Community Q&A

Zakah cannot be given to one’s parents, grandparents, children or grandchildren.
It can be given to other eligible relatives, such as siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews or nieces, if they qualify to receive Zakah. Giving Zakah to needy relatives can carry extra reward because it combines charity and maintaining family ties.

— The Imam

An Islamic nikah may be valid Islamically if its conditions are fulfilled, such as offer and acceptance, witnesses, and mahr.
However, in the UK, a nikah alone may not create a legally recognised marriage unless it is also registered according to civil law. This can affect legal rights relating to inheritance, housing, finances, pensions, and separation.
Couples are strongly advised to complete both the Islamic nikah and the civil registration.

— The Imam

It is permissible to use a miswak while fasting.
Using toothpaste is disliked because there is a risk of swallowing it. If toothpaste or water is swallowed deliberately, the fast will break. A safer option is to brush thoroughly before suhur and after iftar, and use a miswak during the day.

— The Imam

Your prayer remains valid. The person walking in front has committed a disliked act if they passed within your place of prostration without necessity. If possible, pray facing a barrier (sutrah) to reduce this happening.

— The Imam

Yes. Tahajjud is one of the greatest voluntary prayers and may be performed every night after sleeping and before Fajr. Even praying two rak'ahs consistently is beloved to Allah.

— The Imam

Yes. Wudu is not required for reading Islamic books, translations of the Qur'an, or books of Hadith and Fiqh. However, maintaining wudu is always a virtuous practice.

— The Imam

Yes. A man's arms are not part of the 'awrah, so praying in short sleeves is valid. However, wearing clean, modest and respectable clothing is recommended when standing before Allah.

— The Imam

Yes. If there is enough time to complete at least one rak'ah before the prayer time expires, you should begin the prayer immediately. It is sinful to deliberately delay a prayer until the last moments without a valid excuse, but the prayer remains valid if started in time.

— The Imam

According to many Hanafi scholars, it is permissible to recite the Qur'an from a mobile device without wudu because the digital text is not considered the same as the physical Mus'haf. Nevertheless, being in a state of wudu is recommended out of respect for the Qur'an.

— The Imam

If you missed the congregational Jumu'ah prayer, you should pray the four rak'ahs of Dhuhr instead. Jumu'ah cannot be performed individually after the congregation has concluded.

— The Imam

Not always. According to the Hanafi school, sleeping while lying down or leaning against something such that you would fall if it were removed breaks wudu. Sleeping while firmly seated with the buttocks fixed to the ground does not invalidate wudu.

— The Imam

Outside of Salah, you may supplicate to Allah in any language you understand. Allah knows every language and hears every sincere prayer. During the obligatory parts of Salah, the prescribed Arabic supplications should be recited.

— The Imam

Yes, provided the shoes are free from impurity (najāsah). The Prophet ﷺ prayed in footwear on occasions. However, in most mosques shoes are removed to maintain cleanliness and respect for the prayer area.

— The Imam

According to the Hanafi school, a woman travelling the distance of a journey requires a husband or a permanent mahram to accompany her for Hajj. Although some other schools permit travel with trustworthy groups under certain circumstances, the Hanafi position continues to require a mahram for such travel.

— The Imam

If you genuinely overslept or forgot, there is no sin. Pray Fajr as soon as you wake up or remember. The Prophet ﷺ instructed that whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps through it should pray it as soon as they remember. To reduce the likelihood of missing Fajr, sleep early, set multiple alarms, and ask family members to wake you if possible.

— The Imam

The Prophet ﷺ said that prayer performed in congregation is twenty-seven times more rewarding than prayer performed alone. For men, praying the obligatory prayers in congregation at the mosque is greatly emphasised.

— The Imam

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever prays twelve rakahs of (Sunnah) prayers each day and night, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”

These are:
* 2 before Fajr
* 4 before Dhuhr
* 2 after Dhuhr
* 2 after Maghrib
* 2 after Isha

— The Imam

If you enter the mosque while the Friday khutbah is being delivered, remain silent and listen attentively. According to the Hanafi school, you should sit down immediately and not perform Tahiyyatul Masjid, as listening to the khutbah takes precedence.

— The Imam

If you are unsure during the prayer and cannot determine what is most likely correct, act upon the lower number and perform sajdah al-sahw (the prostration of forgetfulness) before ending the prayer.

— The Imam

If only a few strands of hair become exposed, the prayer remains valid. However, if at least a quarter of the total hair remains uncovered for the duration of an entire pillar of the prayer, then according to the Hanafi school, the prayer is invalid and should be repeated.

— The Imam

Looking around unnecessarily during prayer is disliked and reduces the reward of the prayer. The Prophet ﷺ described it as something by which shaytan steals from a person’s prayer. A slight glance does not invalidate the prayer, but turning the chest away from the Qiblah will invalidate it.

— The Imam

According to the Hanafi school, Zakah is payable on gold and silver jewellery if the owner possesses the nisab amount and all other conditions of Zakah are met, even if the jewellery is worn regularly.

— The Imam

Fasting becomes obligatory only after reaching puberty. Parents are encouraged to gradually train children to fast when they are physically able, helping them develop love for this important act of worship without causing harm.

— The Imam

A traveller who intends to travel approximately 77 kilometres (48 miles) or more from the boundary of their town or city becomes a traveller (musafir). Once the journey begins, four-rak'ah obligatory prayers are shortened to two rak'ahs.

— The Imam

According to the Hanafi school, the daily prayers cannot generally be combined into one prayer time except during Hajj at 'Arafah and Muzdalifah. While travelling, prayers are shortened (Qasr), but each prayer is still performed within its own prescribed time.

— The Imam

For men, praying the five daily prayers in congregation is a highly emphasised Sunnah (Sunnah Mu'akkadah), and neglecting it regularly without a valid excuse is blameworthy. Women receive the same reward whether praying at home or in the mosque, and praying at home is generally considered better for them according to the Hanafi school.

— The Imam

You may recite the Qur'an from memory without wudu, although having wudu is recommended. However, touching the Arabic Mus'haf requires wudu. If using a phone or tablet, the ruling differs because it is not considered a physical Mus'haf.

— The Imam

According to the Hanafi school, wudu is broken if blood flows from the wound beyond its point of exit. If blood appears but does not flow, wudu remains valid.

— The Imam

Join the Imam immediately in whatever position he is in. Do not wait for him to stand. After the Imam completes the prayer with salam, stand up and complete the rak'ahs you have missed. Follow the Imam throughout the prayer and complete the remainder calmly.

— The Imam

According to the Hanafi school, wiping (masah) is only valid over leather socks (khuffs) or footwear that fulfils the conditions of khuffs. Wiping over ordinary cotton or wool socks is not valid. If you are wearing ordinary socks, you should remove them and wash your feet during wudu.

— The Imam