Prayers

• Q1 - I am always in a state of doubt concerning the validity of my prayer, wudhu and ghusl. It can take me up to an hour to do ghusl, prayer and about twenty minutes for wudhu. Should I ignore my doubts? 

  A - Wa alaikum salam. May Allah bless you and your family. Yes someone who is katheer ash-shak (doubts a lot, multiple times in one action) should ignore their doubts until they can perform the actions normally without doubt.
  
  
  Tip for conserving water and using it wisely and get rid of doubt: Ghusl should take a total of 5 minutes or less. In the first minute or two, pour water over the body and then for a few minutes wash it. For a minute or two use, use water to rinse off the soap and make an intention for ghusl. Take a minute to rinse your head and neck, one minute for the right side and one minute for the left side. Use a clock in the beginning to track the time so you can improve as you progress. This will help you get rid of your doubt (shakk).

  
  
  

  MoulanaOnline Aalim Team

• Q2 - There is something I really want, it is an object, is there a special dua (supplication) I can recite to get it? 

  A - Salamun Alaykum. May Allah bless you and your family. Allah says in the Quran that Allah does not give human beings things except for what he or she works for. We need to work hard, take responsibility and be dutiful in order to achieve our goals and acquire what we want. However, before seeking that object, it is important, if possible, to get advice from experts and see if this object is good for us. Allah is our Rabb (Nurturer) and al-Qadeer (the Most Powerful), therefore He will do that what is best for us in order to help us fulfill our divine purpose. This means that Allah will give us what is best in fulfilling this divine purpose, and not necessarily what we want as what we want is not always what is best for us. Trust in Allah, continue praying, and read dua tawassul which is a good dua to recite on a daily basis.

  
  
  

  MoulanaOnline Aalim Team

• Q3 - If a person has been living in America for 15 years but does not consider America to be his watan, but instead considers it to be Dar al-Kufr (or Dar al-Harb) can the person do qasr prayers or does he have to perform his salat in full? Are there special rulings concerning Dar al-Kufr/Dar al-Harb when it comes to performing Qasr prayers that last for years in a place you don't consider your watan? Finally, if such an act is not valid, does this mean this person's prayers up until now are invalid? What does Ayatollah Khamenei say about this matter? 

  A - Salamun Alaykum. May Allah bless you and your family. A watan(place of residence) is not determined by the actions of a government and therefore Dar al-Kufr does not affect the fiqh ruling of Qasr prayers. If you are living in an area and have met the conditions to become a resident of that area you must pray your full prayers. As for your question if the prayers are invalid, we are waiting for the answer to that from the Maraja.

  
  
  

  MoulanaOnline Aalim Team

• Q4 - Is it obligatory to recite a ziyarah after prayers? 

  A - Ziyarah after finishing your obligatory prayers (salah) is is good but not obligatory (wajib). It is good to have a connection and wasliah and stand and send salams and salutations to the Prophet (s) and Imams (as).

  
  
  

  MoulanaOnline Aalim Team