4] Ramadan 2012, The 24th Day

4]
Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah. If anyone turns away, we
did not send youto them as their keeper. (Surat an-Nisa': 80)
"Whoever obeys me, obeys Allah, and whoever disobeys me, disobeys
Allah, and whoever obeys the ruler I appoint, obeys me, and whoever
disobeyshim, disobeys me." (Sahih Bukhari, Book 9, No: 251)
Rasulullah's (saas) age did not wear him down. He was like a youngster
at theage of 63. That is amazing.He had the face and sweetness of a
child. Someone of 63 should have the features of someone of 63. But
not him. He had no more than 20 white hairs at the age of 63. In
commenting on a verse he said it came from Allah. "I have feared Allah
very much," he says. Despite being the sweetestman in the world, "I
suffered much from him," he says. His skin was like silver. That is an
Arabic term, meaning it was like a child's. And he was immaculate when
he died, insha'Allah. (A9 TV, May 1, 2012)
He Who Obeys The Prophet (saas) Also Obeys Allah
Allah charges everyone with obeying the prophetsHe has sent. These
messengers were blessed men who abided by Allah'scommands,
communicatedHis revelations, represented the human model most pleasing
to Allah by means of their words and actions, in shortby their whole
manner of living. Allah reveals in the Qur'an that those who abide by
His messengers will be saved. For that reason, obedience to the
Prophet (saas) is an obligation of the very greatest importance. Allah
reveals the importance of obedience in the Qur'an:
We sent no messenger except to be obeyed by Allah's permission… (Surat
an-Nisa', 64)
Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger will be withthose whom Allah has
blessed: the prophets and steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs
and righteous. What excellent company such people are! (Surat
an-Nisa', 69)
In several verses of the Qur'an, Allah states that those who obey His
messengers are in truth obeying Allah. Those who rebel against these
messengers, on the other hand, rebel against Allah.
Those who pledge you their allegiance pledge allegiance to Allah.
Allah's hand is over their hands. He who breaks his pledge only breaks
it against himself. But as for him who fulfils the contract he has
made with Allah, We will pay him an immense reward. (Surat al-Fath,
10)
In the Qur'an, Allah describes the Prophet (saas) as a protector and
guide for the faithful. Muslims, therefore, referred to him in all
matters, and sought his permission and opinion before engaging in
anything. On subjects they were unable to agree upon among themselves,
though even on matters they were able to solve by themselves, or when
they received news concerning the security, health or economy of the
community of the faithful, they immediately took them to the Prophet
(saas)and abided by the sure and trustworthy advice or solution he
recommended.
Each order and rule of the Prophet (saas) is guaranteed by Allah.
Furthermore, the Prophet (saas) was the wisest and cleverest member of
the community of the faithful. Usually, most look to consult the most
intelligent person and the one who best obeys his conscience, that is,
the person they trust the mostin any matter, in order to establish a
decision.
As well as all these characteristics of the Prophet (saas), another
wisdom in all news being gathered together in one person is that this
will provide the best and most intelligent response because all the
aspects of the event will be known by one person. In another verse,
Allah commands thefaithful to make the Prophet (saas) their judge in
any disagreements between them. It is a command from Allah that all
such disagreements should be taken to the Prophet (saas) at once,
andthat is therefore the most fitting course of action in terms of
reason, morality and conscience. It is also most important to obey the
rules set out by the Prophet (saas), with all one's heart and with no
reservations. Even if his decision conflicts with the interests of an
individual, true believers will feel no doubts at all, and will
immediately obey the command of the Prophet (saas). Allah describes
this important aspect of obedience in the Qur'an:
No, by your Lord, they are not believers until they make you their
judge in the disputes that break out between them, and then find no
resistance within themselves to whatyou decide and submit themselves
completely. (Surat an-Nisa', 65)
Some hypocritical people, or people whose faith is weak, have failed
to realize that the decisions of the Prophet (saas) are assured by
Allah and opposed informing him of every situation, thus causing
dissension. Allah describes the condition of such people in the
Qur'an:
Among them are some who insult the Prophet, saying he is only an ear
[only a hearer]. Say, "An ear of good for you, :->

Uttering the intention out loud for salaat al-Taraaweeh and other prayers is bid’ah

During Ramadan we pray salat al-taraweeh, what is to be said in the
beginning of the prayer. for example nawatu asalee lillah al atheem fe
ta'at rubee al kareem rika'tein sinit........
Praise be to Allaah
Uttering the intention outloud when one is going topray is bid'ah (an
innovation), whether that is for Taraaweeh prayers or any other
prayer.
Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaadal-Ma'aad (1/201):
When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood up
to pray, he would say: "Allaahu akbar," and he did not say anything
before that, or utter the intention (niyyah) out loud at all. He did
not say, "I am going to pray such-and-such a prayer, facing the
qiblah, four rak'ahs, as an imam or following an imam." And he did not
say "ada'an (ontime)" or "qadaa'an (making up a missed prayer)" or
"fard al-waqt (the obligatory prayer of this time)." These are all
bid'ahs which were not narrated by any scholar with any isnaad, be it
saheeh, da'eef, musnad ormursal … Neither was thisnarrated from any of
the Prophet's companions, and none of the Taabi'eenor the four imams
described it as mustahabb.
See also question no. 13337
So the Muslim should have the intention of praying Taraaweeh in his
heart only, and not utter anything out loud.
And Allaah knows best.

He prayed Taraaweeh before ‘Isha’!

I entered the masjid late for taraweeh and I missedsix rakahs. after
the taraweeh I prayed the four rakah of isha that I missed. do I have
to pray the six rakahs that I missed of the taraweeh?.
Praise be to Allaah.
It is not correct to pray Taraaweeh and then 'Isha'. You could have
joined the congregation with the intention of praying 'Isha', then
when the imam said the tasleem after the two rak'ahs, you could stand
up and complete the last two rak'ahs. You cannot pray qiyaam before
'Isha', rather it should be done afterwards, and after the regular
Sunnah of 'Isha'. The prayers that you did were simply voluntary
prayers and not qiyaam.
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz was asked:
If a Muslim comes to the mosque and finds the congregation praying
Taraaweeh and he has not yet prayed 'Isha', should he pray with
them,with the intention of praying 'Isha'?
He replied:
There is nothing wrong with his praying with them with the intention
of praying 'Isha', according to the more correct of the two scholarly
views. When theimam says the tasleem heshould stand up and complete
his prayer. It was proven in al-Saheehayn from Mu'aadh ibn Jabal that
he used to pray 'Isha', then he would go back to his people and lead
them in 'Isha' prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) did not denounce that. This indicates that it is
permissible to offer a fard prayer behind someone who is praying a
naafil prayer. In al-Saheeh it is also narrated that in the fear
prayer, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) led
one group in praying two rak'ahs then he said the tasleem and led the
other group in praying two rak'ahs, then he said the tasleem, so the
first one was his fard (obligatory) prayer and the second was naafil
for him whilst they were praying fard. And Allaah is the source
ofstrength.
Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 12/181
And the Shaykh also said:
The Sunnah is to pray tahajjud – in Ramadaan and at other times –
after the regular Sunnah of 'Isha', as the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do that. It makes no
difference if the tahajjud is done in the mosque or at home.
Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 11/368
With regard to the Taraaweeh prayers that you have missed, you have
the choice. If you want you can do them and if you want you can leave
them. Taraaweeh is a naafil prayer, so you do not have to make it up
as is the case with the five daily prayers.
And Allaah knows best.

The time of Taraaweeh prayer

Is it permissible to pray Taraaweeh about two hours before Fajr
prayer? Or must it be done immediately after 'Isha'?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The time for Taraaweeh prayer lasts from after 'Isha' until dawn
comes, so it is valid to perform this prayer at any time during this
period.
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Majmoo':
The time of Taraaweeh prayer begins when 'Isha' prayer is over, as was
stated by al-Baghawi and others, and it lasts until dawn comes.
But if a man is going to pray in the mosque as an imam leading the
people in prayer, it is better to pray Taraaweeh after 'Isha' prayer
and not to delay it until the middle or the end of the night, sothat
this will not cause hardship for the worshippers and some of them may
sleep and miss the prayer. This is what the Muslims usually do, they
pray Taraaweeh after 'Isha' and do not delay it.
Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni:
It was said to Imam Ahmad: Will you delay qiyaam – i.e., Taraaweeh
–until the end of the night?He said, No, the practice ofthe Muslims is
dearer to me.
But for one who prays Taraaweeh at home, he has the choice: if he
wants, he can pray it at the beginning of the nightand if he wants he
can pray it at the end. And Allaah knows best.