Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

dear brother burhan

salam

1. could you pls. answer me can we do sujood (sajdah while reciting quran) after asar adhan and before maghrib adhan. (between asar and maghrib)

2. pls. give me the meaning of the word Yassen.

jazakallah

a sister

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Answer:

Sajdah of quran after asr

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

'Amr ibn 'Abbas related that he said, "O Prophet of Allah, inform me about the prayers." He said, "Pray the morning (fajr) prayer, and then abstain from prayer until sunrise and the sun has completely risen, for it rises between the horns of Shaitaan. That is when the unbelievers prostrate to it. Then pray, as your prayer will be witnessed and attended to until the shadow of a spear becomes less than its length. At that time stop praying, for at that time the hell-fire is fed with fuel. When the shade comes, you may pray (dhuhr), for your prayer will be witnessed and attended (to by Angels) until you pray the afternoon (Asr) prayer. Then abstain from praying until the sun sets, for its sets between the horns of Shaitaan, and that is when the unbelievers make prostrations to it." (Related by Ahmad and Muslim.)

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.212 Narrated by Abu Said

The Prophet (saws) forbade prayers after the Fajr (morning) and the 'Asr (afternoon) prayers.

In light of the above absolutely clear guidance of the Prophet (saws), the times when it is forbidden for a believer to pray or make prostration is when the sun is actually rising at sun-rise till it has completely risen, at exact mid-day, and when the sun is actually setting till it has completely set; and the Messenger of Allah (saws) specifically forbade the believers to offer any type of prayers or do any prostration after one had offered their ‘fajr’ and ‘asr’ prayers.

Q-1: could you pls. answer me can we do sujood (sajdah while reciting quran) after asar adhan and before maghrib adhan. (between asar and maghrib)

If one reciting the Quran comes across a verse containing the ‘sajdah-tilawah’ (prostration of recitation), there is absolutely no harm if one offers the ‘sajdah-tilawah’ after the ‘adhaan’ of ‘Asr’…..but if one has already offered their obligatory ‘Asr’ prayers, then one should delay their ‘sajdah-tilawah’ until after the sun has completely set or after ‘Magrib’ time has been declared.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade the believers to offer any prayer or make any prostration during these three times:

1. After one has completed one’s ‘fajr’ prayers until the sun has completely risen.
2. At exact mid-day until the sun moves a little to the west
3. After one has completed one’s ‘asr’ prayers until the sun has completely set.

If one happens to recite the Glorious Quran during the above stated times and comes across a verse containing the ‘sajdah-tilawah’, they may continue their recitation, but delay the performance of the ‘sajdah-tilawah’ until later when the prohibition to prostrate is lifted.

Q-2: pls. give me the meaning of the word Yassen.

The letters ‘Ya-Seen’ found at the beginning of the 36^th Surah of the Quran, like ‘Alif-Laam-Meem’ (Surah 2 Baqarah), or ‘Haa-Meem’ (Surah 40 Mumin), ‘Qaaf’ (Surah 50 Qaaf), etc. are known in Islamic Fiqh or Jurisprudence as the ‘Huroof-e-Mukatteaat’ or ‘the broken alphabets’.

The exact meaning of these ‘broken alphabets’ used by Allah Subhanah in the beginning of several Surahs is known to none save Allah Subhanah. The Messenger of Allah (saws) never explained its meanings, neither did the noble companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws) ever ask the Prophet (saws) its meanings, and nor, surprisingly, did the pagan Quraysh, or the disbelievers, or the hypocrites, who were ever ready to object to every Command and Guidance of the Quran ever ask or challenge the Prophet (saws) to explain its meanings! It seems that the usage of such broken alphabets were an idiom or expression commonly used in the writings of those times; and Allah Alone Knows its meanings Best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan