The Salafi "Position" in Regards to Placing the Hands in Salah
Two Fridays ago several brothers came together at Masjid Al-Salam in Nashville, TN, to clarify the correct position in regards to the placement of the hands. Representing one side of the debate was Imam Abdullah Al-Ansary (student of Shaykh Ghudayan - rahimahullah) of the Islamic Center of Tennessee and representing another side of the debate was Imam Abdiaziz Irobie (student of Shaykh Muqbil - rahimahullah).
The end result, I believe, was that both of the imams brought there proof, and the such differences in the religion is permissiable. There is no one Salafi position regarding this issue. Salafiyyah is not a school of fiqh. Every position and Salafi holds today stands on the backs of all those before us. Whether one prayer with his/her hands below the navel, on the chest, in between the two, or at one's side, the main matter in the din is in regards to the `aqidah and the overall minhaj of our religion.
Khalil Alpuertorikani
Yonkers, New York
July 31, 2010
As salaamu alaikum,
ReplyDeleteI was referred to check out your posting from a close friend of mine. Something stood out to me at sight of the title of your post. In our times where again "Is Islam violent?" is the question being posed by the media and other prominent non-muslim outlets and organizations, is there place to debate extensively on issues like this? It is as if we are in the Glorious days of Baghdad discoursing classical fatawa on marriage. Those days are long gone. There needs to be more discussion on establishing identity, more discussion on how to unify in a diverse community, and so many other things. Extensive debate and lecture on issues of hands I feel don't have a place in open forums anymore, they should be reserved for student circles and print media. The community at large is more confused about other matters. The manner in which many people pray is more based on the teaching of their locality while growing up in Islam. Mots people follow their tradition which alot of times is based on one of the major madhhabs.
Just a few thoughts.
Khalil (Houston)
Khalil,
ReplyDeleteWa alaikum assalamu wa rahamtullahi wa barakatuh
First of all thanks for you feedback.
I agree that there should not be extensive discussions (not debates) on such topics. There does, however, have to be discussions on such matters. Prayer is a part of our din and we should always be striving to perfect our salah.
As far as having discussions on "postmodern" hot topics such as identity, I think that these types of discussions are not as important as those regarding the main pillars of the religions. Even in the discussion of identity, you will find heated debates. Such a discussion is not something that will unite the hearts.
Hope to hear more from you.
You brother in Al-Islam,
Khalil Alpuerto Rikani