Sifatus Salaah: Hanafi Prayer Method In Light Of Sunnah

"Sifatus Salaah" is an excellent booklet originally written in Urdu by Shaikh Muhammad Ilyas Faisal dealing with the aspects of Salaah according to Hanafi Madhab and the evidences used by Hanafi scholars. Unfortunately, other brothers often criticise performing the prayers the Hanafi method and even leave us with doubts in the back of our mind, because we simply don't know. Now, you don't have to learn all these evidences by heart, but at least be convinced that there's nothing wrong with performing Salaat the Hanafi way - or matter fact as described by the other three great Imams.

Introduction
Very often the following question is posed to many people: "Do you follow the Deen of Imaam Abu Hanifa (R.A.) or the Deen of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)?" "Obviously the Deen of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)," comes the instant reply. The second question is then posed: "Why then do you call yourself a Hanafi?" The person not well versed is perplexed by this question. Doubts are then created in his mind. He soon starts gradually drifting towards the abandoning of taqleed i.e. following one of the four illustrious Imaams viz. Imaam Abu Hanifa (R.A.), Imaam Shafi'i (R.A.), Imaam Malik (R.A.) and Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal (R.A.).

By means of the type of questions that have been mentioned above, a deliberate attempt is made to create a misconception in the minds of the unwary — that if you are a Hanafi, you are following the Deen of Imaam Abu Hanifa (R.A.), NOT the Deen of Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). This is an absolute fallacy. Imaam Abu Hanifa (R.A.), Imaam Shafi'i (R.A.) and the other Imaams did not invent any Deen of their own. They strictly followed the one and only Deen — the Deen of Islam brought by Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Their followers are hence also following the same Deen — the Deen of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).

• Sifatus Salaah

The Method of Salaah in the Light of Authentic Ahadith
by Shaikh Muhammad Ilyas Faisal, Madina al-Munawwara