['Aalim Network QR] Hadith on Salaat

["Akil M. Karim" <amk@ican.net>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salamun 'Alaykum

The following question was kindly answered by Br. Shaun.


Fee Amaanillah,

Akil Karim
Moderator - 'Aalim Network

 
---------- Forwarded message ----------
 
QUESTION:
 
I have been discussing with some people who do not beleive in Hadith, and
they claim that they get ALL guidance from the Qur'an. When I stated
(among other things) that there are no details of the amount of Rakats
needed in each prayer, they responded that there are no such details in
Hadith either.  Please could you help me prove them wrong.  Could you
please send all Hadith, relating to the Prophet where he SPECIFICALLY
mentions the amount of Rakats, or every detail of Namaz.  Could you
mention Hadith from both Sunni and Shia sources, and also provide the
full reference including Isnad, etc. Jazakallah
 
 
ANSWER:
 
Bismihi Ta'ala
 
It is true that Allah (swt) did not miss anything in the holy book:
 
        "nothing have we omitted from the book" [7:38]
 
In it are commandments which are clear and other meanings which are
obscure, requiring certain proper interpretation, which is only possesed
by certain persons who are deeply rooted in knowledge. Among whom is the
Holy Prophet (s), no doubt, as the holy ayah clearly reads:
 
        "He it is who has sent down to thee the book: in it are verses
         basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the
         foundation of the book: others are allegorical. but those in whose
         hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical,
         seeking discord, and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one
         knows its hidden meanings except Allah and those who are firmly
         grounded in knowledge say: we believe in the book; the whole of it
         is from our lord: and none will grasp the message except men of
         understanding." [3:7]
 
Allah further instructs us to ask those possessing the "knowlege" (Ahlul
Dhikr) in these other ayahs:
 
        "And before thee also the apostles we sent were but men, to whom we
         granted inspiration: if ye realize this not, ask of those who
         possess the message." [16:43]
 
         "Before thee, also, the apostles we sent were but men, to whom we
         granted inspiration: if ye realize this not, ask of those who
         possess the message." [21:7]
 
Therefore, the Quran if left to the interpretation of just anyone
without the checks and balances of hadith and tradition to constrain the
proper meanings, then there is no assurance that the interpretation is
more than the whims of the interpretor.
 
As to the details of prayer, There are literally 100's of hadiths which
discuss fragments of prayer details. For the Shi'a one book alone:
"Wasael al-Shi'a" has five volumes of hadith strictly on prayers.  And
the supplement to it: "Mustadrak al-Wasael" has four more.  I will mention
the reference to just one hadith which describes the daily prayers in
details when the prophet (s) received his instruction from Allah (swt)
during the Israa & Mi'raj.  It is too long to include the hadith itself
here.  Here is the Isnad:
 
Al-Hurr al-'Amili, "Wasael al-Shi'a", v5 , p465-468, #7086.
 
Muhammad bin Ali bin al-Husain from his father, and Muhammad bin
al-Hasan bin Ahmad bin al-Waleed from Saad bin Abdullah from Muhammad
bin Isa from Muhammad bin Abi Umair and Muhammad bin Sinan together,
from al-Sabah al-Mazani and Sadeer al-Sairafi and Muhammad bin al-Noeman
Moemin al-Taq and Umar bin Uthainah althogether from Abi Abdullah
(Jaafar al-Sadiq [as]).
 
Also by way of Muhammad bin al-Hasan from al-Saffar and Saad together
from Muhammad bin al-Husain bin Abi al-Khattab and Yaaqoub bin Yazid and
Muhammad bin Isa, althogether; from Abdullah bin Jabala from al-Sabah
al-Mazani and Sadeer al-Sairafi and Muhammad bin Noeman al-Ahwal and
Umar bin Uthaina from Abi 'Abdullah (Jaafar al-Sadiq [as]).
 
For Sunni hadith sources Al-Bukhari (v3), Muslim and others have
chapters on Prayer and Time of Prayers. Here is a sample:
 
Sahih Muslim Hadith # 1278  narrated by Buraydah:
 
"Someone asked the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) about the time
of prayer.  Upon this he said: Pray with us these two, meaning for two
days. When the sun passed the meridian, he gave the command to Bilal who
uttered the call to prayer, then he commanded him to pronounce the
Iqamah for noon prayer. (Then at the time of the afternoon prayer) he
again gave the command and the Iqamah for the afternoon prayer was
pronounced when the sun was high, white and clear. He then commanded, and
Iqamah for the evening prayer was pronounced, when the sun had set. He
then gave him the command and the Iqamah for the night prayer was
pronounced when the twilight had disappeared. Later he gave him the
command and the Iqamah for the morning prayer was pronounced when the
dawn had appeared.  When it was the next day, he commanded him to delay
the noon prayer until the extreme heat had passed and he did so, and he
allowed it to be delayed till the extreme heat had passed. He observed
the afternoon prayer when the sun was high, delaying it beyond the time
he had previously observed it. He observed the evening prayer before the
twilight had vanished; he observed the night prayer when a third of the
night had passed; and he observed the dawn prayer when there was clear
daylight.  He (the Holy Prophet) then said: Where is the man who
inquired about the time of prayer?  He (the inquirer) said: Messenger of
Allah! Here I am.  He (the Holy Prophet) said: The time for your prayer
is within the limits of what you have seen."


Combining of the Dhuhr and Asr together in the shared time and the Maghrib
and Ishaa together at night has also been reported in many hadiths. The same
hadiths tell of the number of Rukaas in four of the daily prayers, too.

One of many from Bukhari (v1, p286, #510) narrated by Ibn Abbas:  "The
prophet (s) prayed, in Madina, Seven and Eight - Dhuhr & 'Asr and Maghrib &
'Ishaa.  Ayyoub said: perhaps on a rainy night? He said: perhaps."

Another variation in Bukhari (v1, p292, #529) from Ibn Abbas: "The prophet
(s) prayed seven together and eight together."


Wa Salla Allahu ala Muhammad wa ala Alihi al Tahireen
 
Wassalam,

Shaun Astarabadi