Bohra revert questions
Mu' meneen
Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa
Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be
upon all of you)
One of our
brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Dear Burhan
I request you to
answer the following questions-
1. What is the
significance of offering the prayers with the syedna?
I have read the larger the congregation the more sawab
there is in the prayers. But does the Imam matter in increasing the sawab?
2. Can you tell us
something about wearing the ridah, topi, saya kurta
etc and keeping a beard?
3. Do you personally
read every question and answer or do you send an automated reply from your
library of answers? Many of my previous questions have not received an answer.
How long has this site been in operation?
4. What is really
disturbing is- are we performing the prayers in the right way, is the misaq ceremony that we performed wrong and was my nikaah prayed in the right way as given in the Quran without any additions or subtractions in the duas to be prayed. Also if this is not the right way then
how do I learn the perfect way of Islam and prayers.
Which mosque should I go to pray as you will agree with me that all sects pray
in a slight different manner and a person from one sect is not very welcome in
a mosque of another sect?
5. How do I teach my
son prayers and other things. Normally mulla sahab would teach us when
we were small?
(There may be some
grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not
change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our
readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Answer:
Bohra revert questions
In the
name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness.
Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray,
none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no
person, no grave, no prophet, no imam,
no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Q-1: What is the significance of
offering the prayers with the syedna? I have read the
larger the congregation the more sawab there is in
the prayers. But does the Imam matter in increasing the sawab?
If the
Imam leading the prayer is the Messenger of Allah (saws) himself, indeed it
would be safe to assume Allah Subhanah would increase
the reward of those who were fortunate enough to pray in congregation with the
Prophet (saws).
But other
than that, there would be no increase if a particular Imam was leading the
prayer, other than what is stated by the Messenger of Allah (saws).
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.618 Narrated
by Abdullah bin Umar
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "The prayer in
congregation is twenty seven times superior to the prayer offered by the person
alone."
Although
the Imam has no bearing on the increase of rewards of a prayer, there are three
places as stated by the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws) where the rewards are
increased manifold by Allah Subhanah.
Hadrat Jabir (r.a.) reports that the Messenger
of Allah (saws) said: "Prayer in the inviolable mosque [in Makkah] is like 100,000 prayers [elsewhere]. And prayers in my mosque [in Medinah] is
like one thousand prayers [elsewhere]. And a prayer in Bait al-Maqdis [in
Related by alBaihaqi.
Q-2: Can you tell us something
about wearing the ridah, topi,
saya kurta etc and keeping
a beard?
The Messenger
of Allah (saws) did not dictate a particular type of clothing for the
believers. There is absolutely no harm
if a believer wears any type of decent clothing which covers his satr, except the type of clothing which the Messenger of
Allah (saws) declared illegal for the believers. (like
silk for men, transparent or tight fitting clothing for women in public, etc.)
Ref: Rida
If the Rida covers the complete zeenah
or beauty of the woman, including her hair completely; there is absolutely no
harm if one chooses to wear this type of clothing.
Ref: Topi
It was
customary in the time of the Prophet (saws), that the men would wear something
like a turban on their head;
thus if one wishes to cover his head with a topi
there is no harm.
Ref: Saya
Kurta
There is
absolutely no harm if one wishes to wear the saya-kurta,
as it adequately covers the complete satr of the man.
But if
one wears the above, or is forced to wear the above because that would
differentiate him as a particular sect of Islam; then the making of sects in
Islam is absolutely prohibited by Allah Subhanah in
the Holy Quran.
Just look
at the Anger and Wrath of Allah described on those who break up their religion
into sects:
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Surah Muminoon verse 52-55: And
you all belong to one and the same ummah, and I(Allah) am
your Lord; so fear Me Alone! Yet
afterwards the people divided themselves into different sects, and each sect
rejoicing in what it has. Well, leave them deeply
involved in their heedlessness up to an appointed time. What?
Do they think that,
by continuing to provide them with wealth and children, We are solicitous for their welfare? Nay, they do not understand the reality of
the matter!
Allah says in Chapter 30 Surah Rum aayat 31-32:"This (Islam) is the right and true faith,
but most people do not know. (Be steadfast on this) turning wholly and
sincerely towards Allah Alone, and fear Him, and establish the Salat, and do not be like the mushriks,
who have set up their separate creeds and divided themselves into sects, each
sect rejoicing in what it has."
Ref: the beard
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.780 Narrated
by Nafi
Ibn Umar said: The
Prophet said, "Do the opposite of what the pagans do. Keep the beards and
cut the moustaches short."
To grow a
beard is the preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of
Allah (saws); and every muslim
should be proud to follow this Sunnah of not only
Prophet Mohamed (saws), but all the Messengers who came before him.
Q-3: Do you personally read every
question and answer or do you send an automated reply from your library of
answers? Many of my previous questions have not received an answer. How long
has this site been in operation?
Beloved
brother in Islam, Allah Subhanah has blessed us to
serve His Cause through this humble forum for almost three years. Although I would love to read each and every
question that we receive on the forum, the influx and back log of unanswered
questions does not allow me the time to do so.
But I assure you that the brothers and sisters who moderate and
selflessly spend their time on operating the forum read each and every single
question that is asked on the forum; and if the question has been answered
before, they send the reply from the archive.
Q-4: What is really disturbing is-
are we performing the prayers in the right way, is the misaq
ceremony that we performed wrong and was my nikaah
prayed in the right way as given in the Quran without
any additions or subtractions in the duas to be
prayed.
Ref 4A: are we performing the
prayers in the right way
The
correct way to offer the salaah is the way the Prophet
(saws) offerred them, as no one who ever walked this
planet earth worshipped Allah Subhanah in a better
manner. The Prophet (saws) himself
learned the rites of salaah directly from Gibrael (a.s.) at the very beginning of his (saws) term of Prophethood in Makkah. During that time the Prophet (saws) and the
believers used to pray the salaah in two rakah formations.
The commandment of the five obligatory prayers were received one year
prior to the Hijrah,
during the night of Isra-wal-Mairaaj (Night of
Accession of the Prophet(saws) to the Heavens).
The Quran itself is silent on the actual rituals or acts of
prayer. But this is an act, which was conducted
by the Prophet (saws) five times a day until his (saws) death, and witnessed by tens of thousands of his
companions (r.a.).
Whatever the Prophet (saws) said, saw, did,
approved and dissapproved, some noble companions (r.a.) wrote it down for future generations to
follow.
There is
actually no dispute between all the factions of Islam on the fundemental rites of salaah and
almost all the sects pray in a similar manner.
For instance,
there are absolutely no disputes in the following matters in any
sect of Islam:
To
observe 5 obligatory prayers
The number of rakahs in each obligatory
prayer.
To observe Taharat before the prayer. (wudoo, clean place, clean clothes, etc.)
To face towards the Kaabah.
To make intention before salah (Neeyah).
To make Takbeer before the start of prayer
To do qiyam(stand)
during prayer.
To pray Surah Fateha
and another Surah (in the first two rakahs only).
To make ruku (bow down) after every rakah.
To make two sajdah (prostrations) after
every ruku.
To pray tashahood and taheeyat
after every two rakahs.
To end
the pray with the act of salaams.
Etc.
There is
absolutely no difference in the majority (maybe 99%) of the rites of salah in any school or sect of Islam. Yes, there are small differences in various
sects and schools of Islam, like
standing with ones hands folded or straight,
etc., but these do not in any way
negate the salah.
If anyones intention is that either by folding his hands or keeping his hands straight in
prayer, he is following the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws), there is absolutely no harm in either.
But if
one knows that an act he does in the salah is an
innovation added by somebody to the rites observed by the Prophet (saws), then he should not
do it.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated
by Ali ibn AbuTalib
That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: If anyone introduces an
innovation (in religion),
he will be responsible for it.
If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who
introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His Angels, and by all the people.
Ref 4B: is the misaq
ceremony that we performed wrong
Please
read the accompanying attachments, which explains in detail
the concept of meethak and also the translation of
the meethak given by the Bohras.
Ref 4C: was my nikaah
prayed in the right way as given in the Quran without
any additions or subtractions in the duas to be
prayed.
Beloved
brother in Islam, it is not the dua which is prayed
at the time of the Nikaah which sanctifies the Nikaah. The
conditions of Nikaah are the following, without which
the Nikaah would be deemed null and void in the sight
of Shariah:
The proposal by the groom, and acceptance by the bride.
The determination of mehr.
The presence
of the Wali (Guardian) of the bride
The presence of two witnesses to the Nikaah
contract.
If any
one of the above four obligatory conditions of Nikaah
are missed, the Nikaah will be deemed invalid in the
Sight of Shariah; regardless of who recites the dua or what duas are
recited! The dua
or supplication to bless the couple is not an obligatory condition of the Nikaah contract, and a Nikaah
which is done without any recitation of dua, but
meets all the above four conditions will be absolutely legal and valid in the
sight of Shariah.
Ref 4D: Also if this is not the
right way then how do I learn the perfect way of Islam and prayers.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21: There is
indeed the best example for you to follow, in the Messenger of Allah, for every
such person who looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah
much.
The
correct way to offer the salaah is the way the Prophet
(saws) offerred them, as no one who ever walked this
planet earth worshipped Allah Subhanah in a better
manner. The Prophet (saws) himself
learned the rites of salaah directly from Gibrael (a.s.) at the very beginning of his (saws) term of Prophethood in Makkah. During that time the Prophet (saws) and the
believers used to pray the salaah in two rakah formations.
The commandment of the five obligatory prayers were received one year
prior to the Hijrah,
during the night of Isra-wal-Mairaaj (Night of
Accession of the Prophet(saws) to the Heavens).
The Quran itself is silent on the actual rituals or acts of
prayer. But this is an act, which was conducted
by the Prophet (saws) five times a day until his (saws) death, and witnessed by tens of thousands of his
companions (r.a.).
Whatever the Prophet (saws) said, saw, did,
approved and dissapproved, some noble companions (r.a.) wrote it down for future generations to
follow.
The
perfect way to offer the salaah is to emulate the
example of the Messenger of Allah (saws).
Please read the following attachment answer 295. for
the details and meanings of the Prayer.
Ref 4E: Which mosque should I go
to pray as you will agree with me that all sects pray in a slight different
manner and a person from one sect is not very welcome in a mosque of another
sect?
Any masjid that is built for the worship of Allah Subhanah Alone is a good place to offer ones prayer!
The
mosques are the declared Houses of Allah, and no muslim
has a right to stop another muslim from worshipping
Allah in any house of Allah. Thus if
any muslim comes to any mosque, no matter what this differences are, no one has a right to stop the person from
worshipping Allah in the mosques.
It is a
grave sin for anyone to stop a muslim from entering
any mosque, and
thus stopping him from worshipping Allah Subhanah.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 72 Surah Jinn verses 18-19: And that the mosques are for
Allah. Therefore, do not call upon anyone else in them
along with Allah. And
that when the servant of Allah stood up to invoke Him, the people got ready to
assault him.
The truth
is brother, that
these sects of Shias,
Sunnis, Bohras, etc. are all man made and have absolutely no
basis in Islam. Islam is One Ummah,
and anyone who propagates breaking this Ummah
into sects and sub-sects is going against the clear commands of Allah Subhanah, and will
be severely accountable in the Court of Allah on the Day of Judgement.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Surah Muminoon verse 52-54: And
you all belong to one and the same ummah, and I(Allah) am
your Lord; so fear Me Alone! Yet
afterwards the people divided themselves into different sects, and each sect rejoicing in what it has. Well, leave them deeply involved in their
heedlessness up to an appointed time.
Allah says in Chapter 30 Surah Rum aayat 31-32: "This (Islam) is the right and true
faith, but most people do not know. (Be steadfast on this) turning wholly and
sincerely towards Allah Alone, and fear Him, and establish the Salat, and do not be like the mushriks,
who have set up their separate creeds and divided themselves into sects, each
sect rejoicing in what it has."
Q-5: How do I teach my son prayers
and other things. Normally mulla
sahab would teach us when we were small?
Beloved
brother in Islam, when you learn and perform your prayers emulating the prayers
of non other than Prophet Mohamed (saws), it would be your duty to teach, or
arrange for someone to teach your children how to pray. Go into any mosque and simply ask the Imam
or leader of the mosque that you want someone to teach your son how to
pray. Any true muslim would take it as an honor and a pleasure to
teach another muslim how to pray for the Pleasure of
Allah Subhanah.
Whatever
written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allahs Assistance and Guidance, and
whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone
Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your Brother in Islam,
