['Aalim Network QR] Salaat - References for Certain Acts

["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:
 
The following question has been asked by an inmate from State Prison in
California and shall be grateful to be provided with an answer: "Did Prophet
Muhammad [s.a.w.a.] ever salute the Angels during his prayers according to
the Shias?  Where can I find the authorities to support it or negate it? Not
only that, but the Sunnis give many authorities on witnesses as to how the
Prophet Muhammad [s.a.w.a.] performed his prayers.  Is there such a book of
Hadiths that give authorities in support as to how Muhammad [s.a.w.a.]
performed his prayers according to Shias?  Like the way he held his arms and
hands [hands in front of his thighs or arms folded right over left] and support
that he salaamed out with 3 takbirs while raising his hands to his ears each
time?"

If you will kindly quote the hadiths with references it will be appreciated.


ANSWER:

Here is a hadith about the takbir 3 times and it also has an indication that
the Prophet (s) said the salam after the prayer.

[chain] ... by the way of Mufadhdhal bin Omar, who said: "I asked Abi
Abdullah [Jaafar al-Sadiq] (as): For what reason does the one who prays say
takbir, rasing his hands three times, after the salam?  He said: Because the
Prophet (s) when he opened Mecca [conquest of Mecca], he prayed with his
companions the noon prayer at the Black Stone
[Hajarul Aswad]. When he said the Salam he raised his hands and did takbir
three times; and said: La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu wahdah, anjaza wa'dah, wa
nasara 'abdah, wa a'azza jundah, wa ghalaba al-ahzaba wahdah. Fa lahul mulk
wa lahul hamd, yuhyi wa yumeet wa huwa 'ala kulli shay-in qadeer.  Then he
went towards his companions and said: Don't abandon this takbir and this
saying after each written prayer, because whoever does this after the Salam
and says this saying has delivered what is required of him from the thanks
to Almighty Allah for strengthening Islam and its army."

o Al-Hurr al-'Amili, "Wasael al-Shi'a", v6, p452, #8420
o Sheikh al-Sadouq, "Ilal al-Sharae'", p360, Sec78.

As to the details of how to pray, our Imams (as), the descendants of the
Prophet (s), have many hadiths where they trained their companions and
followers on how to pray by correction and example.  This information is
easily found in the books of hadith in the Prayer section.  "Wasael
al-Shi'a" is a collection based on the fiqh arrangement of related hadiths.
The prayer section is 5 volumes (#4-8) out of 26 in total. The suppliment
title "Mustadrak al-Wasael" has another 4 volumes of hadiths related to
details of prayers in its various aspects. They also mention the original
source of the material in our other books.

Our Imams' actions and hadiths are those of their fathers and, ultimately,
of their grandfather Prophet Mohammad (s).  They have been known for their
truthfulness, knowledge and piety to both friend and foe.  Therefore, you
will usually see the hadith of the Imam - no need to list the chain of Imams
before him, unless the Imam is narrating from others.

On putting the hands down:

[chain] ... from Abi 'Abdullah [al-Husain] (as): "When he prayed, he stood
facing the Qibla, upright, he sent all his hands down on his thigh, keeping
his fingers together, he brought his feet close until they were apart by
three open-fingers' distance and he faced the Qibla with all his toes."

o "Wasael al-Shi'a", v5, p 511, #7194
o Also in the main books of hadith: Al-Kulaini, "Al-Kafi"; Sheikh
al-Sadouq, "Man la Yahdharahu al-Faqih" and "Al-Tahtheeb".

Another hadith from Muhammad al-Baqir (as), he said: "If you get up for
prayer, do not touch your feet together and leave one to five-open fingers
maximum. Drop your shoulders and send your hands down and don't put the
fingers of your hands into each other [right into left]. Put them on your
thigh on the side of your knees.  Make your sight fall on
the location of where you place your head [in sujood].  When you prostrate
[ruku'] keep you feet together a distance of five-open fingers.  And do not
fold you hands, this is the act of Majoos."

o "Wasael al-Shi'a", v5, p 511, #7195
There are about six more in Volume 7.

Imam al-Ridha (as) said: "... and do not put your hands on each
other, but send them straight down, because the folding is of the 
people of the book."

o "Fiqh al-Ridha (as)", p 8


I hope this will suffice.

Wassalam,

Shaun Astarabadi