Project "Revive a Sunnah" Review Series! (6 & 7)
Abu Nûh Al-Bosnawi
Review Series: Weeks 6 & 7
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Week 6: "Bow Down"
This week's topic is extremely important. Because of its importance, it cannot be classified as a just a 'sunnah' .
What we are talking about is the proper performance of ruku' (bowing) in prayer. We're covering it here because
the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) showed us, through his sunnah, how it is performed.
If our ruku’ is not done properly, the acceptance of our prayer might be in jeopardy.
SubhanAllah, you see some people making ruku’ and you ask yourself whether they’re performing ruku’ or just merely
leaning their heads forward. It’s both unfortunate and surprising to see so many of us not performing this action properly.
How did the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) perform ruku'?
From the Ahadith:
1.
Abu Humaid reported that when the Prophet, upon whom be peace, bowed, he would be straight, his head neither up nor
down (with respect to his hips), and he would place his hands on his knees as if he was holding them."
[Related by an-Nasa'i]
2.
Said 'Ali (radhi Allahu anhu), "If you put a cup of water on the back of the Prophet, upon whom be peace, while he was bowing,
its contents would not spill."
[This is related by Ahmad. Abu Dawud recorded it in his Kitab al-Muraseel.]
To offer some practical advice:
Perform ruku' beside a mirror and examine how straight your back is. InshaAllah, with a little fine tuning
you'll be able to perfect it.
May Allah reward you for taking the initiative to perfect your actions in prayer. Ameen!
Week 7: "The Barrier"
Have you ever seen someone place a chair in front of them and then start praying? Have you then wondered,
“What is this brother/sister doing with that chair?”
Well, get ready to have your questions answered and your curiosity resolved, insha Allah.
The sunnah to be revived is the placing of a “sutrah” in front of oneself before praying. A “sutrah” is a barrier or a partition to
keep others from passing in front you. From what I've personally seen, there is very little awareness in various different
Muslim communities of this sunnah. There are exceptions, but most people are generally not aware of it.
Let us take a look at the ahadith.
From the Ahadith:
1.
Abu Sa'id reports that the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"When one of you prays, he should pray toward his sutrah and he should be close to it."
[Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah]
2.
Sabrah ibn Mu'abid reports that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"When one of you prays, he should make a partition for his salah, even if it is an arrow."
[Ahmad and al-Hakim]
3.
Sahl ibn Sa'd says: "Between the Messenger of Allah [and his sutrah] was enough space for a sheep to pass."
[Bukhari and Muslim]
I really feel it’s about time someone addressed this issue on a larger scale, and I hope that
Project “Revive a Sunnah” will serve this cause.
An important note: When praying in Jama', the sutrah of the imam counts as the sutrah of the followers.
There are other aspects relating to this sunnah, which for the sake of time, cannot be covered here.
For further information, please visit:
http://sunnahfollowers.net/fiqh-us-sunnah/www.adly.net/dept/MSA/law/fiqhussunnah/fus2_29.html
Praise be to Allah and may the blessings be upon His Final Messenger Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam).
And Allah knows best.
Project "Revive a Sunnah"
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