Tuhfa al-Mubtadi: Beginners Text on Hanafi Fiqh from al-Ahsa
In the Name of Allah the most Merciful, most Kind, Salutations and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad the Master of the Messengers and the most superior of Allahs entire creation, and upon his good family and noble companions and those that follow them with goodness till the last day. To proceed:
This is a brief simple (text) regarding the rulings of the prayer called: Tuhfah al-Mubtadi which the mature/responsible person cannot do without if his resolve is deficient for that which is more detailed than it
He (glorified is He) is asked to benefit the Muslims by it and make it solely for His sake, indeed He is the greatest of Lords and greatest of helpers.
It is reported from the Prophet (Allah bless Him and give Him peace) that he said: ‘The Prayer is the pillar of the religion (deen) , he who established it has established the religion (deen), he who leaves it has destroyed the religion (deen)’ we ask Him (subhanahu wa taala) for help with that which He has made us responsible for, and to make us from the rightly guided ones. And we say and with/through Allah is success:
Know that the prayer has obligatory (faraid), compulsory (wajibat), recommended (sunan) and desirable (mustahab) actions. It also has invalidators (mufsidat) and disliked actions.
[Obligatory (Faraid) Acts of the Prayer]
As for the obligatory acts they are of two types: Obligatory acts which are outside the form of the prayer and are called conditions (shurut), and obligatory acts (faraid) within the prayer called pillars (arkan)
[Conditions (shurut) of the Prayer]
From the first category are eight things:
1- The cleanliness/purity of the body from ritual impurity (hadath) and filth (khabath)
2- Purity/Cleanliness of clothing
3- Cleanliness of the place
4- Covering of nakedness
5- Facing the direction of prayer (qiblah)
6- Time
7- Intention
8- The Opening takbir
Section [Regarding the Cleanliness from Ritual Impurity (hadath)]
Achieving cleanliness from minor ritual impurity is achieved by washing (wudu) and from major ritual impurity by bathing (ghusl)
[The Obligatory Acts (faraid) of Wudu]
As for wudu it has four obligatory acts:
1- Washing the face, which is the area from usual/normal hairline to below the chin , and that which is between the earlobes
2- Washing the hands up to and including the elbows
3- Wiping a quarter of the head
4- Washing the feet along with the ankles, it is compulsory to wash the skin not covered by hair , likewise the outer surface of a thick beard .
[The Recommended Acts (sunan) of Washing (wudu)]
Its recommended acts are:
1- Beginning the wudu with the Basmalah
2- And by washing his hands up to the wrists three times
3- The toothstick
4- Washing the mouth
5- Rinsing the nose
6- Combing the beard
7- Interlacing the fingers
8- Washing three times
9- Wiping the whole head once
10- And the ears with its water
11- Intention
12- The order mentioned in the texts
13- Continuity
[The Desirable Acts of Wudu]
As for its desirable acts (mustahab) they are:
1- Beginning with the right side
2- Wiping the neck
3- Reciting the transmitted invocations during wudu
4- To say after finishing and standing facing the direction of prayer:
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَابِينَ، واجْعَلْنِي مِنَ المُتَطَهِّرِينَ. سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ
[The Disliked Acts (Makruhat) of Wudu]
Its disliked acts are:
1- To use excess water
2- To use too little water
3- Talking with normal speech
4- Seeking help from another person
5- Exceeding washing three times
Section [That Which Nullifies Wudu and That Which Does Not Nullify It]
The nullifiers of wudu are:
1- That which exits from the private parts
2- Impurity/Filth exiting from other than the private parts if the impurity/filth flows to a place which it is compulsory to cleanse in wudu or ghusl
3- Vomiting the like of food and water if it is a mouthful, not the vomiting of phlegm even if it is a large amount
4- Loss of consciousness
5- Insanity
6- Intoxication
7- Sleeping lying down or leaning on one of the buttocks, not the sleep of the one firmly seated nor the sleep of the one in prayer
8- Loud laughter of an adult in a complete prayer
9- Contact of the private parts not the touching of the private parts nor the touching of a woman , nor the exiting of a worm from a wound
Section [The Rulings of Istinja]
Istinja is recommended with the likes of a stone by means of which cleanliness can be achieved, there is no specific number required, and washing is superior
[What is Istinja Disliked With]
It is disliked: with a bone, dung, and the right hand
[What is Disliked when Relieving Oneself]
It is disliked : to face the qiblah in the bathroom , likewise to turn ones back to it, to face the sun and moon , to face the wind , to relieve oneself in the street, gathering places of people and below a tree
[What is Recommended when Entering the Bathroom and When Leaving It]
It is recommended to precede it with the tasmiyah and istiadhah , entering with the left, and exiting with the right, opposite to the masjid. It is recommended that he say when he leaves:
It is compulsory to use water if the filth exceeds the exit (point) and that which has exceeded is more than the amount of a dirham .
Section [The Rulings of Bathing (Ghusl)]
[The Obligatory Acts of Ghusl]
As for ghusl, its obligatory acts are:
1- Rinsing the mouth
2- Rinsing the nose
3- Washing all of the body even inside the foreskin .
It is not compulsory for a woman to undo her braids , nor to wet them if the roots have been wet.
[The Recommended Acts of Ghusl]
Its recommended acts are:
1- To wash the hands
2- Private parts
3- And filth on the body, then
4- Perform wudu and then pour water on the body three times
[That Which Necessitates Ghusl]
That which necessitates ghusl is:
1- The emission of semen with a contracting motion when exiting/separating
2- The entering of the head of the male private part in the front or rear passageway upon both people
3- The one awakening seeing semen or pre seminal fluid
4- The termination of the menstruation cycle
5- And Post childbirth bleeding
It is not necessary to perform ghusl with the emission of pre seminal fluid and wadi , nor an erotic dream without finding any wetness
[When is Bathing Recommended]
It is recommended to bathe for Friday prayer, the two Eids and Ihram
Section [The Waters with Which Purification is Permissible]
It is permissible to make wudu and ghusl with all pure water such as rain and water found on land, even if it changes due to being stagnant, or is changed by water which is (still regarded as) water , or with something pure which the water dominates , such as Ushnan , soap and saffron.
[That Which Purification Is Not Permissible With]
It is not permissible to perform wudu with water one of whose attributes has changed due to an impurity, nor with a small amount of stagnant water in which impurity has fallen. It is regarded as small if: it is water which is not ten cubits by ten cubits.
[Used Water]
Purification is not permissible with water used to remove a state of impurity, nor to renew wudu, the water is pure but not purifying.
[The Ruling of Flowing and Large Amount of Water]
Flowing (water) does not become impure, and likewise that which reaches ten cubits by ten cubits except if its attributes change.
Section [Regarding Purification from Impurity/Khabath]
It is a condition that the body of the one offering prayer, his clothing and place be pure from all filth which prevents the permissibility of the prayer.
[Preventative Filth]
It is: that which exceeds the size of a dirham from the heavy impurity such as the urine of whose meat is not eaten, blood, alcohol/wine, dung/faeces. From the light filth it is the area of a quarter of the clothing , such as the urine whose meat is eaten and a horse.
[That Which is Excused From Filth/Najasah]
The amount of heavy (filth) which is excused is the size of a dirham and less, and from the light filth less than a quarter of the cloth. If the prayer is offered it is valid.
Section [Regarding the Covering of Nakedness]
The nakedness of a man is: From below his navel to below his knee’s, a slavegirls nakedness (is similar to that of a man) with the addition of the back and stomach. All of a free womans body is nakedness except for the face, hands and feet. The prayer is invalidated by the exposing of a quarter of a bodypart from those (that are part of the) nakedness, not less than this, so if a quarter of a mans knee, or a quarter of a womans shin or ear is exposed both of their prayers are invalidated.
Section [The Times of The Prayer]
The time of the dawn (subh) is: from the true dawn, which is the horizontal whiteness (al-mutaridu) on the horizon until the rising of the sun.
Al-Dhuhr is: from zawal until the shadow reaches twice its length except for the shade at midday.
Al-Asr is: from the reaching of the shadow twice its length until maghrib
The time of al-Maghrib is: from it until the setting/disappearance of the white twilight following the red twighlight
Al-Isha: is from the setting/disappearance of the white twilight until the true dawn.
Section [Regarding Facing the Direction of Prayer and the Intention]
Facing the direction (of prayer) is a condition except with regards/in the case of one in fear such as from an enemy or predatory animal , and an ill person who does not have/find anyone to turn/face him towards the qibla, their qiblah is the direction that they are able to face.
The direction of prayer of the one who is unaware of it is the direction he estimates .
As for the intention its meaning is to desire to perform an action. It is a condition that the intention should be with the heart , articulating with the tongue is recommended .
It is necessary to specify in the fard and wajib prayers as opposed to the sunan and nawafil for which a general intention for prayer suffices.
Section [Regarding the Integrals of the Prayer]
As for the second category from the faraid of the prayer, they are other than the tahrimah, as it is from the first category and is a condition, but it has similarity/semblance with the integrals:
1- Standing for the one able to in the Fard and Wajib prayers
2- Reciting of a verse in two units (rakats) of a fard and all units of the witr and nafl prayers
3- Bowing
4- Sujud
5- The final sitting for the length of the tashahhud
6- The sequence of standing before bowing, and bowing before sujud
7- The one praying exiting (the prayer) with his own action
Section [The Compulsory Elements of The Prayer]
As for its compulsory acts:
1- Recitation of the Fatihah in other than the last 2 units of an obligatory prayer
2- Adding a chapter (surah) or that which is equivalent to it such as a long verse or three short verses
3- Observing order with a repeated action in the unit
4- The first sitting
5- The tashahhud in the two sittings
6- Exiting the prayer with the wording of salam
7- The Qunut of Witr
8- The Takbirs of the two Eids
9- Specifying the first two from the obligatory (prayer) for recitation
10- Stillness when bowing and prostrating
11- Loud and silent (recitation) in their places
12- Silence of the follower at the time of the Imams recitation
13- The prostration of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) due to leaving a compulsory act.
Section [The Recommended Acts of Prayer]
As for its recommended acts (they are):
1- The call to prayer (adhan)
2- The iqamah for the obligatory prayers after the entering of the time.
3- Raising the hands for the opening takbir
4- Raising both hands in the takbir of qunut in the witr
5- And the takbirs of the two Eids not in other than these
6- That it be for them man in line with his ears and for the woman in line with her shoulders
7- Spreading out the fingers when raising (the hands) between closing them tight and spreading them out
8- Loud recitation of the takbir by the Imam
9- The opening prayer (thana)
10- Seeking refuge for the recitation
11- Reciting the basmalah at the beginning of the fatihah not for the chapter (surah)
12- Reciting Amin silently in all of them
13- Placing the right hand on the left hand below the navel
14- The takbir of bowing
15- Reciting the tasbeeh three times
16- Straightening of the back (in ruku)
17- Grasping the knees with the hands
18- Spreading out the fingers in ruku
19- To place them (the knees) before the hands
20- Placing the hands before the face, in reverse order of when rising
21- Rising from bowing
22- The tasmee’ which is to say سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه, the Imam alone says this
23- The tahmeed which is to say رَبَّنَا لَكَ الحَمْدُ the follower alone says this, the one praying by himself combines between them both
24- The takbir of sujud
25- The reciting of the tasbeeh three times
26- Separating the elbows from the sides and separating the arms from the ground, a woman lowers herself and attaches her stomach to her thighs
27- the takbir of sitting
28- the takbir of standing
29- spreading out the left foot and raising the right in both sittings, women are to adopt the tawarruk position
30- Spread/place the fingers on the thighs except when indicating/pointing at the time of the testimony/bearing witness
31- Sitting between the two sajda’s
32- Reciting the fatihah after/in other than the first two units of the obligatory prayer
33- Salutations upon the Prophet Allah Bless Him and Give Him Peace at the end of the final tashahud
34- Supplication (dua) with that which is transmitted regarding it
35- Salutations (salam) to the right and left
Section [The Desirable (Mustahab) Acts of Prayer]
As for its desirable acts (they are):
1- The one praying looking at the place of prostration when standing, the outer part of the feet when bowing, the side of the nose in prostration and the lap when sitting
2- To take out the hands from the sleeves at the time of the takbir
3- To refrain from coughing as much as is possible
4- To cover the mouth when yawning
5- Recitation with tartil
6- To have a gap the distance of four fingers between the feet when standing
7- Pointing with the index finger at the time of bearing witness to the Oneness (Tawhid)
8- To turn the face right and left when making salam
9- Standing at the time when hayy ala al-falah is said (In the Iqamah)
10- The Imam starting when Qad Qamatis Salah is said (in the Iqamah)
Section [The Invalidators of Prayer]
As for the invalidators of prayer (they are):
1- Any kind of speech even if a small (amount)
2- To give salutations deliberately
3- Or to reply to salutations with the tongue
4- A person praying correcting other than his Imam
5- Starting in other than the one that he is in
6- Groaning
7- Moaning
8- Crying audibly due to pain or a calamity, not if it is due to thinking of the next world (akhirah)
9- Clearing the throat without reason
10- Replying to someone who has sneezed
11- To respond to speech even if it be with zikr , such as if someone is informed of that which pleases him by says الحَمْدُ للهِ or that which saddens him by saying لاَ حَوْل وَلاَ قُـوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللهِ, it does not invalidate the prayer if he intends by it notifying/informing someone else that he is in the prayer 12- Reading from a copy of the Quran
13- Supplicating with that which is possible to ask from people
14- That he sleeps whilst reciting in the unit, in its bowing and prostration, likewise if he is overcome by sleep in either of them and he does not repeat
15- That he walks during the prayer the distance of two rows in one go
16- Eating and drinking, even if small amounts, even if between that which is between the teeth is the amount of a chickpea
17- Excessive movement such as tying a turban, wearing trousers, wrapping a waist cloth and such as scratching the body in one rukn with the hand three times consecutively raising the hand each time.
Section [The Disliked Acts of the Prayer]
As for its disliked acts (they are):
1- Fidgeting with the clothing and body
2- Cracking the fingers
3- Looking around by turning the neck
4- Placing the hands on the hips
5- Stretching
6- Squatting
7- Sitting cross legged without excuse
8- Yawning if one is able to restrain it
9- Closing the eyes
10- Raising the gaze to the sky
11- Moving stones except for the prostration once
12- Wiping dust from the forehead during the prayer
13- Spreading/placing the arms (in the sujud)
14- Raising the sleeves from the arms
15- Covering the feet in prostration for men
16- Returning the salam with the hand
17- A small amount of movement such as undoing the slit of the shirt or scratching the body once or more not in succession/consecutively
18- Knotting the hair
19- To raise the clothing and hang it
20- To leave the head uncovered except out of humility
21- To prostrate on the coil of the turban or part of ones clothing
22- Limiting (the prostration) to the forehead alone or the nose only without a reason
23- To cover the mouth
24- And the nose except when yawning
25- Placing something in the mouth which prevents the desirable recitation
26- The Imam standing in the niche , except due to the excuse of lack of space, as opposed to prostrating in it
27- The Imam alone being on a raised place from the congregation
28- Likewise all of the congregation on a raised place except the Imam
29- Wearing a garment with pictures
30- Prostrating on a picture on the carpet
31- That there be in front of someone, or next to him a picture of a living thing, except if it is small and is not evident to the one looking at it, or has had its head removed
32- Supporting (oneself) when rising upon something except due to an excuse
33- The sitting of rest
34- Leaning on the feet in turn except due to an excuse
35- Turning/swinging right and left
36- To spit
37- counting verses with the hand or prayer beads , not pressing down with the fingers
38- Praying towards the face of another person
39- Or towards fire
40- Reciting in the second unit a chapter previous (to the one recited)
41- Joining between two chapters between them which is one (chapter) in one unit or two units
42- Lengthening the recitation in the second more than the first in the obligatory prayers
43- Lengthening the prayer to the point that it becomes difficult for the congregation
44- Repeating a chapter in an unit of the obligatory prayer
45- Leaning against a wall or a pillar without an excuse in other than the optional
46- Standing behind a row in which there is a gap
47- Prayer in the street/road
48- Or on the land of another without his permission even if by indication
49- Praying whilst wearing household clothing
50- Or in the presence of food one desires
51- Or with filth which does not prevent the prayer, except if he fears the elapsing of the prayer time, or missing the congregation, if he does not fear. It is recommended for him not to cut off the prayer
52- Starting the prayer whilst withholding the call of nature , if someone experiences it during the prayer it is recommended for him to break the prayer
Section [Acts Permitted for the One Praying]
As for its permissible acts (they are):
1- Looking from the corner of the eyes without turning part of the face
2- Leveling the area of prostration
3- Killing a snake or scorpion during the prayer if someone fears harm from them, even with a number of strikes, If he feels safe from them it is disliked
4- To tie up the middle
5- To pray towards the back of someone who is speaking
6- To pray towards a copy of the Quran (mushaf)
7- Or a hanging sword
8- Or candle
9- Or burning lamp
10- On a carpet containing pictures not in the place of prostration
11- Praying with something in the mouth which does not prevent from the recitation which is recommended
12- Or in his hand something which does not prevent the recommended acts of placing
13- His breaking the prayer in the case of the theft of that which equals a dirham even if it is (the property) of another
14- The fear of wolves with regards to sheep
15- The prayer is also broken for fear of a blind person falling into a well or similar, not due to the call of the parent except for the call of help
Section [Sunnah’s before and after Prayer]
The legislated sunnahs before and after the obligatory prayer are of two categories, emphasized and non emphasized
[Emphasized Sunnahs]
The emphasized are:
1- Two before Fajr
2- Four before Dhuhr
3- Two after it
4- Two after maghrib
5- Two after Isha
6- Four before Juma’h
7- And four after it
[Non Emphasized Sunnahs]
1- Four before the Asr prayer
2- Four before Isha
3- And after Isha
4- Six after maghrib
[Witr]
As for the witr it is compulsory (wajib) . It consists of three units . The qunut in it is wajib, its method (of performance) is to raise the hands and say takbir before the bowing of the third (unit) and supplicate with the well known invocation of qunut if he is able to, if not he says
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
or says:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي Three times
Lord, forgive and have mercy, for you are the best of those who are merciful.