Salaah

Q: Please provide guidance on Salaah times.

1. I notice that some timetables stipulate Asr (Shafi) and Asr (Hanafi). There is usually a 70 minute difference between the 2 times.

1a. As I am Hanafi, what happens if I perform Asr at the time permitted for Shafi’s?

1b. At what time does Zuhr end, and Asr begin?

1c. As I am Hanafi, can I still read Zohr at the time that Asr for the Shafi’s commence?

2. Until what time can I perform Asr?

3. Until what time can I perform Maghrib?

4. Until what time can I perform Esha?

Q:

1. If during traveling, an Imaam makes intention of qasr Asr but the muqtadi, who is also a traveler, mistakenly made intention of four rakaats. Will the muqtadi need to repeat the salaah (two rakaats qasr) or the niyyat of Imaam will be the one to supersede over that of the muqtadi and the muqtadi’s salaah behind the Imaam will be valid?

2. As a muqtadi, since I was not sure of the above, I repeated the Asr and prayed two rakaat qasr, was this action, in cases of doubts, correct until I come to know the right maslah?

Q: If a person needs to break his salaah for some reason, how should he do it? Should he make salaam to both sides, or turn his face to one side, or what should he do?

Q: Can one read voluntary prayer if one has missed prayers to make up?

Q: If my deceased parents have not been steadfast with zakaat, salaah and fasting due to reasons that I am not aware of, am I able to compensate for this, even if they have not mentioned it in their will? I would love my parents to be in Jannah, so how can I help them achieve this now that they have passed away?

Q: I work in a hospital. The hand rub we use contains alcohol (ethanol) mixed with glycerine. Some drops fell on my clothes and dried. Can I pray with that clothes?

Q: Is wearing a skull cap mandatory whilst praying Salaah?

Q: I want to read isthikaara for a marriage proposal. How many days should it be read for?

Q: I had offered 2 rakaahs of sunnah after zuhr, but I forgot that I already offered it. So I offered it again, but I mistakenly faced the wrong direction instead of the Qiblah. Should I offer the sunnah again?

Q: What does Islam say about someone (a Muslim) offering prayers in a gurdwara, temple or church? Is it allowed? If so, then in what conditions?