Errors In Prayers That Must Be Avoided

[KIWI MUSLIM]

29. Neglecting prayer when one is sick or ill. http://www.qss.org/articles/errors/errors.html#RTFToC30

29) Neglecting prayer when one is sick or ill.
Salah is one of the most important pillars of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) never neglected it during his sickness, nor while combating enemies. Prayer must be performed regardless. If one cannot perform ablution for one legal reason or another, then he must perform dry ablution tayammum by patting with his palms a dusty surface, then wiping the face and hands. If he cannot stand up in prayer, he may pray while sitting or lying down on his side. Otherwise, it is enough for him to pray by moving his eyes up for rukoo' and down for sujood, and complete the rest of the prayer postures in the same manner.

[KIWI MUSLIM]

30. Praying in a graveyard http://www.qss.org/articles/errors/errors.html#RTFToC31

30) Praying in a graveyard.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said: Pray not in graveyards, nor sit on graves37.

The format of prayer is enjoined by the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam). No imam or a scholar has the right to alter it by adding to or deleting from it. There is no book of authentic hadeeth or Prophetic tradition reporting that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) commanded men to pray in one way, and women in another. He commanded: Pray as you saw me praying38. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) did not differentiate between men and women in prayer.

Some scholars opine that it is better for women to gather themselves in sujood. As every body knows, prayer is an act of worship, and like every other act of worship, there must be a textual proof for it in the Qur'an or the authentic Sunnah. A future issue of Naseehah will, insha'Allah, include the format of prayer as reported in the authentic traditions. Let us pray to Allah, extolled be His glory, seeking His forgiveness, and asking him to guide us to the straight path. Aameen.