An elderly woman in good health who fasts and prays, but upon being asked what she recites in prayer, it is revealed that she does not know how to recite Surat al-Fatihah or the tashahhud
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The questioner : They say there is an elderly woman, about eighty years old, in good health who fasts and prays. However, when asked what she recites in prayer, it became clear to them that she does not know how to recite Surat al-Fatihah, nor the tashahhud, nor the tasbih, nor the number of rak'ahs. When they tried to teach her, she did not respond. The other brothers also tried with her, but they found no result. She said, "This is my prayer; I do not know any other." I ask for advice and guidance in such a matter.
The Shaykh : This issue may occur because people in past times had much ignorance; they did not know of the acts of worship except what they had inherited from one another. After knowledge spread and people turned to verifying their actions in accordance with it, much deficiency was revealed in previous acts of worship.
So we say: The prayers this woman has performed in the past are valid, even if she did not fulfill what is obligatory for her in them, because she is excused by ignorance.
As for what lies ahead, it is obligatory for her to learn the matters of her religion and to act upon what she learns of the religion of Allah.
My advice to her is to fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and not to be negligent with the prayer. If she dies in this state after knowledge has reached her and she has known the truth, she is in great danger, because she will not die upon the Sunnah. Whoever prays without reciting Surat al-Fatihah or the tashahhud, and does not know how to perform tasbih, has no prayer, there is no doubt in this, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 247Sahih (Darussalam) and his saying in the hadith of the one who prays poorly: I advise those responsible for this woman to repeat to her, with firm and binding insistence, that she must fulfill what is obligatory for her regarding the prescribed prayer according to what the Shari'ah has brought. With repetition, advice, encouraging good, and warning against disobedience, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) will guide whom He wills of His servants.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : This issue may occur because people in past times had much ignorance; they did not know of the acts of worship except what they had inherited from one another. After knowledge spread and people turned to verifying their actions in accordance with it, much deficiency was revealed in previous acts of worship.
So we say: The prayers this woman has performed in the past are valid, even if she did not fulfill what is obligatory for her in them, because she is excused by ignorance.
As for what lies ahead, it is obligatory for her to learn the matters of her religion and to act upon what she learns of the religion of Allah.
My advice to her is to fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and not to be negligent with the prayer. If she dies in this state after knowledge has reached her and she has known the truth, she is in great danger, because she will not die upon the Sunnah. Whoever prays without reciting Surat al-Fatihah or the tashahhud, and does not know how to perform tasbih, has no prayer, there is no doubt in this, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
There is no Salat for the one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab.
لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتابBow until you are at rest in bowing, and prostrate until you are at rest in prostration
اركع حتى تطمئن راكعاً، واسجد حتى تطمئن ساجداًThe questioner : May Allah bless you.