Intention when going for a swim

Question: What intention should I make when I go for a swim in the pool?

Mufti Sahib says: One can make intention for good health and strong body as it will be easy to worship Allah Ta’ala.

Swimming in Ramadhan while fasting

Question: Is it okay to swim while fasting?

Mufti Sahib says: As there is a risk that water can enter the mouth, it will be better not to swim while fasting.

Fulfulling sunnah by learning swimming, archery and horse riding

Question: In one of your bayaan (lecture) I heard that we should teach our children swimming, archery and horse riding. In my city or close to my city, any school or arena where archery and horse riding are taught is not available. So, If I teach Martial Arts to my children in place of archery and Cycling in place of horse riding, will it make up as fulfilling this particular sunnah?

Mufti Sahib says: Yes it will. The whole point is that one experiences ‘exertion’ and it can be achieved through Martial Arts and Cycling.

Answering Azaan when one is on phone

Question: If I am on the phone talking to a friend in a different city or the same city but different area and Azaan starts in that area which I can hear very clearly through phone. Then in this situation, do I have to answer the Azaan ?

Mufti Sahib says: No, you don’t have to.

Turning off TV or radio when Azaan is being played

Question: Is it okay to change channel or turn off TV or radio when Azaan is being played on TV or radio?

Mufti Sahib says: Yes, it is OK and there is no karahat in it.

Answering Azaan being played on TV or radio

Question: Do we have to answer a recorded Azaan if it is being played on TV or radio?

Mufti Sahib says: No, it is not necessary.

Answering Azaan given from different masjids

Question: Do we have to answer each Azaan given from different Masjids in our area?

Mufti Sahib says: No. Answering Azaan one time given from any masjid will suffice.

Answering Azaan

Question: Is it compulsory or waajib to answer Azaan?

Mufti Sahib says: No it is not Compulsory (fardh) or waajib but it is preferable (mustahab) to answer Azaan.

Tahajjud Azaan

Question: Why Azaan for Tahajjud is not given in so many places whereas it is practised in Haramein Shareefein(The Two Holy Mosques) ?

Mufti Sahib says: Ulaamae Mujtahideen are of different opinion regarding this proposition. According to Hanbali fuqaaha, this Azaan has not been abrogated so they are convinced of its validity. And according to Hanafi fuqaaha, Azaan for Tahajjud salaat was valid in early stages but later it was abrogated. Thats why in our region(the Sub-continent) and wherever Hanafi fiqh is practiced, Azaan for Tahajjud salaat is not given.

Hazrat Bilal (رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻧﻪ) used to give Azaan before the dawn of the day so that the people who were busy in Tahajjud prayer would take some rest before Fajr salaat, and those people who were sleeping would get up early and would start making preparations for Fajr salaat. And when this Azaan got cancelled, Sahabah kiraam (رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻧﻬﻢ) never gave this Azaan afterwards. Hence, it is not practiced in our regions(the Sub-continent).
In AlBahrur Raaiq, Ibne Nujaim (رحمة الله عليه) has discussed this proposition (masla) and quoted the narrations of Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Muhammad (رحمة اﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻤﺎ) that Azaan will not be given before Fajr Salaat.

In Behqi, it is narrated by Rasulullaah (ﺻﻠﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) that He said “Bilaal dont give Azaan until dawn of the day breaks.” This prohibition by Rasulullaah (ﺻﻠﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) for not giving Azaan before dawn of the day is a proof for us for its abrogation (annullment).
In ‘Ashra ma’nil Athaar, Imam Tahawi (رحمة الله عليه) has narrated an incident that “Ibraahim Nakha’i (رحمة الله عليه) said that we were with Hazrat Alkamah (رحمة الله عليه) in Makkah Mukarramah. He went out at night and heard a muazzin giving Azaan. He said, ‘look at this person, he is performing an action against the ways of Rasulullaah (ﺻﻠﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) and Sahabah Kiraam (رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻧﻬﻢ). And if he had been sleeping, it wouldve been better for him than giving Azaan.’ ” Imam Tahawi (رحمة الله عليه) further said, it shows that Hazrat Alkamah (رحمة الله عليه) declared any Azaan given before Fajr Azaan is against the Sunnat and the ways of Sahabah Kiraam (رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻧﻬﻢ).

Thats why, giving Azaan for Tahajjud is abrogated (mansookh) according to Hanafi fuqaaha and only Fajr Azaan would be given at the break of the dawn.

Reciting Surah al-Kahf on fridays

Question: Is there any prefered time to recite Surah al-Kahf on fridays?

Mufti Sahib says:  It can be recited anytime after sunsets on Thursday and before sunsets on Friday.

Reading a surah after al-Fatiha in Sunnah-e-Muakkadah

Question: What to do if someone forgets to read a Surah after Surah al-Fatiha in Sunnah-e-Muakkadah?

Mufti Sahib says: Sajda Sahw will become wajib.

Would there be restlessness, eagerness or wait in Jannah

Question: In this world, when we are waiting for some good things to happen then a kind of restlessness or uneasiness is felt. So, will this same restlessness and uneasiness be felt upon waiting in Jannah?

Mufti Sahib says: There will not be any wait, restlessness or uneasiness in Jannah. A man has so many wishes and desires in this world and the means to comfort or appease himself are very less. Because of this his wishes are fulfilled after some time, thus, he feels restlessness. Whereas in Jannah, the more he desires the more it would be fulfilled. Whatever he would ask for, it would be given to him. So there wont be any trouble of wait and restlessness.
The desire itself and the thing which is desired would be both on par in Jannah. On the contrary, these two things are not the same here in this world. So trouble, restlessness and eagerness are felt.