21) Neglecting to sit in the Iftirash or Tawarruk position in the prayers during the last Tashahhud [i.e. sitting position].
It is praiseworthy to take Iftirash or Tawarruk position only in the last sitting position of prayer, i.e. during the last Tashahhud. So, what is Iftirash and what is Tawarruk ? How do we define them? The Iftirash position is to place the left foot on its side and sitting on it; and keeping the right foot vertical while resting on the bottom of the toes turning them towards the Qibla.
The Tawarruk position is when a person sits with the left posterior on the ground; his right foot placed vertically with toes pointing towards the qibla; and the left foot on its side emerging from under the right foot.
Concerning the Tawarruk position, Hazrat Abu Humayd al-Sa’idi (ra) narrated: “I
have preserved for you the Prophet’s (pbuh) prayer; I saw him… when he would
sit from two Rak’at he would sit on his left foot and raise his right. When he
sat in the final Rak’ah, he would bring forth his left foot [from under the
shin, i.e. the front of the leg below the knee], raise the other, and sit on
his posterior.” (Bukhari)
Following the Hanafi School of thoughts, we Ahmadi Muslims follow the Iftirash position in the sitting position, especially the final one as the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has sat in the Iftirash position in all sitting positions of his prayers for the greater part of his life. Even Imam Tirmidhi has stated this to be the practice of the majority of scholars. As for the few times the Messenger (pbuh) did practice Tawarruk - as some narrations do state - it was either due to weakness and not being able to sit in Iftirash position in the latter part of his life, or it was merely to show to his Companions [Sahaba] that it was permissible for them to do so.
The following Hadiths mention the Messenger of
Allah’s (pbuh) use of the Iftirash position
while sitting in his prayers.
1. Hazrat Aisha (ra) narrated that the
Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would spread his left foot and would keep the right
one standing. (Muslim)
2. Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) narrated: “It
is a Sunnah of prayer that you keep your right foot standing and fold the left
one.” (Bukhari)
3. Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) also narrated
that: “Among the Sunnat of prayer, one is that you keep the right foot
standing with the toes pointed towards the Qibla, and [you] sit on the left
foot.” (An-Nasai)
So, some Hadiths indicate that the
Messenger (pbuh) sat in the Iftirash
position, and other Hadiths indicate that he sat in the Tawarruk position. Hence, we could gauge from this that the
Messenger (pbuh) at one time or another during his blessed life sat in both of
these positions. So, depending on a person’s health condition and ability to do
so, he should follow these two positions and no other position while sitting,
especially in the final sitting.
22) Moving the two palms upon
saying, ‘Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah’ to end prayer.
Some companions like Hazrat Jaabir bin Samurah
(ra): “When we performed prayer with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) we used
to make Tasleem (i.e. saying As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmatullah) while moving
our two palms when ending the prayer towards the right and the left. The
Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to us: ‘Why do you point out with your hands as
if they are the tails of headstrong horses? It is enough for any of you that he
should place his hand on his thigh and then pronounce the salutation upon his
brother to his right side and his left’.” [Muslim and the other authentic Hadith
records]
This narration clarified that the Companions
used to move their two palms when ending the prayer towards the right and the
left, so the Holy Prophet (pbuh) prohibited them from doing that.
23) Counting Tasbih with the left hand.
Our Holy Prophet (pbuh) used to count Tasbih
on the fingers of his right hand after Salah [prayer]. It was narrated that
Hazrat Abdullah bin ‘Amr (ra) said: “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: ‘There
are two characteristics which no Muslim man acquires but he will enter
Paradise. They are easy but those who do them are few. At the end of every
prayer he should glorify Allah (by saying ‘Subhan Allah’) ten times, extol Him
(by saying ‘Allahu Akbar’) ten times, and praise Him (by saying ‘Al Hamdu
Lillah’) ten times.’ I saw the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) counting them on
his hand...” (Ibn Majah)
The Hadith which has been mentioned indicates
clearly that the Prophet (pbuh) used only one hand for counting Tasbih, and
that he used his right hand for Tasbih. No Muslim with sound mind would imagine
that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) used his left hand for counting Tasbih. Hazrat Aisha
(ra) said that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) used his left hand only for cleaning
himself after responding to the call of nature. He never used it for Tasbih.
It was narrated that Hazrat Abdullah bin ‘Amr
(ra) said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) counting tasbih on his
fingers.” (An-Nasai)
Yusayrah, the mother of Yasir (ra) narrated: “The
Prophet (pbuh) commanded them (i.e. the women emigrants) to be regular (in
remembering Allah by saying) the Takbir, Taqdis and Tahlil; and that they
should count them on fingers, for they (the fingers) will be questioned and
asked to speak.” (Abu Dawud)
(1) The Tasbih is saying “Subhan Allah”
(Glory be to Allah);
(2) The Taqdis is saying: “Subhan al-Malik
al-Quddus” (Glory be to the King, the Holy)
(3) And the Tahlil is saying: “Laa Ilaaha Illallah”
(There is no god but Allah);
So, this Hadith indicates that it is preferable
to count Tasbih on the fingers of the right hand rather than to do so, on a
rosary.
24) Shaking hands with other
praying people right after Fardh (obligatory) prayer is over, saying, ‘Taqabbal
Allah’ or ‘Harama’ [May Allah accept it (i.e. your prayer) from you].
This is a bid’ah [innovation] which was
never practiced by the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), and neither by his companions
nor their followers.
25) Raising hands for duah as soon as prayer is
over.
This was not the practice of the Messenger of
Allah (pbuh). The Sunnah is to start with Zikr soon after Salah [prayer]
is over. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: When you recite, ‘At-Tahiyyat...’,
(just before Tasleem [i.e. saying
As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmatullah]), choose whichever duah you
like. (An-Nasai)
That is to say, you are closest to Allah in Salat, so you should maximize your time
with Allah by pouring out all the duahs which you wish to address Him in your Salat themselves, and after the Salat, praise and glorify Him and states
His Tawheed and attributes as it is Sunnah to do so.
26) Walking away right after Tasleem, at the end of prayer, and
neglecting Zikr.
Zikr is reciting “Subhan Allah” (Glory
be to Allah) 33 times, “Al-Hamdu Lillah” (Praise be to Allah) 33 times, “Allahu
Akbar” (Allah is Great) 33 times, as well as reciting “Laa Ilaaha Illallah”
[There is no god to be worshipped except Allah] 10 times, reciting Ayat
al-Kursi [i.e. Verse 256 of the second chapter of the Holy Quran Al Baqara],
or other authentic Zikr, as per the prophetic traditions.
27) Praying in a graveyard.
Hazrat Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (ra)
narrated that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “The whole earth is a mosque (to
pray on) except a graveyard and a toilet.” (Tirmidhi)
Moreover, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Do
not sit on the graves and do not pray facing towards them.” (Muslim,
Tirmidhi)
The format of prayer is enjoined by the Holy
Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). There is no book of authentic Hadith or
Prophetic tradition reporting that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) commanded men
to pray in one way, and women in another. He commanded: “Pray as you have
seen me praying.” (Bukhari, Muslim) The Prophet (pbuh) did not
differentiate between men and women in prayer.
Some scholars think that it is better for women to gather themselves in Sujood (prostration). [That’s what they think!] As everybody 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. May Allah enable all His true servants to better understand His commandments and the teachings of His best Messenger and Teacher, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). Let us all strive to be true Muslims who strive to follow the Divine Commandments and the Prophetic traditions as taught to us by our beloved prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). Insha-Allah, Ameen.
---Friday Sermon of 07 October 2022 ~10 Rabi’ul Awwal 1444 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius.