the tip of the male organ, and even if there has been no ejaculation.
• A person who indulges in courtship with an intention to allow semen to be discharged will complete his fast and also observe its qadha, even if semen is not discharged.
• If a fasting person indulges in courtship without the intention of allowing semen to be discharged, his fast is in order, even if semen may be discharged unexpectedly. However, if he is not sure about the discharge and it takes place, then his fast is void.

(iii) ISTIMNA (MASTURBATION).

• If a person, who is observing fast, performs masturbation, his fast becomes void. 
• If a person involves himself in masturbation with the intention of allowing semen to be discharged, even if he does not discharge, his fast will be void.
• If semen is discharged from the body of a person involuntarily, his fast does not become void.

(iv) ASCRIBING LIES TO ALLAH, HIS PROPHET AND TO THE SUCCESSORS OF THE HOLY PROPHET.

• If a person who is observing fast, intentionally ascribes something false to Allah, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) or his vicegerents (a.s.), verbally or in writing or by making a sign, his fast becomes void, even if he may at once retract and say that he has uttered a lie or may repent for it. And, as a recommended precaution, he should refrain from imputing lies to Bibi Fatema Zahra (a.s.) and all the Prophets and their successors.
• If a person quotes something as the word of Allah or of the Holy Prophet with the belief that it is true, but realizes later that it is false, his fast does not become void.

(v) LETTING DUST REACH ONE’S THROAT.

• On the basis of obligatory precaution, allowing thick dust to reach one’s throat makes one’s fast void, whether the dust is of something which is halal to eat, like flour, or something which is haraam to consume like dust or earth.
• Allowing thin dust to reach one’s throat will not invalidate the fast.
• As an obligatory precaution, a person who is observing fast, should not allow the smoke of cigarettes, tobacco, and other similar things to reach his throat.

(vi) IMMERSING ONE’S HEAD IN WATER.

• If a person intentionally immerses his entire head in the water, his fast is known to be void, even if the rest of his body remains out of water. But this act does not invalidate the fast; it is a makrooh act, and as a measure of precaution, should be avoided.
• If a fasting person immerses his head under water with the niyyat of ghusl, both his fast and ghusl will be in order.

(vii) REMAINING IN JANABAT OR HAIDH OR NIFAS TILL FAJR TIME.

• If a person in janabat does not take ghusl intentionally till the time of fajr prayers, his/her fast becomes void. And if a person, whose obligation is to do tayammum,willfully does not do it, his/her fast will also be void.
• If a person enters the state of janabat during a night in the month of Ramadhan, and does not take ghusl intentionally till the time left before Adhan is short, he/she should perform tayammum and observe the fast. However, it is a recommended precaution that its qadha is also given.
• If a person is in janabat during a night in Ramadhan and knows that if he goes to sleep he will not wake up till fajr, he should not sleep before performing ghusl and if he sleeps without performing ghusl and does not wake up till fajr, his fast is void, and qadha and kaffarah become obligatory on him.
• When a person in janabat goes to sleep in a night of Ramadhan and then wakes up, the obligatory precaution is that if he is not sure about waking up again, he should not go to sleep before performing ghusl, even if he has a faint hope that he might wake up before fajr if he sleeps again.
• If a person in janabat in the night of Ramadhan feels certain or fairly hopeful that if he goes to sleep he will wake up before the time of fajr prayers, and is determined to do ghusl upon waking up, and oversleeps with that determination till the time of fajr prayers, his fast will be in order.
• If a person in janabat sleeps and wakes up during a night of Ramadhan and is certain or fairly hopeful that if he sleeps again, he will wake up before the time of fajr prayers, with full determination to do ghusl after waking up, and oversleeps till the time of fajr, he should observe the qadha of the fast of that day. And if he goes to sleep for the third time and does not wake up till the time of fajr prayers, it is obligatory on him to observe the qadha as well as give the kaffarah, as a recommended precaution.
• When a person becomes mohtalim during sleep, the first, second and third sleep means the sleep after waking up; and the sleep in which he became mohtalim will not be reckoned to be the first sleep.
• If a person observing fast becomes mohtalim during day time, it is not obligatory on him to do ghusl at once.
• When a person wakes up in the month of Ramadhan after the fajr prayers and finds that he has become mohtalim his fast is in order, even if he knows that he became mohtalim before the fajr prayers.
• If a person whose obligation is tayammum after getting into the state of janabat, after performing tayammum it is not necessary for him/her to stay awake till the time of fajr prayers.
• A person who has touched a dead body can observe fast without having done ghusl for touching a dead body, and his fast does not become void even if he touches the dead body during the fast.

FOR WOMEN ONLY

• If a woman becomes paak from haidh or nifas before the time of fajr prayers in the month of Ramadhan and does not do ghusl - or in the case of time being short, tayammum - intentionally, her fast will be void.
• If a woman becomes paak from haidh or nifas just near the time of fajr prayers in the month of Ramadhan, and has no time left for ghusl or tayammum, her fast is valid.
• If a woman gets paak from haidh or nifas after the fajr or if haidh or nifas begins during the day,  though just near the maghrib time, her fast is void.
• If a woman forgets to do ghusl for haidh or nifas and remembers it after a day or more, the fasts that she has observed will be valid.
• If a woman is in a sate of medium or excessive istihadha, her fast will be valid even if she does not carry out the rules of ghusls she is normally required to undertake when she is in the state of medium or excessive istihadha.

(viii) ENEMA. 

• If liquid enema is taken by a fasting person, his fast becomes void even if he/she is obliged to take it for the sake of treatment.

(ix) VOMITING.

• If a fasting person vomits intentionally his fast becomes void, though he may have been obliged to do so on account of sickness. However, the fast does not become void, if one vomits  forgetfully or involuntarily.
• If a fasting person is certain that if he belches, something will come out from the throat, he should not, as a precaution, belch intentionally, but there is no harm in his belching if he is not certain about it.
• If a fasting person belches and something comes from his throat into the mouth, he should throw it out, and if it is swallowed unintentionally, his fast is in order.

NIYYAT FOR FASTING.

1. Fasting means that a person must, in obedience to the commands of Allah, from the time of adhan for fajr prayers up to the time of adhan for maghrib prayers, avoid nine things which will be mentioned later.
2. It is not necessary for a person to pass the niyyat for fasting through his mind or to say that he would be fasting on the following day. In fact, it is sufficient for him to decide that in obedience to the command of Allah he will not perform from the time of adhan for fajr prayers up to the time of adhan for maghrib prayers, any act which may invalidate the fast. And in order to ensure that he has been fasting throughout this time he should begin abstaining earlier than the time of adhan for fajr prayers, and continue to refrain for some time after the adhan for maghrib prayers from acts which invalidate a fast.
3. A person can make niyyat every night of the holy month of Ramadhan that he would be fasting on the following day, and it is better to make niyyat on the first night of Ramadhan that he would fast throughout that month.
4. The last time for making niyyat to observe a fast of Ramadhan for a conscious person, is moments before the time of adhan for fajr prayers.
5. If a person sleeps before the time for fajr prayers in Ramadhan without making a niyyat, and wakes up before zuhr to make a niyyat of fast, his fast will be in order. But if he wakes up after Zuhr, as a precaution, he should continue with the abstinence with the niyyat of qurbat and then give its qadha’ also.
6. If a person makes a niyyat before the time of Adhan for Fajr prayers to observe a fast, and then goes to sleep, and wakes up after Maghrib his fast is in order.
7. If a child reaches the age of puberty before the time of adhan for fajr prayers in the month of Ramadhan he/she should keep fast, and if he/she reaches the age puberty after the adhan for fajr prayers, the fast on that day is not obligatory for him/her.
8. If a patient recovers from his illness before zuhr in the month of Ramadhan, and if he has not done anything to invalidate the fast, he should make niyyat and fast. But if he recovers after zuhr, it will not be obligatory on him to fast on that day.
9. If one doubts whether it is the last day of Sha’baan or the first day of Ramadhan then the fast on that day is not obligatory. However, if one wants to fast on that day, it is better to observe the fast with the intention of qadha fast or some other fast, and if it is known later that it was Ramadhan then it will automatically be Ramadhan fast. And if he learns on the same day before maghrib that it is the first day of Ramadhan, then he should convert the intention to the Ramadhan fast.
10. If somebody is undecided in his niyyat whether to break the fast or not, or decides to do so, immediately his fast becomes invalid even if he does not actually break it or is repentant of his intention.

According to FATAWA of Ayatullah Al-Uzma Seyyid Ali-Husaini Seestani

PEOPLE ON WHOM FASTING IS NOT OBLIGATORY DURING THE MONTH OF RAMADHAN.

1. A person who cannot fast because of old age, or for whom fasting causes extreme hardship.But in the latter case, he should give one mudd (¾ kg. [750 gms.] of food-stuff, like, wheat or barley or bread, etc.) to a poor person for every fast. However, if he becomes capable of fasting later, he should, on the basis of recommended precaution, give the qadha’ .
2. A person who suffers from a disease which causes excessive thirst, making it unbearable, or full of hardship. But in the latter case, that is, hardship, he should give one mudd of food to a poor person for every fast. At the same time, as a recommended precaution, such a person may not drink water in a quantity more than essential. If he recovers later, enabling him to fast, then as a recommended precaution, he should give qadha’. Note: A person cannot abandon fast on account of weakness unless it is to such an extent that fasting becomes totally unbearable.
3. A woman who is in advanced stage of pregnancy, for whom fasting is harmful or for the child she carries. For every day, however, she should give one mudd of food to poor. In both the cases, she has to give qadha’ for the fasts left out.
4. If a woman is suckling a child and the quantity of her milk is small, and if fasting is harmful to her or to the child. But she will give one mudd of food per day to poor. In both the cases, she will later give qadha’ for the fasts left out. Note: This rule is specifically applicable in a circumstance where this is the only way of feeding milk to the child (as an obligatory precaution).
5. A woman who is in the state of Haidh or Nifas. She has to give qadha’ for the fasts left out.
6. If a person knows that fasting is not harmful to him, he should fast even if his doctor advises him that it is harmful. And if a person is certain or has a strong feeling that fasting is harmful to him, he should not fast even if the doctor advises for it. He/she is required to give qadha’ for the fasts left out. Note: If a person, without any shari’i reason does not observe qadha of the fasts left out during Mahe Ramadhan till next Ramadhan, then in addition to offering the qadha of the fasts he/she left , on the basis of obligatory precaution, he/she will give one mudd of food to poor for each fast left out.

(According to FATAWA of Ayatullah Al-Uzma Seyyid Ali-Husaini Seestani

The Honeybees’ Superior Architectural Abilities

When it comes to making contiguous hexagons with an exact angle of 109 degrees and 28 minutes, one would need compasses and set squares to produce the various angular measurements and regularity necessary for devising the angles that determine these shapes. In the absence of such tools, there is both a considerable likelihood of error as well as the need to make various adjustments and redraw some of the hexagons. All of this would probably take a considerable amount of time. While this is a difficult matter for human beings, who possess reason and consciousness the same task is carried out by honeybees, who possess no reason or consciousness, in a perfect and continuous manner without any compasses or set squares. All honeybees build their combs using this flawless angle. Although there are hundreds of bees around the hive, there is no deviation from the angles of 109 degrees and 28 minutes and 70 degrees and 32 minutes when building their honeycombs. The combs are built by bringing in their edges by 13 degrees, which prevents the honey from pouring out.

If you stand close to a honeycomb, all you will see is honeybees flying around it. Yet every one of them is also an expert mathematician that knows where to stick the wax it is carrying and at what angle. How is this possible? Given that they possess no mathematical knowledge, did they learn to build these perfect combs by chance? Could each one of them, over the course of millions of years, have been born with this ability by chance, an ability that human beings never managed to acquire by chance? It is certainly impossible for a bee to possess an ability that human beings do not as the result of chance. It is Almighty Allah, the infinitely powerful, Who creates these creatures together with their superior abilities and Who inspires His own knowledge within them.

Your Lord revealed to the honeybees: “Build dwellings in the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy for you to follow.” From inside them comes a drink of varying colors, containing healing for humanity. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect. (Surat al-Nahl, 68-69)

An Interview With Shaitan PART 4

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan, since you know so much about Islam and its followers, why don't you ask Allah for forgiveness?
Comment by maulana Sadiq Hasan: Here Shaitan the cursed one gave a true Satanic answer. He recited five Ayath from our Holy Quran and gave answer. Since we are not so much interested in why Shaitan is not asking for his forgiveness, and we are interested in why we don't ask for forgiveness, I will skip the details of his answer.
Shaitan-the cursed one:
O Prophet of Allah, Allah does not want me to ask forgiveness. What can I do? (Here Shaitan used the illogical proof from Holy Quran. However, you will find some Muslims using such proves in defending themselves. Such as they argue that Allah does not call me to perform Hajj or to offer prayers.)

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan, I heard that sometimes you feel that as somebody threw a heavy stone on your head which breaks your head in several pieces?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
O Prophet of Allah, yes it is true, Whenever your followers truly ask Allah for true repentance, I feel like that.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
I heard that sometimes you feel like someone is slapping you?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Yes, when your follower recite Quran with right pronounciation.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
When do you get to the bottom part of Hell?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
When your follower performs a good deed towards their parents or towards their family members.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
I heard that sometimes your whole body gets pain?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
Yes, when your follower pay in charity without showing off.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
I heard that sometimes you feel that someone is whipping you?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
That person who does not business with deceiving people.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
When do you get hurt the most?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
When your followers remember Allah during their hours of day and night.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
With whom do you fear the most?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
I fear those one who recite salat (prayers) in the first row of jamat.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Which people among my followers you have choosen them to be your
permanent soldiers?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Any of your follower who used any type of intoxicating beaverages.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Which person makes you laugh?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
That person who encourages other to commit sins. (Example : A person who invites people to a party in which namehram men and women mixes without observing proper Hijaab.)

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
With whom do you speak the most?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
A person who lies the most.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Who is the most pleasing to you?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Any man who gives divorce to an innocent women.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Do you have any more hands?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Yes, that person who delays in offering his obligatory prayers.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan where do you stay the most?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
A place where Na-Mehram men and women get together without any separation or observing Hijaab, that is my place to stay.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Where do you meet people?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Bazaars (shopping mails). I try to make buyers deceive sellers and sellers deceive buyers. I try to make men do their business with women and women to do business with men. I try to make people do all types of sins in Bazaars (shopping mails).

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
What do you read?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
I read songs.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
What is your way of calling people towards committing sins?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Music and songs. Whenever your follower listens to music he / she comes towards me.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
What is your book?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
My books are playing cards.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Who is your helper?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Any person who gives losses to Muslims.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
What do you eat?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
I eat everything which is earned by forbidden ways of earnings or by not paying the Khums.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
What do you drink?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
I drink Alcohol.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
What is your dessert (any sweet thing eaten after food)?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Gheebat (back-biting).

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Do you have any desires?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Every false commitment is my desire.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Are you thankful for anything?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Yes, I am thankful to those men and women who indulge in sins after asking Allah for forgiveness.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Do you relax?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Yes, when your followers misses Fajr (morning) prayers.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Do you get any rewards from my followers?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Yes, whenever, your followers break their relationships with their relatives or neighbours.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Do you have any companions?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Yes, that person who have sex with his wife without saying "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" ( Here sex reffers to Allowed Intercourse, ZINAA - UnAllowed Sex is Haraam Anyway) and that person whose earnings are though unislamic ways.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
What deed of my follower makes you angry?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Any mother when she tries to make her son (or daughter) fast or offer prayers.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Are there any men among my followers whom you can not possibly misguide?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Yes, any man who does not look at Na-mehram girl / woman intentionally.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Are there any women among my followers whom you can not possibly misguide?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Yes, that women who observes Hijaab and that women who listens to her husband.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan, out of the men and women you have described, do you have any special men or women that you love the most?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Yes! among women I love that women who do not observe Hijaab and among men who is proud and that men who is a sinful Aalim (religious scholar).

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Who is your most hateful men?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Four men : a) Humble rich men. b) Aalim who practices what he preaches. c) Young men who ask for forgiveness. d) Old men who fear Allah. 

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Are you alone or do have any companions?
Shaitan - the cursed one :
Yes. I have some companions who are sitting at mosque to deceive its visitors. My companions make the visitors of Allah's mosque talk about such thing which make these visitors get bad deeds instead of good deeds. Other companions of mine's job is to make the wise followers of your's think of their bad deeds as few and good deeds as many. Some companions of mine when they see someone giving money in charity or helping someone for Allah's sake, make that person tell other people what he is giving in charity or what he is doing for others.

Then Shaitan - the cursed one said : O Prophet of Allah I have talked to you in much detail. I would like to tell you that you are working towards taking people to heaven and I am working towards taking people to Hell. Then after this Shaitan - the cursed one did his salaam to our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.)
and he disappeared.

An Interview with Shaitan PART 3

Now the interview of shaitan (the cursed one) was continued by Prophet  Mohammed (may the peace of Allah be upon him and his progeny) as follows:
 
Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan, tell us why you stop my followers from offering their prayers? What benefits you get out of it?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
Whenever your follower recites prayers, my body gets feverish and it starts to shiver, and with a sick body I can't deceive your followers from obeying Allah.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Why do you stop my followers from observing fast (roza) during the month of Ramadhan?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
When they fast they put me in prison, and I can't deceive them during the time they fast because I end up in prison and I can't misguide them.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
When my flowers prepare to fight in Allah's way, why do you stop them?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
When they go to fight for Allah's sake, my hands get tight to my neck, and I can't deceive them by having my hands tight to my neck.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Why do you prevent my followers from performing Hajj?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
When they go for Hajj, their movements of going towards Hajj ties my legs. And with legs tied, I cannot misguide your followers from obeying Allahs commands.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
why do you prevent my followers from reciting Holy Quran?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
When they recite the Holy Quran, my existence turns into nonexistence. And, without having my existence, how can I deceive your followers from living according to the will of Allah.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Why do you prevent my followers from offering "Doa" (praying to Allah)?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
When they recite Doa (such as Doa-e-Komail) I get deaf and dum. How can I deceive your followers without having the ability to speak and ability to listen.o prophet of Allah (s.a.w.) from living the life according to the will of Allah.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan, tell me why you prevent my followers from paying Sadaqha?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
O Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.), when your follower pay Sadaqha (giving money in charity), it is as that they cut me with a saw in two pieces and throw one pieces of mine in east and other piece in the west.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Why do you get such a strong blow when my followers pay Sadaqha? Why do you get cut into two pieces?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
Whenever a person gives his / her money in charity, that person receives three benefits from Allah. The first benefit such person receive is that Allah becomes his / her borrowers. The second benefit such person gets is that Allah makes Heaven in his / her inheritance (such that he / she will be called as an owner of heaven). And, the third benefit he / she receives is that such person gets 700 times increase in his / her wealth from Allah, which in turn this person uses his / her increased wealth for charity.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan, now tell me when does a person (who is my follower) gets under your total control?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
O Prophet of Allah, your followers gets under my total (absolute) control when they perform three things The first thing is that when your followers becomes stingy ("kanjoos") he gets under my total control. Stingy is the root of all the sins which takes a person towards performing all types of
other sins. The second thing is that when a person gradually start forgiving his / her sins. A person who perform such deeds which are against the will of Allah and then after performing such deeds that person does remember it and does not ask for any forgiveness, then that person gets under my absolute control. O Prophet of Allah, any person who performs these three deeds then that person gets under my absolute control.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan, you know that Allah gave my followers a strong weapon of forgiveness. Whenever, my followers, ask for true forgiveness with an intention of not repeating that sin, Allah forgives them. How do you deal with this problem?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
I know O Prophet of Allah, Allah has given them this strong weapon, but I have prepared myself to confront your followers with their strong weapon.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
What method do you have through which you prevent my followers from asking for forgiveness?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
O Prophet of Allah, to deal with this problem I have created four different units. Each unit deals with a different age groups of your followers. In each unit group I make your followers perform such deeds which make the repentance of your followers invalid (void).

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
What are these units?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
The first unit is that I involve your old men indulging in four sins. I make them lie, I make them accuse someone of something which they have not done, I make them testify falsely, and I make them perfrom without having the complete knowledge of the laws of performing prayers. O Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.) your old men will be offering doas, offering prayers, and reciting obligatory prayers, but if you talk to them you will hear them talking bad about other people, testing the bad deeds of other people without being their witness, and reciting obligatory prayers without knowing all the laws of the prayers. Your old men will not try to learn the laws of prayers because of their ego. Whenever some young men from your Ummat, try to explain the right way of performing Wuzu, your old men will say that you have just
entered Islam and now you are trying to teach as how to perform Wuzu. O Prophet of Allah, my second unit is that which takes care of your young man from your Ummath. I do not prevent your young man from reciting prayers, performing Hajj, or doing anything else except that I get them involved in two things. First thing I make them do is that they look at things which are forbidden for them, and they will listen to those things which are forbidden for them. (Here, by things these young men will look at which are forbidden are girls, and things that these young men will listen to is music/ songs.) O Prophet of Allah, my third unit is that which deceives your old ladies. I make your old ladies perform Geebath (backbiting), falsely accuse other people, destroy the character of other men and women, and get interested in doing magic on other men and women. O Prophet of Allah, my fourth unit is not active, because it is suppose to take care of young girls of Ummath. Since all of your girls are already my soldiers and I have a strong hold over them, I do not get any hard time deceiving them. However, one in one thousand, I find such girl which I see her may be following your way of life, and I will not be able to do anything to deceive her.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan, tell me do you get upset when you see any of your soldier get out of your hand and follow Allah's commands?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
No, O Prophet of Allah, I don't get upset. I wait till that person performs any good deed, and then I go to that person again and deceive him / her so that he / she feels that he did a favour to Allah by performing such a good deed.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
You make that person feel that he did favour to Allah?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
Yes, O Prophet of Allah, that person goes around after performing a good deed and tells people what he did, such as that I recited namaz, I observed fast, I paid so much money to that person, or I helped that person in his bad times.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan, how do you deceive those followers of mine who try their best not to get deceived by you?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
Allah made one deed which if your followers performed it with right intention and at right time they can never get deceived by me. And that deed is Namaz (Salat/obligatory prayers). But, to solve this problem, what I did is that with every one of your followers I have assigned one of my soldier
whose name is "Mutawaqee". And, his job is to make your follower lazy and involved in such activities due to which your follower recites namaz at the last time. When your follower recites namaz (salat) in last minute, he / she recites it in such a way that his namaz is not acceptable to Allah.

An Interview with Shaitan PART 2

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan, tell me one more thing, now that you have spent so much of your time in this life with your bad deeds, do you have any friend, Do you have companion?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
Although, I visit all the houses and all the people in general, but I have 11 (eleven) types of people, that are my best friends and companions. And I have 15 (fifteen) types of people that I hate them the most. O Prophet, keep in mind that a person who is my friend is an enemy of Allah, and a person who is my enemy is a friend of Allah.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
O shaitan tell me who are your friends and who are your enemies?
(Then, Shaitan told our beloved Prophet a list of his friends and a list of his enemies. After he Described his enemies our beloved Prophet asked his reasons. We have excluded the question of our beloved Prophet and simply listed the name or description of the enemy followed by his reason in some
cases.)
Shaitan-the cursed one:
Shaitan said, O Prophet of Allah, first I have 15 (fifteen) enemies, and these are as follows:
 
ENEMIES OF SHAITAN (THE CURSED ONE)

1. O Prophet of Allah, my first enemy is you and your Ahlul-Bait (progeny) because if it wasn't for you and your AhlulBait, my mission would be quite successful. There would have been not even a single believer (follower of right path shown by Allah). You bought the religion of Allah (al-Islam) to this world, You made people believers of Allah's communication. 
2. O Prophet of Allah my second enemy is that just ruler who rules a nation with complete justice.
3. O Prophet of Allah, my third enemy is that rich person who does not haveany ego or feel superior to other poor people around him.
4. O Prophet of Allah, my fourth enemy is that business man who perform his business with justice.
5. O Prophet of Allah my fifth enemy is that Aalim (scholar) who fears Allah and practice what he preaches.
6. O Prophet of Allah, my sixth enemy is that specific Mo'min (believer) who work on showing other the path of truth. Who offer other the knowledge of Wajibats (obligatory) and Haram (forbidden) duties of Allah. This person is undoing all my hard work.
7. O Prophet of Allah, my seventh enemy is that person who does not listen to what is forbidden, does not see what is forbidden, and does not eat what is forbidden. Comment by Maulana Sadiq Hasan Qibla: This person does not look any Na-Mehram women/men (a women with whom a man can marry or a man withwhom a woman can marry), does not watches movies or shows. This personprevent himself or herself from listening to Music, Songs, lies, or Geebath (Backbiting). This person does not eat forbidden food (meat which is not cut according to the Islamic ways such as meat cut by non Muslim business men, etc.) and that food which is not purchased with the halal (allowed) earnings (such as earnings from selling alcohol, from gambling, from selling drugs and from many other sources which are forbidden in Islam.)
8. O Prophet of Allah, my eighth enemy is that believer who keeps himself clean all the time. A person who stays in Wuzu and who wears clean clothes.
9. O Prophet of Allah, my ninth enemy is that person who has a big heart. Who spents his/her money for the sake of Allah. Comment by Maulana Sadiq Hasan: Once Prophet of Allah asked his companion did you know that one Dinar can be more than One Lakh (hundred thousand) Dinar? Prophet's companions replied no O Prophet of Allah. Then, (our beloved) Prophet of Allah said, "If a person who owns for instance ten lakhs and gives one lakh in charity is less than that poor man who owns two dinnar and gives one dinnar in charity."
10. O Prophet of Allah, my tenth enemy is that person who gives Sadqa (charity) only for the name of Allah.
11. O Prophet of Allah, my eleventh enemy is that person who reads, memorizes, and act according to Quran.
12. O Prophet of Allah, my twelfth enemy is that person who recites "Namaz-e-Shab" (prayers recited after the midnight and before namaz Fajr). I am always afraid of this person.
13. O Prophet of Allah, my thirteenth enemy is that person who offers his wajib (obligatory) Khums, wajib Zakat, and other wajib sadaqas.
14. O Prophet of Allah, my fourteenth enemy is that woman who observes Hijaab (Veil) and safeguards her Hijaab.
15. O Prophet of Allah, my fifteenth enemy is that who performs his "Ibadat" (such as prayers) without having thoughts except for the thoughtsof Allah.

After hearing the list of fifteen enemies of Shaitan, our beloved Prophet of Allah (may the peace of Allah be upon him and his progeny) asked Shaitan to name his eleven friends. Upon which, the cursed Shaitan named the following eleven people:

THE FRIENDS OF SHAITAN (THE CURSED ONE)
 

1. The first friend of mine is that leader who is a oppressor (Zalim). 
2. My second friend is that business man who does his/ her business by deceiving his / her customers.
3. My third friend is that "Mo'min" (believer) who drinks alcohol.
4. My fourth friend is that rich person who is proud of his wealth and who angrily refuses to give money in charity to poor and needy.
5. My fifth friend is that person who does backbiting (Geebat), who talks to people in such a way that enemity increases between people and who reveals the defects of people.
6. My sixth friend is that person who kill other human being for any reason other than for Allah.
7. My seventh friend is that person who snatches away the belongings (such as wealth) of an orphan.
8. My eighth friend is that person whose livelihood is based on collecting interest.
9. My ninth friend is that person who gives more important to his worldly life rather than giving important to his life after death. This friend of mine prefers to performs those deeds which he know, will bring benefits in this world but in hereafter such deeds will bring loss.
10. My tenth friend is that person who keep long hopes and delays in asking for forgiveness from Allah. (Here Maulana gave the example of that person who delays in asking forgiveness from Allah. For instance he said, "people refuse to ask forgiveness from Allah because they say we are young and angel of death is not running after us yet. Therefore these people, who delay in asking for repentance, say we are not going to quit listening to music, we are not going to observe Hijab, or we are not going to keep the beard. These people say that they will do all this after ten or more years. These are the tenth friends of Shaitan, because they keep long hopes and delay in asking for forgiveness from Allah.")
11. My eleventh friend is that person who helps women to increase their interest in performing "Jaadu" (magic) on people. After naming his eleven friends Shaitan-the cursed one said, "these are my eleven friends who are the worst enemies of Allah".

An Interview With Shaitan PART 1

Once our beloved Prophet Mohammed (may the peace of Allah be upon him and his Progeny) was walking out with his As'haabs (companions) from the back side of the Jan'atul Baqi (Medina). As he was stepping out, he saw a very old man with a colourful hat on his head, colourful belt with diamonds
on it was around his waist, with a bell in his left hand, and with a net in his right hand. This old man said 'As salamu alaikum yah Rasool Allah' (O Prophet of Allah may the peace of Allah be upon you) to our beloved Prophet. Prophet didn't reply to his salaam. This old man knew why our Prophet didn't reply to his salaam. After all this old man was not like any other old man, he was Shaitan-the cursed one. Then Shaitan said, 'Salaam ul-llahai Alaykum yah Rasool Allah' (Allah's peace be upon you O Prophet of Allah).Then, our Prophet accepted his salaam. Now, the As'haabs (companions) of Prophet understood that this was the cursed one Shaitan.

All the As'haabs were surprised to see the cursed one personally. Shaitan (the cursed one) attempted to misguide even the Prophets and Imams. Shaitan-the cursed one used to meet with prophets to answer any questions of the Prophets. In fact, it was obligatory on him (the cursed Shaitan) to answer the questions of the Messengers of Allah. Our beloved Prophet, though he had all the Knowledge, only for the sake of his companions, asked Shaitan-the cursed one the following questions:
 
Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
O Shaitan, people are interested in your hat, tell me what is this hat?
Shaitan-the cursed one :
Shaitan the cursed one replied, o Prophet of Allah, my colourful hat is this materialistic worldly goods, perishable worldly benefits, and temporary worldly enjoyment. Once, any person get caught by this colourful hat of mine, then that person stays in my control and forgets all about the hereafter.
 
Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
Shaitan, what is this belt you are wearing with gold and diamonds around your waist?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
O Prophet, this is my second weapon which keeps my back bone strong. O Prophet, those Momneens (believers) who do not get into my trap by my hat, I use this weapon.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
But what is it?
Shaitan the cursed one :
O Prophet this are the worldly behijaabs (un-veiled) woman/girl of this worlds. Through this behijaab (un-veiled) woman/girls I deceive the momineens (believers).

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
But what is this bell you are holding in your left hand ?
Shaitan the cursed one :
This is the bell through which I destroy the imaan (faith) of the believers.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
How do you do that ?
Shaitan the cursed one :
Whenever I see believers arguing with each other, getting into minor verbal antagonism or disagreement with each other, then I ring this bell. As I ring this bell, these believers get into major verbal fights and thy start saying things (such as backbiting, false accusations or uses bad language) to each other due to which there own imaan (faith) disappears from hearts.
 
Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
But what is this net you are holding?
Shaitan the cursed one :
When I see the believers not getting trap by any form of my weapons then I throw this net at them as my last weapon.
 
Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) :
But what is this net ?
Shaitan-the cursed one:
O Prophet of Allah, this is Riyah Kari (performing good deeds only to show people). Whenever, I see that a believer is performing all the good deeds and that person not getting caught by my weapon, then i throw this net at them. By stepping at this net, their good deeds which they were performing for Allah, becomes invalid. Because the believers gradually get ego in them while performing all their prayers, observing fast, performing Hajj, paying Zakat and Khums, and several other duties towards Allah. They (believers) perform all these and other good deeds, but after they get caught by my net, they show their good deeds to other and as though they have done favour on Allah by performing such good deeds. They tell people when they perform night prayers. they tell people when they fast, they tell people when
they go to Hajj. They give money in charity but only to show off or for their personal interest. This is how they eventually feel superior to those people whom they know are not performing these good deeds. All these actions which take place after they step on my net makes their good deed go waste
(void).

Mahe Ramdan etiquette at the time of opening the Fast

The holy month of Ramadan is a Divine banquet. He has invited His servants to this banquet and kept open His hand of giving and bestowing. We need to acquire maximum benefits from all the bounties laid out by the Most Generous One. According to the sermon in which the Holy Prophet (s), welcomed the month of Ramadan, he said that the days of Ramadan are the best of the days (compared to days of other months); its nights are the best of the nights and its hours are the best of the hours.1 Additionally, the reward of fasting is so great that in Prophetic Hadith, we are told that‚ Allah says, ‘Fasting is for Me, and I (alone) will compensate for it.‛2 It has also come in Hadith that the Almighty frees a million souls from hellfire at the time of Iftar; and when the eve of Friday and the day of Friday enter, He frees a million souls every hour.3 Therefore fasting in the month of Ramadan undoubtedly carries a huge reward which is beyond our imagination.

A devout servant after fasting for the entire day in obedience to the command of his Lord and Master is eager to achieve these rewards. The foremost of these rewards is the acceptance of the fast by the Master. It is unlikely that the all-Merciful God will reject the efforts of a person who has fasted during month of Rama¤¡n for the sole purpose of achieving His great pleasure. However, to achieve the rewards and His pleasure one needs to prepare for that moment when Divine bounties are being distributed. This is similar to preparing for the graduation day after working for a degree over several years. The Holy Masumin (a) have taught us certain etiquette at the time of Iftar, i.e. when we open our fast. Some of these etiquettes are elaborated here.

1. Give Sadaqa (charity) and feed those who are fasting. It is said that charity wards off evil consequences. Having fasted the entire day, if there are any shortcomings in our efforts, the charity will help us purify our fast. Moreover it is also rewarding. Imam Ali al-Rida (a) advised, One who gives charity of one loaf of bread to a destitute at the time of iftar, Allah forgives his sins, and records for him the reward of freeing a slave from the progeny of [Prophet] Ismail. As for feeding those who are fasting there are numerous Hadiths that encourage this noble act. Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (a) said, When a believer feeds a (fellow) believer in Ramadan, Allah records for him the reward of freeing thirty believing slaves, and he has with Allah a prayer that is answered.‛

2. Precede prayers over ifttar. Where possible say your prayers (i.e. Maghrib Salat and its nafilah)  before opening your fast. Of course, if someone cannot extend the fast beyond Maghrib time on account of feeling hunger, thirst, and tiredness then it is better to that one should hasten to open the fast (ta‘j|l al-iftar). However, majority of Hadith quoted by him are from Sunni sources. Some scholars have suggested opening fasts after ‘Isha Salaat, presumably when one combines the two prayers. See Islamic Laws of Ayt Sayyid Ali Seestani and Mafatehul, p. 319. open the fast and then say prayers. The same is the case if others (e.g. family members) are waiting for you to open the fast first, then you should not delay in doing iftar. [Mafati¦ p. 319] Imam Mu¦ammad al-Baqir (a) said, Precede the salat over iftar; provided if you are with a community that begins with iftar, in that case then do not oppose them and join them in iftar. Otherwise, begin with salat because it is better (afdhal) than iftar, and it is more beloved to me that your prayers are recorded whilst you are in the state of fasting.‛ [Shahrullah p. 173]

3. Do not say your prayers so fast that you no longer feel the pleasure of worshipping the Almighty at the end of the fasting day. The Holy Prophet (s) advised Muslims in his famous sermon welcoming Ramadan, 'O people . . . your backs have been burdened on account of your sins and disobedience, so lighten them through lengthening your prostrations. And know that Allah, the Exalted, does not punish those who say their prayers (well) and prostrate (for long).' Do not forsake nafilah prayers in Ramadan, especially the nafilah after Maghrib and ‘Isha salat. So important are the nafilah prayers after the Maghrib that in a Hadith from Imam al-Sadiq (a) we have been advised not to abandon them whilst traveling and when at home. As for the nafilah of ‘Isha, Imam Ja‘far al--Sadiq (a) has said that whoever performs this prayer and dies that night, he will be included amongst those who performed salat of witr in the last part of the night. In the sermon of Ramadan, the Prophet said, 'One who performs a recommended prayer [in Ramadan,] an acquisition from the hellfire is written for him.'

Question: If I’m attending jama‘at (congregational) prayers in a masjid/center where attendants are not given enough time between Maghrib and ‘Isha to say the nafilah, then what is the best course of action?
Answer: You should say your ‘Isha prayers in jama‘at with rest of the participants and say the missed nafilah of Maghrib after ‘Isha prayers with the intention of raja’ (hoping that the Almighty will accept your prayers said a little late). In a Hadith, Angel Jibra’el said to the Prophet Muhammad (s), 'The (first) takber that a believer performs with the Imam (of congregational prayer) is better than performing 60,000 hajj and ‘Umrah and better than 70,000 times what is in this world. For every rak‘ah that a believer prays in congregation is better than 100,000 dinar (gold coins) given in charity to the poor. For every sajdah that a believer performs in congregational prayer is better than freeing 1,000 slaves.' 

4. Open your fast with halal food. These are food items that are: free from any illegal or doubtful earning, are tahir (ritually pure) and if made from meat then the animal should have been slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines.
 
5. It is recommended to open your fast with dates, or something sweet & lukewarm water. Opening fast with halal dates increases the reward of one’s payers manifold.14 Imam al--Sadiq (a) has suggested that when a person breaks his fast with lukewarm water, it cleans his liver, washes away his sins from the heart, and strengthens one’s eyesight and eye-pupil.

6. Recite Surat al-Qadr, i.e. chapter 97 of the Holy Qur’an. Imam Ali Zaynul Abiden (a) said, 'One who recites inna anzalnahu fe laylatil qadr at the time of opening and closing of fast, he is between these two occasions like the one who is stranded with his blood for the sake of Allah.'

7. Plead to the Almighty for forgiveness. The Holy Prophet (s) advised in his sermon, 'O people, your souls have been mortgaged by your deeds, so free them through your istighfar.' Having fasted for the entire day, this is the best time for us to plead for forgiveness. The Holy Prophet (s) has suggested following when taking the first morsel.
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. O, He Who is great in forgiving, forgive me.
بِسمِ الله الرحمن الرحيمِ،
يَا وَاسِعَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ اغْفِرْلِْ
 
8. Recite some of the recommended Du‘as. The Holy Prophet (s) said, 'Supplication of a fasting person at the time of iftar is answered.' 

Following Du‘as are from Mafateh.
Allahumma laka sumtu, wa ‘ala rizqika af§artu, wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu
O Allah, I have fasted for You, opened my fast from Your sustenance, and I have relied upon You.
اَللهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ، وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ
اَفْطَرْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَ وَكَّلْتُ

In the name of Allah. O Allah, we have fasted for You, opened our fast from Your sustenance. So accept it from us; surely You are all-Hearing, all-Knowing.
بِسْمِ اللهِ، اَللهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْنَا، وَعَلَى
رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْنَا، فَ تَ قَبَّ لْهُ مِنَّا، اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ
السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ

Excellence of Ramadan Month and reward of fasting

Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) says, "O Jabir! One who happens to have the month of Ramadan and he fasts in that month and worships Allah for a part of night, guards his tongue and private parts, saves his eyes from what is prohibited and does not hurt anyone, his sins would be wiped off like the day when he was born from the womb of his mother." Jabir said, "May I be sacrificed, what an excellent tradition it is!" Imam replied, "(also) see its conditions, which are difficult."

- Sawaabul A'amaal

Why do the Shi’ah avoid Tarawih congregations?

Brothers and sisters from the Ahl al-Sunnah come together in Tarawih congregations during the early evenings of the month of Ramadan.  They stand in prayer and recite the Qur’an, and may Allah (swt) reward them for their sincere intentions and actions.  However, the word Tarawih was never mentioned by the Qur’an or the Prophet (s) to describe these extra congregational prayers during the evenings of the month of Ramadan. It is a term developed later amongst Muslims.  Linguistically, the word “Tarawih” is the plural of the word ‘tarwiha’ referring to the short period of rest between every four units of the prayer. Later, the entire congregational prayers in the nights of Ramadan were called by this term.

Origins of Tarawih as a Congregational Prayer

It is a well-established fact that the Tarawih, as a congregational night prayer of Ramadan, owes its existence to the order of the second caliph, ‘Umar b. al-Khattab.

q  Narrated Abu Hurayra: Allah's Apostle said, “Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” Ibn Shihab (a sub-narrator) said, “When Allah's Apostle died, the people continued observing that (i.e. Nawafil offered individually, not in congregation), and it remained as such during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr and in the early days of ‘Umar's Caliphate.” ‘Abdur Rahman bin ‘Abdul Qari said, “I went out in the company of ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying in different groups – a man praying alone or a man praying with a little group behind him. Then, ‘Umar said, ‘In my opinion I would better collect these (people) under the leadership of one Qari (reciter) [i.e. let them pray in congregation!]'. So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind Ubayy bin Ka’b. Then, on another night, I went again in his company and the people were praying behind their reciter. On that, ‘Umar remarked, 'What an excellent bid'a (innovation in religion) this is; but the prayer which they do not perform, but rather sleep at its time, is better than the one they are offering.' He meant the prayer in the last part of the night."

[Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 3, book 32, number 227]

q  “It was called bid’ah because the Prophet (s) did not use to pray it in congregation, and neither was it prayed like that in the time of al-Siddiq (referring to the first Caliph), nor in the early part of night or with these number of units.”

[al-Qastallani, Irshad al-Sari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 5, page 4]

[al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim, volume 6, page 287]

q  “‘Umar was the first who set the example of the night prayer of Ramadan, the Tarawih, and gathered people for it, and instructed different regions regarding it.  This was during the month of Ramadhan of the year 14 (hijri).  He appointed for the people reciters of the Qur’an who led the Tarawih prayer for men and women.”

[Ibn Sa’d, Kitab al-Tabaqat, volume 3, page 281]

[al-Suyuti, Tarikh al-Khulafa', page 137]

[al-‘Ayni, ‘Umdat al-Qari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 6, page 125]

Congregation in Mosque or Individually at Home?

Offering the optional prayers individually inside the home and away from congregation in mosque is highly recommended by the Prophet (s) as it brings more blessings for the home and family and helps in the Islamic upbringing of children.

q  The Prophet (s) said: “O people! Perform your prayers at your homes, for the best prayer of a person is what he performs at his home, except the compulsory (congregational) prayer."

[Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 9, book 92, number 393]

[al-Nasa’i, Sunan, volume 3, p. 161, p. 198]

q  Once Abdullah bin Mas’ud asked the Prophet (s): “Which is better; to pray in my house or in the mosque?” The Prophet (s) replied: “Do you not see how near to the mosque my house is? To pray in my house is more beloved to me than to pray in the mosque except for the obligatory prayers.”

[Ibn Majah, Sunan, volume 1, page 439, number 1378]

q  Narrated Zayd bin Thabit: Allah's Apostle (s) made a small room (with a palm leaf mat). He (s) came out (of his house) and prayed in it. Some men came and joined him in his prayer. Then again the next night they came for the prayer, but the Prophet (s) delayed and did not come out to them. So they raised their voices and knocked the door with small stones (to draw his attention). He came out to them in a state of anger, saying, “You are still insisting (on your deed) that I fear this prayer might become obligatory on you. So, O you people! offer this prayer at your homes, for the best prayer of a person is the one which he offers at home, except the compulsory (congregational) prayer.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 8, book 73, number 134]

Didn’t the Shi’ah Imams Pray Tarawih ?

Imam al-Baqir (‘a) and Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) were asked about the permissibility of praying optional prayers in congregation during the nights of Ramadan.  They both narrated a tradition of the Prophet (s) where he said:

q   “Verily, the offering of nafila (recommended prayers) in congregation during the nights of Ramadan is an innovation… O people! do not say nafila prayers of Ramadan in congregation…. Without doubt, performing a minor act of worship which is according to the sunna is better than performing a major act of worship which is an innovation.”

[al-Hurr al-`Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi`ah, volume 8, page 45]

This view of the Imams from the Prophet’s progeny is confirmed by a scholar well-known amongst the Ahl al-Sunnah who writes:

q  “The progeny of the Prophet (s) say that congregation in Tarawih is an innovation”.

[al-Shawkani, Nayl al-Awtar, volume 3, page 50]

What do Sunni scholars say about praying Tarawih at home ?

q  “The scholars agree on its merit, but they differ on whether it is better to pray it in one’s home individually or in congregation in a mosque.”  Al-Nawawi, the famous commentator of Sahih Muslim, then goes on to list scholars who support the second and dominant view.  He then writes: “Malik, Abu Yusuf, some Shafi’i scholars, and others say that it is better to pray it individually in the home”.

[al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim, volume 6, page 286]

Conclusion

The Shi’ah always aspire to pray the night prayer – called the Tahajjud or Qiyam al-Layl or Salat al-Layl – in the last part of the nights of every month, particularly during Ramadan.  They are also commended to offer additional nawafil prayers during the nights of Ramadan.  However, they offer these optional prayers mostly in their homes and never in congregation.  By doing so they abide by the Qur’an and the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (s).