Dr. NAIK. M.B.B.S.

on how a women should perform her Salat

Please watch the video (first 2 minutes) before reading the article. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBlfDW59VVA

“Pray as you have seen me pray” quoted as a hadis by Dr. Naik, is a phrase taken from the conversation of Prophet(S) with
Hz. Malik Bin Huwairis, RA. from a Hadis in book of Azan (vol 1) Sahih Bukhari:

Narrated Malik Bin Huwairis: We came to the Prophet (S) and stayed with him for twenty days and nights. We were all
young and of about the same age. The Prophet(S) was very kind and merciful. When he realized our longing for our families,
he asked about our homes and the people there and we told him. Then he asked us to go back to our families and stay with
them and teach them (the religion) and to order them to do good things. He also mentioned some other things which I have
(remembered or) forgotten. The Prophet(S) then added, "Pray as you have seen me praying and when it is the time for the
prayer one of you should pronounce the Adhan and the oldest of you should lead the prayer.” (Book of Adhan (11), Sahih
Bukhari).

• It was a male gathering and the sentence finishes with two more commandments, azan and imamat during journeys.
(Obviously, these commandments are not related to women).
• Imam Bukhari placed this hadis in “Book of Azaan” (a chapter not related to women) and not in “Book of Salat”

• Also none of the traditional commentators of Sahih Bukhari, not even one, including the likes of Ibn Hajar Asqalani,
Allamah Badruddin Aini, Ibn Battaal, etc had interpreted this hadith in the way as Dr Naik has understood. It was
Sheikh Albany (died 1999 AD) who interpreted this hadith differently in his book Sifat us Salat-un-Nabi published
from Saudi Arabia 25 years ago. He quoted this same phrase (”…Pray as you have seen me praying…”) as hadis
claiming it to be applicable to both the sexes. Dr. Naik, after getting initial exposure as a simple da’ee among
Indians, seems to be now championing the agenda of Late Sh. Albany among the Indian Muslim masses.

The second “hadith!!?” that Dr. Naik quoted (claiming to be from Sahih Bukhari vol 1 Book of Salat chap-104 no 361)
regarding a sahabiya!? Is not a hadis from Sahih Bukhari. But from a book of asma ul rijjal “Tariq ul Sagheer” (history of
narrators) by Bukhari. Mystery remains as to why Dr. Naik assigned a fictional chapter name and hadis number to a report
without reading the full text or at least naming the reporter & claims it as a Sahih hadis Of Bukhari!!!! In the same breath he
dares the audience to always insist on seeing the quotation with reference numbers ( preaching minus the practice!!).

However Sh. Albany in his book Sifat us salah elaborates on this report “"that she used to sit in her prayer just as a man sits,
and she was a woman of understanding." He conveniently forgets to mention that she was a taabiyah; Dr. Naik went a step
ahead to claim she was a Sahabiya. Abu’l-Darda’ had two wives, both of whom were called Umm al-Darda’. The older one
(al Kubra) was a Sahabiya and the younger one (al Sughra) was a Taabiyah. Imam al Mizzi, imam Asqalani, Imam
Badruddin-din Aini all agree that the one who was referred to here by Bukhari was the younger one, a Taabiiya anyhow

• The practice of a single taabi is not hujjat or proof.(Asqalani in fath ul bari 2/243)

• This report contradicts another report by Ibrahim Abi Ablah (rah) in which he saw Umm ad-Darda (rah)
praying cross legged (Tarabbu) [Imam al-Mizzi in Tahdhib ul Kamaal, (22/468),22/640 ](tohf al akhyar v2 p238)
• Furthermore, if one examines the words of this narration carefully, it supports the view of the majority. The sitting
posture of Umm ud-Dardaa has been compared to the posture of males in this narration which infers that the
posture of the other Sahaabiyyaat was different as will be explained below.
Sh. Albany’s interpretation goes against many other Ahadis and reports in which Rasulullah (S) clearly draws a distinction
between the salat of men and women viz...

1. Clapping for women , tasbeeh for men during salah to correct the imam (sahl bin saad Rz.,book of Azan, Bukhari)

2. Women should raise head from sajda a little later than men in front row (not applicable now) (sahl Rz. ,namaz ke
masail, Sahih Muslim)

3. Covering their entire body including ankles & hair during salat (Ayesha Rz. , mustadrak-al-Hakim)

4. Ibn Umar (ra) narrates that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: When a woman sits in prayer then she should
place her one thigh upon the other and attach the stomach to her thighs so that it is more concealing for her. Indeed,
Allah looks at her and informs the angels by saying: "O Angels! Be witness that I have forgiven her! [Sunnan al
Bayhaqi al-Kubra (3/74)]

5. “When a woman makes sajda, she should practice ihtifaaz and keep her thighs close together. (H. Ali Rz in
Musannaf Ibni Abi Shayba,1/302 no 2773)

6. Hasan al Basri (rah) said: A woman should draw herself close together in sajdah [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayban
(1/270)]

Dr. Saleh bin Fouzan bin Abdullah Al-Fouzan (not a medical doctor but a renowned Salafi scholar) in his book “Tanbeehat
….. bil Mominaat” published by Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, infers from various
early writings and original sources that…

“…when it comes to the recitations and acts of salat (Aamaal us salat), there is no difference in the Salat of both sexes
…….but the aesthetics of salat postures are little different keeping in view of their modesty….” (Translation, page no 79-
80).

Scholars like Bin Baz and Saleh Munajjid also differed with this view of Albany.

Imam al-Bayhaqi (rah) correctly observed: The distinction in ruling regarding prayer of men and women is that the woman
prays in a way which is more “CONCEALING" for her [Al-Bayhaqi in As-Sunnan al Kubra (2/222)]”

Mr. Naik claimed:”… there is not a single Sahih hadith or verse in Quran that (specifically) says style of offering salat is
different for men and women…”

Any layman among the audience will have to say Yes, A jugglery of words If someone from the crowd tells him…

“There a not a single Sahih hadith or Verse in Quran that (specifically) says style of offering Salat is same for both men and
women!!”

He also will have to say YES.

None of us can pray in the literal sense of “pray as you have seen me pray” since none among us have seen the method of
prophet’s prayer. Even the sahabiyyas praying in the very last rows of Masjid e nabwi would find it difficult see the
prophet’s actions with men in front rows .

One must accept the wisdom of Allah’s Book when it says: “ O those who believe ! obey Allah and obey his messenger
and those in authority amongst you ” (Sura Nisa: 59)
http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/bukhari/ hadis no:604