Dr. Asiya Staff asked 2 months ago
My in-laws have established a study circle (Dars) for the Madani Channel's Pir Ilyas. Their female teachers come and teach the older women to recite the Holy Quran with Tajweed (correct pronunciation). I, too, have studied the Quran with Tajweed, from the primer (Qaida) to the entire Quran. My question to them was: When we go to Baitullah, do we not pray the shortened prayer (Qasr) there? We pray there in congregation (Jama'at). But they (the teachers/women) insisted that everyone should pray the shortened prayer (Qasr), even in the House of Allah. Please explain how women and men would pray Qasr in a congregation? Those women kept insisting: "We only performed the Qasr prayer (shortened the prayer) and did not pray with the congregation."
1 Answers
Dr. Asiya Staff answered 2 months ago
We are permitted to shorten our prayers (Qasr) when we go to Baitullah (the House of Allah, often referring to Mecca/Hajj/Umrah).
First, keep one thing in mind for the sister who is worried: she seems to be under the impression that shortening the prayer (Qasr is an obligation/Fardh).
Shortening the prayer (Qasr) is a permission given as a gift (Tohfa), and one should take this gift. The companions (Sahaba) asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) if they could choose not to take this gift. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "It is a gift; if you wish, you may accept it, and if you wish, you may not. It is a gift; it is a good thing to accept it."
Now, let's talk about Hajj and Baitullah. It is a journey/travel (Safar), isn't it? In travel, there is permission to both shorten the prayers (Qasr) and to break the fast (Roza).
This is why the fasts related to Hajj (for those who did not offer the sacrifice/Qurbani) are observed: three days during the Hajj period and seven days upon returning home (this is the expiation for not offering the sacrifice).
For shortening the prayer, it is necessary that we pray behind an Imam whose prayer is also shortened (Qasr). However, the Imam (in Mecca) is a resident (Muqeem). If there is someone who becomes our Imam, they will pray the two rak'ahs (of the shortened prayer). If there is no such person, then we will have to pray according to the Imam (the resident one).
There is no harm; Allah knows best.
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