How to pray behind Imaam (Jamaat)

It is better to visit your local scholar if you have any question. Fatwas on the internet can be used for backing or further reference, but we should not completely rely on that.

I heard some 'Ulama say, consider visiting the 'Ulama as 'Ibadah. It comes in Hadith: "For him who adopts a path of seeking knowledge, Allah eases the way in Paradise, and Angels spread their wings for the seekers of knowledge, being pleased with his occupation, and all that is in the heavens and the Earth including the fish in the water, ask for his forgiveness. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets and the Prophets do not leave an inheritance of dirhams and dinars, but only of knowledge. He who acquires knowledge acquires a vast portion." [Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi]

and "Whoever takes a path for knowledge, Allah will make an easy way for him to paradise" [Ibn Majah]

Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallahu 'anhu) reports that Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) said "O Abu Zar, if you go in the morning and learn one ayat from the Book of Allah, it will be better for you than your offering one hundred rakaat of nafl salaat, and if you learn one chapter of knowledge, which may or may not be practised at that time will be better for you than your offering one thousand rakaat of nafl salaat." [Ibn Majah]

"Whenever you people pass through the Gardens of Paradise, partake of their fruits." The Companions asked: "What are the Gardens of Paradise?" The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) answered: "The assemblies wherein knowledge of Islam and the Holy Qur'an is taught."

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) also said: "Luqmaan instructed his son in these words: "Keep the company of scholars, and listen attentively to the words of the wise, for therewith Allah revives the dead hearts, just as He revives the dead earth with heavy rains; and the wise alone understand the religion."'

A Companion asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) "Who can be the best companion for us?" He answered: "Such a person that, when you see him. you remember Allah; when you listen to him. your knowledge of Islam is increased; when you see his actions, you are reminded of the life Hereafter."
[Targheeb]

When you visit an 'Alim personally, you get a lot of benefits just being in his company, a lot more than you can imagine.

(edited)... it is always best to get your questions to the scholars in person. You may not be able to explain the problems or the question very clearly in writing. Moreover, if you meet a scholar in person, he may also ask for some more details, background info about your query, to help him arise at a better solution which more suitable to your particular case.

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As salam Alaykum,

This post is intended for naseeha purposes only, and is not intended to be offensive inshaAllah.

Well, firstly, MashaAllah to how all the brothers and sisters here go out there way to advise eachother. May Allah reward you all for that.

But, many-a-times have I noticed a situation in which someone asks for advice concerning an Islamic issue and someone replies to it, giving their opinion with no back-up or evidence!!

Please, Please, Please... Brothers & Sisters... STOP DOING THIS!

This is a serious issues Yaa Ikhwaan. If you do not know the answer and you insist on replying then say: Allaahu a'alam.
Ibn `Abbas said, “When a knowledgeable person says on being asked, ‘I do not know (the answer),’ his statement is right and indicates to the questioner a sign to refer the matter to another person.”



The 'ulaamah, companions all saw/see this as a huge responsibility and would not hasten to spit it out. Yet we do so in a fraction of a second? Allaahul Musta'aan.

I shall not make this long, you all get the gist. I pray that we all safeguard our tongues from saying something, which would hold as acountable for on Yawmul Qiyaamah.

I now leave you with a few saying on this from the Sahaabahs and Tab'i'eyyeen:

• `Ata’ ibn As-Sa’ib said, “I knew knowledgeable persons who would experience extreme fear on answering a question posed to them lest it would be wrong.”
• `Umar ibn Al-Khattab would also say to his Companions, “The readier one of you is to answer any question posed to him, the readier he is to enter the Hellfire.’’
• Ibn Mas`ud also said, “I strongly believe that he who gives his opinion on every matter people ask him about is really unwise.”
• Whenever the most knowledgeable person among the righteous Successors Sa`id ibn Al-Musayyab came to giving a legal opinion on a certain matter, he would say, “O Allah save me from giving a wrong opinion and spare others the wrongness of my opinion.”
• Many times Abu Hanifah was reported to have said ‘‘I do not know the answer” although he was brilliant in answering (difficult) juristic questions and showed great ability in deducing and generating juristic rulings.
• Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi quoted Abu Yusuf as saying, “I heard Abu Hanifah saying, ‘But for fear of Almighty Allah’s wrath that I had not made use of my knowledge, I would not have given fatwas at all to whoever asks me. The person who asks me gets the benefit of knowing the answer anyway, while I bear the responsibility (before Almighty Allah) if it has been wrong!’”
• Abu Hanifah also said, “One who gives fatwas and imparts religious knowledge freely without thinking that Allah would bring him to account by asking him, How come you give fatwas without possessing the required knowledge to give them? Such a person is putting himself and his religious commitment at stake.
• Imam Malik showed far greater cautiousness in this regard. For example, he said, “When a scholar is asked a question, he should first consider to where he will be admitted in the Hereafter, the Paradise or the Hellfire, and reflect upon how he will save himself from punishment on that Day, and then he can answer the question.”
• Ibn Al-Qasim reported, “I heard Malik saying ‘I am reflecting on a juristic question for more than ten years now and I have not reached an answer yet.’”
• Ibn Mahdi also quoted Malik as saying “I may spend a whole night meditating upon one juristic question.”
• Mus`ab as well reported, ‘‘My father asked me to take a person who has a problem to Malik to ask him about a solution to it. When I did, Malik said ‘I do not have a solution to it. Ask the knowledgeable people about it.’”
• Ibn Abu Hassan said about Malik, “Once, Malik was asked twenty-two juristic questions, yet he did not answer more than two questions of them, saying every now and then ‘There is neither might nor power except with Allah.’”
• Sometimes Malik would say on being asked a juristic question, “(Religious) knowledge is far wider than this.”
• Once upon his saying statements of this kind, some people said to him, “If you [with all that knowledge] say you do not know, who else would?” He replied, “What are you saying? You do not know me well! I am nobody! What is it that distinguishes me from you so that I know what you do not know?” He then quoted Ibn `Umar as saying “I am not as knowledgeable as you think me to be; I am nobody! It is self-conceitedness and seeking prominence in society that bring about ruin to people, and thus few are the people who have true knowledge.”
• Mus`ab also related, “Once, Malik was asked about something and he said, ‘I do not know the answer.’ The questioner, who was an influential person, said, ‘It is an easy question and I just want to inform the prince about an answer to it.’ Malik replied, ‘An easy question! There is nothing easy in (religious) knowledge. Have you not heard Almighty Allah’s words (Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message) (Al-Muzammil 73:5)? Knowledge of this message is thus not as easy as you say, especially when it comes to asking about fatwas derived from it!’”
• Malik was also reported to have said every now and then on giving fatwas, ‘‘There is neither might nor power except with Allah’’ and(We deem it naught but a conjecture, and we are by no means convinced) (Al-Jathiya 45:32).
• Abu Dawud reported that once Imam Ahmad was asked to give his personal juristic opinion on a question, but he said, “Let us not tackle such innovated matters.”
• Abu Dawud also said, “Many times I heard Imam Ahmad saying (when asked to give his opinion) on controversial scholarly issues ‘I do not know.’”
• Once, a man came to Imam Ahmad and asked him to give his personal opinion on a certain matter, but he said, “I have no answer to it.” Then he cited the statement of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud referred to above.

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Wallaahu 'alaa maa aquulu Wakeel

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