Praying in dark or on slope

7-12-2016 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, Shaykh. Is it true that one cannot pray in the dark, like with the lights off or in a dark place? And what about praying on a slope? May Allaah reward you.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. 

We are not aware of any evidence that it is forbidden or disliked to pray in the dark; rather, it is related in Saheeh Muslim and other works that ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said:

“One night, I noticed that the Prophet was not in his bed, so I reached out, looking for him, and my hand touched the soles of his feet; he was in his prayer place and his feet were upright (i.e., he was prostrating), and he was saying, ‘Allaahumma a’oodhu biridhaaka min sakhatika wa bimu’aafaatika min ‘uqoobatika wa a’oothu bika minka la uhsi thanaa’an ‘alayka anta kama athnayta ‘ala nafsik.’ (O Allah, I seek refuge in Your good pleasure from Your wrath, and I seek refuge in Your pardon from Your punishment. I seek refuge in You from You. I cannot enumerate Your praise, You are as You have praised Yourself.)”

Moreover, Majmoo’ Al-Fataawa by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen reads:

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked: What is the authenticity of what was reported, that praying in the dark is disliked? He answered, saying, “I do not know this hadeeth; the one who is saying this has to ascertain its authenticity. Praying in the dark at the time of the Prophet was the norm because at that time the mosques of the Prophet had no lights, as ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, 'the homes at that time had no lights…'”

Also, the prayer on a slope is permissible; we do not know any evidence that prohibits it, as the Prophet said, “The whole earth was made for us a place of prayer.” [Muslim and others]

Allah knows best.