*Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim*'
{In the name of Allah most Gracious Most Merciful}
Allah says, in Quran
This day, I have perfected your religion for you,
completed My Favour upon you,
and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion.
(Al-Maeda-3)
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
{In the name of Allah, praise be to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be
upon His messenger
{ Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings}
________________________________
SALAT (Prayer):
(part 3)
How to Perform Prayer (Salat)
Taken from my Elder sister Asma Islamic Forum
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Seekers-Of-Islam/
________________________________
I. The Adhan (call to prayer)and Iqama
(call to start the prayer)
The adhan is the announcement that the time of a particular prayer has begun.
This is done with specific wording, and for the purpose of calling the people
to pray in congregation. It is a distinctive feature of Islamic society and its
religious practice. It is obligatory for the Muslim society to establish it.
The wording of the Adhan
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,
“Allah is the Most Great.” (repeated 4 times)
Ash-hadu an la ilah ella-Allah, Ash-hadu an la ilah ella-Allah,
“I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah.” (twice)
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-ullah, Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-ullah,
“I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” (twice)
Haiya ‘alas-Salat, Haiya ‘alas-Salat,
“Hurry towards prayer.” (twice)
Haiya ‘alal-Falah, Haiya ‘alal-Falah,
“Hurry toward success.” (twice)
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
“Allah is the Most Great.” (twice)
La illah illa-Allah “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.” (once)
Note: In the call to prayer for Fajr (the Dawn prayer) the mu’adhdhin (caller)
adds after Haiya ‘alal-Falah: As-Salat Khairun minan naum, As-Salat Khairun
minan naum, “Prayer is better than sleep.” (twice)
Watch: Adhan (with meaning)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV3XCVBpijk
II. The Iqama
The iqama is like the adhan but it is announced immediately before the start of
obligatory prayer, in order to assemble the people in the mosque in orderly
rows.
The wording of the Iqama
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
“Allah is the Most Great.” (twice)
Ash-hadu an la ilah ella-Allah
“I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah.” (once)
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-ullah
“I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” (once)
Haiya ‘alas-Salat
“Hurry towards prayer.” (once)
Haiya ‘alal-Falah
“Hurry toward success.” (once)
Qad Qamatis-Salat, Qad Qamatis-Salat,
“The time of prayer has come.” (twice)
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
“Allah is the Most Great” (twice)
La illah illa-Allah
“None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.” (once)
It is praiseworthy for one who while hears the adhan to repeat each phrase
after the mu’ahdhin, except when he says “Hurry to prayer” and “ Hurry to
success,” one should say:
La hawla ,la Quwwata illa billah “There is no power nor ability except by
Allah.”
After the adhan, one should ask Allah to bless the Prophet (pbuh) in a low
voice, then he should make the following du’a (supplication):
Allahuma rabba hadhi-hid da'wah tit-tam-matiwas-sala til qa’imati ati Muhammad
nil waseelata wal fadeelata wab’ath-hu maqamam an mahmudunil-ladhi wa'ad tahu.
“O Allah, the Lord of this perfect invitation and established prayer, grant
Muhammad intercession (to You) and honor and raise him to the position of
praise on the Day of Judgement, which You promised him.“
The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Whoever supplicates with this du’a hearing the adhan will be eligible for my
intercession on the Day of Judgement “ (Bukhari)
The adhan is an act of worship, and worship should be performed in accordance
with the teachings of the Prophet (pbuh) without addition or omission.
Obligatory prayers and sunna prayers
Besides the obligatory or prescribed five daily prayer (prayers) Muslims are
strongly advised to perform the non-obligatory sunna prayers for which they are
rewarded; these sunna prayers accompany the fard, or obligatory prayers, as
stated below.
Table of number of Raka’at of each Prayer
Prayers Sunna Before Fard (Obligatory) Prayer Sunna after
Fajr (Dawn) 2 2 --
Dhuhur (Noon) 2+2 (or 4) 4 2
Asr (Afternoon) 2+2 (or 4) 4 --
Maghrib (Sunset) -- 3 2
Isha (Night) 2 4 2+3 or 1 Witr
Jumu’ah (instead of Dhuhur 2 on Friday) 2 (greeting the mosque) 2 2 at home or
2+2 in the mosque
III. The Performance of Prayer
After the worshipper has done the ablution and after the adhan and iqama are
said, the prayer is conducted according to the sunna of the Prophet (pbuh) who
said to companions:
“Pray as you have seen me praying. “ (Bukhari),
Since then, Muslims of all times and places have been performing prayer in the
same way of the Prophet (pbuh) as illustrated below:
1. The Early Morning prayer (Salatu-l-Fajr)
In this prayer two units (raka’at) are offered first as supererogatory (sunna).
These are followed by two other units which are obligatory (fard). Both
supererogatory and obligatory prayers are offered in the same manner except
that, when declaring the intention, one has to distinguish between the two
kinds. Following is the description of the fard (obligatory) or sunna
(voluntary) prayer.
Act 1.One stands in reverence and humility, facing the Qiblah, raising his
hands up to the ears, and silently intending for Sunat Salati-l-Fajr or Fard
Salati-l-Fajr (as the case may be), and says, “Allahu Akbar”.
This means (to one’s self): “I intend to offer the supererogatory (or
obligatory as the case may be) prayer of the morning; Allah is the Greatest of
All.” Then he lowers his arms and places the right hand over the left one right
below the chest.
This position of the hands is in accordance with one school of law. Other
positions are preferred by other schools. However, these are minor differences
and do not affect the validity of the prayer. In fact, all such differences are
considered as convenience and facilities rather than hindrances and
restrictions.
He then says in a low voice the following:
Act 2.
“Subhanaka-l-lahumma wa bihamdik, wa tabaraka-smuk, wa ta’ala Jadduk, wa La
Ilaha Ghayruk. A’udhu bi-l-lahi mina-sh-shaytani-r-rajeem.
Bismi-l-lahi-rah-mani-raheem. “
This means: “Glory be to you, O Allah, and Yours is the praise, and blessed is
Your name, and exalted is Your majesty, and there is no God besides You. I seek
the refuge of Allah from the condemned devil. In the name of Allah, Most
Gracious, Merciful. “
After this, the Fatiha (the opening chapter of the Qur’an) is recited while
standing in the same position. It runs as follows in transliteration:
Act 3.
Bismillahir-rah Mani-Rahim,
Alhamdu Lillahi-rabbil-alamin,
Ar-rahmanir-rahim, Maliki Yawmaid-din, Iyyaka na’bodu
Wa Iyyka nasta’in, Ihdinas-Siratal-mustaqim Siratal-lathin An’amta alayhim
Ghqyril-maghdubi Alayhim Waladallin. Amin.
The translation of the Fatiha chapter is as follows:
In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, the Merciful. All Praise is due to Allah,
the Lord of all worlds, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Thee only do we worship,
and from Thee only do we seek help. Guide us to the right path, the path of
those to whom Thou hast been Gracious, not of those who are condemned, nor of
those who are misguided.” Amen.
Then any portion of the Qur’an which the devotee may have learned by heart is
recited, whether it is a short chapter, or a few verses.
Then he says: “Allahu Akbar. “ (Allah is the Greatest) and lowers his head
and torso down at a right angle, places the palms of his hands on the knees and
says in a low voice:
Act 4.
“Subhana Rabbiya-l-Azeem”
(“Glory to my Lord the Great, “ repeated three times.) This is called ruku’.
After that the standing position is resumed with these words:
“Sami’ a-l-ahu Liman Hamidah; Rabbana laka-l-Hamd”
(Allah accepts any who are thankful to Him; Our Lord, praise be to you). When
saying this, the hands remain on the sides.
The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Perform ruku’ until you come to rest in ruku’, then rise up until you are
standing [fully] upright. Then perform sajdah until you come to rest in sajdah”
(Bukhari)
The worshipper then says: “Allah Akbar”, prostrating himself with the toes of
both feet, both knees, both hands and the forehead touching the ground. The
Prophet (pbuh) said: “When you perform sajdah, place your hands down, and raise
your elbows up.” (Muslim) This is the position of sujud and is accompanied by
these words:
Act 5.
“Subhana Rabbiya-l-A’la”
(Glory to my Lord the Most High, repeated three times.)
Act 6.With the utterance of Allah Akbar comes the julus, a short
rest in a sitting posture. The outer side of the left foot and the toes of the
right one (which are in an erect position) touch the ground and the two hands
are placed on the knees.
After this a second prostration (sujud) is repeated in the same way, with the
same utterances as the first one. This completes one unit (raka’at) of the
prayer.
Act 7.After the first unit the worshipper rises, saying “Allahu Akbar”, to
assume a standing position for the second unit and recites the opening chapter
(the Fatiha) followed by a Qur’anic passage as in the first unit.
Act 8.When he has finished the second bowing and the two prostrations in the
same way as the first, he takes a sitting position as in julus and recites the
tashahhud with its two parts. (A+B)
Transliteration of Tashahhud
A. At-tahyiyatu lilllahi, wassala-watu wattayybatu, Assalamu alaka
ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuhu. Assalamu alayna wa ala
ibadillahis-salihin. Ash-hadu an la-ilaha-illallah wa ash-hadu anna Mohammedan
abduhu wa Rasuluhu,
>
>B. Allahumma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad kama salyata ala Ibrahim,
>wa ala ali Ibrabih, innaka Hamidun Majid, wa barik ala Muhammad wa ala ali
>Muhammad kma barkt ala Ibrahim wa ala ali Ibrahim innak Hamid Majid.
>
>
Meaning of Tashahud (The Declaration of Testimony of Faith)
(Recited while sitting after the end of the second raka’at of prayer.)
1. (All) greetings, prayers and all good things are due to Allah, the
Almighty. Peace be unto you, oh Prophet of Allah. The mercy and the blessings
of Allah be unto us, and unto the righteous slave servants of Allah. I bear
witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone, and I bear
witness that Mohammed is the slave/servant and messenger of Allah.
2. Oh Allah! Shower blessings upon Mohammed and upon the family of
Mohammed as you showered blessings upon Abraham and the family of Abraham. And
grant favors to Mohammed and to the family of Mohammed as you granted favors to
Abraham and to the family of Abraham in this world. You are the Praiseworthy
and Glorious.
In the final tashahud, one must seek refuge with Allah, the Almighty, from the
torture of the hellfire, the torture of the grave, the afflictions and
temptations of life and death and temptations of the false Messiah. Then, one
may select and recite any other supplications chosen, with particular emphasis
on those that have been soundly reported by Allah’s Apostle (pbuh), such as:
“Oh Allah! Help me to remember you and worship you in the best and most
favorable fashion.”
“Oh Allah! I have extremely wronged my soul. Oh Allah! There is no one else to
pardon sins and forgive them save you. Oh Allah! Grant me a pardon from your
own. Oh Allah! Shower me with your Mercy, as you are the Beneficent. Most
Merciful.”
Act 9.Finally, he turns his face to the right, saying these words:
“Assalamu ‘Alakum wa rahmatu-l-lah”(Peace be on you and the mercy of Allah.)
Then he turns his face to the left, uttering the same greetings.
This is how any prayer of two units (raka’at) whether obligatory or
supererogatory, is performed. When knowing how to perform this prayer in the
right way, all other prayers will be very easy. It should be pointed out that
every move or every word in the Islamic prayer has a great Significance
attached to it and is symbolic of a very deep meaning.
2. The Noon prayer (Salat –al-Dhuhr)
This consists of four units as sunna (recommended) followed by four units as
fard (obligatory), and then two others as sunna. The performance of the fard of
this prayer is as follows:
1. The first two units are performed in the same way as in the morning
prayer. The Fatiha and a portion of Qur’an are recited silently. Bowing and
prostration postures are observed in the same way.
2. When reciting the tashahud after the second unit, the worshipper
stops at the end of part A to resume the posture of standing.
3. He recites only the Fatiha in the third unit without any added
portion of the Qur’an.
4. When he concludes the third unit, he stands for the fourth and
recites only the Fatiha as in the third.
5. After bowing and prostrating, he takes the sitting posture of julus
and recites the whole tashahud with its two parts.
6. Next he utters the peace greeting to the right and to the left.
7. The two sunna units are performed like the morning prayer but
silently.
3. The Mid-Afternoon prayer (Salatu-l-‘Asr)
The mid-afternoon prayer consists of four units as sunna followed by four
others as fard. These are performed silently in the same way as the noon
prayer.
4. The Sunset prayer (Salatu-l-Maghrib)
The Sunset prayer consists of three units as fard followed by two as sunna.
It may be recited in the first two units with a low or audible voice; the third
unit is silent. It is performed in the same way as the noon or mid-afternoon
prayer, except that the fourth unit is excluded. Recital of the Fatiha, bowing
and prostrations, come after the third unit, which ends with the final sitting
and the utterances of the peace greeting. The two Sunna units are offered in
the same way as the early morning prayer.
5. The Evening Prayer (Salatu-l-‘Isha)
The evening prayer consists of four units as fard, two as sunna and three as
witr. (higher than sunna and lower than fard). The first two units of the four
fard may be said in a quiet or audible voice. Other than that, it is performed
the same way as the noon or mid-afternoon prayer. The two sunna are performed
exactly like the early morning prayer.
The three witr units are performed just like the sunset prayer with two
exceptions. First, in the third unit, the Fatiha is followed by a portion of
the Qur’an. Second, while standing after bowing and before prostration, the
worshipper says these words:
Allahumma inna nasta’eenuk, wa nastahdeek, wa nastaghifiruk, wa natub ilayk, wa
nu’minu bik, wa natawakallu ‘alayk, wa nuthni’alayka-l-lkhayra kullah.
Nashkuruk, wa la nakfurk, wa nakhla’u wa natruku man yafjuruk. Allahumma iyyaka
na’bud, wa nusalli wa nasjud, wa ilyaka nas’a wa nahfid. Narju rahmatek, wa
nakhsha ‘adhabak; inna ‘adhabaka bi-l-kuffari mulhaq wa salli-l-llahumma ‘ala
sayyidina Muhammad wa ‘ala alihi wa sahbibi wa salim.
This is called qunut and may be interpreted as follows:
O Allah! We beseech you for help and guidance, and seek Your protection and
believe in You and rely on You, and extol You and are thankful to You and are
not ungrateful to You, and we declare ourselves clear of, and forsake, him who
disobeys You.
>>O Allah! To You do we pray and prostrate ourselves, and to You we do betake
>>ourselves, and to obey You we are quick, and Your mercy do we hope for and
>>Your punishment do we fear, for Your punishment overtakes the unbelievers.
>>O Allah! Exalt our Master Muhammad and his people and his true followers.
If this qunut cannot be recited by memory, it is sufficient to say any
recitation similar to it until it is mastered. All the sunna (supererogatory)
prayers are to be said individually, (that is, not in congregation) except the
‘Eid prayers, and the witr in the month of Ramadan.
The sunna prayers are not required from a person who has missed some Fard
prayers. Instead, he must make up what he has missed and offer the obligatory
services, Also the sunna prayers are not required if the due time of the
accompanying fard prayers has expired. Hence, if a person misses any prayer and
wants to make up for it, he has to offer the fard only.
As-Salaam Walekum
Asma Bint Saeed
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Seekers-Of-Islam/
Watch and Learn
(video links fwd to me by bro Mohamed Moustafa)
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=3Y5Fj70b27M
How to make Wudu
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=6QulvzwryTc&feature=channel
Introduction to Prayer
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=Yh6plGYFM1A&feature=related
Fajr Prayer
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=wmxxZOWcBEQ&feature=channel
Dhuhr Prayer
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=uVBrAL5AmQg&feature=channel
Asr Prayer
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=MXl0pvdi8fw&feature=channel
Maghrib Prayer
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=bz6j8tg0zkk&feature=related
Isha Prayer
Also
5_pillars
http://english.islamway.com/flashes/1/5_pillars.exe
F.A.Q About Islam
http://english.islamway.com/flashes/1/faq.exe
Ablution
http://english.islamway.com/flashes/1/ablution.exe
Prayer - Beginners Level
http://english.islamway.com/flashes/1/PrayerBeg.exe
Prayer - Advanced Level
http://english.islamway.com/flashes/1/PrayerAdv.exe
As-Salaam Walekum
Adil ibn Manzoor Khan
Bombay
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveIslam_LiveIslam/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
