Issues and Questions


Wudu, Salah, and Dawah

By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi

Q 1. My question is about the state of Wudu. If a mother changes her child’s diaper and cleans him up, whether the diaper was soiled or simply wet, does this break her Wudu so that she will have to perform it again before her prayers?
A 1. Mother or father or any one else, who changes the diaper of a child, should wash their hands afterwards, but this does not break their Wudu and they do not have to make another Wudu before prayer. What breaks the Wudu is the Hadath (emission of anything from the private parts of the body or blood, or lustful touch etc.) that happens to the person who made the Wudu, not to someone else.

Q 2. If a person has doubt in his Salah whether he prayed three rak’ah or four, what should he do?
A 2. The rule of the Shari’ah is that in case of doubt, one should follow that which is certain or more probable. It is reported in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet - peace be upon him - said, “If a person among you had a doubt in his prayer and did not know whether he prayed three or four, then he should leave the doubt and follow that which is certain. Then he should make two Sajdahs before the Salam. If he prayed five rak’ah then the two Sajdahs would make even his prayer. But if he prayed four, then these Sajdahs would disgrace the Shaitan.” (Muslim, Hadith no. 888). In another Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, it is mentioned that if one had doubt in his prayer, then he should do that which is most likely or probable and then at the end he should make two Sajdahs for Sahw. (see Hadith no. 386)
So if a person had a doubt whether he prayed three or four Raka’at, then three is certain. In this case he should add one more rak’ah to complete four and then at the end make two Sajdahs for Sahw. But if he has more inclination that he prayed four, then he should not add another rak’ah, he should only make two Sajdahs for Sahw at the end of the prayer.

Q 3. We had a discussion among our friends on the subject of Da’wah. Some said that it is obligatory (Fard, like praying five times a day) on every Muslim to give Da’wah, some others said that it is not Fard, but it is recommended (Mustahabb). What is the correct Islamic position in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah?
A 3. This is a good discussion. I am pleased to read that you had a discussion with your friends on the issue of Da’wah. A lot of Muslims, now a days are not concerned about Da’wah. It does not find much place in their discussions. They waste their time and resource on useless things. May Allah bless you and reward you for considering this subject.
We must understand first what is Da’wah. Da’wah is to invite people to Allah, to call them to know the truth and to follow it. Da’wah is done in two ways: one is through example, through being a role model. In the Qur’anic terminology it is called “being witnesses towards humankind” (Shuhada’ ‘ala al-nas). It is the duty of every Muslim, male or female, young or old, to be a witness of Allah among the people. When people see a Muslim, they should see a good person, a person of truth, of sincerity and of virtues. A Muslim’s life should be an open invitation to people to see the beauty of Islam and to follow Islam. Allah says in the Qur’an, “Thus we have appointed you a middle community in order that you may be witnesses towards humankind and that the Messenger may be a witness towards you…(al-Baqarah 2:143). All Muslims must give Da’wah through their good Islamic life as individuals, as families and as communities. People who come into contact with them, they should see Islam as a living and practiced faith that make good human beings.
Another way of doing Da’wah is through teaching, preaching, communicating, engaging in dialogues, discussions and debates, writing books and articles, giving lectures etc. etc. Allah says, “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom, with good preaching and argue with them in the best manner…” (al-Nahl 16: 125) Of course this requires education, preparation and training. Muslims should use the most effective methods and most appropriate methods of Da’wah in every place and time. Nowadays, for example, Da’wah also requires use of radio, television, Internet beside person-to-person preaching and teaching. Every Muslim would not have time to have this training and thus every Muslim cannot do Da’wah in this way.
But some people must prepare themselves and engage in this Da’wah. Allah says, “It is not for all the Believers to go forth together, so why not a group go forth from amongst every party to seek deeper knowledge of their religion in order to warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware.” (al-Tawbah 9:122) Doing Da’wah with proper training and specialization is a Fard Kifayah, i.e. in every community some people should take the proper Da’wah training and should do this work in a systematic and methodical way on behalf of all others. If some people do this work then there is no blame on others, but if no one does it then all Muslims of the community are sinners. It is the duty of all Muslims to support this work by providing facilities and finances so that this work can be done in a proper manner.
Our negligence in the matters of Da’wah is two-fold: on the one hand the common Muslims are not living exemplary Islamic life in order to be the witnesses of Allah among the nations. On the other hand those who are doing the work of Da’wah are generally sincere Muslims, but they have very little training and education. There are very few Da’wah organizations who are doing the Da’wah work in an educated and trained way. The few organizations that exist find very little support from Muslims. There are many missionary organizations of other religions that have unlimited resources and they are covering the whole globe with their missions. But Islamic Da’wah is barely surviving.
With all the propaganda that is going on against Islam and Muslims these days, it is the duty of all Muslims to devote their efforts to Da’wah with wisdom, good preaching and sound arguments. May Allah help us in this direction.
- DrSiddiqi@aol.com

Editor: Akhtar M. Faruqui
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