Dought & clear, - (Times of Prayers) - Difference in the timing of Fajr and Maghrib prayers in Bahrain and Dammam.

This question is regarding Ramadaan in Bahrain. I live in Dammam, and
it is known that the prayer times in both Dammam and Bahrain are the
same as they are very close to each other. This year I heard that Fajr
time in Bahrain is after its time in Dammam, and Maghrib time in
Bahrain is before its time in Dammam. I think, and Allah knows best,
that there is a mistake in the calendar. If this mistake in Bahrain,
does it mean that they have Suhoor after Fajr time, and break their
fast before sunset?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The time for Fajr prayer begins with the second dawn, which is the
white line that appears across the horizon right and left. This is the
true dawn. As for the false dawn, it is the vertical white lines in
the sky which appear from top to bottom, like sticks. This happens
approximately twenty minutes before the true dawn, and may be more or
less depending on theseason.
As for the time of Maghrib, it begins when the sun sets. There is
nothing wrong with following timetables, unless they are proven to be
mistaken.
Referring to the timetable of Umm al-Qura, it shows that thetime for
Fajr on 5 Ramadaan 1428 AH/16 September 2007 CE in Manama is 4:01
a.m., andthe time for Maghrib is 5:42 p.m.
The time for Fajr in Dammam is 4:03 a.m. and the time for Maghrib is 5:44 p.m.
It is the same throughout the month; the time for Fajr and Maghrib in
Bahrain is a few minutes ahead of the times in Dammam.
Perhaps you may consultthe body responsible for timetables in Bahrain,
tofind a reliable timetable and to find out whether what you have
heard about the time of Fajr being late this year is true.
And Allaah knows best.

Dought & clear, - (Times of Prayers) - Prayer and fasting of a prisoner who does not know anything about time.

How can a person who is jailed in an underground room pray, while he
is chained, heedless aboutprayer times, and does not know that
Ramadanstarted?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
We ask Allaah to grant all Muslim prisoners a rapid release, and to
grant them patience andconsolation by His bounty, and to fill their
hearts with peace and certainty of faith, and to make easy for the
Muslims a way of guidance whereby His close friends will be honoured
and His enemies will be humiliated.
Secondly:
The scholars have determined that prayer and fasting are not waived
for prisoners and detainees, and that what they must do is to try
their best to work out the right times. If theprisoner thinks it most
likely that the time for prayer has come, then he should pray, and if
hethinks it most likely that Ramadaan has come, then he should fast.
He can work out the times by noting the times when he is fed, or by
asking the guards and soon.
If he tries to work out the right time for praying and fasting, then
his worship will be valid and acceptable, whether he finds out later
on that he did it at the right time, or after it,or he does not find
out anything, because Allaahsays (interpretation of the meaning):
"Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope"
[al-Baqarah 2:286]
"Allaah puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him"
[al-Talaaq 65:7]
But if he finds out that he fasted on the days of Eid, he should make
them up, because fastingon the days of Eid is not valid.
But if he finds out later on that that he prayed or fasted before the
proper time, then he hasto repeat the fast or prayer.
It says inal-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah(28/84-85):
The majority of fuqaha' are of the view that if the months all seem to
be the same to a person, the fast of Ramadaan is not waived in his
case, rather it is still obligatory because he remains accountable and
the ruling still applies to him.
If he tries to work it out and he fasts, then one ofthe following five
scenarios must apply to him:
1 – The problem continues and he cannotfind out, so he does not know
whether he managed to fast at the time of Ramadaan or before it or
after it. In this case his fast is valid and he does not have to
repeat it, because he didhis best, and he is not required to do any
morethan that.
2 – The fast of the prisoner coincided with Ramadaan, so that is acceptable.
3 – If his fast happened to be after Ramadaan, that is also acceptable
according to the majority of fuqaha'.
4 – There are two possibilities with the fourth scenario:
(i)If he started fasting before Ramadaan, and he finds out about that
before Ramadaan comes, then he must fastwhen Ramadaan comes, and there
is no difference of opinion among the scholars concerning that.
(ii)If he started fasting before Ramadaan and he did not find out
about that until after it had finished. There are two opinions as to
whether this is acceptable:
(a)It is not acceptable for Ramadaan, rather he has to make it up.
This is the view of the Maalikis and Hanbalis.
(b)It is acceptable as Ramadaan, just as if the pilgrims are uncertain
ofthe day of 'Arafah and they observe the standing before the day.This
is the view of some of the Shaafa'is.
5 – If the fast of the prisoner coincides with one part of Ramadaan
and not the other; that which coincides with Ramadaan or comes after
it is acceptable, and that which comes before it is not acceptable.
End quote.
See:al-Majmoo'(3/72-73)andal-Mughni(3/96)
And Allaah knows best.

Moral Stories, - Perseverance, Persistenceand Determination in Islam - Never Give Up(Perseverance in Islam)

A man woke up early in order to pray the Fajr (Morning) prayer in the
Masjid (Mosque). He got dressed, made his Wudhu(ablution) and was on
hisway to the Masjid.
On his way to the Masjid, the man fell and his clothes got dirty. He
got up, brushed himself off, and headed back home. At home, he changed
his clothes, made his ablution, and was, again,on his way to the
Masjid. On his way to the Masjid, he fell again and at the same spot!
He, again, got up, brushed himself off and headed home. At home he,
once again, changed his clothes, made his ablution and was on his way
to the Masjid.
On his way to the Masjid, he met a man holding a lamp. He asked the
man of his identity and the man replied "I saw you fall twice on your
way to the Masjid, so I brought alamp so I can light your way." The
first man thanked him profoundly and the two were on their way to the
Masjid.
Once at the Masjid, the first man asked the man with the lamp to come
in and pray Fajr with him. The second man refused. The first man asked
him acouple more times and, again, the answer was the same. The first
man asked him why he did not wish to come in and pray.
The man replied "I am Shaitan (Satan)." The man was shocked at this
reply. Shaitan (Satan) went on to explain, "I saw you on your way to
the Masjid and it was I who made you fall. Whenyou went home, cleaned
yourself and went back on your way to the Masjid, Allah (SWT) forgave
all of your sins. I made you fall a second time, and even that did not
encourage you to stay home, but rather, you went back on your way to
the Masjid. Because of that, Allah (SWT) forgave all the sins of the
people of your household. I was afraid ifI made you fall one more
time, then Allah (SWT) will forgive the sins of the people of your
village, so I made sure that you reached the Masjid safely."
Moral:Do not let Shaitan (Satan) benefit from his actions. Do not put
off a good that you intended to do as you never know how much reward
you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to
achieve that good.

Moral Stories, - Persistent Determination:You are not inferior to anAnt - Never Give Up(Perseverance in Islam)

Tamerlane! Amir Timur was a great Mongolian King and great great
grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynastyin India. He
was one of the bravest and greatest warriors born in present
Uzbekistan. He had conquered nearly half of the world known at that
time. His courage was great. Amir Taimur, was someone who was so firm
and unfaltering in every predicament, that he did not cower from any
misfortune. He learntfrom an Ant not to loose courage. He tells his
own story as follows.
Once he was fighting a battle. He was defeated. He had to run away to
the mountains to save hislife. He hid himself in a safe place. Tired
and hungry he sat at one place quietly watching little things around
him. He noticed an Ant working. The Ant was carrying a grain of rice
much bigger than itself. With this load the Ant tried to climb up a
wall. The grain fell down. The Ant came down and liftedthe grain once
again. It started to climb the wall. Again the grain fell downand
again it went down to try. The Ant did not loose courage. It tried
again and again. The King tells us that the Ant tried thirty three
times until it succeeded in taking the grain up the wall. The King
learnt a lesson. Man looses courage. He was weak. He must grow strong.
I said to myself: O' Taimur! You are by no means inferior to an Ant.
Arise and get back to work. So heartened, he went about collecting
hisrun-away soldiers and officers. He rebuilt his army. He fought yet
another battle. He won. Thereafter, one success after another came to
him. He had learnt not to loose courage. He continued to battle until
he became a great King.
Constant effort is the key to success. Ants know their lesson. Men
have to learn. Never loose courage. Islam teaches true values of life.
It teaches human beings not to despair. Each one must try harder and
achieve greater results inlife.
Noble Qur'an teaches:"And that there is nothingfor man except what he
tried, His efforts shall be seen. And rewarded to fullest extent."
(Sura An-Najm 53:39-41)
Moral:Falling down is notdefeat...defeat is when you refuse to get up...