Last Saturday, two of my sisters and I with some friends from work attended subjected seminar in Politeknik Shah Alam. It was held by Al-Khaadem Foundation with Sheikh Hussain Yee, a Malaysian chinese Muslim as the speaker.
Looking at the title, I'm sure that you knew what the event was about. 'Perfecting Your Solah (prayer)'. But let me remind you of the word 'perfect' here. It means the slots are focusing on fine-tuning your solah and perform solah the way the prophet did. Insyaallah :)
There are many things that I learnt that day. So many that I wow-ed to myself and said, " I didn't know that.." and sometimes I even said, " That's so easy!" Those are my expressions.
Below are couples of points that I managed to jot down:
- Sutrah. It is an object that a person places in front of himself to prevent his solah from being cut off by anyone (or anything) passing in front of him. This is done by praying towards a wall, a pillar in a mosque, or an object placed on the ground in front of oneself.
"He (the prophet P.B.U.H) used to stand near the sutrah, so that there was (a distance of) three cubits between him and the wall, (there was) enough space for a sheep to pass." (Al Bukhari and Muslim).
We see this happening especially in public prayer room like musolla (surau) in malls or rest area. Ladies usually will put their belongings like handbags, shopping bags or their shawls in front the prayer mat. Those objects acting as sutrah. Just knew that it is a responsibility. Moreover if we are praying in public prayer room. Be careful though.
- There are few things that somehow, Muslims in Malaysia do but there is no dalil (proofs or evidence from Qur'an) or hadith (the Prophet's sayings or acts) to be based on. Those things are:
- Du'aa after Iqamah.
- Tapping a praying man as a signal to join and follow as jamaah prayer.
- Reciting du'aa together after congregational(jamaah) solah.
- Voluntary(sunat) solah 2 rak'ah before Asar.
I have heard the above even earlier from another ustaz not just from Ustaz Yee. These are
culturally taught in Malaysia. If the prophet did not do, better to leave it, right? :)
- There is no concept of replacement (qada') for solah. Qada' is for fasting. Like Muslim women they will only have to re-do the fasting based on how many days they have missed to fast in the month of Ramadhan due to menstrual period. But no concept of re-do or replacement of solah. It is always 'cash', no 'credit'. If we missed solah, repent and seek for forgiveness (taubat).
- Voluntary solah can be done in sitting position.
- Saf (prayers row). "Keep your rows straight (during solah in congregational), for keeping the row straight is part of the perfection of Solah." (Al Bukhari and Muslim)"
Look below how we should stand shoulder to shoulder leaving no gaps. This goes to the both
feets.
 |
| The people in the upper image do look like a strong army in defense position. |
- Solah while travelling. If one is going for musafir (travelling) and has completed ablution(wuduk) before leaving the house, he/she does not have to renew the ablution but only make a few wipe with water onto the shoes/socks and scarfs or shawls provided those socks and scarfs are not being taken off. Subhanallah! How easy and practical Islam is. :') (Please seek for further clarification on how to do this correctly)
In a climate like Malaysia, this rukhsah (bending rule) will last for a day and three days for
traveller.
I have blogged earlier on my experience wiping my socks/ winter boots. Click here.
In a nutshell, I'm really glad coming to the seminar. Yes, we learned how to solat since primary school and continued to secondary school. But that is just basic. Learning process never stops once you graduated. You will be in various situation throughout your life and experiencing conditions you never thought you would be in.
This is where continuous learning would help. Always find room for improvement. And you will be surprised to know that the more you learn and understand, the easier it gets. Requoting Sheikh Yee's words, "We feel it is hard to do, because we don't have the right knowledge"
SPEAKER PROFILE:
SHEIKH HUSSAIN YEE
President of Pertubuhan Al-Khaadem
He is the founder and the President of Al-Khaadem
organization, born into a Buddhist family and later
embraced Islam at the age of 18 in 1968. He received
his formal Islamic Education in Madinah & Syria and also
attended lectures by renowned Scholars such as Bin Baz
and Nasiruddin Al-Albani (May the mercy of Allaah be
upon them).
He is a well known personality in the international circuit
of Da’wah giving regular lectures across the globe and
appearances in Islamic Channel UK, IERA, Peace TV and
many more.
p/s: He is an excellent speaker and he jokes too. The seminar was very lively. :)
Hope this sharing will be beneficial and clear any doubts. Wallahu'alam. Allah knows best.
Jumuah mubarakah, everyone!
TY
