[IslamCity] Chapter 6 of "The Book of Prayers"

Tue, 25 Jan 2005 13:27:34 -0800

Source: Chapter 6 of "The Book of Prayers"

CHAPTER 6

THE VOLUNTARY / ADDITIONAL (NAWAFIL) PRAYERS.

Besides the Obligatory and Essential Prayers, the Holy Prophet () used to make arrangements for the Voluntary (Nawafil) Prayers too. It is mentioned in the Hadith that Voluntary Worship is a means of attaining proximity to Allah.

It is better to offer Sunnah and Voluntary Prayers at home – however it is better to offer Taraweeh, Tahiyat ulMasjid (Prayers offered as a mark of respect upon entering the mosque), and the Voluntary Prayers upon returning from a journey, in a mosque. If preoccupation or lack of interest or laziness prevents one from offering these Prayers at home, then these should be offered in the mosque.

A brief summary of some of the Voluntary Prayers, which the Holy Prophet () stressed upon is mentioned hereunder.

Tahiyyat ulWuzu (Mark of respect after performing ablution)

It is recommended to offer 2 Cycles (Rakaats) Voluntary Prayer immediately after performing ablution, before the water on the body dries up. Similarly it is after taking a bath. The Holy Prophet () has stated: “Anyone who performs a good ablution and offers 2 Cycles of Prayer with proper external and internal concentration i.e. with complete sincerity – Paradise becomes mandatory for him.”

Tahiyyat ulMasjid (Prayers offered as a mark of respect upon entering the mosque)

It is Sunnah to offer 2 Cycles of Prayer upon entering the mosque, and to offer 4 Cycles is recommended. If one offers the Obligatory, Essential or Sunnah Prayers, he is deemed to have offered the Tahiyyat ulMasjid Prayer also, even if he did not make an intention for it.

If one enters the mosque at a time when Prayers are prohibited, he must make Remembrance (Zikr) of Allah, or recite Salutations – the rights of the mosque will have been offered.

The Tahajjud Prayers

Voluntary Prayers offered after the Night (Isha) Prayers are called “Salaat ul-Layl” (The Night-time Prayers). Voluntary Prayers offered during the night are better than those offered during the day. The Tahajjud Prayer is a kind of Salaat ul-Layl. The Tahajjud consists of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 Cycles. When a person sleeps after offering Isha and gets up at any time during the night, it is the time for Tahajjud - and the best time for this is the final third part of the night.

The Ishraaq Prayer

The Ishraaq Prayer consists of 2 Cycles. It is better to wait after offering the Dawn Prayer and remain engrossed in the Remembrance of Allah or Salutations on the Holy Prophet (), and offer this at least 20 minutes after sunrise. The Hadith gives glad tidings of a reward equal to one Hajj and one Umrah to whoever offers this Prayer.

The Chaasht Prayer

The Chaasht Prayer consist of a minimum of 2 Cycles and a maximum of 12 Cycles, and 12 Cycles are best. The time for this starts from the sun’s ascent in the morning till the beginning of the meridian period (at Zawaal or beginning of Zohv Kubra). The Hadith gives glad tidings of a reward of Forgiveness and a golden palace in Paradise to whoever offers this Prayer regularly.

The Awwaabeen Prayer

Offering 6 Cycles Prayer is recommended after the Sunset (Maghrib) Prayer, and better to offer it in groups of 2 Cycles each. This is called the Awwaabeen Prayer. The Holy Prophet () has also encouraged performing this Prayer.

All Voluntary (Nawafil) Prayers can be offered while sitting, even without a valid excuse, but the reward of offering them while standing is double.

The Journey Prayer

Before starting out on a journey, it is recommended to offer 2 Cycles of Voluntary Prayer at home. The Holy Prophet () has stated: “No person leaves among his household anything better than the 2 Cycles of Prayer which he offers there prior to going on a journey.” While on the journey, one must offer 2 Cycles at the place where he stayed, and upon returning go home after offering 2 Cycles in the local mosque. This was the practice of the Holy Prophet ().

The Prayer of Repentance

Humans are prone to committing errors, but whenever one commits a sin, one should immediately turn towards his Compassionate and Merciful Lord, and with a remorseful conscience in order to seek forgiveness from Him, offer 2 Cycles of Prayer. This is recommended (Mustahab). The Holy Prophet () has said: “When one commits a sin, one must do an ablution and offer 2 Cycles of Voluntary Prayers and seek forgiveness of one’s sins from one’s Compassionate Lord. His Lord will forgive him.”

The “Tasbeeh” Prayer

The Holy Prophet () taught this Prayer to his uncle, Syedna Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him).

In the 1st Cycle (Rakaat) after the “Sanaa” (but in the 2nd Cycle before the “Tasmiyah”) recite the following “Tasbeeh” 15 times:

Subhaana Allahe wa alHamdu lillahe wa laa ilaaha illa Allahu wa Allahu Akbar.

Pure is Allah, and all Praise is for Allah, and there is no God except Allah, and

Allah is Great.

(It is better to recite the entire 3rd Kalemah). Then after reciting the “Taawuz”, “Tasmiyah”, Surah alFatehah and any small Surah (or equivalent) recite the above “Tasbeeh” 10 times. Then in the bow (Ruku) recite it 10 times after the normal “Tasbeeh”. Then in the Qawmah recite it 10 times after having recited the “Tasmeey” and Tahmeed. Then 10 times after the normal “Tasbeeh” in the prostration. Then 10 times in the Jalsah and another 10 times after the normal “Tasbeeh” in the second prostration. Continue in the same manner for all the 4 Cycles. In this way the “Tasbeeh” will have been recited a total of 300 times.

The Holy Prophet () has said: “If possible, offer this Prayer every day or else offer it every Friday. If unable to do this, then once a month or else once a year. If unable to do even this, then offer it at least once in a lifetime. Due to its blessedness, Allah the Supreme will forgive all (minor) sins – the earlier and the latter, the old and the new, whether committed on purpose or by mistake.” (Sunan Tirmizi).

The Need Prayer (Salaat ulHaajat)

The Holy Prophet () said: “Whoever has some need to be fulfilled from Allah or any bondman, must offer 2 Cycles of Prayer after a good ablution, then should praise & glorify Allah and send salutations upon me and then recite the following supplication:

Laa ilaaha illa Allahu alHaleemu alKareemu Subhaana Allahe Rabbe alArshe alAzeem; wa alHamdu Lillahe Rabbe alAlameen; asaluka moojibate rahmateka wa azaaema maghfirateka wa alganeemata min kulle birrin wa alSalaamata min kulle ismin laa tad’a lee zamban illa gafartahoo wa laa hamman illa farrajtahoo wa laa haajatan heya laka ridhan illa qadhaytaha yaa arhama alRahemeen.”

“There is no God except Allah, Who is Most Forbearing, Most Generous – Pure is Allah the Lord of the Great Throne; and all praise is to Allah, the Lord of the Creation; O Lord !! I seek from you the means of Your mercy, and the means of Your forgiveness - and I seek a share in every good deed and shelter from every sin; O Lord !! Forgive every sin of mine and remove all my sorrows; and fulfil my need which conforms with Your pleasure, O the Most Merciful of all !!” (Tirmizi, Ibn Majah)

A blind Companion (Sahabi) requested the Holy Prophet () to supplicate for his cure. The Holy Prophet () replied: “If you wish I shall supplicate for you - or you may patiently bear, and this is better for you.” He submitted, “Kindly supplicate for me.” The Holy Prophet () commanded him to make a good ablution and offer 2 Cycles of Prayer and then supplicate as follows:

Allahumma innee asaluka wa atawajjahu ilayka benabiyyeka Mohammedin nabiyyi alRahmahte -Yaa Rasool Allahe innee qad tawajjahtu beka ilaa rabbee fee hajatee hazehee letuqdaa lee – Allahumma faShaffeyhu fee.

“O Allah !! I seek from You and incline towards You through the means of Your Prophet Mohammed - the Merciful Prophet; O the Noble Messenger of Allah - I have, through you, inclined towards my Lord for this need of mine in order that it may be fulfilled !! O Allah – accept his intercession for me.”

When the blind man had completed his supplication, Allah restored him his eyesight as if he had never been blind. (Hakim, Tirmizi, Nasai, Ibn Majah, Tibrani, Baihaqi).

The Istikharah Prayer (for knowing what is suitable).

The Holy Prophet () used to teach his Companions the Istikharah supplication with great care and emphasis, just like a verse of the Holy Quran. He has said: “Whenever you intend any matter, offer 2 Cycles of Voluntary Prayer, and then supplicate as follows:

Allahumma innee astakheeroka be-ilmeka wa astaqderoka be-qudrateka wa as-aluka min fadleka al-Azeeme fa-innaka taqderu wa laa aqderu wa ta-lamu wa laa aa-lamu wa anta allamu al-guyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta-lamu anna haza al-amra khairun lee fee deenee wa ma-aashee wa aa-qebate amree faqdurhu lee wa yasserhu lee summa barek lee feehe wa in kunta ta-lamu anna haza al-amra sharrun lee fee deenee wa ma-aashee wa aa-qebate amree fasrifhu annee wasrifnee anhu waqdur leya al-khaira haysu kaana summa ardhinee behe.”

“O Allah !! I seek to know the suitability by Your knowledge, and by Your Power seek power from You, and seek Your great Munificence from You – for You are All-Powerful and I am weak, and You are All-Knowing and I do not know, and You also know the defects. O Allah if, as per Your knowledge, this matter of mine is better for me religion-wise, money-wise and in the hereafter – then destine it for me and make it easy for me, and then place blessings in it for me. And if, as per Your knowledge, this matter of mine is harmful for me religion-wise, money-wise and in the hereafter – then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and destine good for me wherever it may be and make me happy with it.” (Bukhari)

In this supplication instead of the words “haza al-amru” mention your need or just think about it. It is better to perform Istikharah seven times, for it is mentioned in one Hadith: “O Anas !! When you intend any matter, seek to know its suitability from your Lord seven times – then reflect upon what transpires in your heart, indeed that only is better.”

Some Shuyukh have said that after this supplication, one should go to sleep, with ablution facing the “Qiblah”. If he sees green or white colour in a dream, then the matter is good for him – and if one sees black or red colour, then the matter is harmful for him, and he must avoid it.

The time for Istkharah lasts up to the time one’s heart gets convinced upon one decision

keep remember me in your prays

Minahil



ึĥ ĄĿĿĂĤ ľńčŗ่โś๋ Μě Īή Кnoŵľ่đġ๋

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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)

{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)  also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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