A devout man who maintains the prayer, prays in congregation, prays one hundred rak'ahs at night, prays the witr and the voluntary prayers, makes du'a for his parents, and recites after every prayer
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The questioner : He says that he is a religious man who maintains his prayers and prays in congregation. He says: "I pray one hundred rak'ahs at night, and I pray the shaf' and witr and the voluntary prayers, and I make du'a' for my parents, and I recite after every prayer: 'There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner; to Him belongs dominion and to Him belongs praise, and He is over all things competent.' And I pray the Dhuha prayer of eight rak'ahs." He also says: "I am blind and cannot see, and I pray sitting down because I am unable to move." Please advise us, may Allah reward you, about this deed: is it good? May you be rewarded with good, and may Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. As for what follows:
I am answering a question about this man who says that he maintains the prayer, the night prayer, the shaf' and witr, the Dhuha prayer, and the dhikr he mentioned in his question. I answer this question by saying that what this questioner did, without doubt, was intended for good and to draw near to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. However, what I advise this questioner is to strive to ensure that his actions conform to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was upon, for that is better and more excellent. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked about the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Ramadan, and she said:Sahih al-Bukhari 3569 and she mentioned that in detail, and perhaps the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would pray thirteen rak'ahs.
This number that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand up for at night is better than the one hundred rak'ahs the questioner mentioned in his question, if he performs these eleven or thirteen rak'ahs with deliberation, tranquility, and reciting the Qur'an with measured recitation and reflection, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. As for one hundred rak'ahs, a person generally does not perform them except with haste, without tranquility, without reflection on the Book of Allah, and without reflection on what he says of glorification, takbir, and du'a.
As for the remembrance of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, there is no doubt that whenever a person persists in the remembrance of Allah, he is in a good state. There is no fixed number that he is restricted to; rather, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has praised those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, meaning they remember Allah, the Exalted, in every state and in every condition.
As for his question about praying while sitting, we say to him: As for the obligatory prayer, it is not permissible for him to pray sitting while he is able to stand, due to the saying of Allah, the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:238] and due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to 'Umar ibn al-Husayn: Sunan Abi Dawud 952Sahih (Al-Albani).
As for the voluntary prayer, there is no blame on him if he prays sitting while he is able to stand, but if he does so without an excuse, he will not be recorded as having more than half the reward of the one who stands, as established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
We ask Allah to increase us and our brother in His grace, and in drawing near to Him and worshipping Him with insight.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. As for what follows:
I am answering a question about this man who says that he maintains the prayer, the night prayer, the shaf' and witr, the Dhuha prayer, and the dhikr he mentioned in his question. I answer this question by saying that what this questioner did, without doubt, was intended for good and to draw near to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. However, what I advise this questioner is to strive to ensure that his actions conform to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was upon, for that is better and more excellent. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked about the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Ramadan, and she said:
He used not to pray more than eleven rak`at whether in Ramadan or in any other month.
ما كان يزيد في رمضان ولا غيره على إحدى عشرة ركعةThis number that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand up for at night is better than the one hundred rak'ahs the questioner mentioned in his question, if he performs these eleven or thirteen rak'ahs with deliberation, tranquility, and reciting the Qur'an with measured recitation and reflection, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. As for one hundred rak'ahs, a person generally does not perform them except with haste, without tranquility, without reflection on the Book of Allah, and without reflection on what he says of glorification, takbir, and du'a.
As for the remembrance of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, there is no doubt that whenever a person persists in the remembrance of Allah, he is in a good state. There is no fixed number that he is restricted to; rather, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has praised those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, meaning they remember Allah, the Exalted, in every state and in every condition.
As for his question about praying while sitting, we say to him: As for the obligatory prayer, it is not permissible for him to pray sitting while he is able to stand, due to the saying of Allah, the Exalted:
and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.
وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَoffer prayer in standing condition; if you are unable to do so, then in sitting condition: if you are then at your side
صلي قائماً، فإن لم تستطع فقاعداً، فإن لم تستطع فعلى جنبAs for the voluntary prayer, there is no blame on him if he prays sitting while he is able to stand, but if he does so without an excuse, he will not be recorded as having more than half the reward of the one who stands, as established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
We ask Allah to increase us and our brother in His grace, and in drawing near to Him and worshipping Him with insight.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.