Queries about Taraweeh, Itikaf rules, and Fasting rules

Darul-Ifta Ahl al-Sunnat

Mufti Abu Muhammad ‘Ali Asghar Attari Madani

Forgetting to recite Surah al-Fātiḥa in the second rakʿat of Tarāwīḥ

Q: What do the honourable scholars state in this regard: after finishing one rakʿat during Tarāwīḥ, the Imam stands to begin the second rakʿat but forgetfully begins reciting the Holy Quran from where he left off in the first rakʿat and misses Surah al-Fātiḥa. If he remembers to recite the Fātiḥa during salah, how should he complete the salah? If he does not remember, what impact does that have on the salah? From ‘Umayr Madani Attari

A:

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

A person begins reciting a surah in the second rakʿat of Tarāwīḥ, forgetfully leaving out Fātiḥa. If he remembers that he was supposed to recite Fātiḥa, and this comes into his mind after reciting a verse or more of the surah, he must then recite the Fātiḥa. After finishing the Fātiḥa, he is then to continue recitation of the surah from where he left in the first rakʿāt and perform two compensatory prostrations (sajdat al-sahw) at the end of the Salah.

If he remembers to recite Fātiḥa before finishing one verse of the Surah, he should immediately begin Fātiḥa, and after finishing this, he should continue reciting from where he left in the first rakʿat. Sajdat al-sahw will NOT be necessary in this case.

If he forgets to recite Fātiḥa, and does not perform sajdat al-sahw at the end, he must (wājib) repeat the salah. However, if he performs sajdat al-sahw at the end, the salah will be valid.^[1]

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ  عَزَّوَجَلَّ  وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم  صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

Leading the funeral prayer (janāza) whilst in Iʿtikāf

Q: What do the honourable scholars state in this regard: I serve as Imam in a masjid. Whenever someone in our neighbourhood passes away, I lead their janāza. Normally, there is nobody to lead it besides me.

I now intend to perform Sunnah Iʿtikāf. The people of my neighbourhood say, if somebody was to pass away whilst I was in ‘Iʿtikāf, there will be nobody to lead their janāza. They ask me to not perform Iʿtikāf for this reason.

Outside the masjid, there is a field designated for janāza. This field is neither a part of the masjid (ʿayn al-masjid) nor part of its extended area (fināʾ al-masjid).

While performing ‘Iʿtikāf, am I allowed to leave the masjid to lead janāza prayers? From Muhammad Arif Siyalvi

A:

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

If a muʿtakif (the one sitting Iʿtikāf) leaves the masjid for a janāza prayer, his Iʿtikāf will be rendered void. This will remain the case, even if no-one else is available to lead the janāza.

If you perform Iʿtikāf, the people of the neighbourhood should arrange for someone else to lead janāza instead. Also, janāza can be performed in Fina-e-Masjid, if the Masjid you are performing Iʿtikāf in has such an area. Bear in mind, this can only be done if reaching Fina-e-Masjid does not involve you leaving the Masjid at all. Also remember, it is not permissible to perform janāza in ‘Ain-e-Masjid.

If you have no choice but to leave the Masjid in order to lead a janāza, and you enter the field used to perform janāza; which is not Fina-e-Masjid but a separate place from the Masjid altogether, your Iʿtikāf will be rendered void and will break.

Whenever Iʿtikāf breaks, it is necessary to make up for it. The method of doing this, is to reach the Masjid before sunset, with the intention of making up for Iʿtikāf. Keep a fast the next day, and after performing Maghrib Salah you may return home. Your Iʿtikāf will be atoned for.

The meaning of having no choice but to leave the Masjid, as was said earlier, entails that there is nobody besides you capable of leading the janāza. Without this compulsion, it is impermissible to break Iʿtikāf.^[2]

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ  عَزَّوَجَلَّ  وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم  صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

If fine strands of thread enter the throat, how does this effect one’s fast?

Q: What do the honourable scholars say in this regard: I work in a clothes factory. Even when we are fasting, we continue working. When the machinery is operated, fine strands and threads of fabric are cast into the air. These strands and threads sometimes come into the nose or mouth and eventually find their way into the throat. The proprietors cannot give us the whole of Ramadan off, so we are compelled to work while fasting.

Despite taking precautions and trying to spit out these threads, they enter the throat and pass below it, leaving a slight taste behind. If this happens, will our fasts be broken? From Muhammad Aamir, Karachi

A:

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

In the situation inquired about, in which fine threads of fabric enter the throat without the person’s accord; the entering of these threads into the throat does not invalidate their fast, even if it happens to the fasting person whilst they remember they are fasting.

If the fasting person deliberately takes these threads into his throat, then his fast will become invalid. If he forgets he is fasting, however, and deliberately takes the threads into his throat, then his fast will remain valid.

Bear in mind, there is no valid Islamic restriction in going to dusty places and working there in the state of fasting. To work or go to such a place, with tiny threads and strands in the air, is permissible in the state of fasting.^[3]

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ  عَزَّوَجَلَّ  وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم  صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم