Salah Explained *What is Salah?* Salah is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God with no earthly intermediaries. A prayer takes a few minutes to perform.
*What no Priests?* There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person (Imam) who knows the Qur'an, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Qur'an, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's own language. *An Audience with God* Each prayer is practically an audience with God. Facing in the direction of the Kaaba (the first mosque ever, built by patriarch Abraham and his son Ismail for the worship of the One God, at the site which long later became the city of Makkah in Arabia), the prayer is opened by saying "Allah Akbar", ie. God is Greater (than all else), and practically you are turning your back to all the universe and are addressing God. One of the constant readings during prayer is the Opening Chapter of the Quran that reads "Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Compassionate, the Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. You only do we worship and to You only we cry for help. Guide us to the straight path. The path of those on whom You have bestowed Your grace, those whose lot is not wrath, and who go not astray." (1:1-7) Bowing down and prostrating oneself (to God) interjecting "Glory to my Lord the Great", "Glory to my Lord the Highest", "Allah listens to those who thank Him" and what fills one's heart by way of supplication, the prayer is concluded in the sitting position by reiterating the affirmation of the faith, the Shahada, and seeking God's peace and blessings on Mohammad and Abraham and their people and followers. *When and where* Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life. Performing daily prayers is an act of communication between humans and God. The prayers are considered a duty for all Muslims,and on these occasions preparations in ritual purity are required. *Ritual prayer and worship* Ritual prayer (Salah) is a distinct entity from worship in its wider sense, that is communicating your feelings to God at any time in any place and asking for His guidance, help and forgiveness, an ingredient of life which is highly commendable whether in Islam or other religions. Salah takes a special form and content, where both body and soul are harmoniously involved. In prayer, every muscle of the body joins the soul and the mind in the worship and glory of Allah. Prayer is an act of worship. It is a matchless and unprecedented formula of intellectual meditation and spiritual devotion, of moral elevation and physical exercise, all combined. *Congregational prayer and Mosques* Although salah can be performed alone, it is meritorious to perform it with another or with a group. The word mosque comes from the Arabic masjid, meaning "place of prostration." Although it is permissible to pray at home, at work, or even outdoors, it is recommended that Muslims perform salah in a mosque. *Who is it applicable to?* Offering of prayers is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female who is sane, mature and in the case of women free from menstruation and confinement due to child birth. *How is it performed?* Requirements of prayer: performing of ablution (Wudu), purity of the whole body, clothes and ground used for prayer, dressing properly and having the intention and facing the Qiblah (the direction of the Ka'bah at Mecca). Only around the Kaaba mosque in Makkah do Muslims stand in circles for their prayers (quite an impressive scene). All the world over they are in straight lines, leaving no gaps, and facing Makkah. *Remebering the Creator* Praying to the Creator on a daily basis is the best way to cultivate in a man a sound personality and to actualize his aspiration. Allah does not need man's prayer because He is free of all needs. Prayer is for our immeasurable benefit, and the blessings are beyond imagination. In addition to the prescribed prayer, a Muslim expresses gratitude to God and appreciation of His favours and asks for His mercy all the time. Especially at times of, for example, childbirth, marriage, going to or rising from bed, leaving and returning to his home, starting a journey or entering a city, riding or driving, before or after eating or drinking, harvesting, visiting graveyards and at time of distress and sickness. *Friday Prayers* The noon congregational prayer of Friday afternoon is mandated to be a collective and must be said in a Mosque, and is preceded by a sermon (Khutba). The Imam (prayer leader) is not a priest nor need be the same person every time, but considerations of scholarship and knowledge of the Quran and the religion are exercised in choosing him (doctors, teachers, business people and others as well as religion scholars are commonly featured in bearing this responsibility). *Conclusion * Prayer, obligatory and spontaneous, is an immense spiritual treasure to be tapped. It inspires peace, purity and tranquility and instills companionship with God. It amazingly reduces the hustle and bustle of life to tame proportions. By their spacing to five times a day, including its beginning, prayers tend to maintain a therapeutic level and practically leave no room for mischievous thought or deed. *How to Perform Salah (Ritual Prayers)- Part 2 * *Part II: Steps in Ritual Prayer* By AElfwine Mischler <http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1154526122427&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout#**1>, Wa’il Shihab - Introduction<http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1154526123065&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout> - *Part I: Before You Start*<http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1154526122788&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout> - Part II: Steps in Ritual Prayer<http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1154526122427&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout> - Part III: Praying in Congregation (Jama`ah)<http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1154526122297&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout> [image: Image] The Prayer is made of a series of postures and movements, each set of which is called a *rak‘ah*. Each Prayer consists of two or more *rak‘ahs* (the Arabic plural is *rak‘aat* ). The Prayers must be said in Arabic (except for new Muslims who cannot yet do so). Before beginning the Prayer, the worshiper must have the proper intention to pray. He should say in his heart his intention to pray a particular Prayer and how many *rak‘ahs* he will pray. Details of this will be given later. First, let us see how the Fajr (Dawn) Prayer is performed. It consists of two *rak‘ahs*, and it is said aloud, not silently. 1. Face the *qiblah*, which is the direction of the Ka‘bah (the Holy House of Allah in Makkah). For the qiblah in your town, consult the local mosque or www.islamicfinder.com. 2. Raise the hands to the ears and say aloud: *Allaahu Akbar.* (This means: Allah is Greatest.) 3. Place the left hand on the chest and then place the right hand over the left hand. Recite aloud Al-Fatihah (the Opening Surah of the Qur’an). Al-Fatihah must be said in every *rak‘ah* of every Prayer. Bismillaahi-r-Rahmaani-r-Raheem. Al-hamdu lillaahi Rabbi-l-‘aalameen. Ar-Rahmaani-r-Raheem. Maaliki yawmi–d-deen. Iyyaaka na‘budu wa iyyaaka nasta‘een. Ihdina-s-siraatal mustaqeem. Siraatal-ladheena an‘amta ‘alayhim ghayr-il maghdoobi ‘alayhim, wa la-d-daalleen. Ameen. (This means: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You (alone) we worship; You alone we ask for help. Show us the straight path, the path of those whom You have favored, not (the path) of those who earn Your anger nor of those who stray. Amen.) 4. Recite aloud any surah, or at least a few verses, of the Qur’an. For example, here is Surat Al-Ikhlas (number 112): Qul huw-allaahu ahad, Allaahu-s-Samad. Lam yalid, wa lam yoolad, wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad. (This means: Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute. He begets not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.) 5. Raise your hands to your ears as you did at the beginning and say aloud: *Allaahu Akbar.* Then bow down, placing your hands on your knees and keeping your back straight. This position is called ruku‘, and in this position say silently three times: Subhaana Rabbiy al-‘Azheem. (This means: Glory be to my Lord, the Supreme.) 6. Return to the standing position while saying aloud: Sami‘a-llaahu liman hamidah. (This means: May Allah hear the one who praises Him.) Then say silently: Rabbanaa wa laka-l-hamd. (This means: Our Lord, for You is all praise.) 7. Raise your hands to your ears and say aloud: *Allaahu Akbar. *Then prostrate, with your forehead, nose, hands, knees, and bottoms of the toes touching the ground. Keep your forearms and elbows raised off the floor. This position is called sujud. While in this position, say silently three times: Subhaana Rabbiy al-A‘laa. (This means: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.) 8. Say aloud: *Allaahu Akbar.* Then sit up on your heels. 9. Again say aloud: *Allaahu Akbar.* and prostrate again. Again say silently while prostrating: Subhaana Rabbiy al-A‘laa. (This means: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.) 10. Say aloud: *Allaahu Akbar.* Then stand up. You have now completed one *rak‘ah* (unit) of the Prayer. You will now repeat the steps, but you may recite different verses of the Qur’an after Al-Fatihah. 11. Place your hands on your chest as before and recite Al-Fatihah (the Opening Surah of the Qur’an) aloud. Remember that Al-Fatihah must be said in every *rak‘ah* of every Prayer. Bismillaahi-r-Rahmaani-r-Raheem. Al-hamdu lillaahi Rabbi-l-‘aalameen. Ar-Rahmaani-r-Raheem. Maaliki yawmi–d-deen. Iyyaaka na‘budu wa iyyaaka nasta‘een. Ihdina-s-siraatal mustaqeem. Siraatal-ladheena an‘amta ‘alayhim ghayr-il maghdoobi ‘alayhim, wa la-d-daalleen. Ameen. (This means: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You (alone) we worship; You alone we ask for help. Show us the straight path, the path of those whom You have favored, not (the path) of those who earn Your anger nor of those who stray. Amen.) 12. Recite aloud any surah (or a few verses) of the Qur’an. For example, you may recite Surat Al-Falaq (number 113): Bismillaahi-r-Rahmaani-r-Raheem. Qul: A‘oodhu birabbi-l-falaq Min sharri maa khalaq, Wa min sharri ghaasiqin idhaa waqab, Wa min sharri-n-naafaathaati fi-l-‘uqad, Wa min sharri haasidin idha hasad. (This means: In the name of Allah, the Compassionate the Merciful. Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak >From the evil of that which He created, >From the evil of the darkness when it is intense, And from the evil of malignant witchcraft, And from the evil of the envier when he envies.) 13. Raise your hands to your ears as you did at the beginning and say aloud: *Allaahu Akbar.* Then bow down with your hands on your knees (ruku‘). In this position say silently three times: Subhaana Rabbiy al-‘Azheem. (This means: Glory be to my Lord, the Supreme.) 14. Return to the standing position while saying aloud: Sami‘a-llaahu liman hamidah. (This means: May Allah hear the one who praises Him.) Then say silently: Rabbanaa wa laka-l-hamd. (This means: Our Lord, for You is all praise.) 15. Then say aloud: *Allaahu Akbar.* and prostrate as before (sujud). While in this position, say silently three times: Subhaana Rabbiy al-A‘laa. (This means: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.) 16. Say aloud: *Allaahu Akbar.* and then sit up on your heels as before. 17. Again say aloud: *Allaahu Akbar.* and prostrate again. Again say silently while prostrating: Subhaana Rabbiy al-A‘laa. (This means: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.) 18. Say aloud: *Allaahu Akbar.* then sit on your heels as before. 19. While sitting, rest your hands on your thighs and say silently the words of the first part of the Tashahhud: At-tahiyaatu lillaahi wa-s-salawaatu wa tayyibaat. As-salaamu ‘alayka ayyuha-n-nabiyyu wa rahmatu-llaahi wa barakaatuh. As-salaamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ibadillaahi-s-saaliheen. - Ash-hadu an laa ilaha illaa-llaahu, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduho wa rasooluhu. (This means: All glorification is for Allah. All acts of good deeds and worship are for Him. Peace and the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you, O Prophet. Peace be upon us and all of Allah’s righteous servants. - I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.) - It is recommended to point your right index finger forward while reciting this part. 20. Because this is a two-*rak‘ah* Prayer, you will now recite silently the second part of the Tashahhud: Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kamaa sallayta ‘ala Ibraheema wa ‘ala aali Ibraheem. Innaka hameedun majeed. Allaahumma baarik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kamaa baarakta ‘ala Ibraheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraheem. Innaka hameedun majeed. (This means: O Allah, exalt Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You exalted Ibrahim (Abraham) and the family of Ibrahim. Verily You are full of praise and majesty. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Verily, You are full of praise and majesty.) 21. Now say the Tasleem to close the Prayer. Turn your head to the right and say aloud: As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah. (This means: Peace be on you and the mercy of Allah.) Then turn your head to the left and say aloud: As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah. This completes the Fajr Prayer of two *rak‘ahs* (units). Prayers of More Than Two *Rak‘ahs* Summary of the Five Daily Prayers Name Number of *Rak‘ahs* Silent/Aloud Fajr (Dawn) 2 Aloud Zhuhr (Noon) 4 Silent ‘Asr (Afternoon) 4 Silent Maghrib (Sunset) 3 First 2 aloud, third silent ‘Isha' 4 First 2 aloud, last two silent 1. The other obligatory daily Prayers have more than two *rak‘ahs*. Perform the first two *rak‘ahs* in the same manner as the Fajr Prayer, through step 19. After reciting the first part of the Tashahhud (ending with “Ash-hadu an laa ilaha illaa-llaahu, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduho wa rasooluhu.”) at the end of the second *rak‘ah*, stand up and pray the third (and fourth) * rak‘ah* as you did the first two, with the exceptions noted below. 2. The third and fourth *rak‘ahs* are said silently, and there is no need to recite other Qur’an verses. Only Al-Fatihah is recited. 3. If it is the Maghrib (Sunset) Prayer, at the end of the third *rak‘ah*, recite both parts of the Tashahhud and close the Prayer with Tasleem. 4. If it is the Zhuhr ( Noon ), ‘Asr (Afternoon), or ‘Isha’ (Night) Prayer, perform four *rak‘ahs*. At the end of the fourth *rak‘ah*, recite both parts of the Tashahhud and close the Prayer with Tasleem. ------------------------------ *AElfwine Mischler* is an American convert to Islam. She has undergraduate degrees in physics and English, and a master's degree in linguistics and teaching English as a foreign language. <http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1154526122427&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout#> *Related Links* - A Muslim Facing Difficulty in Praying at Work<http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=FatwaE&cid=1119503543182&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar%2FASELayout> -- Best Regards; Adib Abu Alrob Software Engineer --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "nas_sokkar" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nas_sokkar?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
