Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Imāmat, the Excellence of Ẓuhar's Nawāfil, and Twenty Valid Reasons for Missing Jamā'at

How is it to Offer Ṣalāh wearing a Half Sleeved Shirt?

Despite having other clothes, offering Ṣalāh wearing a half-sleeved shirt is Makrūh-e-Tanzīhī. Ḥaḍrat Ṣadrush-Sharī'ah, Muftī Muḥammad Amjad 'Alī A'ẓamī عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ القَوِيّ says, 'Offering Ṣalāh wearing a half-sleeved shirt or a vest despite having other clothes is Makrūh-e-Tanzīhī; if there are no other clothes, there is no repugnance.'

(Fatāwā-e-Amjadiyyah, pp. 193, vol. 1)

Muftī-e-A'ẓam Pakistan Ḥaḍrat Qiblah Muftī Waqār-ud-Dīn Qādirī Raḍavī عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ القَوِيّ says, 'A half-sleeved shirt is assumed as labour-clothes (and a person, in labour-clothes, normally hesitates in coming in front of the nobility). Therefore, the one who hesitates to come in front of others in the labour-clothes, his Ṣalāh will become Makrūh-e-Tanzīhī whereas the one who does not hesitate to do so, his Ṣalāh will not become Makrūh-e-Tanzīhī.'

(Waqār-ul-Fatāwā, vol. 2, pp. 246)

The Excellence of Last two Nafl of Ẓuhar

It is Mustaḥab to offer four Rak'at at a blessed Ḥadīś says, 'Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ will render fire Ḥarām for the one regularly offering four (Rak'at) before and four (Rak'at) after Ẓuhar.'

(Jāmi' Tirmiżī, vol. 1, Ḥadīś 428)

Commenting on the foregoing Ḥadīś, Imām Ṭaḥṭāvī عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ القَوِيّ says that such a person would not enter fire at all, his sins would be deleted and Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ would make the one whose rights he may have violated pleased with him. Or the Ḥadīś implies that Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ will enable him to perform such deeds which will not lead to punishment. (Ḥāshiya-tut-Taḥṭāvī ala Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 284, vol. 1) Ḥaḍrat 'Allāmah Shāmī عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ القَوِيّ says, 'There is a glad-tiding for him (the one offering two Nawāfil of Ẓuhar) that he would die with faith and would not enter the Hell.'

(Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 547, vol. 2)

Dear Islamic brothers! اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ! We offer ten Rak'at of Ẓuhar Ṣalāh daily; if we offer two more Rak'at Nafl Ṣalāh at the end, completing twelve Rak'at in connection with the sacred number of twelfth of Rabī'-un-Nūr, it would take much time. Make the intention of offering two Nafl Ṣalāh regularly.

Imāmat

There are six pre-conditions of Imāmat for leading those who are not disabled, i.e. leading those who do not have Shar'ī disability. The pre-conditions include:

1.     Being a Muslim with correct Islamic beliefs

2.     Being an adult

3.     Being Sane

4.     Being male

5.     Being correct in recitation of the Holy Qurān

6.     Not being disabled.

(Nūr-ul-Iidah, pp. 73, Bahār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 560, vol. 1)

Conditions of Following an Imām

1.     Intention

2.     Doing Iqtidā (act of following an Imām) and making its intention at the time of Taḥrīmah. The intention can be made before the Taḥrīmah as well provided no such irrelevant act that separates the intention and Taḥrīmah is done.

3.     The Imām as well as Muqtadī's being in the same place

4.     The Ṣalāh of both (the Imām as well as the Muqtadī) has to be the same or Muqtadī's Ṣalāh has to be inclusive in Imām's Ṣalāh.

5.     According to Muqtadī's school of thought, Imām's Ṣalāh's being valid

6.     The Imām as well as Muqtadī's considering the Ṣalāh valid

7.     A woman's not standing next to a man (Subject to certain conditions).

8.     Muqtadī's not being ahead of the Imām

9.     (Muqtadī's) Being aware of Imām's Intiqālāt (transitions)

10. Muqtadī's knowing that the Imām is a resident or a traveller

11. Muqtadī's participating in performing the units of Ṣalāh

12. Muqtadī's being equivalent or inferior as compared to Imām in performing units of Ṣalāh

13. Similarly, Muqtadī's not being superior to Imām in attributes (of Ṣalāh).

(Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 338, vol. 2) (Bahār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 562, vol. 1)

The Imām should make the Following Announcement after Iqāmat

Straighten the Ṣaf (row) by positioning your heels, necks and shoulders in the same alignment. Leaving space between two men is a sin. Making the shoulders touch with others' is Wājib. Straightening the Ṣaf is Wājib. Unless the front Ṣaf is complete up to its ends, deliberately starting Ṣalāh at a rear Ṣaf is the abandonment of a Wājib, Ḥarām and a sin. Do not let minors (aged less than 15 years) stand in the Ṣafs, nor ask them to stand at the corners of the Ṣaf; the Ṣaf for minors should be made at the end.

(For detailed information refer to Fatāwā-e-Razavīyyah, vol. 7, pp. 219 to 225, Razā Foundation Lahore)

Jamā'at (Congregational Prayer)

It is Wājib for a sane, adult, free and capable person to attend the primary Jamā'at of the Masjid. The one missing Jamā'at even once without a valid reason is a sinner and deserving of punishment. If he abandons Jamā'at many times, he is a transgressor and unqualified to give evidence and he will be punished severely. If his neighbours remain silent (did not adopt any strategy to reform him) they will also be sinners.

(Durr-e-Mukhtār, Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 340, vol. 2, Ghunyah, 508)

Some of the Honourable Scholars رَحِمَهُمُ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی say that the one waiting for the Iqāmat staying at home having heard the Ażān is a sinner and his evidence will not be accepted.

(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah, Jad Īd, pp. 102, vol. 7)

Twenty Valid Reasons for Missing Jamā'at

1.     The patient having difficulty in getting to the Masjid.

2.     A disabled person

3.     The one whose leg has been cut

4.     A paralysed person

5.     The one who is too old to get to the Masjid.

6.     A blind person, even if there is someone who can take the blind person to the Masjid by holding his hand.

7.     Heavy rain

8.     Too much mud (that is an obstruction for the Muṣallī to get to the Masjid).

9.     Chilly weather

10. Extreme darkness

11. Tornado

12. Fear of the loss of possessions or food

13. Fear of a creditor and he is not in a position to pay back

14. Fear of an oppressor

15. Intense need of defecating

16. Urinating or

17. Breaking wind

18. Presence of food (with a desire of eating).

19. Fear of the departure of caravan

20. Looking after a patient who will be distressed and confused if the attendant goes to offer Ṣalāh with Jamā'at.

All these are the valid reasons for not attending the Jamā'at.

(Durr-e-Mukhtār, Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 347, 349, vol. 2)

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