Can we use water which has been heated by the sun?

Questions:

1) We have a new Muslim in the Masjid and he asked what the follower should be doing in Salaah while the Imam is reciting?

2) Can we use water which has been heated by the sun?

Answer:

Wa Alaikum As Salaam,

When a follower is being led by an Imam, then the follower must not recite Quran. He should simply say the Takbeers softly, read the Tasbeehs in Ruku and Sajda, say Rabana wa lakal hamd after coming up from Ruku, recite the Tahiyat, Darood, Dua (after the Darood) and say the Salaams (to end the Salaah) softly. In other words, besides the recitation of Sura Al Faitha and another Sura, the Muqtadi (follower) should recite all the other dua’s, tasbeehs etc. This is the ruling for both the Salaah with loud and silent recitation.

In this regard, a hadith reported by Abu Moosa Al Ash’ari (RA) states, ‘The Messenger of Allah taught us ‘when you people stand up for Salaah and one of you leads the Salaah, and as your Imam recites the Quran, then you must observe silence’ (Musnad of Ahmad).

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAS) said, ‘The Imam is there that he may be followed. When he says Allahu Akbar and binds his hands, you too do as he does, but when he begins to recite the Quran, you must keep silent. Then, when he says ‘Wa ladh dhaalleen’ ( end of Sura Al Fatiha), you say “Ameen’. (Muslim, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad).

These and other traditions show clearly that once the Imam is reciting, then the Muqtadi (follower) must remain silent recitation. In this regard, a tradition narrated by Imran bin Husain (RA) states that once the Messenger of Allah led the Dhuhr Salaah. Someone behind him began to recite Surah Al ‘Ala when the prayer came to an end with salutation, the Prophet (SAS) asked, ‘who among you recited?’ That man revealed himself. The Prophet (SAS) then said, ‘ I thought that one of you is snatching it (the recitation ) away from me’. (Muslim, Nasaa’i, Abu Dawood).

Sahih Muslim carries two more Ahadith on the same subject. The above Hadith is also mentioned by Imam Nasaa’i, and on account of the ruling in the hadith, Imam Nasaa’i, described the chapter as ‘Chapter of leaving off the recitation behind the Imam in those Salaah which have silent recitation’. It is also evident in the tradition narrated by Jabir (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAS) said, ‘For one who has an Imam before him, the recital of the Imam is sufficient to be his own recital’. (Muwatta of Imam Muhammad; Tahawi; Dar Qutni; Musnad Ahmad).

As stated by Hafiz Ibn Taimiyah, the above position (ruling) is the verdict (and Practice) of the overwhelming majority of the pious predecessors (Salaf) and those after them. It is the opinion of the Sahabah and the Tabi’een (Fatawa Ibn Taimiya).

2) Water heated by the sun is permissible to use.

And Allah knows best,
Mufti Waseem Khan

26/06/2012