Prayer Of A Hanafi Behind Another Imam

[ColonelHardstone]

http://www.muftisays.com/blog/Muadh_Khan/3150_22-01-2013/prayer-of-a-hanafi-behind-another-imam.html

 

Asslamo Allaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,


Many Muslims who follow the Hanafi Madhab in our times are confused about the matter of praying behind an Imam who is following another Madhab because the method or conditions of Wudhu or prayer is different to the Hanafi Madhab. Firstly, please understand that the four (4) Madhabs are based on Ahadeeth and actions of Sahaba (RA) and the later generations and in the earliest generations of Islam we find no precedence of believers refusing to pray behind each other. Secondly, this issue can only be discussed with respect to Aqeedah (creedal differences) or Fiqh (jurisprudence differences) and Hanafi Ulamah have spoken with regards to both.

Aqeedah (Creedal point of view):

Imam Tahawi (RA) was a Hanafi, an Imam in Aqeedah and he makes the point sufficiently clear:
 

ونری الصلاۃ خلف کل بر وفاجر من اھل القبلۃ ، ونصلی من مات منھم

 

 

69. We agree with doing the prayer behind any of the People of the Qibla whether rightful or wrongful, and doing the funeral prayer over any of them when they die.

Fiqh (jurisprudence point of view):

Shah Abdul-Aziz [1745-1823] (RA) was the eldest son of Shah Waliullah (RA) and a giant knowledge of Hadeeth & Hanafi Fiqh and an accepted authority, he severally castigates those who question this matter, calls them narrow minded and says that their opinion is not worth listening to. he states in his Fatawa:

Q) Is it permissible for someone following the Hanafi Madhab to follow Shaf’ae, Maliki, Hanbali and all of them in prayer?

A) The prayer of someone following the Hanafi Madhab is permissible and correct behind a Shaf’ae, Maliki, Hanbali and this is because in principle (*) there is no difference between these Madhabs and this command is evident from books of Ahdaeeth & Fiqh but in our times some Ulamah from Transoxiana due to their deficient knowledge hold “Taa’sub” and talk about this matter but their discussions are to be rejected because it is against Fiqh & Aheedth and their personal Ijtehaad and it is absolutely not worth being relied upon or even listening to!

In Makkah Muadhama, this method is being practised upon that people pray behind each other and if this was not the case then what would be the difference between (different) Madhabs of Ahlus-Sunnah and deviant sects? According to Ahlus-Sunnah and all trustworthy and major Fuqaha truth is encircled within the four (4) Madhabs and this matter should be looked into authentic books of principle so the heart finds content (in it).

Urdu Fatwa

(*) Here he means that all four Madhabs are part of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jamaah in principle and not that principles within the Madhabs are the same!



Issue of Imam wiping on Thin Socks? Caught in a situation?

I am being bombarded with emails so here is a quick response.

According to Hanbali Madhab the socks which are deemed suitable for Mas'ah simply need to be thick enough for the underlying skin to not be discernible. Basically: thickness is a quality that is not sought in and of itself; thus it is neither sought in and of itself nor is it something quantitative. So what follows is that regardless of the "thickness" or the "thinness" of the material: as long as the color of the underlying skin is not discernible, then it is considered "thick".

Prayer is permissible according to Shaykh (Mufti) Rafi Usmani (HA):

Ulamah of Yorkshire put this question to Shaykh (Mufti) Rafi Usmani (HA) about praying behind someone on an occasion and he (HA) responded that an assumption should be made that the Imam is following conditions of Hanbali Madhab and prayer will be valid and doesn't need to be repeated. I have personally checked and verified this.

Prayer is permissible according to Shaykh (Mufti) Mahmoud Usmani (HA):

This is what Shaykh Mahmoud Usmani said, emphasizing that we have not been made morally responsible to pry into the affairs of others, especially when doing so entails undue hardship, and that the default assumption regarding all human actions (as explained by Imam Abul Hasan al-Karkhi, the great Hanafi faqih) is that they are valid and sound, and we are expected to interpret them in such a manner whenever possible.

Or assume that his socks are thick enough (e.g. in the Hanbali school, whose conditions are less taxing than the others in this matter).

Issue of Imam wiping on Thin Socks? When an alternative is available?

As a believer you are supposed to leave alone matters which places doubt in your heart so the superior method would be for you to remove doubt from your worship and if there is another congregation available then you should opt to pray behind an Imam who is not wiping on thin socks according to Hanafi Madhab.

 

 

عن أبي محمد الحسن بن على بن ابي طالب سبط رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وريحانته رضي الله عـنهـما ، قـال : حـفـظـت مـن رســول الله صلى الله عـليـه وسلم :
دع ما يـريـبـك إلى ما لا يـريـبـك

 

 

 

On the authority of Abu Muhammad al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Taib, the grandson of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ëalayhi wasallam, and who is dearest to him, radiyallahu ëanhuma, who said: I committed to memory from the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ëalayhi wasallam, (the following words): Leave that about which you are in doubt for that about which you are in no doubt. [At-Tirmidhi]

[ColonelHardstone]

Blog updated with queries about thin socks...

[ummtaalib]

Assalaamu 'alaykum ww

Very important topic but is it possible to summarise the various points in a simple Question/Answer format for laypersons to undertsand without going into the full discussion?

[ummtaalib]

 

Witr Prayer Behind An Imam Who Seperates the Three Raka'aat

 

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Badat - Mathabah Foundation

Question:

 

Being a follower of the Quran & Sunnah according to the Hanafi methodology, I perform the witr prayer in three raka’aats, two sittings, with the concluding salams at the end of the three raka’aats. I am planning Umrah in Ramadan and was wondering if my witr prayer would be valid behind an imam who performs the witr prayer in such a way where there are two sets of salams in the three raka’aats, one set after the second raka’ah, and the other at the end of the third raka’ah. Would I have to repeat the witr prayer for it to be valid?

 

Answer:

 

Jazak Allah for contacting the Mathabah Foundation for your query. Masha Allah, on your upcoming Umrah trip, during the blessed month of Ramadan.

In response to your concern, kindly note that the differences of opinion amongst the reliable jurists, are not that of truth and falsehood. Rather they are simply differences of preference and correctness; hence it would be permissible to follow an Imam (in salah) who differs in the furooaat (minor matters of deen). One can perform the prayer in the same manner as how such an imam would be leading the prayer. There would be no need to repeat the witr prayer or perform separately, as I personally have seen some people do.

The great Hanafi jurist and commentator of the Glorious Quran, Imam Abu Bakr Al Jassas Al Razi has permitted a Hanafi to follow a Shafie Imam, who performs the witr prayer with fasl (separation in the three raka’aats). (See Nawaazil Fiqhiyyah Muaasirah)

Imam Ibn Al Humaam states, “The Hanafi following behind one who conducts salams at the conclusion of two raka’aats in witr, is permissible; he is also permitted to perform with him the remainder (one raka’ah). This is because the imam (leading), according to his fiqh, has not exited the Salah by the salam”. (Fath Al Qadeer, Al Bahr Al Raaiq)

The Prophet (pbuh) stated, “The imam (who leads the prayer) is responsible” (Sunan Al Kubra)

 

taken from: http://www.muftisays.com/forums/sharing-portal/7236/prayer-of-a-hanafi-behind-another-imam.html?pg=3

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