Why We Can’t Attach Our Feet In Salaah

…and from it is the saying of Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, in a Sunnah from the Sunan of Salaat; and it is the spacing in the Salaat; that a Muslim stands beside his Muslim brother and attaches his feet, knees and shoulders to his brother without being excessive or negligent, as was legislated by the Messenger – salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – who said:

“You will straighten your lines or Allaah will separate between your hearts or faces.”

This is why when the hearts have become separated during this time, so did the feet. Why is it that we can’t attach our feet to each other’s feet? It is because our hearts are detached from one another, if our hearts were attached to one another, our feet would also be attached. This is why if a person who loves you and whom you love were to put his foot over yours, you would not get upset, you would not say; ‘why is he bothering me’, this is because your heart loves him. But because there is a detachment between you and him, you cannot stand that he attaches his foot to yours let alone that he puts his foot over yours.

This is why Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, when he describes his state at the time of the Messenger of Allaah – salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – and his state after that, he says; “At the time of the Messenger – salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – we would attach our feet to our brother’s feet, and our knees to our brother’s knees, and our shoulders to our brother’s shoulders, in obedience to the Messenger’s orders – salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, but if we were to do so today, he would escape like an obstinate mule.”

By Allaah I saw with my own eyes here in Madeenah, a man wanted to attach his foot to his brother’s foot, by Allaah his brother cut his Salaat, he cut his Salaat and left the whole first line and went to the second line. He left the first line to escape this Sunnah, and the cause of this is ignorance, may Allaah preserve you. This is why we must teach the people the Sunnah of the Prophet – salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.


Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil Wahhaab Al Aqeel | Reference: Audio Tape | Source: SubulasSalaam

The Etiquette and Rules of the Masjid

Islam made the Masjid the heartbeat of the Muslim society. It is the hangout of Muslims where they meet one another daily not to perform the prayers only but also for other acts of worship and activities that are beneficial for the Muslim community.

The prophet (S.A.W.) taught us that the Masajid are Allah's houses and that they have etiquette and rules that should be learned and upheld by every Muslim. We should teach our families and children these rules and remind other Muslims to uphold these rules. This guarantees the Masajid play their roles properly and effectively that they were designed for.

The etiquette and rules include:

1-The Muslim should avoid every thing that has an offensive smell like garlic, onion, or smoking. And the Muslim should wear clean clothes and socks when he comes to the Masjid so that he does not offend any of the angels or Muslims around him with an offensive smell. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said: "Who ever eats garlic, onion, then keeps away from our Masjid because the angels get offended from what offends the children of Adam." Imam Muslim reported that Omar (R.A.) used to say while he on the Minbar: "I saw the prophet (S.A.W.) when he found their smell (garlic, onion) from a man in the Masjid, he ordered him to be taken out." then Omar said: "If you must eat them, then cook them well."

2- The Muslim should say a supplication, which the prophet used to say while on his way to the Masjid. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) used to say: "O Allah, make in my heart light, in my vision light, on my right light, behind me light, in my nerves light, in my flesh light, in my blood light, in my hair light, and in my skin light."

3- The Muslim should enter the Masjid with his right foot first, and then say what was reported by Imam Muslim, the prophet (S.A.W.) used to say: "Besmellah. In the name of Allah, O Allah, open for me the gates of your mercy." The prophet (S.A.W.) used to like to start with his right in every thing. Imam Bukhari reported that "Ibn Omar (R.A.) used to step with his right foot first when he entered the Masjid, and step out with his left foot first when he walked out of the Masjid." If there is a group of people who want to enter the Masjid at the same time, then the one on the right should go in first to uphold the Sunnah of the prophet (S.A.W.).

4- The Muslim should give Salam to the people as he enters the Masjid, even if the people are praying, because the companions used to give Salam to the prophet (S.A.W.) while he is in his prayer, and he used to reply with a hand gesture. There are many Ahadith about that, among which reported by Imams Bukhari and Muslim that Souhaib (R.A.) said: "I passed by the prophet (S.A.W.) while he was praying and gave Salam to him, he replied to me with a gesture." And Ibn Omar (R.A.) asked Bilal (R.A.): How did you see the prophet (S.A.W.) reply to them (his companions) when they gave Salam to him while he was engaged in prayer?" Bilal said: "By spreading his palm."

5- The one who inters the Masjid should not run to catch up with a Rak'ah, rather he should remain quiet because the prophet (S.A.W.) forbade running in such a situation. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said: "If the prayer started, then do not join it running, and join it walking and quiet, and pray whatever you caught up with, and make up for what you missed."

6- The Muslim should not distract other praying Muslims in the Masjid, because the praying Muslim is in contact with Allah (S.W.T.) so he should not be distracted not even with reciting Qur'an, supplication, or remembrance of Allah. Imam Ahmad reported Abdullah bin Omar (R.A.) narrated that the prophet (S.A.W.) saw some people praying, and they became loud in their prayer. He said: "The praying parson is in contact with his Lord, so let him concentrate on whom he is in contact with, and do not raise your voices over one another with Qur’an."

Raising voices while talking is not allowed while Muslims are praying. Imam Bukhari reported that Assa'eb (R.A.) said: "I was in the Masjid, and a man called me, I turned to him and there was Omar (R.A.). And he said: "Bring me these two men", then I brought them to him. Omar asked: "Where are you from? They replied from the people of At-Ta'ef. He said: "If you were from the people of Al-Madinah, I would have hurt you because you raised your voices in the Masjid of the messenger of Allah (S.A.W.)."

7- The one who inters the Masjid should not sit until he prays two Rak'ahs. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said: "When one of you enters the Masjid, he should pray two Rak'ah before sitting down." There are other Ahadith with the same meaning.

8- The Muslim should place something in front of him during prayer as a barrier between him and the passersby in front of him, and that he gets closer to it as the prophet used to do. Imam Bayhaqi reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said: "If you pray, then pray toward sutrah (some barrier) and get closer to it." So if you enter the Masjid and want to pray, then get closer to the wall of Qiblah so much that there is just enough room between you and the wall to pray. If you prostrate, there should be no room between your prostration spot and the wall more than a sheep pass. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that: "Between the place of his prostration (S.A.W.) and the wall there was no room more than sheep pass." In another Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari when the prophet (S.A.W.) used to pray, he leave between him and the wall three arm lengths." If you find people already at the wall of the Qiblah, then pray behind one of them because he will be as a sutrah for you like the companions used to do.

9- The Muslim should not pass in front of the praying Muslim. Imams Bukhari, Muslim and others reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said: "If the passer in front of the praying person knew how much sin he committed, it would have been better for him to wait for forty than to pass in front of him."

10- The Muslim should sit where he finds a place in the Masjid. The Muslim should not skip people or squeeze himself between two people who are already sitting. Many Ahadith conveyed this meaning.

11- The Muslim should keep himself busy supplicating and remembering Allah (S.W.T.) while he is sitting in the Masjid, because he is in the prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer.

12- The Muslim should keep the Masjid clean and in good shape and smell because it is the house of Allah (S.W.T.). The prophet (S.A.W.) considered spitting in the Masjid to be a sin that could be forgiven only if the Muslim cleans the area. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said: "Spitting in the Masjid is a sin and its expiation is clean it." When the prophet (S.A.W.) saw a spit in the Masjid, he used to remove it with a stone. The companions of the prophet (S.A.W.) used keep the Masjid clean. Imam Abu Dawod reported that Abdullah bin Omar (R.A.) used to put perfume inside the Masjid when Omar (R.A.) sat on the Minbar to deliver Friday speech.

13- The Muslims should keep away from the Masjid all selling and buying transactions and crying out about something lost. Imams At-Tirmthi and An-Nisa'i reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said: "If you see some one selling or buying inside the Masjid, say to him: May Allah not make your trading profitable. And if you see someone crying out inside the Masjid something he has lost, say to him: May Allah not restore it to you, for the Masajid were not built for this."

14- The Muslim should not walk out of the Masjid after the Athan before he prays with the Muslims. This is even if he already prayed that obligatory prayer (which will be considered a Nafelah (extra) when he prays with the other Muslims). Imam Ahmad reported that Abu Hurairah (R.A.) said: the prophet (S.A.W.) ordered us, when we are in the Masjid and the Salah is called for, not to leave the Masjid until we pray."

15- The Muslim should say Salam to the people before he leaves the Masjid. Imams Abu-Dawoud, and At-Tirmith reported in a good hadith that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said, "When one of you joins a gathering he should greet those present; and when he leave them he should greet them because the first salutation is not better than the last one."

16- The Muslim should leave the Masjid start with his left foot first and say what the prophet (S.A.W.) use to say: "Bismillah, In the name of Allah, O Allah open for me the gates of your blessings, o Allah protect me from Satan."

Salah In The Quran

By Shaykh Ibrahim Memon Madani

1. Establishing Salah Develops Taqwa (Fear and Awareness of Allah) “This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guidance for those who have taqwa; who believe in the unseen, and who establish Salah, and spend out of what we have provided for them” (2: 2-3)
2. Salah Is the Sign of a Believer “The believers, men and women, are protecting friends of one another; they enjoin good and forbid evil, and they establish Salah, and give Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them, and surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (9: 71)
3. Establishing Salah Leads to Allah’s Eternal Blessings “So whatever you have been given is but (a passing) enjoyment for this worldly life, but that which is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord. And those who avoid the great sins and lewdness, and when they are angry, they forgive. And those who answer the Call of their Lord, and perform the Salah, and who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation, and who spend of what We have bestowed on them.” (42:36-38)
4. Those Who Pray Shall Have Nothing to Fear on the Day of Judgment “Truly, those who believe and do righteous deeds, and perform Salah, and give Zakah, they will have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (2:277)
5. Remain in Allah’s remembrance after prayer “When have finished performing the Salah, remember Allah standing, sitting, and reclining, but when you are free from danger, perform the Salah. Surely, Salah is enjoined on the believers at fixed times.” (4:103)
6. Command to Pray with Congregation “And establish Salah and give Zakah, and bow down (in worship) along with those who bow down (in worship)” (2:43)
7. Special Command Regarding Punctuality of Prayer “Guard strictly the Salah, especially the middle Salah. And stand before Allah with obedience.” (2:238)
8. Allah’s Help Comes Through Salah “Seek help through patience and Salah; truly it is extremely difficult except for the humble true believers.” (2:45)
“Oh you who believe! Seek help through patience and Salah. Truly, Allah is with those who are patient.” (2:153)
9. Special Emphasis on Friday Prayer “Oh you who believe! When the call is made for the Salah on Friday, come to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is better for you, if you only knew! And when the Salah has ended, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allah, and remember Allah much so that you may be successful.” (62:09-10)
10. Shaytaan Tries His Best in Finding Ways to Take You Away from Salah “Shaytaan desires only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from Salah. So will you then not abstain (from these evils)?” (5:91)
11. Prayer Protects Against Evils “Recite that which has been revealed to you of the Book, and perform Salah. Verily, Salah prevents from lewdness and evils. And indeed, the remembrance of Allah (by you) is greatest. And Allah knows what you do.” (29:45)
12. Friendship Should Be with Those Who Pray “Indeed, your protecting friend (Wali) is none other than Allah, His Messenger, and the Believers who establish Salah, and give Zakat, and bow down (in prayer). (5: 55)
13. Allah’s Special Order to Women “And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform Salah, and give Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove uncleanness from you, Oh people of the House, and to purify you with a thorough purification.” (33:33)
14. Hypocrites Are Lazy in Salah “Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He who deceives them; When they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness, only to be seen by men; and they do not remember Allah but a little.” (4:142)
15. Laziness in Prayers Leads to Rejection of Sadaqa “And nothing prevents their Sadaqa from being accepted from them, except that they disbelieve in Allah and in His Messenger, and that they do not come to Salah except in a lazy manner, and that they do not give Sadaqa except unwillingly.” (9:54)
16. Leaving Salah Leads to Shirk “(And remain always) turning to Him (only), and be fearful and dutiful towards Him, and perform Salah and be not of those who commit Shirk.” (30: 31)
17. Previous Nations Were Corrupted when Salah Was Left “Then, there came after them a generation who gave up Salah and followed lusts; so they will be thrown in Hell.” (19: 59)