1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

26 Questions

The Sunni's raise their finger when reciting the Tashahud in prayers. Do the Shia also do the same?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Raising the finger while reciting the Tashahhaud in prayers is an act
which was never done by the Holy Prophet (SAWA) nor his holy ProgenyAhlul Bayt
(AS). This is done by some Muslims without authentic evidence and
there are different claims of ways of doing it among the Sunni groups. But all
the ways they do it are not authentic. There are Sunni scholars who do not do it and say that it is wrong to do it.

We must perform our Salaah as the Holy Prophet (SAWA) did it and as he ordered all Muslims saying : Pray Salaah as you saw me performing it.

Wassalam.
The Sunni's raise their finger when reciting the Tashahud in prayers. Do the Shia also do the same?
Amina Inloes

No.
Is الشهادة الثالثة in Tashahhud required or permissible in prayers?
Abbas Di Palma

as salam alaikum

the divine commands for 'ibadaat are "tawqifiyyah" meaning it is not permissible to add anything on them that has not been clearly prescribed by Allah Almighty. Since al-Shahadah al-Thalithah during salat has not been transmitted through authentic or widely transmitted reports, and actually the authentic reports prove otherwise, it cannot be considered neither "wajib" nor "sunnah" or "mustahab".

With prayers for your success.
When and how did the phrase "Aliyyun waliyullah" originate? Is it a part of the Shahada? Is it a part of the Tashahhud during prayers?
Abbas Di Palma

as salam alaikum

the phrase "Aliyyun waliyullah" can be explained in the light the following Qur'anic verse: "Behold! The awliya' of Allah neither fear shall overwhelm them, nor shall they remain in grief" (10:62).   A faithful person who have sincerely studied the life of Ali, peace be upon him, will find no problem to count him among the most outstanding examples of those awliya' mentioned in the ayah.

The above-mentioned sentence however is not a part of the tashahhud that can be said during prayers and we don't have any authentic chain of transmission to validate such claim. The salat is an act of worship and we should not add any wording to Islamic worship that has not been prescribed by the Almighty. The believer should be satisfied with what Allah has given him and avoid to exceed His boundaries. 

Furthermore, among the acts which invalidates the salat is to speak while praying, unless we are pronouncing Qur'anic verses or specific du'as (like in the case of qunut). The phrase is not as such, rather it is a testimony (which many Shia Muslims  add verbally to their shahadah) and an acknowledgement of faith: therefore it is considered "additional talk".

It is necessary in this regard to stick to what has been transmitted to us via mutawatir chains of transmission or, at least, through authenticated reports.

With prayers for your success.