Witr and Nawaafil

Raising the hands for Dua in Salaah

Q: In Arabian countries "Dua" will be recited by the Imam in gathering by lifting hands after "Dua-e-Qunoot" (before going for ruku') in "Waib-ul- witar" Prayer during Ramzan, in particular and before going for Rukuh of third Rakahat of Maghrib Prayer in general and why this procedure is not practiced in India, Kindly enlighten this.

Time of Ishraaq Salaah

Q: The Mukrooh time for Asr Salaah sets in when the sun looses its glare and one is able to gaze directly at the sun without any hurt to the eye. If this is correct, then will it be correct to apply the opposite  in order to establish the time of Ishraaq? I.e. After sunrise, as long as one is able to look directly at the sun the time of Ishraaq has not yet set in. However, once one is not able to look directly at the sun, can it be said that the time of Ishraaq has set in? Generally we are told that Ishraaq can be made 10-15 minutes after the time of sunrise. However, in some places it has been noticed that after 5-7 minutes (from the time of sunrise stated on the calender) the sun becomes bright enough that one is not able to gaze directly at it. Furthmore, what is the easiest way to determine the time of Ishraaq when the time of sunrise is not known?

Performing Qadha Salaah instead of Sunnats

Q: I have many years of qadha salaahs. I need to know if I can read my qadha salaah instead of the sunnah salaah. I know that when I am a musaafir, I am exempted from reading sunnah. What about when I am a muqeem? When fardh salaah is more important then sunnah, then please advise if I can read all my fardh qadha salaah in place of my sunnah of zuhr, maghrib and esha.