Salaah

Performing salaah with an empty space in the saff in front

Q: If one prays in congregation, but due to people praying ahead, he cannot join the saffs ahead, is it permissible:

1. To pray behind an empty space between him and the safs ahead where more than two safs can be formed?

2. OR should he pass in front of musalles to go ahead? What about in the Haram Shareef in Makkah Mukarramah and Masjid Nabwi? Are we allowed to pass in front of musalles?

3. If one prayed behind with an empty space ahead, does the salah need to be repeated?

4. If needs to be repeated, if the prayed salah was janazah, what intention to make for the repeated salah, nafl as janazah salah perhaps cannot be repeated?

Performing sajdah sahw after making a mistake in salaah

Q: I offered Isha prayer, but recited tashahhud between the two sujud in my second rakat. I decided to do sajdah sahw, but I forgot and completed my prayer. I was still facing the qiblah, but I removed my eye glasses, wiped my face and muttered to myself. Then I remembered to do sajdah sahw, and did it. Should I have done sajdah sahw? Will I have to repeat my prayer? 

Reciting بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم when continuing to the next surah in Taraweeh Salaah

Q: If someone is leading a congregation, for example Taraweeh. Does the imam need to say بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم after he finishes a surah and decides to continue? For example, if the Imam just finished Surah Baqarah and wants to continue to Al-Imran, does he stop after finishing and continue or does the Imam recite Tasmiyah and then continue to Al-Imran? Please clarify me on this.

Salaah for patients in hospitals

Q: I often do work in hospitals and come across Muslim patients. When speaking to them, I realise that they are not reading their salaah because sometimes they have urine catherters attached to them/nappys/weak in bed and unable to keep themselves paak. Some say they just don’t feel clean in hospital environment or are too weak to make wudhu, etc. How must I advise them?

Musaafir stopping over in his home town while travelling

Q: If my watan iqaama is Karachi (temporary place of residence), and I travel to London for 20 days. From London, I have to go to South Africa for 20 days. I depart from London and have a layover in Karachi. I am in Karachi for one day before leaving for South Africa. While I am in Karachi, even if it is for a couple of hours, will I pray qasr or full? As Karachi is my place of residence, but I’m just stopping in it for a couple of hours. Please explain.