Question
Dear Sir,
Assalam u alaikum.
Can you please clarify me regarding the followings:
- Is Dua-e-Masurah a ‘must’ for Naamaz? I have heard that its ‘Sunnat’ and not ‘Farz’.
- Is using foreign perfume ‘Haram’? I have heard a local tv program declaring it as ‘haram’ whereas I found it in a ‘Question-Answer’ session of your website saying that it is not haram. It is said that Alcohol is haram for drinking but it is not haram if it is used in any other products.
- I am a private service holder. Urination facilities are not great where I work. I try my best to clear off myself whenever I use the toilet for urination. But chances remain that a drop or two may touch my clothes. I feel uncomfortable while praying. Could you please explain my case in light of Islam.
- Im working in a company that sells cosmtics products. I work for the marketing department and I have to deal with promotional tv advertisments and posters that has pictures of models. Though the tv advertisements do not contain vulgarity or nudity neither do the posters, what should be my position as an employee in this regard?
- Sometimes I loose concentration and think about other mundane things while saying my Naamaz. What is the remedy? Your response shall be highly appreciated. Allah knows the best
Answer
- The supplication of “Masurah” is a voluntary act and more correctly should be referred to as optional. One may offer any other supplication, which one desires. Therefore it is not fard (i.e. mandatory).
- Using any perfume on the body cannot be deemed haram, whether foreign or local. This sort of religious opinion is absolutely wrong. So what you read was correct that the prohibition is in regards to drinking alcohol not having other uses for it.
- There’s a simple solution for this matter. Before you enter the toilet area or if you have to stand at a stall take some paper towel with you. Make sure you wet it. Then when you are done try to extract all the droplets you can. Even if this takes a few minutes to do this. Wipe away the drops and hopefully no more will come out. If however later on you feel that there is some drippage then before you do wudu you can bring some wet paper towel and wipe your underwear. This will suffice for cleaning and then you should do wudu.
- If there is nothing offensive then your position should be as is. From your explanation it does not seem like there is anything contrary to Islam at your job.
- Usually the most important thing is to keep in mind that you are standing before the Almighty. This is a moment for you to connect to your Creator and make a connection. Another thing that is very important is to understand what you are reciting. A deeper comprehension and appreciation for what one recites will maintain a far better concentration than when you don’t know what you are saying. However, if something is bogging your mind so heavily that you absolutely cannot concentrate on your prayer then delay it a little until your mind clears. This does not mean miss your prayer time frame but rather just delay it within that time to pray so that you are able to concentrate better. Lastly, remember that you are human and sometimes being so causes us lapses even in our most serious moments. So if it happens don’t beat yourself up about it, just work on improving your worship etiquette. In time insha’Allah you will improve. You may never eliminate losing your concentration but you can make it better.
I hope this helps.
God knows best.