The Grand Ayatollah Sistani Fatwas About “Salaah/Salaat”

Question: If I pray with a leather belt or a wallet made from leather of a Maytah and realize it during the salat or after finishing it but before the end of its time span or after the ending of its time span-what would become of that (Salaah/Salaat)?

Question 2: It happens that the time of salat sets in while the Muslim worker is at his work-place, – noting that finding work is not easy – thus, he finds it difficult to leave the work for salaah. Sometimes he ends up losing his job because of his insistence on saying salat. Is he allowed to say his prayers as Qadha? Or must he say them [on time], even if it leads to him losing his job?

Question 3: If a traveller leaves his home town immediately after the Adhan of noon prayer, i.e. without saying that prayer, and reaches his destination after sunset, has he committed a sin? And is it obligatory on him to make up for noon prayer?

Question 4: If the time for salat has come while the student is still on his way to the university. When he reaches the university, he realises that the time of salat has ended. In this case, is it permissible for him to say salat in the car although there are places in which he could pray, yet by going to those places he may risk becoming late [for his university]?

Question 5: Is it permissible for a Muslim to involve in pleasure by continuing to watch an entertaining movie even, though salat time is due, and then he goes to say his prayers just before it becomes overdue (Qadha)?

Question 6: How can we say our obligatory prayers in an aircraft, especially if we do not know the direction of the Qiblah taking into consideration the instability of the floor [because the plane is in motion]?

Question 7: A person who believes that he will not be able to wake up for dawn prayer if he goes to sleep, is it obligatory on him to stay awake till the time of prayer? Is he committing a sin if he sleeps and does not wake up for dawn prayer?

Question 8: When should one say his salat full (Tamam) and when should one say it qasr (two Rakat instead of four)? Is the general perception about a person being resident of a city sufficient for him to say his salat fully [in that city]?

Question 9: When should one say his salaat full (Tamam) and when should one say it qasr (two Rakat instead of four)? Is the general perception about a person being resident of a city sufficient for him to say his salat fully [in that city]?

Question 10: A person who believes that he will not be able to wake up for dawn prayer if he goes to sleep, is it obligatory on him to stay awake till the time of prayer? Is he committing a sin if he sleeps and does not wake up for dawn prayer?

Question 11: How can we say our obligatory prayers in an aircraft, especially if we do not know the direction of the Qiblah taking into consideration the instability of the floor [because the plane is in motion]?

Question 12: How should we say our salat in trains and cars? Is it necessary to do prostration (Sajdah) on something or is it not necessary, in that would bending of the neck be sufficient?

Question 13: If the time for salat has come while the student is still on his way to the university. When he reaches the university, he realizes that the time of Salaat has ended. In this case, is it permissible for him to say salat in the car although there are places in which he could pray, yet by going to those places he may risk becoming late [for his university]?

Question 14: It happens that the time of Salaat sets in while the Muslim worker is at his work-place, – noting that finding work is not easy – thus, he finds it difficult to leave the work for salat. Sometimes he ends up losing his job because of his insistence on saying salat. Is he allowed to say his prayers as Qadha? Or must he say them [on time], even if it leads to him losing his job?

Question 16: If I pray with a leather belt or a wallet made from leather of a Maytah and realize it during the salat or after finishing it but before the end of its time span or after the ending of its time span-what would become of that prayer?

Question 17: One of the famous trousers these days is the one known as jeans. It is made in non-Muslim countries. It has a piece of leather used as a label. It is not known whether the leather is that of an animal slaughtered Islamically or non-Islamically-is it permissible to say salat with these trousers?

Question 18: Is Salaat valid if the person uses cologne? Is cologne ritually pure?

Question 19: If a traveller leaves his home town immediately after the Adhan of noon prayer, i.e. without saying that prayer, and reaches his destination after sunset, has he committed a sin? And is it obligatory on him to make up for noon prayer?

Question 20: What is your ruling about cat hair on a person’s dress during salaat?

Question 21: Some people pray for years and even perform pilgrimage, yet they do not pay Khums. Is it obligatory on them to repeat their prayers and pilgrimage?

Question 22: A person used to make mistakes in the way he performed his wudhu (minor ablution) or ghusl (major ablution). After many years, he comes to realize his mistakes. When he inquires as how to solve his problem, he is told: “Repeat all your prayers and perform the pilgrimage again.” Since saying all the prayers and doing the pilgrimage again is difficult, is there a solution which would salvage his prayers and pilgrimage performed with Wudhu and ghusl that he thought was correct? Is there such a solution as a concession to this person so that he does not become disheartened and rebellions against religious obligations in a society which encourages such kind of rebellion?

Question 23: What should be the minimum distance between a woman and a man while both are performing prayers (salaat)? whether both can offer prayers within the same room?

Question 24: What should be the minimum distance between a man and a woman when both are offering prayers?

Question 25: Can I say congregational prayer with my Sunni brothers? And can I lead prayers when I pray with them?

Question 26: Is it allowed for a man’s wife or daughter to pray next to him in Prayer?

Question 27: Is it allowed for a man to put his elbows on the ground during Sajdah in prayer?

Question 28: Is it Makruh to close the eyes during Prayer?