Questions 58 with Shaykh Saaleh as-Sadlan

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Questions asked to Shaykh Saleh ibn Ghunam as-Sadlaan [May Allaah preserve him] in his house after Salaat al-Jumu‘ah, ar-Riyadh

11/6/1435 – 12/4/2014

Question: In the Aayah, “And in some parts of the night (also) offer the Salat (prayer) with it (i.e. recite the Qur'an in the prayer), as an additional prayer (Tahajjud optional prayer Nawafil) for you (O Muhammad  )” [17:79]

Does this mean that there is no specific time or number to the night prayer?

Answer: The Aayah has the word ‘from’ this means a portion of the night. So if it is refers to a portion of time, this means that the matter is broad as the time has not been specified. It could be the beginning, it could be a third, it could be just two Raka’aat. One could pray all night or one could pray something very slight or one could pray what would be in-between these, all of this is the night prayer.

The word ‘from’ has been used and not ‘all’, however the Aayah has been said to mean that the night prayer is something obligatory upon the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] but optional for his Ummah.

As for the amount, it could be eleven or more, or it could be that the eleven takes ten minutes or the whole night, all of this is the night prayer.

Question: A person praying in his shoes but his feet do not touch the ground and there is a space between his toes and the ground, is his Sujood correct?

Answer: Yes, because there is evidence to pray in ones shoes and it is common that shoes have this space. It is not a condition the knees or the feet directly touch the ground (skin to ground) but the forehead and the hands must directly touch the ground (unless there is a valid reason).

Question: What is the meaning of the principle, ‘Turk Istifsaal fi Maqaam al-Ihtimaal Yunzilu Manzilah al-Maqaal’ (If the Shariah doesn't give specific details of a particular ruling, then the ruling is derived from the broader meaning found within the Shariah)?

Answer:  Meaning, the texts doesn’t discuss a particular ruling, but the meaning can be derived from something that has come from the texts, so the understanding we gain is as if the Prophet has said it.

For example, it is not permitted to pray optional prayers after the ‘Asr prayer, so he comes and want to pray ‘Asr because he missed the prayer. We say to him, pray! And this ruling is as if the Prophet had legislated it because there is no direct text to address the situation but the meaning from the what the Prophet has told us is legislative, as if he said it.

Question: What is the ruling of women wearing colourful shows and ‘Abaayah in Saudi Arabia?

Answer: This goes back to the woman. There is no intelligent woman that would want to stand out in this way, but unfortunately we find some women wearing what stands out, but it is better to leave it.

In principle it is permitted but the issue isn’t the colour, the issue is the woman drawing attention to herself. So the practicing woman who is firm and full of goodness would not wear this as she is creating attention to herself (as it conflicts Saudi norms).

Question: What is the ruling on wearing high heels?

Answer: She shouldn’t wear this because it could deceive people of her height and even elevate her above the height of her male relatives. It could be dangerous to her as she may lose her balance also.

And Allaah Knows best.