Worship & Prayer

Am I obliged to remind a parent suffering from dementia to pray?

When a person has dementia, the pen is lifted from them (no longer held accountable). Reminding them is good but not obligatory. In advanced stages, they lack the cognitive capacity required.

Can you shorten the prayer (qasr) when traveling for pleasure or vacation?

By unanimous scholarly consensus, any permissible (mubah) travel qualifies for shortening prayer. Vacation and leisure trips are included — qasr is not limited to business travel.

How do I make up for years of missed salah after becoming practicing?

There are two overlapping scholarly opinions on making up years of missed salah. The majority opinion holds that one should make up the missed prayers (qada) by praying extra over the same number of y

Can you break your salah for a medical emergency in the masjid?

It is not only permissible but obligatory to break one's salah to attend to a medical emergency. If someone faints or has a medical emergency during congregational prayer, the one or two people neares

Can you wipe over regular (non-leather) socks during wudu?

It is permissible to wipe over regular cloth socks during wudu; they do not need to be leather. The conditions are that socks must cover the ankles and you must have had wudu before putting them on.

Can you combine the six fasts of Shawwal with making up missed Ramadan fasts?

You cannot combine the six fasts of Shawwal with makeup Ramadan fasts under a dual intention. You may fast Mondays/Thursdays for makeup and get the sunnah reward. It is better to finish Ramadan fasts before Shawwal fasts, but not required.

What is the history and ruling of the Tarawih prayer?

Yasir Qadhi explains that 'tarawih' is a term coined by early scholars (not found in the Quran or Sunnah) for qiyam ul-layl performed during Ramadan. He clarifies that qiyam ul-layl is the general nig

Is there one correct 'Sunnah' way to pray salah?

There is no single 'correct' way to pray that renders all other ways invalid. All four established Sunni schools of law (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali) derive their prayer methods from authentic Su

Is missing salah really worse than murder in Islam?

The statement that missing salah is "worse than murder" is not a direct Quranic or Prophetic phrase but a derived framing from a minority Hanbali view on total abandonment of prayer. Yasir Qadhi stresses the majority disagreement and distinguishes sin gravity from forgiveness, noting sins against people remain harder to clear.

Can Jumu'ah prayer be prayed before the sun reaches its zenith (zawal)?

The Hanbali school permits Jumu'ah up to an hour before zawal. The other three schools require it to be after zawal. When a genuine need exists (e.g., students can only pray during a fixed early lunch break), following the Hanbali position to preserve the Jumu'ah is permissible.

Can a Muslim enter Makkah without wearing Ihram?

Entering Makkah without Ihram is permissible when one is not performing Umrah or Hajj. If one later intends to perform Umrah, they must go to the miqat and enter Ihram from there. There is also a concession to declare Ihram verbally and wear regular clothes due to a legitimate need, incurring a smaller penalty.

Does one have to make up Witr prayer if it was missed?

Hanafis must make up Witr since it is wajib in their school. For Malikis, Shafi'is, and Hanbalis, Witr is a strong sunnah but not obligatory, so no makeup is required though an optional compensatory prayer is recommended.

How does one perform the Sajda of Tilawa (prostration of recitation)?

Sajda Tilawa is a recommended sunnah (not obligatory) performed by saying takbir to go down into sajda and takbir to come back up. Wudu and facing the qibla are required per the majority position. There is no opening takbir and no tasleem.

Can a woman travel for Hajj without a mahram?

Yasir Qadhi holds that a woman may travel for Hajj (and other permissible or virtuous travel) without a mahram if the environment is generally safe, following the position of the Shafi'i school, Ibn T

How do I make up years of salah that I missed?

Two valid scholarly opinions exist. If able, make up the missed prayers (qada). If the number is too large to be feasibly made up, sincere repentance combined with increased istighfar, extra voluntary prayers, and charitable deeds is sufficient. Yasir Qadhi says: if you can make them up, do so; if not, follow the second opinion and repent sincerely.

Can you pray salah in your own language?

The arkan and wajibat of salah must be done in Arabic. Dua outside of salah can be made in any language by unanimous consensus. Dua inside salah (e.g., personal supplications in sujood) — Yasir Qadhi strongly endorses the opinion that it is permissible in any language.

May I take a job (or travel) where Jumu'ah is not established?

Jumu'ah is obligatory on adult males only when a valid Friday prayer exists in one's locality with sufficient congregation.

Can a woman recite or memorize the Quran while she is menstruating?

Two valid scholarly positions exist. The majority forbids Quran recitation during menses. The Maliki school and Ibn Taymiyyah permit it, saying no authentic hadith explicitly forbids it. A woman may follow the minority opinion if her memorization would be harmed. Touching the mushaf physically is prohibited by all schools regardless.

Is Salat al-Tasbih (the Prayer of Glorification) authentically established in the Sunnah?

Salat al-Tasbih has highly contested authenticity — early hadith masters considered it weak while later scholars authenticated it. Yasir Qadhi personally doesn't pray it but says it is absolutely not a bid'ah. Those who pray it have valid scholarly precedent.

If Hajj is cancelled, can I use my saved Hajj money for other expenses?

Using Hajj savings is completely permissible when Hajj is cancelled. The money is yours. Your intention to perform Hajj is rewarded fully by Allah regardless. Try to save again for next year if possible.

Is Jumuah obligatory when masjids re-open with COVID precautions? Are social-distancing gaps in prayer rows valid?

Jumu'ah is obligatory again for healthy people once mosques re-open with precautions; those with health conditions retain an excuse. Social-distancing gaps in prayer rows are permissible — continuous rows are Sunnah not wajib, and necessity makes them even more acceptable during a plague.

Can you pray Tarawih at home following a live-streamed imam online?

Online jamaa prayer is not permissible per all major fiqh councils. Physical proximity is a condition of jama. A rare concession exists: one may pray an independent prayer while listening to a live broadcast recitation — not as a follower but as a synchronized independent worshipper.

Can I pray Tarawih at home following a virtual imam via livestream?

Praying behind a virtual or online imam does not constitute a valid jama'a. Physical proximity is required by all four madhabs and no major fiqh council has permitted online congregational prayer, even during COVID-19. However, praying your own independent salah while listening to a live broadcast for motivation is technically permissible.

Should Muslims follow local moon sighting, a global sighting, or astronomical calculations for Ramadan?

Yasir Qadhi personally prefers local moon sighting but endorses astronomical calculations for Western Muslims (the Fiqh Council of North America's position). Communal unity is a recognized Islamic value, and the practical benefits of predictable dates for Western Muslim institutions are decisive.

The Distance of 'Travel' - Part 2?

Yasir Qadhi addresses this question and explains the ruling with key conditions and practical caveats.

To Wipe or Not to Wipe: Masah Over Socks?

In this answer, Yasir Qadhi addresses "To Wipe or Not to Wipe: Masah Over Socks" and outlines the ruling with its main conditions and limits.