I completly agree with u,

I respectfully disagree with your following statement:
“Makruh Karaaha Tahreemiyyah (very similar to saying it’s haram). In other words, it’s sinful yet valid”

Any thing that is not Haram is not sinful. “very similar to saying it’s haram” does not mean it is sinful.
It means that it is strongly encouraged not to do it.

Best Regards

Asalam Aliekom

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

The issue of four rakaats salaah before the jummah salaat is well substantiated and proven from the books of Hadith. Many Muhaditheen such as Ibn Abi Shayba, Abdur Razzaaq (rahimahumaallah) etc have set aside chapters in their Hadith books to discuss this issue.

It is sunnat to perform four rakaats of salaah before the jummah salaat. Consider the following Ahadith:

1.كان يصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا وبعدها أربعا

“Ali (radiyallaahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to perform four rakaats salaah before the jummah salaah and after the jummah salaah” (I’laaus Al-Sunan, vol 7, pg 13, Idaratul Al-Quran)

The chain of narrators in the above narration is good. (Tarhut Al-Tathreeb, vol 3, pg 36, Ilmiyya)

2.كان رسول الله يركع قبل الجمعة أربعا وبعدها أربعا

“Ibn Abbas (radiyallaahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to perform four rakaats of salaah before and after the jummah salaah” (I’laaus Al-Sunan, vol 7, pg 13, Idaratul Al-Quran)

The above hadith with the chain of narrators that appear in Tabrani is good. (I’laaus Al-Sunan, vol 7, pg 13, Idaratul Al-Quran)

3.عن أبي عبد الرحمن السلمي قال : كان عبد الله يأمرنا أن نصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا ، وبعدها أربعا

Abu Abdir Rahman Al-Sulami reports: “Abdullah (bin Mas’ood) used to command us to perform four rakaats salaah before jummah and after the jummah salaah” (Musannaf Abdir Al-Razaaq, vol 3, pg 247, Idaratul Quran)

The chain of narrators in the above Hadith is authentic. (Athaar Al-Sunan, pg 303, Imdaadiyya)

4.عن عبد الله قال كان يصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا

“Abdullah (bin Mas’ood) reports that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to perform four rakaats before the jummah salaah” (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba, vol 4, pg 114, Al-Majlis al-Ilmi)

5.عن صافية ، قالت : رأيت صفية بنت حيي رضي الله عنها ، صلت أربع ركعات قبل خروج الإمام للجمعة ، ثم صلت الجمعة مع الإمام ركعتين .

Saafiyah (radiyallaahu anha) reports: “I saw Safiyyah Binti Huyay (radiyallaahu anha) performing four rakaats of salaah before the Imaam came out for jummah, then she performed two rakaats of jummah salaat with the Imaam” (Nasbur Al-Raayah, vol 2, pg 207, Makkiyya)

6.عن إبراهيم قال كانوا يصلون قبلها أربعا.

“Ibrahim (Al-Nakh’ee) reports that the Sahaba used to perform four rakaats of salaah before the jummah salaah” (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol 4, pg 114, Al-Majlis al-Ilmi)

7. Abdullah Bin Mas’ood used to command the people to perform four rakaats of salaah before the jummah salaah as understood from the above Ahadith. This is an indication that Abdullah Bin Mas’ood used to consider these four rakaats as Sunnat Muakkadah. In fact the Muhaditheen classify the Athar of Ibn Mas’ood as “Marfoo’ Hukman”. (I’laaus Al-Sunan, vol 7, pg 12, Idaratul Quran)

And Allah knows best

Yes, indeed the hadith proves the point that the Prophet (sallahu-alayhi-wasallam) did discourage going to extreme lengths in ibaadah.

However, when I say he kept wudhu etc..- it refers to the the zeal and thirst of knowledge the respected Imaam had for KNOWLEDGE (not for Ibaadah). It suggests the dedication, commitment and utter interest Imaam Abu Haneefah had for studying Qur’aan and Sunnah. The point I am trying to get across is that the respected Imaam use to stay up to study and learn about Islaam. So, yes when it comes to Ibaadah, one should not go to extreme lengths as the hadith rightly points out- but one must keep in mind the hadeeth does not touch on the aspect of knowledge and aquiring it.

Secondly, coming onto the point about the miracle of being able to see other people’s sins. The link does not give any justification to why it may be fabricated. Rather, this point is in classical authentic books of history whereby the chances of fabrication is extremely unlikely. Nevertheless, I shall double check with my local Ulamaa insha’allah.

Jazakallah for your concerns- I hope I have clarified them insha’allah.

Was-salamualaykum w w,

Hafiz Hashim

http://hadithcheck.blogspot.com/2010/11/fabricated-abu-haneefa-prayed-fajer.html

The four classical Imaams (in my opinion) are people that we cannot compare people from these recent eras to. They were 101% dedicated to Islaam to such an accent that Imaam Abu Hanifah prayed Fajr salaah with the same wudhu of Isha. He didn’t sleep at all- this is the immense passion these Imaams had for Islam. It is also reported that Imaam Abu Hanifah refrained to do Wudhu in the Masjid because Allah had blessed him with a miracle. He was able to see the sins coming off a person doing wudhu- so to prevent him having bad thoughts of people- he always did wudhu elsewhere.

Now, if ALL four great respected Imaams are unanimous in saying Arabic is the preferred language or in some cases the only language the khutbah can be given in- should that not ring bells. Do you not think they were aware of the argument of people not understanding and the various other points- of course they were. But the expert knowledge of Islaam led to the opinions they have.

Prophet Muhammed sallahu-alayhi-wasallah is our guide, role-model and practical example. I personally would find it sooo distressing and frightening to differ from the way of this amazing man. The proofs of history is just not debatable. Take the example of Hadrat Salmaan al Farsi- a persian, Hadhrat Zaid bin Thaabit- knew multiple languages and Hadhrat Bilaal- African (may Allah be pleased with them all)– they all recited in Arabic. We cannot compare ourselves to the lights of such people- the level of the Imaan in these individuals is another level.

Overall dear sisters and brothers, ALL 4 great Imaam are unanimous, the Sahaabah and Nabi sallahu-alayhi wasallam did so- so is this not suficcient? On the day of qiyaamah- I can’t imagine answering why I rejected ANY tradition of the greatest man on Earth. How can we reject these Imaam’s (ra)- they spent all thier life for us. May Allah forgive me for any inconsistencies and mistakes, grant us all the understanding, forgive us all for our sins, grant us entry into Jannah without reckoning- AMEEN.

Wa-alaikum-as-salaam,

Hafiz Hashim

One of the conditions of the khutbah is that it should be shorter than the salah. Rasool Allah Sal Allahu Alaihi Wassalaam said “…prolonging salah and shortening one’s khutbah is a sign of one’s understanding of the religion.”

Ulema’s in previous centuries used to ask their teachers that will it ever be possible for a person to give a Khutbah that is longer than the salah because he will be proving that he is stupid and does not understand the Deen. Their teachers used to say in later times this will happen.

Now almost all the masajid where Khutbah’s are in English you see this happening. The Khutbah is long and salah is short.

When people use their intellect to change the religion there is somewhere where their theory clashes with the Sunnah.

The Sahabah Radhi Allah Anhum came as far east as Afghanistan. The language of the people was not Arabic but they never had the Khutbah given in any language but Arabic. The Taba Tabieen came as far east as Malaysia but they never had the Khutbah in any language but Arabic.

Now since the 70′s we came to UK and America and since we understand the Deen better then all those before us we must give the Khutbah in English.

While much has been done to answer some of Mezda’s positions, I think it is good to sincerely re-evaluate at what might have informed or generated such positions.

It is true that there are some Arabs who, being Arabs, feel they are superior and better in Islamic knowledge because of being just that as well as speaking Arabic. This attitude may also be shared by some that are non Arabic but speak it or having lived in some Arab land for some years. We all know that shaitan had knowledge but pride was his doing, made him a kaafir. Also Abu jahl and the munafiqeen in Madina were Arabs and spoke Arabic.

Then are also those who make it seem that wearing Arab dress and the like is more superior. I am in no way supporting tight pants worn by some brothers that may not fulfil the requirements of male hijab and may even sexually disturbing when observed by sisters. No. But making one who does not wear Arab dress inferior or feeling it is better to wear a shemagh in down town can create feelings in the likes of Mezda that this Arab thing has gone a little too far. This also plays out in some of the Indo Pak communities though the typical Pakistani male dress is more practical than the thobe.

However, these issues, as incorrect as they may be, cannot in anyway be used to justify arguments that Arabic is not superior. If that is done, we will only be allowing shaitan to use them to play on our intelligence and derail us.

As has been mentioned by others, by just being selected to be the language of the only book of Allah to mankind that remains preserved 100% is enough evidence of its superiority. And this we can understand better from the viewpoint of tawhid. From tawhid asmaa wa sifaat, we know that we cannot compare our knowledge to that the All knowing ALLAAH. He knows what is good for us, what is better for us and what is best for us. To question His knowledge affects the belief in this aspect of tawhid. And we cannot question Him. Nouman Khan warns of the evil of such questioning in his talk on questioning the Messenger

http://www.kalamullah.com/NoumanAliKhan/DoyouintendtoquestiontheMessenger.mp3

http://www.halaltube.com/nouman-ali-khan-do-you-intend-to-question-the-messenger

It is advisable it is better to read the Quran itself to see the examples Allah gives of things or issues being the best or better. This will then insha Allah help to reaffirm your faith as to why Allah’s

In surah 16 nahl
وَاللّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي الْرِّزْقِ فَمَا الَّذِينَ فُضِّلُواْ بِرَآدِّي رِزْقِهِمْ عَلَى مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِيهِ سَوَاء أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ اللّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ
Here, Allah jalla shanu, makes some of us to be better than others, material wise, as a trial. This is from His wisdom which we cannot question.

In surah 4 nisaa, Allah jalla sha’nu says:

لاَّ يَسْتَوِي الْقَاعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِي الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فَضَّلَ اللّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً وَكُلاًّ وَعَدَ اللّهُ الْحُسْنَى وَفَضَّلَ اللّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا دَرَجَاتٍ مِّنْهُ وَمَغْفِرَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَكَانَ اللّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

Being the All knowing, He has given superiority to the mujahideen in the part of He has also clearly stated that these 2 groups cannot be equal. And he repeats this superiority twice

Now imagine the Quran being described several times as being Arabic and we having to read and repeat it in the Arabic original several times a day (times the millions of Muslims that do so) the superiority and the whole hearted submission to the choice of Allah for giving the Arabic language such superiority