Validity of Salaatul Haajah

by Asma bint Shameem

🌿 ANSWER🌿

There’s NO AUTHENTIC PROOF of reading a specific prayer called “Salaatul Haajah” from the authentic Sunnah.

The ahaadeeth concerning Salaatul Haajah are very WEAK. And some are even fabricated.

A weak hadeeth means that it’s highly doubtful that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam ever said that or did that or approved of that.

And a fabricated hadeeth is simply a lie on the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam

It’s FAKE.

MADE UP.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam went through some VERY TOUGH TIMES and NEEDS in his lifetime.

He faced great challenges.

Yet, despite those challenges and needs, he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam NEVER prayed a special prayer called “Salaatul Haajah” for ANY of his issues.

And neither did the Sahaabah.

Yes it’s true that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam would rush to prayer whenever he was troubled.

That means he would seek the solace of prayer and that’s a “general” statement.

He would find pleasure and tranquility in the five daily prayers and in the tahajjud prayer and other Sunnah and nawaafil prayers.

But he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam did not specifically pray “two rak’aat of Haajah”, according to the authentic sources.

🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

"The so-called Salaat al-Haajah was narrated in DA’EEF (weak) or MUNKAR (denounced) ahaadeeth – as far as we know – which can NOT be used as proof and which are NOT FIT to base acts of worship on."

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 8/162)

🍃Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“Salaatul Haajah has no authentic evidence from the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.”

🍃Shaykh Al-Albaani said:

“In its chain of narration is a majhool (an unknown person).”

🍃Shaykh ibn Baaz said:

“I do not know a single hadeeth which is depended upon for (the authenticity) of Salaatul Haajah.”

🍃 Shaykh Abu Abdillah Khaalid Dahawi Adh-Dhufayri said:

“There has preceded from myself a warning regarding Salaatul Haajah which is called to from time to time.

And currently it is being called for to combat this epidemic (Coronavirus), Allaah give us and you wellbeing.

This prayer is not authentic at all and it is from the newly invented affairs and innovations.

Innovations are in opposition to the command of Allaah, the Most High, and they are a cause for an increase in calamities; NOT an aid or a means to remove them.”

So it’s proven that this prayer is not from the Sunnah and it is an innovation in the religion.

And there’s NO need to pray two separate rak’aat just to have our needs fulfilled.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam never read any such prayer.

So why should “we”?

🔺QUESTION❓

But what about the aayah where Allaah says:

‎يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ

“O you who believe!

Seek help in patience and As-Salaah (the prayer).

Truly! Allaah is with As-Sabireen (the patient ones)” (Surah al-Baqarah:153)

🌿ANSWER

The Aayah is referring to offering Salaah in general and is not referring to any specific prayer called “Salaatul Haajah”.

What the aayah means is that whenever a person is tried with afflictions and problems, he should find solace and strength with the obedience of Allaah.

So he should hold on to the five daily prayers and the voluntary prayers as well as fasting and other forms of patience.

The order to take the help of prayer during times of difficulty is not referring to “Salaatul Haajah”;

rather it’s referring generally to all forms of prayer, especially the obligatory prayers.

And that’s so true.

Whenever we are faced with difficulties, we find strength and tranquility when we offer our prayers.

We are more vigilant of our fardh prayers, we have more khushoo in them, we wake up for tahajjud, we make long duaas in our sujood, we cry and beg Allaah...

All this gives us strength to bear the calamity and brings us closer to Allaah.

🍃 Sheikh Faisal Aal Mubarak said explaining the above Aayah:

“(That means) seek assistance in your pursuit of the hereafter by restraining yourself from acts of disobedience and being steadfastly patient in fulfilling the obligations.

For the prayer halts one from indecency and and wrongdoing [c.f. 29:45].”

🍃 Ibn Katheer said about this Aayah:

“And seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer)” (al-Baqarah 2:45):

“With regard to the word “As-Salaat (the prayer)”, prayer is one of the greatest means of helping oneself to be steadfast, as Allaah says:

“Recite (O Muhammad) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Qur’aan), and perform As-Salaat (Iqaamat-as-Salaah).

Verily, As-Salaah (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.)”

[al-‘Ankaboot 29:45].

Ibn ‘Abbaas Radhi Allaahu anhu said that news was brought to him of his brother’s death whilst he was traveling.

He said: “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raaji ‘oon (Truly! To Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return)” [al-Baqarah 2:156].

Then he swerved from the road and made his camel kneel, then he prayed two rak‘ahs in which he made the sitting lengthy.

Then he got up and walked towards his camel, saying: “And seek help in patience and As-Salaah (the prayer) and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashioon (i.e. the true believers in Allaah” [al-Baqarah 2:45].”

(Tafseer ibn Katheer 1/253)

This shows that the Aayah from Surah al-Baqarah is talking about seeking strength with prayer “in general” and that includes obligatory and voluntary prayers.

It does NOT specifically mean a specific prayer called “Salaatul Haajah”.

When Ibn Abbaas Radhi Allaahu anhu heard the death of his brother, he immediately took to the prayer and found peace and patience in the remembrance of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.

He just prayed to Allaah to gain strength during his time of grief.

He did NOT pray “Salaatul Haajah” asking Allaah for anything.

The Aayah is NOT talking about Salaatul Haajah.

🍃 The scholars said:

“Based on that, what is meant by saying that there is no prayer that is called salaat al-haajah is to rule out “this specific prayer”.

As for resorting to prayer, for the one who is worried or troubled about something, this is included in the general meaning of the words of Allaah: “And seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer)” [al-Baqarah 2:45] and the meaning of the hadeeth quoted above.

*That includes both obligatory and supererogatory prayers. *

if something troubled him, the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam would get up and pray,

Doing this is prescribed, without reciting any specific du‘aa’ or doing it in any specific manner.

Rather if something upset him at the time of an obligatory prayer, he would pray the obligatory prayer,

otherwise he would pray two rak‘ahs, and if he wished, he would offer whatever du‘aa’ he liked in them, without always reciting a specific du‘aa’.”

(Islamqa Fatwa # 160746)

🔺 AUTHENTIC ALTERNATIVE🔺

🍃 al-Shuqayri said:

“You know what is said concerning this hadeeth (about Salaatul Haajah, that it is not authentic).

It is better and more perfect and safer for you to  make du'a’ to Allaah in the depths of the night and between the adhaan and iqamaah and at the end of every prayer before the tasleem; and on Fridays, for then there are times when dua’ is answered; and when breaking one’s fast. For your Lord says:

‘Invoke Me [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation)’ [Fussilat 40:60]

‘And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor)’ [al-Baqarah 2:186]

‘And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allaah, so call on Him by them’ [al-A'raf 7:180].”

(Al-Sunan wa’l-Mubtada’at p. 124)

So the next time, if you’re in need of something and want to ask Allaah, do so in times and places where duaa is more likely to be accepted.

For example:

-in your five daily prayers, ESPECIALLY in the position of Sajdah, DURING your Salaah WHILE you’re praying (and NOT as a separate sajdah outside of salaah. That is bid’ah)

-Or make duaa while sitting in the tashahhud after sending peace and blessings upon the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam, but before the Salaam.

-Or in the middle of the night in tahajjud.

Or simply spread out your hands and ASK by making duaa in between adhaan and iqaamah.

-Or when it rains.

-Or when breaking your fast.

-Or in the last hour of Friday

And in many other situations when it’s proven from the authentic Sunnah that duaa is more likely to be accepted.

And Allaah knows best.