In this post Insha Allah i will try to cover some of the Hadiths which are quoted by people to say that it is a proof for reciting Surah Fatiha behind the Imaam.

Hadith No. 1

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ النُّفَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ مَكْحُولٍ، عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ، عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، قَالَ: كُنَّا خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ فَقَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَثَقُلَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْقِرَاءَةُ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ: «لَعَلَّكُمْ تَقْرَءُونَ خَلْفَ إِمَامِكُمْ» قُلْنَا: نَعَمْ هَذًّا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: «لَا تَفْعَلُوا إِلَّا بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِهَا»


SANAD (Chain of Narrators)

Imam Abu Dawud Rh. »»► Abdullah bin Muhammed An Nufaili Rh. »»► Muhammed Ibn Salama Rh. »»► Muhammed bin Ishaq Rh. »»► Makhool Rh. »»► AN Mahmooh bin Rabii Rh. »»►Ubaada bin Saamit Rdh. »»► Rasoolullah S.A.W.

Text (Matan)

This hadith states that Rasoolullah S.A.W said to (Sahaba Rdh.): maybe you recite behind the Imaam?

We (Sahaba Rdh.) said Ya Rasoolullah ! we recite in haste.

Rasoolullah S.A.W said: Only recite Surah Fatiha, because without it the salaah is not complete and don't recite anything else. (Sunan e Abi Dawud : Hadith 823)

In this post i will try to put forward the Daleel of not reciting Surah Fathiha behind the Imam and in the Second part we will look at the hadiths which are quoted by some to justify its recitation. Insha Allah

The Holy Quran

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ


Translation
"When the Qur'an is voiced, hearken unto it, and listen in silence, so that you might be graced with [God's] mercy." [Surah Al A’araf : 204]

Lets look at the Tafseer / explanation of the above ayah from the Sahaba and the Salaf.

Daleel No. 1


حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الأَشَجُّ، ثنا ابْنُ فُضَيْلٍ وَأَبُو خَالِدٍ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدَ عَنِ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ عَنْ أُسَيْرِ بْنِ جَابِرٍ الْمُحَارِبِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: لَعَلَّكُمْ تُقِرُّونَ؟ قُلْنَا: نَعَمْ قَالَ: أَلا تَفْقَهُونَ؟ مالكم لَا تَعْقِلُونَ؟ وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ.

SANAD (Chain of Narrators)

Imam Ibn Abi Haatim Rh. »»► Abu Saeed Al Ashaj Rh. »»► Ibn Fuzail Rh., »»► Abu Khalid Rh. »»►Dawud Ibn Abi hind Rh. »»► Abi Nadhrah Rh. »»►Usair bin Jabir Rh. »»► Abdullah bin Masood Rdh.

Text (Matan)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood Rdh. said to the (Muqtadees) maybe you recite behind the Imaam, Muqtadees said: Yes.

So Ibn Masood Rdh. said: Don't you have the understanding, what has happened to you, you are not using your wisdom, When Quran is recited, give ear to it and be silent so that you may receive mercy. (Tafseer Ibn Abi Haatim : Hadith No 8730, SAHEEH SANAD)

This is one of my favorite Islamic videos. I post it time and time again. Whether you are Muslim or not it's frightening and comforting. But my favorite part is this part.. and I quote:

And Allah will say, "I am the Almighty Allah."
I am the Almighty Allah.
For whom is the Divine rule today.
For whom is the power today,
For whom is the Kingdom today,
I am the King of all Kings,
Where are your dictators?
Where are your oppressors? "
No one will answer. Allah himself will answer and Allah will say,
" Power is for Allah,
" Might is for Allah,
the One, the Only the Irresistible. "

It reminds us that in the end all the oppressors and dictators that have hurt us are no match for God and that someday justice will come. We may not see it here but we will see it someday.
I knew someone who used to tell me I never try to hurt people or make them feel oppressed because on Judgement Day if I sin against Allah maybe Allah will have mercy on me. But if I sin against someone and they don't forgive me then I am in trouble. And whenever we would fight or when he went away on a trip he said to me "please forgive me".
I suppose this is a form of Iman feeling that you are that accountable to people not just Allah. Afterall aren't we accountable to each other if Allah holds us accountable for it?
Day Of Judgement ᴴᴰ | Powerful Islamic Reminder -…: http://youtu.be/p8V6jdfmYZA

“Beware also of the prayer of the oppressed, for there is no veil between such a prayer and Allah.” Prophet Muhammed (SAW)

Are you an oppressor?
What is an oppressor-someone who oppresses other people. That's look at the definition of oppress:

op·press
verb
keep (someone) in subservience and hardship, especially by the unjust exercise of authority.
"a system that oppressed working people"
synonyms: persecute, abuse, maltreat, ill-treat, tyrannize, crush, repress, suppress, subjugate, subdue, keep down, grind down, ride roughshod over, rule with an iron fist/hand More
cause (someone) to feel distressed, anxious, or uncomfortable.
"he was oppressed by some secret worry"
synonyms: depress, make gloomy, make despondent, weigh down, weigh heavily on, cast down, dampen someone's spirits, dispirit, dishearten, discourage, sadden, get down, bring down

Ok.. So keeping that in mind look at your actions and think am I an oppressor? And what are the consequences of me oppressing that person I feel is so beneath me. Maybe you won't see it today, tomorrow or the next day.. but someday you will.

In Islam we are told that "Allah guides who he wills" BUT doesn't our Dawah and how we do it make a difference? I think so.
Just like humans are emotional they are also logical. If one cannot make someone feel good about something and also make it sound logical to a person they won't believe it. Whether they are "enlightened"  or not.
Now I am not encouraging agruing or debating matters with people because at that point you can see they just aren't ready to be guided by you or Allah. But discussion is good, even if it just means sharing information.
I walked up to an athetist yesterday while I was handing out Islamic material at a festival and she attacked me verbally with  sacrasm. So I patiently answered her questions. I found sharing what we had in common instead of our differences really helped. And I used analogies to help her picture things in her mind. By the end of the conversation she walked away with a pamphlet and she had even introduced me to her husband and left with a smile.
This was an example of a successful Dawah attempt. Maybe she will or will not become Muslim one day but maybe Inshallah she will be tolerate of the next Muslim she meets and she understands a little more.
But I find often Muslims boggle people down with speechs and too much information. I was watched some brothers giving Dawah yesterday and they sounded like they were giving a college lecture on the "oneness of God". I thought to myself are those people really going to remember all that information and does it emotionally move them at all.
I find the greatest tool to "evangelism"  is personal stories. When people see how Allah has changed your life then they begin to think and they remember that conversation. They might even mention the conversation to someone else and it might start another conversation on Islam. The point is to get the conversation going. Because one thing I have learned as a Muslim is the more knowledge you learn and the more "conversations"  you have on Islam the more it attracts you. That's why I believe after 911 so many converted because it started the conversation. And now Ahamdulillah the conversation hasn't stopped.
So as a Muslim even if you don't think you are the "best Muslim" or have the most knowledge think of examples of how Allah has affected you or how the Prophet's actions have changed your life. And share that.

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat believes that using Tasbeeh is perfectly fine and permissible and their is nothing wrong with it as claimed by certain people. Some people say that it is a bidah and some have gone to the extreme of telling others that its kuffr.

They give a DALEEL which relates from Hadhrat Ibn Masood Rdh saw a group of people (jamaat) waiting for fajr salaah and were sitting in Halqas (groups). They had small stones in hands and were doing Dhikr. Hadhrat Ibn Masood Rdh declared that this act is a bidah. (Sunan e Darmi: Hadith No. 210, Darul Mughni KSA Edition)

Al-Jawaab: (ANSWER)


The chain of this hadith is like this


أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَكَمُ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، أَنبَأَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبِي، يُحَدِّثُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: كُنَّا نَجْلِسُ عَلَى بَابِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
(Sunan E Darmi: Page 286, Hadith No 210)

Read closely! It states that Amr Bin Yahiya RH narrates from Al Hakam Ibn Ul Mubarak.

The Scholars have classed him as Daeef and Ibn Abi Yahiya RH has even called him a Kazzab.

Lets look at what the Scholars have said:

1.  Imam Ibn Maeen Rh says "He is nothing and i have seen his hadiths" 

(Al Kaamil Li Ibn A’adi : Volume 6 : Page 215)

1. Imam Ibn Qudaama Rahimahullah says:

Some of the people who had ILM says that people of Madina use to do this act (extra 16th Rakaat) because they wanted to be equal to the people of Makkah. In between taraweeh the people of Makkah use to perform 7 circles (of the Holy Qaba) that is why people of Madina use to perform 4 Rakaats Nafil to balance the 7 circles.  (Al Mughni : Volume 2 : Page 602)

In this series of posts i will try to give as much Daleel as possible that Taraweeh is 20 Rakaats and people who say that its either 8 or 11 do not have valid Daleel.

I will also try to highlight different analytical aspects of the Hadiths, practices of the Ummah for the last 1400 years, the saying and verdicts of the Salaf and answers to some of the arguments which are put forward by the other side.

So in this post you will see the Daleel and that Taraweeh and Tahajjud are two seperate prayers.

The hadith on 20 Rakaat narrated by Abu Usman Al Basri(R) has been attested by Imam Bayhaqi(R) at another place.

Reference: Mu'arif As Sunan

Imam Bayhaqi(R) considers Abu Usman Al Basri(R) Siqah (Trustworthy) and thats is why he has approved and attested this hadith as Sahih.

Reference: Mu'arif As-Sunan Wal Aasaar Book 3, Page 15

A Muslim brother told me a story today I would like to share.
He went somewhere to pay a parking ticket. When he arrived there were some Christians outside. They were on preaching about Christianity and handing out pamphlets. He refused to take a pamphlet from them politely saying, "No thank you." The Christian man responded angrily, "Muhammed didn't die on the cross." The Muslim brother was shocked by this statement and replied, "Jesus didn't die on the cross either." The Christian then got upset and started screaming at him. The Muslim said to myself it's Ramadan, I shouldn't agrue with this man and just said "Peace  be upon you," and walked away.

Quran:Verse 4:156-159 "That they rejected Faith; That they uttered against Mary A grave false charge;  That they said (in boast):  'We killed Christ Jesus The son of Mary, The Messenger of Allah.'  But they killed him not, Nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not.  Nay, Allah raised him up Unto Himself; and Allah Is Exalted in Power, Wise.  And there is none of the people of the book (Jews and Christians) But must believe in him  (Jesus) Before his death; And on the Day of Judgment He (Jesus) will be a witness Against them."

Project Akhirah are raising money for Al Falah Benevolent Society; A Charity based in the Gaza Strip working towards a better future for Palestinians. 

We are raising money to purchase a Blood Centrifuge Device. As we all know, bloodwork is so important in detecting malnutrition, deficiencies, and to diagnose illnesses. Without it, an illness can be left undetected, with no treatment option, and a person can, in the worst case scenario, end up dying. 

This is such a simple piece of equipment, but has so many benefits to society; yet, Gaza, at Al Falah Medical Centre, they manage without one, but all this can change with your donations! 

Please support this cause to make a difference to the people of Gaza. They are not asking for help for themselves, but here, we at Project Akhirah, are asking you to help them. It is our duty to help those less fortunate than ourselves. 

Please give whatever you can, and share this with others as well in shaa Allah.

BarakAllahu feekum