Detailed Ruling on Tying Hands, Surah Al-Fatiha, Raising Hands, Congregational Dua, and Taraweeh
The Ruling on Tying Hands Below the Navel, Not Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha, Not Raising Hands in Prayer, Performing Congregational Dua, and Praying 20 Rak’ahs of Taraweeh
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
I have a few questions, kindly provide detailed answers.
- If someone ties their hands below the navel, does their prayer become invalid?
- If someone does not recite Surah Al-Fatiha behind the Imam during prayer, is it wrong?
- If someone does not raise their hands in prayer, is that incorrect?
- If someone performs a congregational supplication after the prayer, is it considered an innovation (Bid’ah)?
- If someone prays 20 rak’ahs of Taraweeh instead of 8, is that contrary to the Sunnah?
The scholars and jurists have derived many issues from the Qur’an and Hadith after a lifetime of reflection, and if an ordinary person follows them, does that not constitute proper following (taqleed)? Shouldn’t this be known as following the Ahl al-Hadith approach? And will such people be labeled as non-muqallid (non-followers of a specific madhhab)?
I benefit from the writings of Maulana Maqbool Ahmad Salafi (may Allah preserve him, residing in Ta’if) and hope he can clear my doubts.
Questioner: Muhammad Rabaah
Wa Alaikum Assalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Alhamdulillah Rabbil Aalameen!
First of all, I make a special supplication to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for your comfort and peace, and I pray that you have the opportunity to worship in accordance with the Sunnah of Prophet ﷺ.
The issues you’ve raised have been extensively written about in the subcontinent, and there is little room for further elaboration. I understand that these questions may be causing some confusion, and you seek clarification to feel more at ease in your worship. I will attempt to answer briefly in the hope that your confusion will be resolved. I also make further supplications to Allah for your comfort and guidance.
It is important for every Muslim to learn the method of prayer as taught by Prophet ﷺ, so they can pray correctly. There is an incident of a Bedouin companion who prayed but was told by the Prophet ﷺ two or three times to repeat his prayer, as he had not prayed correctly. The companion asked: “O Messenger of Allah, teach me how to pray correctly.” The Prophet ﷺ then guided him on the correct way of performing wudu and prayer. This guidance included:
فإن كان معك قرآنٌ فاقرأْ به وإلَّا فاحمدِ اللَّهَ وكَبِّرْه وهلِّلْه
(Sunan Abu Dawood: 861)
Translation: “If you have some Qur’an with you, recite it; otherwise, say Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, and La ilaha illallah.”
I specifically mention this part to indicate that if someone does not have the Qur’an or supplications memorized, they should recite Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, and La ilaha illallah during prayer and try to memorize some Qur’anic verses and supplications as soon as possible.
In this context, it is also mentioned:
لا تتمُّ صلاةُ أحدِكم حتَّى يفعلَ ذلِكَ
(Sunan Abu Dawood: 858)
Translation: “The prayer of any one of you will not be complete until they do this.”
This makes it clear that every Muslim should learn the correct way of wudu and prayer so that they can worship as Prophet ﷺ instructed. He said:
صَلُّوا كما رأيتُموني أُصَلِّي
(Sahih Bukhari: 6008)
Translation: “Pray as you have seen me praying.”
Furthermore, any act will not be accepted unless it is done with sincerity and in accordance with the Sunnah. If someone performs acts that go against the Sunnah, their worship lacks the proper alignment with the teachings of Prophet ﷺ. As stated in the hadith above, Prophet ﷺ instructed us to worship in the same manner he did.
Now, if a Muslim is ignorant or has not learned the method of prayer due to negligence and does not know that it is the Sunnah to place the hands on the chest or to recite Surah Al-Fatiha behind the Imam, or does not know that raising hands in prayer is a Sunnah, or that congregational dua after the prayer is not the practice of the Prophet ﷺ, and is unaware of the number of rak’ahs for Taraweeh—then if such a person performs these actions out of ignorance, Allah forgives them. This is based on the following hadith:
إنَّ اللَّهَ وضَعَ عن أمَّتي الخطَأَ والنِّسيانَ وما استُكرِهوا عليهِ
(Sahih Ibn Majah: 1677)
Translation: “Allah has forgiven my Ummah for mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they were forced to do.”
If such actions are done out of ignorance, then the individual should turn to Allah, learn the correct way of worship, and follow the Sunnah. This is the path to success in both this world and the Hereafter.
There comes a stage where a person knows the Sunnah but deliberately avoids following it, for various reasons such as sectarian bias or social fear. In such cases, they are also opposing the Sunnah. There is no place for sectarian bias in religion, nor is there a need to fear people when it comes to worship. If there is a genuine threat to one’s life, that is an exception.
As for the matter of taqleed (following a particular madhhab) and non-taqleed (following the Hadith), this is not a concept in religion. What is required is ittiba’ (following), and that means following the commands of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. The four Imams of Fiqh made great efforts in deriving rulings based on their understanding of the Qur’an and Hadith, and they will be rewarded for their efforts. We love them and benefit from their insights. However, blindly accepting their opinions without evidence is taqleed. What we need to do is follow the proof (evidence) from the Qur’an and Hadith.
We accept what is supported by evidence, whether from the four Imams or scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Qayyim, or Albani (may Allah have mercy on them), and reject anything that contradicts the Sunnah or lacks evidence. This is the true way of following the Messenger ﷺ, which is also reflected in the statements of the great scholars.
And Allah knows best.
Written by,
Maqbool Ahmad Salafi