Prayers (Salaat)

Salaat is the second Pillar of Islam after the declaration of faith. It is one of the chief duties of a Muslim.
It is offered 5 times a day, preferably with congregation for males.

Salaat in the Quran

Allah, the Exalted says in the Holy Quran: Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.
(4:103)

Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e., the best prayer
`Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salat (prayers)].
(2:238)

Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have neglected As-Salat (the prayers) and have
followed lusts. So, they will be thrown in Hell. (19:59)

So woe to those performers of Salat (prayers) (hypocrites), who delay their Salat (prayer) from their
stated fixed times. (107:4-5)

And seek help in patience and As-Salat. (2:45)

Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book, and perform As-Salat. Verily, As-Salat prevents from
Al-Fabsha‘ (great sins of every kind etc.) and Al-Munkar (disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil
wicked deed, etc.) (29:45)

 Ah, woe unto worshippers who are heedless of their prayer.

 O ye who believe! Seek help in steadfastness and prayer. Lo! Allah is with the steadfast.
 So establish regular Prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to God! He is your Protector - the
Best to protect and the Best to help!

Salaat in the ahadith:

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) says:

 Between man and between Shirk and disbelief is abandoning the Salat.
 The covenant between us and them is the Salat; whoever leaves it has indeed disbelieved. (It was
recorded by Imam Ahmad and the Sunan Compilers with an authentic chain of narration).
 When one of you prays, he speaks confidentially to his Lord. (Al-Bukhari)
 The prayer is light. (Al-Muslim)
 Whoever commits it to memory, he will have, on the Day of Judgement, a light, a proof, and a
deliverance. (Ahmad, Ibn Hibban, and At-Tabarani)
 My joy has been made in the prayer. (Ahmad and An-Nasai)
 When one prays, his sins are erased and atoned for. If there was a river by the door of one of you,
in which he bathed five times every day, do you think that any of his filth would remain? They said,
None of his filth would remain. He said: The same is the case with the five prayers: through them
Allah wipes the sins away. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

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  The five prayers and Jumu‘ah Prayers are expiations for what occurs between them. (i.e. sins), as
long as the major sins are not perpetrated. (Muslim)
 Know that among your duties, prayer is the best.
 Prayer has been made a coolness for my eyes.

Benefits of Salat:

1. A means of seeking Allah‘s pleasure, help and guidance.

2. Reinforces man‘s link with Allah.
3. Turns belief in Allah into certainty in the Almighty Allah.
4. Restrains believers from shameful deeds; guards their modesty.
5. Is sustenance for the soul, a means of achieving peace of mind.
6. Self-development of a man depends on prayer. (Hadith)
7. Brotherhood between Muslims.
8. Congregation turns mosque into a community centre.
9. Self discipline & self control
10. Piety & Taqwa
11. Patience & perseverance

Punctuality & regularity: “Prayer at fixed hours has been enjoined upon the believers.”(Quran 4:103)

Obedience & humility: “Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers.” (Quran
23:1)

Cleanliness / Filth:

 Muslims must be clean and pure in mind, body and heart.

 Truly Allah loves those who purify themselves. (Quran)
 Purification is one half of faith. (Hadith).
 Inward purification is ridding the mind of evil thoughts or ideas.
 Outward purification involves taking a bath or performing ablution.
 Performing wudu five times a day cleans a Muslim‘s body thoroughly.
 Filth is semen (wash clothes three times, squeezing each time), flowing blood, pus, swine (and
everything to do with it) and wine.
 Even if small quantity falls on food or drink, they become polluted and are not fit for eating or
drinking.

Major/Grave Impurity (Najasat al Ghaleeza)

Comes under Najasat Haqiqi (Impurity in fact)

Includes pig & all its products, alcohol, all unlawful animals, human & animal urine & excretion, semen,
blood, pus & vomitting
Any amount of the above pollutes whatever it touches

Minor Impurity (Najasat al-Khafifa)

Comes under Najasat Haqiqi (Impurity in fact)

It includes urine & droppings of lawful animals like cattle, horses etc

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 Purification is attained through scraping it off
If clothes are polluted then must be washed and rinsed three times

Minor Impurity (Hadath Asghar)

Comes under Najasat Hakmiyah (Impurity in effect- Shariah)

Caused by passing wind, faeces or urine
Removed by wudu (ablution) or tayammum (dry ablution)

Major Impurity (Hadath Akbar)

Comes under Najasat Hakmiyah (Impurity in effect- Shariah)

Caused by marital relations or discharge of semen during sleep, menstruation discharge, post child birth
bleeding:- all of these mean that no prayers can be read and no Quran can be touched
Removed by taking a ritual bath (ghusl)
Ablution (Wudu)

‘O you who believe, when you prepare for prayer wash your faces and your hands (and arms) to the
elbows; rub your heads (with water) and (wash) your feet to the ankles. (Quran 5:6)

Method of Wudu

1. Recite ‘Bismillah’ (In the name of Allah)

2. Wash both hands up to the wrist (x3)
3. Gargle/rinse your mouth (x3)
4. Sniff up water into your nostrils (nose) using the right hand and use left hand to blow/clean your
nose (x3)
5. Wash the whole face with both hands from forehead to chin from one lobe to the other (x3)-
For males the wet fingers of the hands should be passed through the hair of the beard
6. Wash the right arm and the then the left arm up to and including the elbow (including the
hands) (x3)
7. Wet hands & perform masah on the head by wiping hands from the front to back, both ears are
cleaned inside and out (thumb for back of ear & index finger for inside)
8. Finally wash the feet, first right & then left up to & including the ankles
9. Recite kalimah-e-shahadat

‘He who performed the ablution well, his sins would come out of his body, even coming out from under
his nails’ (Sahih Bukhari)

The Prophet Muhammad PBUH said: ‘On the Day of Resurrection, I shall be able to spot my people by
their faces, hands and feet, which will be shining on account of wudu.’ (Hadith)

The following nullifies wudu:

 Passing wind, faeces or urine or any other discharge from the body (apart from spit, phlegm etc)
 Deep sleep (reclining or lying), unconsciousness or fainting or having a fit
 Eating camel meat
 Carrying a dead body
 Touching the private parts (without barrier)
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 Tayammum (Dry Ablution)

‘…. If you ill or on a journey… And ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth (mud)
and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allah does not wish to place you in difficulty, but to make you
clean… (Quran 5:6)

Permission for tayammum is granted if you are ill or on a journey and are unable to access water. It can
be performed instead of wudu or ghusl.

Method of Tayammum

1. Recite ‘Bismillah’
2. Strike both hands on the sand/mud
3. Wipe the face with your hands once
4. Wipe the back of the hands
(Source: Sahih Bukhari)

Tayammum breaks the same way wudu breaks. Tayammum becomes invalid immediately following the
availability of water

Ghusl (Ritual bath)

1. Intention must be made

2. Wash both hands till the wrists
3. Wash private parts and remove impurity
4. Perform full ablution
5. Water is poured on the head first
6. Then the rest of the body (starting from the right)
7. No area or even a single hair should remain dry

Azaan (Call to prayer)

Every prayer with the exception of the two Eid prayers & funeral prayer is preceded by an Azaan &
Iqamah. When the time for prayer starts the ‘muezzin’ calls out the Azaan. The muezzin should be a
male adult Muslim. Preferable to be in the state of wudu. Facing the Qiblah, fore fingers inserted in his
ears he calls out the Azaan in a loud voice.

Word of the Azaan

‫ﷲﺍﻛﺑﺮ ﺍﷲﺍﻛﺑﺮ‬
Allah is the Greatest of All, Allah is the Greatest of All (x2)

‫ﺍﺸﻬﺩﺍﻦﻻﺍﻟﻪﺍﻼﷲ‬
I testify that there is none worthy of worship but Allah (x2)

‫ﺍﺸﻬﺩﺍﻦﻤﺤﻤﺪﺍﺮﺴﻮﻝﺍﷲ‬
I testify that Muhammed ‫ ﺼﻟﻰﺍﷲﻋﻠﻴﻪﻮﺴﻟﻢ‬is the Messenger of Allah (x4)

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 ‫ﺤﻲﻋﻠﻰﺍﻠﺼﻼﺓ‬
Hasten towards Salaah (x2 and the muezzin looks to his right each time)

‫ﺤﻲﻋﻠﻰﺍﻠﻓﻼﺡ‬
Hasten Towards Success (x2 and the muezzin looks to his left each time)

‫ﷲﺍﻛﺑﺮ ﺍﷲﺍﻛﺑﺮ‬
Allah is the Greatest of All, Allah is the Greatest of All (x2)

‫ﻻﺍﻟﻪﺍﻼﷲ‬
There is none worthy of worship besides Allah!

In the Azaan for the dawn prayer (Fajr) after ‘Íí Úáì ÇáÝáÇÍ ‘ (hayya al-falaah) the following words are
added:

ÇáÕáÇÉ ÎíÑñ ãä Çáäæã (As-salaatul khairul minn-naum)

Prayer is better than sleep (x2)

All those who hear the Azaan, should repeat after the muezzin in a low voice

When the listener hears ‘Íí Úáì ÇáÕáÇÉ’ (hayya al-salaah) & Íí Úáì ÇáÕáÇÉ’ (hayya al-falaah), he should
reply:

‘‫’ﻻحﻮﻝ وﻻ قﻮﺓ إﻻ ﺑاهلل‬

There is no strength nor power except with Allah
Importance of the Azaan

An announcement made five times a day, of the unity of Allah and of the Prophethood of Prophet
Muhammad PBUH
(the two fundamental principles of Islam)

Iqamah

When the congregational prayer is about to start people stand up and form rows and the muezzin
recites the Iqamah- the words are the same as azaan but only recited once and not repeated

No fingers are inserted in the ears and no looking left or right when reciting ‘Íí Úáì ÇáÕáÇÉ’ & ‘Íí Úáì
ÇáÝáÇÍ’

After ‘Íí Úáì ÇáÝáÇÍ ‘ he recites:

‘‫( ’قﺪ قامت ﺍﻟﺼﻼﺓ‬X2)

The prayer has been established

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 Name & Times of Prayer

The five obligatory prayers are:

1. Fajr (early morning)

2. Zohr (early afternoon)
3. Asar (late afternoon)
4. Maghreb (evening/sunset)
5. Isha (early night)

The five daily prayers consists of the following:

Farz (obligatory)
Sunnah (traditional)
Wajib (a must- but below obligatory)
Nafl (optional)

The Sunnah prayers are further divided into two categories called Muakkadah (the Prophet hardly left)
or Ghair Muakkadah (the Prophet would sometimes leave for no apparent reason)

Conditions of Prayer

1. Be in the state of wudu

2. Body, clothes & place of prayer must be clean from any impurity
3. The ‘satar’ (the parts of the body which should be covered) must be properly covered
4. Satar:- Male: naval to knees (preferable to cover shoulders also)- Female: entire body except her
face, hand and feet
5. Must be the time for that particular prayer
6. Facing Qiblah (direction of prayer)

Components of Prayer

Six items are farz (obligatory)

1. Takbeer tahrima (the first starting takbeer)

2. Qiyam (the standing)
3. Qirat (reciting)
4. Ruku (bowing)
5. Sajdah (prostration)
6. Qa’adah akhirah (the last sitting)

Method of Prayer (Page 253-256)

Witr prayer

Peformed after Isha prayer. Sunnah Muakkadah. Time for witr lasts from Isha till Fajr

“Witr is a rakah at the end of the night prayer.” (Sahih Muslim)

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 “The witr is a duty for every Muslim, so if one wishes to observe it with three (rakah), he may do so,
and if one wishes to observe it with one (rakah), he may do so.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Delayed Prayer (Qada)

Obligatory to make up the prayer which has been forgotten or a person slept through its time. Missing
salah intentionally is a major sin. Qada is only offered for farz prayers. All qada prayers have to be read
in order

“There is no negligence while one is asleep but forgetfulness occurs when one is awake. If one of you
forgets the prayer or sleeps through its time, then he should perform the salah when he recalls it.”
(Fiqh Sunnah)
Shortening Prayers (Qasr)

“When you travel through the land, there is no sin on you if you shorten the prayer.” (Quran 4:101)

Performed when travelling. Traveller may also ‘combine’ the prayers. Zohr & Asar and Maghreb & Isha
are combined. With the exception of the sunnah of Fajr & the witr of Isha, only the shortened farz
prayers are to be read. Fajr & Maghreb (farz) prayers remain unchanged. Zohr, Asar & Isha (farz)
shortened to two rakahs. There is a difference of opinion upon the duration a person can shorten
prayers (from 4 days to years)

There is a difference of opinion upon the distance required for a person to qualify as a traveller ( from
9km to 78km). If the traveller leads the prayer then he reads qasr.
If the traveller reads his salaah behind a person who is not a traveller then he must read the full farz
prayer. Combining the Prayers (Jama’ah).

“.. so that my followers may not be in difficulty.”

(Sahih Muslim)

Travellers and residents can combine prayers under the following circumstances:

1. In the case of bad weather (applies in the masjid only)

2. Sickness (e.g. bad bladder, keeping pure a problem etc)
3. For the one who fears for his life property or family

Method of combining:

Advance combination (Jam’ah Taqdeem)

The asar prayer may be advanced and said with zohr at the time of zohr.
Isha prayer can be advanced and prayed with maghreb at the time of Maghreb.

Delayed Combination (Jam’ah Takheer)

The zohr prayer may be delayed and said with asar at the time of asar.
Maghreb prayer can be delayed and prayed with isha at the time of isha.

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 Friday Prayers

O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the Salat on the day of Friday (Jum'ah prayer), come
to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business (and every other thing), that is better for you if you
did but know! (Quran 62:9)

 Friday is the best day of the week

 Special importance for Muslims
 Jum’ah prayers take the place of zohr prayers for those attending the masjid
 No qada for Salatul Jum’ah
 Must be offered in congregation
 A great reward offered for the Friday prayers:

"Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes
himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jum’a prayer) and does not separate two
persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then
remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last
Friday would be forgiven.“
(Sahih Bukhari)

 Obligatory (farz) on every free, sane, adult Muslim who has the ability to attend the masjid
without a valid excuse
 The one who misses it without a genuine reason: “Whoever misses three Friday prayers in a row
out of negligence will have a seal put over his heart by Allah.” (Ahmed, Ibn Majah)
 Very important (mustahab) to have a bath (ghusl), wear your best clean clothes and perfume
oneself before attending Jum’a prayer
 One should reach to the masjid as early as possible, as the reward diminishes the closer it gets
to the khutbah (sermon)
 Upon entry to the masjid one should offer 2 rakah ‘Tahayat-ul-Masjid’ (2 rakah nafl which is
sunnah for entering a masjid)
 The sermon (khutbah) on Friday is obligatory, and listening to it is wajib
 After the azaan is delivered the Imam ascends the pulpit
 The Imam delivers a sermon facing the congregation
 The sermon is delivered in two parts
 When the sermon is being delivered, it is prohibited to make a conversation or even recite the
Quran
 After the sermon is over, the iqamah is proclaimed, rows are straightened and the worshippers
stand shoulder to shoulders in rows
 Friday congregational prayers consist of 2 rakahs and it is recited aloud

“The best day on which the sun rises is Friday”

(Sahih Muslim)

There is an hour in Friday in which supplications are accepted

(Hadith)

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 Benefits of Friday Congregational Prayers

 All men of the community get together, in some communities women are also encouraged
 It is a symbol of equality and unity
 Everyone gets to meet each other after the prayer and enquire about each others welfare
 They provide facilities for education and joint learning
 Mosques (Masajid)
 Masjid: literal meaning is place of prayer derived from ‘sajd’ which means the place where one
prostrates
 “The whole of the earth has been made a masjid for me.” (Abu Daud)
 Religious as well as cultural centre for Muslims
 In early years the masjid was the centre of activities
 The Prophet and his successors addressed & discussed many issues inside the masjid, including war,
administration, community welfare and current matters affecting the community
 From the early times masajid have always been serving as a centre of religious, cultural,
educational, social and political centre
 All masajid are regarded as the houses of Allah
 No ownership

Etiquettes of the masjid

 One should enter a masjid with respect

 Clothes should be clean & footwear removed
 Talking loudly, indulging in idle talk, gossiping and backbiting etc is forbidden (just like it is outside
the masjid)
 Buying & selling is not allowed inside the masjid

 "Whoever eats garlic, onion, then keeps away from our Masjid because the angels get offended
from what offends the children of Adam.“ (Sahih Bukhari & Muslim)
 The Muslim should enter the masjid with his right foot first and say: "Bismillah. In the name of
Allah, O Allah, open for me the gates of your mercy." (Sahih Muslim)
 "If the prayer started, then do not join it running, and join it walking and quiet, and pray whatever
you caught up with, and make up for what you missed."(Sahih Bukhari & Muslim)
 The Muslim should leave the masjid with his left foot first and say: “Bismillah, In the name of Allah,
Oh Allah! I ask you for Your blessings” (Sahih Muslim)

“Whoever goes to the Masjid, Allah will prepare a place for him in Paradise, every time he goes to the
Masjid.” (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

“Whoever performs wudoo (ablution) in his home, then leaves to the Masjid for the purpose of
performing an obligatory prayer, his steps will be a means of expiation for his sins. One step will remove
a sin, while the other will gain him an increase in reward.” (Sahih Muslim)

“The Angels continue to supplicate for the individual who remains in the Masjid that he has prayed in,
as long as he does not pass wind. The Angels say: Oh Allah forgive him!, Oh Allah have mercy on him!”
(Sahih Bukhari)

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 Benefits of Mosques (Masajid)

 Mosques are centres dedicated to special worship

 They are also places where the community meets and solves its problems via discussions, celebrates
its special events and
 Acts as a sanctuary (place of safety)
 Mosques also provide facilities for education (madrassas)
 A place which unites all Muslims and where equality is practiced.

Private Prayer/Supplication (Dua)

Your Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your
(invocation). (Quran 40:60)

Whoever wants Allah to answer his prayers during difficult times, should supplicate to Him more and
more in times of ease.” (Tirmidhi)

Nothing can change predestination except invocation. Whenever a person is in difficulty he realises he
is helpless.

Best times to offer supplication:

 Day of Arafah (9th of Dhul Hijjah)

 Month of Ramadan
 Fridays
 At the time of the start of rainfall
 At the end of the daily prayers
 Between the azaan and the iqamah
 During prostration
 In the last third part of the night
 Etiquettes of Dua
 Face qiblah
 Raise hands
 Glorify Allah (Surah Fatihah etc)
 Send salah on the Prophet PBUH (Durood-e-Ibrahim)
 Supplicate with attentive mind and be humble
 Invoking the assistance of angels, prophets, saints is strictly forbidden
 Only call upon Allah with sincerity, humility & confidence

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Salaat: Prayer
All prophets before the coming of the holy prophet (s.a.w) had their Salaat for their own people. When the
prophet (s.a.w) came, he perfected the institution of Salaat. It is thus divided into Farz, Wajib, Sunnah
Mu‘akkidah, Sunnah Ghair Mu‘akkidah and Nawafil (Nafil). All of them are important for the progress of
Mankind.

There are different steps in Salaat such as the:

1. Takbeer
2. Qiyam
3. Ruku‘
4. Sajdah
5. Jalsah
6. Qa‘dah
7. Salaam.

All of them must be incorporated in Salaat. Any omission will render the Salaat void.

There are some conditions to be respected for Salaat such as:

1. To be a Muslim
2. To attain the age of puberty
3. To be sane of mind
4. To be in the state of Taharaat (Ghusal and Wudhu)
5. To wait for the Time of Swalaat
6. To find a proper Place of worship
7. To wear clean cloth
8. To find the Direction of Qiblah
9. To formulate the Intention (Niyyat) of Salaat.
10. To know how to perform Salaat

There are many benefits derived from Salaat such as:

1. It brings Barakah (Blessing) in one‘s life

2. It protects us from sins and impurities
3. It protects us from punishment in all worlds
4. It is the Beauty of the Salih (pious)
6. Our Du‘a (Invocation) will be accepted
7. We will be Loved by every creature
8. We will receive Du‘a of angels, animals and human beings
9. We will cultivate Taqwa (God consciousness) for Allah
10. We will be loved by Allah and the holy Prophet ‫ﷺ‬

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