Basic guide to praying
Taken from "Islam in Focus" by Hammudah AbDa-Lati
Thanks to Nazrul Islam for forwarding this material. Pictures were taken from a forum from turntoislam.com posted by islamicfajr
The following are the various kinds of prayer:
1. Obligatory (Fard), which includes the five daily prayers, the Friday's noon congregation and the funeral prayer. Failure to observe these prayers is a serious and punishable sin, if there is no reasonable excuse.
2. Supererogatory (Wajib and Sunnah), which includes the prayers accompanying the obligatory services, and the congregations of the two great festivals (Eid) and Friday Prayers. Failure to observe these is a harmful negligence and a reproachable conduct. e.g Taraweeh Prayers, Funeral prayers (Salatu-1-Janazah)
3. Optional prayer which includes all voluntary prayers at any time of the day or the night. Two periods have a special preference: the later part of the night until just before the breaking of the dawn and the mid-morning period. e.g. Tahajud prayers.
The Performance of Prayer
After the worshipper has done the ablution and after the ‘Adhan’ and ‘Iqamah’ are said, the prayer starts as follows:
1. The Early Morning Prayer (salatu-l-Fajr)
In this prayer two units (Rak’ahs) are offered first as supererogatory (Sunnah). These are followed by two other units as obligatory (Fard). Both Supererogatory and obligatory units are offered in the same manner except that, when declaring the intention, one has to distinguish between the two kinds. This is the description of performance:
Act 1. One stands in reverence and humility, facing the Qiblah, raising his hands up to the ears, and says: "Nawaytu Osalli Sunnata Salati-l-Fajr or Farda Salati-l-Fajr (As the case may be); Allahu Akbar."
This means: "I declare my intention to offer the supererogatory or obligatory (as the case may be) prayer of the morning; God is the Greatest of all." Then he lowers his arms and places the right hand over the left one right below the navel.
Thanks to Nazrul Islam for forwarding this material. Pictures were taken from a forum from turntoislam.com posted by islamicfajr
The following are the various kinds of prayer:
1. Obligatory (Fard), which includes the five daily prayers, the Friday's noon congregation and the funeral prayer. Failure to observe these prayers is a serious and punishable sin, if there is no reasonable excuse.
2. Supererogatory (Wajib and Sunnah), which includes the prayers accompanying the obligatory services, and the congregations of the two great festivals (Eid) and Friday Prayers. Failure to observe these is a harmful negligence and a reproachable conduct. e.g Taraweeh Prayers, Funeral prayers (Salatu-1-Janazah)
3. Optional prayer which includes all voluntary prayers at any time of the day or the night. Two periods have a special preference: the later part of the night until just before the breaking of the dawn and the mid-morning period. e.g. Tahajud prayers.
The Performance of Prayer
After the worshipper has done the ablution and after the ‘Adhan’ and ‘Iqamah’ are said, the prayer starts as follows:
1. The Early Morning Prayer (salatu-l-Fajr)
In this prayer two units (Rak’ahs) are offered first as supererogatory (Sunnah). These are followed by two other units as obligatory (Fard). Both Supererogatory and obligatory units are offered in the same manner except that, when declaring the intention, one has to distinguish between the two kinds. This is the description of performance:
Act 1. One stands in reverence and humility, facing the Qiblah, raising his hands up to the ears, and says: "Nawaytu Osalli Sunnata Salati-l-Fajr or Farda Salati-l-Fajr (As the case may be); Allahu Akbar."
This means: "I declare my intention to offer the supererogatory or obligatory (as the case may be) prayer of the morning; God is the Greatest of all." Then he lowers his arms and places the right hand over the left one right below the navel.
Act 2. He then says in a low voice the following: "Subhanaka-l-lahumma wa bihamdik, wa tabaraka-smuk, wa ta'ala Jadduk, wa La llaha Ghayruk. A'udhu bi-l-lahi mina-sh-shaytani-r- rajeem. Bismi-l-lahi-r-rah-mann-r-raheem".
This means: "Glory be to You, 0 God, 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 God from the condemned devil. In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful."
Act 3. Then in a low or audible voice he recites the Opening Chapter of the Qur’an (al-Fatihah), followed by any passage from the Holy Book. (for The Opening and examples of these short chapters and verses click here for details! )
Act 4. Then he says: "Allahu Akbar," (God is the Greatest of all), lowering his head down at a right angle, placing the palms of his hands on the knees and saying in a low voice:
"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
(God accepts any who are thankful to Him; Our Lord, praise be to You). When saying this the hands remain on the sides.
Act 5. The worshipper then says: Allahu Akbar, prostrating himself with the toes of both feet, both knees, both hands and the forehead touching the ground. This is the position of Sujud and is accompanied with these words:
Subhana Rabbiya-l-A'La
(Glory to my Lord the Most High, repeated three times).
Act 6. Then with the utterance of Allahu 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, touching 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 in the first one. This completes one unit (Rak’ah) 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 (the Fatihah) followed by a Qur’anic passage as in the first unit.
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 (the Fatihah) 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.
Act 9. Finally he turns his face to the right side saying these words: "Assalamu ‘Alaykum wa rahmatu-I-Lah (Peace be on you and the mercy of God). Then he turns his face to the left side uttering the same greetings.
This is how any prayer of two units (Rak’ahs), whether obligatory or supererogatory, is performed. When knowing how to perform this prayer in the right way, all other prayers will be found 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 (Sulatu-z-Zuhr)
This consists of four units as Sunnah, followed by four units as Fard, and then two others as Sunnah (+ 2 units Nafl - This is optional). The performance of the Fard of this prayer is as follows:
(a) The first two units are performed in the same way as in the morning prayer. The Fatihah and a portion of the Qur’an are recited in a low voice. Bowing and prostration postures are observed in the same way.
(b) When reciting the Tashahhud after the second unit, the worshipper stops at the end of the first part of it to resume the posture of standing.
(c) Then he recites the Fatiha only in the third unit without any added portion of the Qur’an.
(d) When he concludes the third unit, he stands for the fourth and recites the Fatihah only as in the third.
(e) After bowing and prostration he takes the sitting posture of Julus and recites the whole Tashahhud with its two parts.
(f) Then he utters the peace greetings right and left.
(g) Offering the two Sunnah units is like the morning prayer but in a low voice.
3. The Mid-Afternoon Prayer (Salatu-l-'Asr)
It consists of four units as Sunnah followed by four others as Fard. These are performed in the same way as the noon prayer and in a low voice.
4. The Sunset Prayer (Salatu-l-Maghrib)
It consists of three units as Fard followed by two as Sunnah (+ 2 units Nafl - This is optional). It may be said in the first two units with a low or audible voice; the third unit is in a low voice. It is performed in the same way as the noon or mid-afternoon prayer except that the fourth unit is excluded and the final sitting here, following recital of the Fatihah, bowing, and prostrations, comes after the third unit, which ends with the utterances of peace greetings. The two Sunnah units are offered in the same way as the Early Morning Prayer.
5. The Evening Prayer (Salatu.l-‘Isha’)
It consists of four units as Sunnah followed by four others as Fard, two as Sunnah (+ 2 units Nafl - This is optional) and three as Witr (higher than Sunnah and lower than Fard) (+ 2 units Nafl - This is optional) . The first two units of the four Fard may be said in a low or audible voice. Other than that, it is performed the same way as the noon or mid-afternoon prayer. The two Sunnah units are performed exactly like the early morning prayer.
As for the three Witr units, they are performed just like the sunset prayer with two exceptions: (a) in the third unit the Fatihah is followed by a portion of the Qur’an, and (b) while standing after bowing and before Prostration the worshipper says these words:
"Allahumma inna nasta'eenuk, wa nastahdeek, wa nastaghifiruk, wa natubu ilayk, wa nu'minu bik, wa natawakkalu 'Alayk, wa nuthni 'alayka-l-Khayra kullah. Nashkurk, wa la nakfruk, wa nakhla'u wa natruku man yafj-uruk. Allahumma iyyaka na’bud, wa laka nusalli wa nasjud, wa ilayka nas'a wa nahfid. Narju rahmatak, wa naklisha 'adhabak; inna 'adhabaka bi-l-Kuffari mulhaq wa salli-l-llahumma 'ala sayyidina Muharnmad wa 'ala alihi - wa sahbihi wa sallim."
This is called Qunut and may be interpreted as follows:
"O God! 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 ingrate to You, and we declare ourselves clear of, and forsake, him who disobeys You.
2. The Noon Prayer (Sulatu-z-Zuhr)
This consists of four units as Sunnah, followed by four units as Fard, and then two others as Sunnah (+ 2 units Nafl - This is optional). The performance of the Fard of this prayer is as follows:
(a) The first two units are performed in the same way as in the morning prayer. The Fatihah and a portion of the Qur’an are recited in a low voice. Bowing and prostration postures are observed in the same way.
(b) When reciting the Tashahhud after the second unit, the worshipper stops at the end of the first part of it to resume the posture of standing.
(c) Then he recites the Fatiha only in the third unit without any added portion of the Qur’an.
(d) When he concludes the third unit, he stands for the fourth and recites the Fatihah only as in the third.
(e) After bowing and prostration he takes the sitting posture of Julus and recites the whole Tashahhud with its two parts.
(f) Then he utters the peace greetings right and left.
(g) Offering the two Sunnah units is like the morning prayer but in a low voice.
3. The Mid-Afternoon Prayer (Salatu-l-'Asr)
It consists of four units as Sunnah followed by four others as Fard. These are performed in the same way as the noon prayer and in a low voice.
4. The Sunset Prayer (Salatu-l-Maghrib)
It consists of three units as Fard followed by two as Sunnah (+ 2 units Nafl - This is optional). It may be said in the first two units with a low or audible voice; the third unit is in a low voice. It is performed in the same way as the noon or mid-afternoon prayer except that the fourth unit is excluded and the final sitting here, following recital of the Fatihah, bowing, and prostrations, comes after the third unit, which ends with the utterances of peace greetings. The two Sunnah units are offered in the same way as the Early Morning Prayer.
5. The Evening Prayer (Salatu.l-‘Isha’)
It consists of four units as Sunnah followed by four others as Fard, two as Sunnah (+ 2 units Nafl - This is optional) and three as Witr (higher than Sunnah and lower than Fard) (+ 2 units Nafl - This is optional) . The first two units of the four Fard may be said in a low or audible voice. Other than that, it is performed the same way as the noon or mid-afternoon prayer. The two Sunnah units are performed exactly like the early morning prayer.
As for the three Witr units, they are performed just like the sunset prayer with two exceptions: (a) in the third unit the Fatihah is followed by a portion of the Qur’an, and (b) while standing after bowing and before Prostration the worshipper says these words:
"Allahumma inna nasta'eenuk, wa nastahdeek, wa nastaghifiruk, wa natubu ilayk, wa nu'minu bik, wa natawakkalu 'Alayk, wa nuthni 'alayka-l-Khayra kullah. Nashkurk, wa la nakfruk, wa nakhla'u wa natruku man yafj-uruk. Allahumma iyyaka na’bud, wa laka nusalli wa nasjud, wa ilayka nas'a wa nahfid. Narju rahmatak, wa naklisha 'adhabak; inna 'adhabaka bi-l-Kuffari mulhaq wa salli-l-llahumma 'ala sayyidina Muharnmad wa 'ala alihi - wa sahbihi wa sallim."
This is called Qunut and may be interpreted as follows:
"O God! 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 ingrate to You, and we declare ourselves clear of, and forsake, him who disobeys You.
"O God! To You do we pray and prostrate ourselves, and to You do we 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 God! Exalt our Master Muhammad and his people and his true followers."
If this Qunut cannot be commanded by memory, it is sufficient to say any recitation similar to it till it is mastered. All the Sunnah (supererogatory) prayers are to be said individually, that is not in congregation except the ‘Eed prayers, and the Witr in the month of Ramadan.
The Sunnah Prayers are not required from a person who has missed some Fard Prayers. Instead, he must make up for what he has missed and offer the obligatory services. Also the Sunnah Prayers are not required, if the due time of the accompanying Fard Prayers has expired. So, if a person misses any prayer and wants to make up for it, he has to offer the Fard only.
If a worshipper does not know how to say his whole prayers in, the Arabic version, he may use any other language he knows if it can express the same meaning of the Arabic. To make the Arabic version easy we are giving the words in transliteration.
The Fard Prayer is much more preferable when offered in a congregation (Jama’ah) led by an Imam. The congregation is best when it is held in a mosque, but it may be held in other places.
Further Reading:
Please also take time to read: Conditions & Rules of Salat and Common Errors (pdf)
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NOTE TO BROTHERS & SISTERS
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A useful software can be downloaded to help with performing salat. It is very good, has lots of sounds, pictures and transliteration. I would recomend this software.
Click here to download cyberSalat (linked to http://www.ussbg.com/ website).
Download the files, extract to anywhere on your computer, click on file called SALAT10 to start the programme. The passwordis aadam.
Also IslamWay.com has designed a full flash program that integrates audio, pictures and videos plus the Arabic transliteration in a very easy step by step explanation. Here is a link Click Here!
Also IslamWay.com has designed a full flash program that integrates audio, pictures and videos plus the Arabic transliteration in a very easy step by step explanation. Here is a link Click Here!
There is also "how to pray" section on turntoislam.com. Here is the link Click Here!
If you ever need help on Salat please email us at info@al-islam.co.uk and we will try to help. It is never too late to start learning salat.
If you ever need help on Salat please email us at info@al-islam.co.uk and we will try to help. It is never too late to start learning salat.
1 comment:
Thank you for this site. I've struggled to learn the salat properly. May Allah swt bless and give you jannet
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