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Ruling when the Friday Prayer and the E`ed Prayer Come on the Same Day
Author : The General Iftaa' Department
Date Added : 14-07-2015

Ruling when the Friday Prayer and the E`ed Prayer Come on the Same Day

When the E`ed occurs on a Friday, the Friday prayer remains obligatory because the E`ed prayer is a confirmed Sunna; whereas, the Friday prayer is an individual duty. Sunnah doesn`t invalidate an obligation, nor suffices for it. This is indicated by the following verse (What means): "O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of God, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew!" [Al-Jum`ah/9].

 

At the time of the Prophet (PBUH), E`ed occurred on a Friday, so he performed the E`ed prayer as well as the Friday prayer and delivered both sermons, and this is very famous in the books of Sunnah and the traditions. In addition, this is the opinion of the majority of the Muslim scholars: The Hanafites, The Malikites, The Shafites and in one narration of the Hanbalites.

 

He (PBUH) permitted the people from the outskirts not to attend the Friday prayer that day and instead offer the Zuhr prayer in their neighborhoods. The Prophet (PBUH) said: Two festivals (E'ed and Friday) have synchronized on this day. If anyone does not want to offer the Friday prayer, the E'ed prayer is sufficient for him. But we shall offer the Friday prayer." [Abu Dawood].

 

The majority of the Hanafite, Malikite and Shafite jurists said that the aforementioned Hadith applies to those who came from the outskirts of Medina in order to offer the E`ed prayer in the Prophet`s Mosque, and they aren`t obliged to offer the Friday prayer in principle, because they live in the outskirts of cities, far from populated areas. If they waited to offer the Friday prayer after having performed the E`ed prayer, they will face hardship and they will face the same hardship if they went home and returned to offer the Friday prayer, and this is why the Prophet(PBUH) permitted them not to attend the Friday prayer.

 

Therefore, it is more prudent to observe both prayers on that day, and as regards the opinion of some Hanbalite jurists states that whoever prays the E`ed prayer isn`t obliged to pray the Friday prayer, and should pray the Zuhr prayer instead, it contradicts prudence and acquittal.

 

As regards the opinion which states that praying the E`ed prayer invalidates the Zuhr prayer, this has never been stated by any of the four schools of jurisprudence and contradicts the provisions of Sharia which make offering five prayers for each day and night obligatory. Therefore, it is impermissible to apply this opinion, imitate it, or issue rulings based on it. Moreover, some narrations, related to some companions, state that the E`ed prayer makes the Friday prayer not obligatory if they happened on the same day, aren`t to be taken into consideration.

 

Finally, there is no room for dispute and  argument since Muslims are about to receive the Feast of Al-Fitr, rather, a Muslim should adhere to matters whose meanings are established, leave matters whose meanings are allegorical and follow the established opinions of the four juristic schools. And Allah Knows Best.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on praying seated due to severe obesity, given that I experience hardship in performing the prayer — especially when rising from the ground after sujūd to perform the next rak‘ah?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Standing, when one is able to do so, is a pillar of the prayer. However, whoever would experience severe, intolerable hardship, or fears harm to himself or to a limb due to obesity, or finds that standing causes him to lose his khushū‘ (humble focus and concentration) in prayer, then there is no objection to his praying seated on a chair or on the ground, performing rukū‘ (bowing) and sujūd (prostration) through gesture — provided that the gesture for sujūd is made lower than that for rukū‘. Whoever is able, at any point, to properly perform any one of these pillars, is obligated to perform it in full; for omitting it is a concession that applies only in cases of genuine inability. The Prophet ﷺ said: "When I command you to do something, do of it whatever you are able." (Related by al-Bukhārī). As the scholars of fiqh have established: what remains possible is not waived on account of what is difficult.
The criterion for determining genuine inability, as chosen by Imam al-Ḥaramayn al-Juwaynī (raḥimahullāh), is that the worshipper experiences hardship that causes him to lose his khushū‘.
As for voluntary (nafl) prayer, there is no objection to performing it while seated, even if one is able to stand. However, rukū‘ and sujūd must still be performed [in their proper physical form] by anyone who is able to do so. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on someone who possesses gold with the intention of saving/hoarding it, and owns nothing else — is he obligated to sell a portion of it in order to pay the zakāh due on it?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Zakāh becomes immediately obligatory on cash, and likewise on gold — that which is not designated for a woman's personal adornment— once both reach the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for zakah) and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has passed over them. It is not permissible to delay payment when it is genuinely possible to pay — meaning, when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both available. It is stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.2/p.129): "Zakāh is obligatory immediately once it becomes feasible to pay it, meaning when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both present."
The one paying zakāh must discharge the obligatory zakāh due on saved (hoarded) gold either from the gold itself, or from its equivalent monetary value, in the event that no other funds are available — since paying from the gold itself is the original default (al-aṣl). It becomes permissible to pay from other funds instead only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency, as stated in Asnā al-Maṭālib (Vol.1/p.366): "When a full ḥawl has elapsed on wealth other than trade goods... zakāh attaches to the actual asset itself (al-‘ayn), and the poor effectively become partners in it — even, for example, [becoming partners] in camels through the value of a sheep [owed as zakāh on them]... Paying from other wealth is permitted only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency."
Accordingly: the one paying zakāh must discharge it either from the actual saved gold itself, or by selling a portion of the gold equal to the amount of zakāh owed. He may also borrow money to pay the zakāh, or pay the zakāh in installments before the ḥawl is complete [as an advance payment]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

I wish to purchase an online account (a gaming account), and its ownership will be transferred to me. However, my friend will purchase it on my behalf, and I will repay him in deferred installments with an added profit margin to account for the installment sale. What is the ruling of Islamic Law on this transaction?

 
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The ruling on selling electronic games depends on the ruling of the game itself: if the game is permissible, then selling it is likewise permissible. However, if the game contains Sharia violations that render playing it impermissible, then selling it in that case is neither valid nor permissible. Therefore, we advise the necessity of reviewing the Sharia guidelines for electronic games set forth in Fatwa No. (3369).
 
Accordingly, if the game is permissible, a person may purchase it, take legal possession of it, and subsequently sell it in deferred installments for a price higher than its purchase price. The General Iftaa' Department has permitted dealing through Murabaha, while emphasizing the necessity of observing the Sharia conditions required for this transaction; please refer to Fatwa No. (2861). And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is it obligatory to have an intention (niyyah) for every prayer?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is obligatory for the worshiper to have a specific intention (Niyyah) for every prayer, meaning they must consciously intend the act of worship they are performing. The intention is a pillar (Rukn) of the prayer, and the prayer is not valid without it. It is not a requirement to utter the intention verbally; rather, doing so is considered a recommended Sunnah. And Allah the Exalted knows best.