Q: I have been in the practice of making 4 Rak'at with one Taslim, I ask if I forget to recite the Thana at the beginning of the 3 third Rak'at and start the recitation of Surah Fatihah and then remember, can I stop reciting the Surah and recite the Thalia and then recite the Surah? Or should I just make Sajda-Sahw?

2. Again concerning the making of 4 Rak'at with one Taslim, In the first two Rak'at I recite Surah 111 and 112 is it permissible for me now to recite 94 and 95 in the 3rd and 4th rak'at since these are considered two new rak'at?

3. If one does not remember how many Sajdah he has made and makes another not knowing whether it is the second or third should he make Sajda-Sahw or start the Salat afresh?

4. It is reported in Shamaa'il Tirmidhi Hadith (294) that the Sahabi Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Aas made up his mind that he would strive to intensify his devotions, and he did such by fasting each day and praying all night. His father became upset about this and went to Sayyidna Rasullalah A and complained. Sayyidna Rasullalah saw, called Abdullah and asked him: "I have heard you always fast during the day and stand in prayer the whole night?" He replied: "Yes" there upon Sayyidna Rasullalah saw. replied, 'Do not do so, but fast sometimes, and abstain sometimes. In the same manner do perform salat at night, and sleep too." Can you explain what is meant by this underlined portion please.

5. Would it be Makruh to delay the Maghrib Salat till the stars begin to twinkle?

6. During the time of the Sayyidna Rasullalah saw. was the urine of camels considered to be pure or impure? I ask this question from a hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, where a tribe was ordered by the Sayyidna Rasullalah saw. to drink urine and milk to cure a ailment that they suffered from. But in these days the kutub says that the urine is najas.

7. If one stood up and realized that he had only made one sajdah what should he do?

8. In what direction should one pray in from the United States, more specifically Ohio?

9. Is Jum'ah Salat valid in prison? If so could you provide me with the dalil on this?
[Abdul Hakiym Zakiy (U.S.A.)]

A: 1) When you are praying four Rak'ats with one Thasleem you need not at all recite Thalia in the
beginning of the third Rak'at. Therefore, there is no question of any Sajdns of Sahw for not reciting Thana. Even in the first Rak'at it is not Wajib to recite Thana. Therefore, if some one missed to recite it he need not make any Sajdah of Sahw.

2) If you have recited Surah No. 111 and 112 in the first two Rak'ats you should not recite Surah No.94 or 95 in the last two Rak'ats, because it is advisable to recite the Surahs of the Holy Qur'an in the existing order of compilation. When you are performing four Rak'at with one Thasleem, the second couple of Rak'ats is not a new Salah in this respect.

3) If one does not remember how many Sajdahs he has made, he should try to recall the exact situation and act according to the most probable possibility according to his own guess. However, if he is unable to guess, both sides being equal, in that case he should perform another Sajdah and he need not make a Sajdah of Sahw.

4) The meaning of the Hadith is more than clear. The Holy Prophet has emphasized on the fact that Islam has enjoined upon a Muslim certain obligations and all of them should be fulfilled by him simultaneously. It is not right to concentrate on one aspect only and ignore all others. If some one fasts the whole year and stands up in prayer the whole night, it is evident that he is not fulfilling the obligations towards his wife and children. It is specifically mentioned in the said event about Sayyidna Abdullah ibn Amr rdi. that on a query made by the Holy Prophet saw. from his wife, she told him that her husband does not spare any time for her. It is in this context that the Holy Prophet saw. stopped him from this practice and drew his attention towards fulfilling all obligations, including the obligations towards his wife, children and other individuals of the community.

5) Yes, it is makrooh to delay the Maghrib prayer till the stars begin to twinkle.

6) According to the Hanafi and Shafi'i schools the urine of camels is impure. In the event stated by you some members of a particular tribe were advised by the Holy Prophet saw. to use the urine and milk of camels as a medication. It is not a general principle to allow drinking of urine or taking it as pure.

7) In this case he should go back to perform the missed Sajdah and should make Sujudus Sahw at the end.

8) The direction of Qiblah from U.S. is to the south-east. However, you may verify the correct direction from the Islamic centres in your own city.

9) The answer to this question depends on certain clarifications; for example, is the prison in a city or is it situated outside the city, how many Muslim people are there in the prison, is the Jum'ah prayer offered somewhere outside the prison, and is there any restrictions from the prison authorities to offer prayers in the prison. Until you come back to me with the answers to these questions you should not perform the Jum'ah prayer. Rather, you should perform the Zuhr prayer

Contmporary fatawaa