Maliki Madhab-Prayer

[a_muslim_bro]

As'salaamu Alaykum,

I understand that in the Maliki school there is less reliance on isolated ahadith, much more emphasis on amal of the people of Medina. This does explain why Imam Malik did not act on sahih ahadith that reported the Prophet (pbuh) looked at the place of prostration. But why would Imam Malik (ra) need to perform his own ijtihad as to where to look in salat if this was already part of the practice of the people of medina.

In the Maliki school the mashur opinion is that one focus his/her gaze straight ahead without flexing the head or looking at the place of prostration, as if visualizing the Kaba. I believe this was the view of Imam Malik (ra) who according to his ijtihad believed that since the most noble part of a person is the face as is mentioned in the Quran than it should not be lowered i.e. looking down at the place of prostration in prayer. If the normative practice of the Tabieen and Seven jurists of Medina such as Sa`ad ibn Musayyab, was sadl (releasing the hands in prayer) , and gazing straight ahead than why would Malik need to perform ijtihad on where to look in prayer ;was this not already established prior to his time?

Looking straight ahead in prayer is distracting especially if one is in jamat, if one is not in the first row than a person`s gaze would be directed at the person in front, not very comforting. In Malik`s time was it the norm to look staright ahead in prayer?

Wasalam

[sahih-baba]

Looking straight ahead in prayer is distracting especially if one is in jamat, if one is not in the first row than a person`s gaze would be directed at the person in front, not very comforting.

salam
someone else's head v feet - take your pick

i was taught to look ahead but eyes down is also acceptable.
similarly with sadl and qabd, some prefering one over the other.

otherwise good questions - i am leaving it for someone else to answer.

[Ma'ruf]

As'salaamu Alaykum,

I understand that in the Maliki school there is less reliance on isolated ahadith, much more emphasis on amal of the people of Medina. This does explain why Imam Malik did not act on sahih ahadith that reported the Prophet (pbuh) looked at the place of prostration. But why would Imam Malik (ra) need to perform his own ijtihad as to where to look in salat if this was already part of the practice of the people of medina.

In the Maliki school the mashur opinion is that one focus his/her gaze straight ahead without flexing the head or looking at the place of prostration, as if visualizing the Kaba. I believe this was the view of Imam Malik (ra) who according to his ijtihad believed that since the most noble part of a person is the face as is mentioned in the Quran than it should not be lowered i.e. looking down at the place of prostration in prayer. If the normative practice of the Tabieen and Seven jurists of Medina such as Sa`ad ibn Musayyab, was sadl (releasing the hands in prayer) , and gazing straight ahead than why would Malik need to perform ijtihad on where to look in prayer ;was this not already established prior to his time?

Looking straight ahead in prayer is distracting especially if one is in jamat, if one is not in the first row than a person`s gaze would be directed at the person in front, not very comforting. In Malik`s time was it the norm to look staright ahead in prayer?

Wasalam

Why would the Imam have performed ijtihad on this if it was already part of the practice, and affirmed by the Seven Fuqaha and so on? This seems very strange! Are you sure that he DID make itjihad on this? Do you have a source or quotation to that effect? Without some explicit proof, I think it is quite safe to assume that it was part of the 'amal, not his own ijtihad. Secondly, you are suggesting that the Imam was making ijtihad on a fairly basic issue of ibadat, which is contrary to the methodology of the school to the best of my knowledge.

As for looking straight ahead being distracting, I don't feel that at all - I suppose it is a subjective matter of preference and what one is accustomed to doing.

[a_muslim_bro]

...This seems very strange! Are you sure that he DID make itjihad on this? Do you have a source or quotation to that effect? Without some explicit proof, I think it is quite safe to assume that it was part of the 'amal, not his own ijtihad. Secondly, you are suggesting that the Imam was making ijtihad on a fairly basic issue of ibadat, which is contrary to the methodology of the school to the best of my knowledge.

As for looking straight ahead being distracting, I don't feel that at all - I suppose it is a subjective matter of preference and what one is accustomed to doing.

As'salaamu Alaykum,

[Sidi Khalil:] “It is Makruh to….close one’s eyes.”

[Commentary:] ”Unless opening them distracts one…and it is Makruh to place ones sight exclusively to the place of prostration.”

[Commentary:] ”Unless opening them distracts one…and it is Makruh to place ones sight exclusively to the place of prostration.” [Hashiyat al-Khurashi: al-Khurashi v.1 p.293 ]

[Commentary on commentary] “This is in opposition to the position that one places their sight exclusively to the place of prostration. Malik said, one looks before him [i.e. straight ahead]. For if one bends the head downwards then the obligation to stand has been partially neglected in respect to the head and it is the noblest part of the limbs. And were one to raise the head and try to keep some of one’s gaze fixed downwards to the ground this would be a great burden and hardship. Rather, we have been commanded to face the Qibla." [Hashiyat al-Khurashi]

It would appear that Imam Malik (ra) took the literal meaning from the Quran and felt that by lowering ones gaze would naturally force one to lower his/her head which would not comply with Gods commandment " so from whence soever thou startest forth, turn thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque; and wheresoever ye are, turn your face thither..." [Quran, 2:150]

Why Imam Malik (ra) felt the need to perform (maybe) ijtihad is beyond me,
one would assume that the method of prayer was already established. However, whether one focuses their gaze forward or at the place of prostration does not nullify the prayer in any of the schools of thought, and many famous jurists of the Maliki school actually preferred looking at the place of prostration i.e. ibn al Arabi, ibn abdal Bar.

Wasalaam.

[Ma'ruf]

Thank you for your post, I always appreciate seeing commentary from our wonderful ulema.

As for the content, it does not appear to contain any ijtihad at all. It merely seems to be providing some reasoning for a practice that was already the established 'amal, with a pertinent reference from the Qur'an to reinforce it. One thing I have noted in my own study is that Imam Malik very rarely provided such reasoning or elaboration, except where the point of in question was the subject of disagreement between the 'amal in Madina, and the practice in one or other of the provinces (usually Iraq). That may be the case here.

As for his taking the "literal" meaning of the Qur'an, it is not part of Maliki methodology to take the Qur'an as literal; all texts are held to be conjectural until examined and clarified in the light of factors such as hadith, athar and of course 'amal. So it seems that to conclude that Imam Malik took the literal meaning of that verse as his inspiration for new ijtihad is actually the most unlikely explanation. Rather, this does seem to be a simple case of the Imam making a point of strengthening the argument for the existing 'amal with the relevant ayat, a converse position having been presented from outside Madina.

Hope that is of some interest.

[al-kakazai]

Salam

Shaykh Mukhtar al-Dawudi from Mauritania has authored a work on the evidences for the whole of the Maliki prayer from beginning to end. Its called something along the lines of 'Salat al-Muassas ala Madhab Imam Malik ibn Anas'. I don't have it at hand but seems very useful and maybe unique as there are some treatise in support of sadl, but not the detailing of the whole Maliki prayer.

Ws

[al-kakazai]

Salam

Please find attached Shaykh al-Futi from Mali's commentary on 'al-Akhdari' which focusses primarliy on the evidences of the Maliki madhab.

Ws

[Ma'ruf]

Jazak Allah kheir!

[a_muslim_bro]

Salam

Please find attached Shaykh al-Futi from Mali's commentary on 'al-Akhdari' which focusses primarliy on the evidences of the Maliki madhab.

Ws

Beautiful! Thanks! Bro. al-Kakazai.

[a_muslim_bro]

Salam

Please find attached Shaykh al-Futi from Mali's commentary on 'al-Akhdari' which focusses primarliy on the evidences of the Maliki madhab.

Ws

Is there a English trans.? Unfortunately I can't read Arabic. If there is no English trans ca someone trans the proof of where one looks in prayer.

Wasalaam.