The Nafilah of Isha Prayer
Question :

How many Rak'as is the recommended (Nafilah) prayer for Isha? Does it make a difference if we pray sitting or standing? I heard that two Rak'as sitting is equal to one Rak'ah standing.

Answer :

It is a two-Rak'ah prayer, to be offered sitting.

Prayer of Imam Ali
Question :

How is the prayer of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) offered?

Answer :

It has been narrated that it is of four rak'as - divided into prayers of two rak'as each. In each unit, one should recite fifty times the chapter of Tawheed after the recitation of the Fatiha.

The Witr Prayer
Question :

Is it permissible to offer the prayer of Witr in the sitting manner?

Answer :

The obligatory prayers must be offered while standing with the ability and freedom of choice, and it is not obligatory to offer them while standing with a justifiable excuse. Recommended prayers like the Witr prayer can be offered in sitting position, however it is recommended to offer it in two rak'as then.

Rubbing the Hands
Question :

Is it allowed to rub one's hands on one's face after Qunoot in obligatory prayers?

Answer :

Yes, it is permissible, but it was reported in texts narrated by the Ahlul-bait (peace be upon them) that it is not recommended.

Steadiness in Bowing
Question :

I understand that it is a condition of prayer that the body should be steady before reciting Dhikr in the bowing, and scholars have emphasized this point saying that prayer is void without this. What exactly is meant by steadiness?

Answer :

There is nothing more required than being steady in the conventional and natural sense.

Prayer in Usurped Area
Question :

I offered the prayer in an usurped place without knowing that it is actually usurped. Is my prayer valid?

Answer :

Yes, it is valid provided that other conditions of the prayer are fulfilled, such as the intention of seeking closeness to Almighty Allah.

Definition of Adalah
Question :

What is meant by the term "Adalah"?

Answer :

Adalah – as a condition in the imam of the congregational prayer and in the witness – is a level of fearing Almighty Allah that leads to avoiding the committing of major sins. Committing small sins without insistence does not affect it.
Adalah – as a condition in the marja – is a high level of God-fearing which leads the person to refraining from disobeying the religious laws and committing sins – whether the sins are small or major. If on the rare occasion he commits a sin, he would rush to repent to Almighty Allah and seek his forgiveness.
A person who holds 'adālah is called "adil".

Reciting One Verse
Question :

Can I recite one verse or a few verses of the Quran after Al-Fatiha in the prayers?

Answer :

One must recite one full chapter after Al-Fatiha in obligatory prayers. Reciting one verse or a few verses is not sufficient. It is sufficient to do so in recommended prayers.

Reciting Al-Fatiha in the Third Raka'a
Question :

If the imam of the congregational prayers is in the third or fourth Raka'ah and decided to recite Suratul-Fatihah, do we have to follow him in reciting Suratul-Fatihah, or can we choose to recite Tasbihaat?

Answer :

It is permissible to recite Tasbihaat three times or recite the Al-Fatihah. If the latter is chosen, the Bismillah should be recited silently during the mentioned rak'as.

Prayer on a Usurped Place
Question :

A person is a tenant of a property owned by a Shia Waqf organization. That person refuses to pay the agreed rent amount. Can such a person offer prayers in his house where the arrears are still outstanding and are such prayers valid?

Answer :

If the said property is used by a person without paying its due rent then he is considered as a ghasib (usurper) and the prayer in such a place - if he is attentive of the fact that it is prohibited - is void.

Reciting Two Surahs
Question :

Is it permissible for me to recite two Surahs after Surah al Fatiha?

Answer :

Based on an obligatory precaution, one should only recite one Surah after Surah al-Fatiha. But one can recite a further Surah if it is not intended to be a part of the prayers, but just as additional recitation of the Holy Quran.

Diffrences in Rulings
Question :

I am a Muslim Shia. I am planning on marrying a Muslim girl who became a Shia recently. She is willing to learn more about our rulings of prayers. Can you explain to me?

Answer :

The detailed rulings on the prayer is mentioned in the books of religious rulings and edicts. We can point out some differences to consider, like the following:
a) Reciting the ‘Bismillah…’ in the chapter of al-Fatiha.
b) Reciting one full chapter after the chapter of Fatiha, including ‘Bismillah…’
c) Prostrating on earth or what grows on it, provided that it is not consumed for food , or worn as clothing.
d) Wiping the feet in wudhu, instead of washing them.
e) Wiping the head and feed with the wetness of the wudhu from washing the arms.
f) In performing obligatory Ghusl, it is a condition to start with the head.

Reciting Second Sura
Question :

When reciting a surah after Surah al-Fatiha in the first two Raka’at, do the Surahs have to be in ascending order or in any order? Could I read Surah al-Ikhlas in the first rak’a and Surah al-Kawthar in the second, or vice-versa?

Answer :

Yes, it is permissible, and there is no obligatory order.

Dhikr in Bowing and Prostration
Question :

Is any dhikr permissible in bowing and prostration?

Answer :

It is sufficient in the bowing position to recite "Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem wa bi-Hamdih", or "Subhanallah" three times. It is also sufficient to recite any sort of "dhikr" that consists of praising Allah, like "Alhamdulillah" thrice, reciting Takbir thrice or reciting "La Ilaha Illallah" thrice, provided that the said is equivalent to "Subhanallah" three times. The same applies to prostration except that "Subhana Rabbiyal-Aala wa bi-Hamdih" is to be recited instead of "Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem wa bi-Hamdih". But, it is not sufficient to recite, "Subhana Rabbiyal-Aala wa bi-Hamdih" in bowing, nor is it sufficient to recite, "Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem wa bi-Hamdih" in prostration.

Adding a Rak'a by Mistake
Question :

I performed four rak’a of prayers instead of three for the Maghrib prayer, by mistake. Is there a way to rectify my prayer, or must I offer the prayer again?

Answer :

Your prayer is invalid in this case and you are obligated to perform it again correctly.

Reciting the Names of the Infallibles
Question :

Is it permissible to recite the names of the infallibles (peace be upon them) just after the prayers?

Answer :

Yes, it is recommended to offer the Salam on every one of them (peace be upon them) after the prayers.

Work on Friday
Question :

Is it forbidden to work on Friday after hearing the Adhan at noon?

Answer :

Work is not prohibited after the Adhan on Fridays, since one has the choice at that time between offering Friday prayer or Dhuhr prayer, and the obligation is in between these two choices.

Missed Prayers
Question :

If someone has missed fasts during the month of Ramadan and missed prayers as well, he should make up the fasts before the next Ramadan. Does he have to make the prayers before the next Ramadan as well?

Answer :

One must make up the missed prayers, whether they were missed during the holy months or not. They should be made up as long as he is able to do so. There is no designated time for it. So, the make-up can be delayed, but it should not be considered as neglection of the orders of Almighty Allah.

Takbeeratul-Ihram
Question :

Which takbeers are obligatory and which are recommended in prayers?

Answer :

The obligatory takbeer is only the takbeerat'ul-ihtam. The rest of the takbeers are recommended and not obligatory.

The Concept of Janaba
Question :

I was ignorant of the concept of Janaba, and did not know for some time. Later I came to know about Ghusl and performed it. I used to offer prayers all that time. What should I do about them?

Answer :

You must make up for the prayers that you know you missed.