Archive for October, 2007

The Sunnahs of Jumuah

Monday, October 29th, 2007

Are the Sunnah before or after Jumuah proven?  There is indirect evidence for the four before but for the four or two after there is strong direct evidence.  So taking the strongest first:
Some (not all) ahadith for Four rakahs after Jumuah:
Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet (saw) said, “Whenever one of you prays Jumuah he should pray four rak’ahs after it.” (muslim)
Some narrations say he prayed two rakahs; Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet (saw)  did not pray after Jumuah until after he had gone back and would pray two rakahs in his house. (Muslim)
So 2 or 4 after Jumuah are directly proven so shouldn’t be missed.

Some ahadith indirectly proving 4 before Jumuah:
The Prophet (saw) would always pray 4 rakahs after zawaal (when the sun begins to set); some see these as being the 4 rakahs before Zuhr and that is not a problem for the 2 rakahs of Jumuah and 2 khutbahs replace the 4 Fard of Zuhr on a Friday.  But nothing replaces the sunnahs so they should be offered as normal.
Abdullah ibn as-Sa’ib reported that the Prophet (saw)  used to pray four rak’ahs when the sun began to descend before the Zuhr prayer. He said, ‘It is a time when the gates of heaven are opened and I want a righteous action to ascend for me in it.’” [Tirmidhi]
‘A’isha reported that the Prophet (saw)  did not miss the four rak’ahs before Zuhr.” (Bukhaari)
Reading four rakahs sunnahs before Zuhr everyday is a very praised act.  On Friday these would have to be before the Jumuah prayer:
Aisha reported that the Prophet (saw)  said ‘Whoever prayed 12 rakah sunnah every day Allah will build for him a house in Jannah; 4 rakahs before Zuhr and 2 after; 2 after maghrib; 2 after Isha and two before Fajar.’ (Tirmidhi; Abu Dawud; Nisai & Ibn Majah)

Eid in the UK is not Friday

Thursday, October 11th, 2007

It is scientifically impossible to sight the moon anywhere on Thursday evening thus in the absence of eye witness accounts of the moon there is no Shari basis for Eid ul Fitr to be on Friday 12 October anywhere in the world (save South America).  All Good muslims are requested to fast tomorrow and perform Eid on Saturday.  May Allah protect us from fitnas

We kindly request Regents Park Mosque or East London Mosque to publsh the names of those who saw the moon in the UK on Thursday evening.  Likewise if they rely on the Saudi statement then where are the Saudis who saw the moon - why do they remain anonymous?