Salaah

Q: Does a woman over 50 years require a Mahram when travelling within 77 km?

Q: What is the Shari'ah ruling on reading salaah on a foam mattress. The mattress is approximately 12mm thin and is made of sponge. The mattress provides a cushion, thus reducing pain on feet, knees, etc.

Q: I have a friend who calls azaan repeatedly before its actual timings in roads and in restaurants and shops. I told him to not do that but he says calling it is good. Isn't azaan should be called on prayer time only? Please give detail answer whether I am wrong or he?

Q: Is prayer in musjid obligatory? There is a hadeeth which says something like prayer not being accepted if you hear the azaan and don't go to the musjid. Also there is a hadeeth of a blind man and he wasn't given concession to pray at home if he heard the azaan. Also there is another hadeeth about the prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) wanting to burn the houses of those who don't pray in the musjid. Yet I heard zakir naik say most scholars say it is sunnah muakkada (maybe he meant if we don't hear azaan). Also if prayer is obligatory in the musjid if you hear the azaan, how should this be understood in modern times? Like literally if we hear it? What if someone lives right next to the musjid in a western country but they don't give the azaan through the external speakers of the musjid so the sound of the azaan can just be heard inside, where as in some muslim countries the azaan can be heard from a distance of even 500 meters because of the speakers. Or should we consider how far the sound would travel if done in an open area (desert) and give the azaan without speakers and see how many meters it would travel? Another thing to keep in mind would be thick infrastructure and noise also plays a role on how far the azaan would travel these days. Jazak Allah Khair. Please explain if there has been some ignorance present in my question pertaining to context of Ahadeeth. This is so important as not praying woukd be kufr and if our prayers aren't being in the masjid they might not be accepted. Also what about congregation prayer. Does that suffice? If he hears the azaan but prays in congregation somewhere else? Please provide evidence from Quran and Sunnah.

Q:

1) Whilst on Safar, are the four sunnats also reduced to two rakaats or does that rule only apply to the four fardh?

2) Whilst on Safar, is the 2 sunnah of Fajr compulsory and will one be considered sinful if they omit it?

3) If a person joins the Jamaat late and misses 3 rakaats in 4 rakaat fardh, they will stand up after the Imam makes Salaam, read 1 rakaat and sit for Tashahud again before performing the other 2 rakaats. Kindly explain which rakaats the Surah should be recited and which rakaats it should be omitted?

Q: My question is in our local masjid there is a hafiz of Quran of around 14 years old who also knows the rules and regulations regarding imaamat and also attained puberty but his beard hasn't developed yet. Would it be permissible for him to lead or not?

Q: I require clarification on the following

1.During Dhuhr and Asr, when we say our Salaah in silence, must the Imam and the Musallis recite the Surah/Ayats in silence, each on their own or must the Imam alone recite the Surah/Ayats and the Musallis must keep quiet?

2.On Jumu’ah Day why is the Adhaan said twice instead of one as in the other days of the week?

Q: Within the Hanafi Madhab, is the issue of a soft or a loud aameen in Jamaat Salaah a valid difference of opinion? I am asking this as more and more Hanafis are reciting aameen loudly, hence, I am unsure whether or not to try to correct people.

Q: I have read the Hadiths regarding sajda sahw. My question is that (shia asked me) can a Nabi forget?

Q: I just want to ask when praying where should I place my hands? Is it below or above the navel? I follow Imam Abu Hanifa. Jazakallahu khayr.