The man who lived in Medina kept the hands open...

The man who lived in Medina kept the hands open; those who lived far from Medina folded their hands and the one who lived in both places allows both customs. It make us believe that the custom of folding the hands in prayer was invented far from the city of the Prophet (S. A. W). Q.73: SAYING 'AMEN' IN PRAYER: I notice that we the Shi'a do not say "AMEN" after al-Fatiha. As you know, I was previously a Sunni. Now what I want to know is: Did one of the first 3 Caliphs introduce this system?

Or did this bid'ah come in Islam from the Ummayads or Abbasids? A: It is not definitely known when this custom was started and by whom. But there are traditions from the Imams of Ahlul Bayt (A.S) which say that saying "Amen" after Surah al- Fatihah in prayer is bid'ah. One such tradition from Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (A.S) says: "When you are (praying) behind an Imam and he finishes Surah al-Fatihah and completes it, you should say, "Alhamdu-Lillahi Rabbil 'Alameen", and do not say "Amen".

(Al-Kafi and Tahdhibu 'l-ahkam). It indicates that saying "Amen" had become established by that time, i.e. in Umayyad period. By the way, the Sunni book, "Naylu 'l-awtar " quotes Imam Malik (the leader of the Malikis) as saying that the Imam should not say "Ameen" in those prayers which are recited loudly. Q. 74: KADHALIKAALLAHU RABBI We say, Kadhalikallahu Rabbi, (Even so is Allah, our Lord), after Surah Qul Huwallah, in prayer. Is it correct? This sentence is not in the Qur 'an.

A: According to ahadith, it is mustahabb to say it after surah Qul Huwallah, whether in prayer and at other Occasions. Likewise, it is mustahabb to say, "La bi shayin min 'alayika Rabbi ukadhdhib" (None of your bounties do I reject, O my Lord!) after every Fa bi ayyi'alayi Rabbikuma tukadhdhiban (Which then of the bounties of your Lord will you deny?) in Surah ar-Rahman. These are not parts of the Qur'an; they are included in the etiquette of the recital of Qur'an. Q.

75: SAJDAH ON WOOLEN CARPETS The Iranian clergymen urge the Shi'as to offer their prayers on the woollen carpets of the Masjid un Nabi and to prostrate on the same without using muhr, for the sake of Islamic unity. Is it valid? A: It is OK if done because of Taqiyah. However, I have seen a lot of Shi'as from Qateef and Bahrain using small mats (made of palm leaves or other such reeds) for prayer even inside the masjid of the Prophet (S.A.W), and obviously nobody can object to it. Q.