Sunnah prayers Q1. Would you please explain in detail the right number and the time of Sunnah prayers associated with obligatory prayers? A1. The Sunnah associated with the five obligatory prayers are called Al-Sunan Al-Rawatib, that means it is always performed before or after the obligatory prayers and the number of these Sunnah is 12 Rak'ah. Umm Habiba (May Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said,” A house will be built in paradise for anyone who prays 12 Raka'at in the day and night.” She further said that I have never stopped (performing them) since I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). (Muslim) The order of these 12 Rak'ah in the day and evening are as follows — four Rak'ah before Dhuhr (Say salam after every two Rak'ats), two after the Dhuhr prayer, two after the Maghrib prayer, two after the ‘Isha'a prayer and two before the Fajr prayer. Raising hands Q2. When should one raise one's hands in Salah? A2. It is Sunnah to raise one hand up to his shoulders or unto his ears in four positions: 1.When one starts one's Salah with Takberat Al Ihram (the opening Takbeer). 2. When he says Allahu Akbar at the time of Ruku (bowing). 3. When he rises from bowing and says ‘Samea Allahu liman hamidah' or ‘rabbana wa lak alhamd'. 4. When he says Allahu Akbar and rises from the first sitting (first Tashahhud) to start the third Rak'ah in three-or four-Rak'ah prayers. Levels of hypocrisy Q3. What are the different levels of hypocrisy and what is the difference between them? A3. There are two types of hypocrisy-major hypocrisy and minor hypocrisy. Major hypocrisy means that a person shows that he believes in Allah and he may pray or act like other Muslims while in reality he may not be a true believer. These people are even worse than the disbelievers because they hide their true self by deceiving everyone around. Allah has said in the Qur'an about such people: And of the people are some who say, “We believe in Allah and the Last Day,” but they are not believers. They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not. (2:9-10). The minor hypocrisy doesn't take one out of Islam but among its characteristics are those mentioned by the Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet said, “The signs of a hypocrite are three: 1. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. 2. Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise ). 3. If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest. (If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return it.).” (Bukhari and Muslim) And ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Amr (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever has the following four characteristics will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will also be a hypocrite unless and until he gives it up. 1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays. 2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. 3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous. 4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner.” (Bukhari) __
