Praying in a Chair, Muslim Youth, Hajj Issues
Q 1. I have a small problem and need guidance. I want to know whether I am doing right or wrong. I work in Canada at different locations and during prayer time find myself a small place to pray which is not necessarily hidden from public eye. Can I sit in a chair and perform my prayer and regardless of the direction of the Kaíbah? Because sometimes it is difficult to determine the direction. Is it wrong for a Muslim woman to perform prayer in public view? I would be grateful if you put me out of my dilemma. Thank you. (Farozan)
A 1. For a woman it is indeed better to pray in a private place. It is much more conducive for her Hijab and her modesty. The women who work outside their homes, they should ask their employers to provide them a proper place for prayers. However, those who cannot find a private place for prayers, they should pray wherever it is possible for them to pray. Women are allowed to pray in public places also.
Prayer in a chair or prayer without any regard for Qiblah is not allowed for those who can perform all the positions of prayer ( such as Qiyam, Rukuí, Sujud etc.) in the normal way. Seeking the proper direction for the Qiblah is also a condition for the validity of prayers. Those who are sick or traveling in buses or planes etc. are, of course, allowed to pray in the sitting position while lowering their heads a little for Ruku and more for Sajdah. Similarly the sick people are allowed to pray in whatever position it is possible for them to pray. For others, whether they are praying in private place or public, all the postures of Salah are necessary.
Q 2. I am 16 years old. My family has been subscribing to Pakistan Link for the past two years. I am always the one to rush and read your column. I really appreciate what you have been doing and I pray to Allah to help you do more. I have a question regarding the Muslim youth in America. I know when a female has started her monthly cycle she must keep her head covered in the presence of non-Mahrams, but in the community where I live there are not many Muslims who are willing to do this. There was a girl in my school who started to wear the Hijab and the other kids would make fun of her and urinate on her locker and brake it open and tear up her books, etc. She was very strong since she continued to still wear the Hijab. I must admit that I am not that religious but I want to be. I know I am not that strong. Is there anything else I can do in order to be forgiven for not wearing the Hijab.
Thank you so much and again I really appreciate what you have been doing. And if I may make a suggestion maybe you can someday answer questions of only the Muslim youth so that others like me will read the newspaper more often. (Please keep my name anonymous for my relatives may read this and get very angry. Thank you.)
A 2. I am deeply moved by your devotion and your commitment to your faith. May Allah bless you and increase your Iman and Taqwa. I thank Allah that my answers are helping you in your Islamic life. May Allah bless your friend the young Muslim girl who is so patiently struggling to live by the rules of Allah. May Allah guide other Muslims, men and women, to follow this beautiful example of faith and perseverance. You have asked me to tell you what you can do to be forgiven for not wearing Hijab. The only thing I can suggest is that you make a decision today to begin wearing your Hijab and then ask Allah to forgive you your past mistakes. InshaAllah with the sincere efforts to live by the rules of Allah, you will receive His blessings and forgiveness. The more you will live by the rules of Allah, the more strength you will gain and the more you will be able to follow the principles of your faith.
Your suggestion to answer the questions of Muslim youth is very good. I do answer a lot of questions that youth send me by email. Sometimes I am asked not to publish the questions, so I send direct answers to such questions. However, I do encourage our youth to learn more and more about their religion and ask questions not only for the sake of asking, but for sincere practice and commitment to Allah.
Q 3. Can a person go around asking individuals to do Hajj on their behalf (the conditions of Hajj Badal applying of course) or should those individuals make the request of whomever they wish? Why I am asking is that I know a particular person who, knowing that a possible Hajj Badal exists in a particular family, is planning to ask the family for him to do the Hajj Badal. According to him, if he ìgets two Hajj Badalsî he can take his wife too. This person and his wife have gone to Hajj many times. There is something wrong about that, isnít there?
A 3. Hajj Badal is a substitute Hajj. Hajj is obligatory on those who are able to perform it financially and physically. Some people are financially able to make Hajj, but they have physical problems and cannot undertake the long journey of Hajj and its many observances. Such people are allowed to send someone to make Hajj on their behalf. This is called Hajj Badal. Only those persons can ask for Hajj Badal who are really incapable to make Hajj themselves. If a person was physically able to make Hajj and he/she did not want to take this journey, his/her Hajj Badal will not be valid.
According to some jurists the person making Hajj Badal must have first performed his/her own Hajj, but according to the Hanafi jurists it is not necessary. Hajj is an ëIbadah (act of worship and devotion) and it should not be commercialized. Thus those who want to perform Hajj Badal are allowed to inform others about their availability. They should do the Hajj on behalf of others with devotion and sincerity. They should not make it a business to make profit.
Q 4. Can one perform Hajj on behalf of the deceased relatives (for example parents) who did not follow the commands of Allah such as Salat and Fasting during their life? But they were kind parents and gave much charity but neglected their religion and did not pay proper Zakat. At the time of death they had not mended their ways even though they had examples all around them of good Islamic practice and behavior. What does one do in that case?
A 4. If the deceased relatives made a will before their death, left the necessary money for Hajj and asked their children to make Hajj on their behalf, then the children must make Hajj, either themselves or should send someone to make Hajj, on behalf of their parents. If the parents did not make a will, but children wish to make Hajj on behalf of their parents they are allowed to do so. They will receive the reward and also the reward will be for their parents, InshaAllah.
There is nothing wrong in making duía or performing Hajj on behalf of the parents who were neglectful in their religious duties. As long as they died as Muslims, the children should pray for their parents and should ask Allah to forgive them. We all should try to live by Allahís rules, but we are all neglectful, some more and some less. We should pray for those who passed away as Muslims and we should urge our children and others to do that for us when we are not here.
Q 5. I am aware that people who are in debt cannot make Hajj until the debts are cleared or they have to ask their creditors for permission to make the Hajj. But in reality is that ever done? I know some persons who will be making Hajj this year and are in serious debt. In fact the person may be using the Hajj to make money to perhaps clear off some of his debts. What can one say to such a person? What is my duty here?
A 5. Hajj is not obligatory (fard) on a person who is in debt. However if a person has a long-term loan and he/she is required to pay only a certain amount every month, then his debt is only that which is due every month. If he pays off all the debt and then nothing is left with him to make Hajj, then Hajj is not obligatory on him. But if he only pays his monthly dues and then has enough money to make Hajj, then he should make Hajj. Hajj is obligatory on him.
If a person is in debt and his creditor allows him to go to Hajj, then he can perform Hajj. If a person takes loan (of course without interest) to perform Hajj and he makes Hajj, his Hajj is valid, although he was not required to do so and Hajj was not obligatory on him.
There is nothing wrong in going to Hajj and also doing some business on the side to make money or to pay some debts, as long as the Hajj is performed with sincerity and all its rituals are performed properly. Allah says, ìIt is no sin on you if you seek the bounty of your Lord during pilgrimage.î (al-Baqarah 2:198).