What advice do you give to the one who seeks knowledge and what are the stages of studying knowledge and foundation that one should use to build himself upon it?
Answer: All praise is for Allah, seeking knowledge is made easy:
{And We have indeed made the Quran easy to remember then is there any that will remember?} Soorat-ul-Qamar: 17
One of the distinctive features of Islam is its emphasis on knowledge. The Quran and the Islamic tradition (sunnah) invite Muslims to seek and acquire knowledge and wisdom and to hold men of knowledge in high esteem.
Generally speaking, the Arabic word for knowledge is 'ilm, which, in most cases, indicates to Islamic knowledge or matters related to Sheree’ah (Islamic Law). Although, some of the Quranic verses in this article refer to Islamic knowledge, yet they are general in their meaning, and thus can be used to refer to learning in general.
The importance of education is a none disputable matter. Education is the knowledge of putting one's potentials to maximum use. One can safely say that a human being is not in the proper sense till he/she is educated.
This importance of education is basically for two reasons. The first is that the training of a human mind is not complete without education. Education makes man a right thinker. It tells man how to think and how to make decision.
The second reason for the importance of education is that only through the attainment of education, man is enabled to receive information from the external world; to acquaint himself with past history and receive all necessary information regarding the present. Without education, man is as though in a closed room and with education he finds himself in a room with all its windows open towards the outside world.
This is why Islam attaches great importance to knowledge and education. When the Quran began to be revealed, the first word of its first verse was 'Iqra' that is, read. Allaah says, (what means): "Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists). He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen. He has taught man that which he knew not" [Quran, 96: 1-5]
Education is thus the starting point of every human activity. Allaah created man and provided him with the tools for acquiring knowledge, namely hearing, sight and wisdom. Allaah says (what means): "And Allaah has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you might give thanks (to Allaah)" [Quran, 16:78]
A knowledgeable person is accorded great respect in many prophetic narrations.
Because of the importance of knowledge, Allaah commanded His Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) to seek more of it. Allaah says (what means): "and say: `My Lord! Increase me in knowledge" [Quran, 20:114]
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) made seeking knowledge an obligation upon every Muslim, and he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) explained that the superiority of the one who has knowledge over the one who merely worships is like the superiority of the moon over every other heavenly body. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said that the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets and that the Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention did not leave behind any money, rather their inheritance was knowledge, so whoever acquires it has gained a great share. Furthermore, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said that seeking knowledge is a way leading to Paradise. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Whoever follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allaah will make a path to Paradise easy for him." (Al-Bukhaari)
For example the Quran repeatedly asks us to observe the earth and the heavens. This instills in man a desire to learn natural science as well. All the books of Hadeeth have a chapter on knowledge. In Saheeh Al-Bukhaari there is a chapter entitled "The virtue of one who acquires learning and imparts that to others."
Islam calls us to learn all kinds of beneficial knowledge. Branches of knowledge vary in status, the highest of which is knowledge of Sharee'ah (Islamic Law), then other fields of knowledge, such as medicine, etc.
This is the knowledge (Sharee'ah) with which Allaah honoured His Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ); He taught it to him sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) so that he might teach it to mankind: "Indeed, Allaah conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses (the Quran), and purifying them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the Book (the Quran) and Al-Hikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet (i.e. his legal ways, statements and acts of worship)], while before that they had been in manifest error" [Quran, 3:164]
How great importance is attached to learning in Islam, can be understood from an event in the life of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). At the battle of Badr in which the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) gained victory over his opponents, seventy people of the enemy rank were taken prisoner. These prisoners of war were literate people. In order to benefit from their education the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) declared that if one prisoner teaches ten Muslims how to read and write, this will serve as his ransom and he will be set free. We can freely say that this was the first school in the history of Islam established by the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) himself with all its teachers being non-Muslims. Furthermore, they were all war prisoners.
On the one hand Islam places great emphasis on learning, on the other, all those factors which are necessary to make progress in learning have been provided by Allaah. One of these special factors is the freedom of research. One example of it is that in Makkah, the birthplace of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) dates were not grown. Afterwards the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) migrated to Madeenah, the city of dates. One day the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) saw that some people were atop the date trees busy in doing something. On being asked what they were engaged in, they replied that they were pollinating.
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) suggested them not to do so. The following year date yield was considerably very low. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) enquired them of the reason. They told him that the date crop depended on pollination. Since he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) suggested them to do otherwise, they had refrained from that. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) then told them to go on doing as they used to, and that, "You know the worldly matters better than me." (Al-Bukhaari)
Also we should know that there is no goodness in knowledge which is not confirmed by actions or words which are not confirmed by deeds, Allaah the Almighty says (what means): "O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allaah that you say that which you do not do" [Quran, 61: 2-3]
Knowledge brings a great reward. The one who points the way to something good is like the one who does it. When the knowledgeable person dies, his reward with Allaah does not cease when he dies, rather it continues to increase so long as people benefit from his knowledge. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "When a man dies, all his deeds come to an end except for three — an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge or a righteous child who will pray for him." (Muslim)
On other side, a person without knowledge is like someone walking along a track in complete darkness. Most likely his steps will wander aside and Satan can easily deceive him. This shows that our greatest danger lies in our ignorance of Islamic teachings in the first place and in our unawareness of what the Quran teaches and what guidance has been given by the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).
On the other hand, if we are blessed with the light of knowledge we will be able to see plainly the clear path of Islam at every step of our lives. We shall also be able to identify and avoid the dangerous paths of disbelief, Shirk (associating with Allaah) and immorality, which may cross it. And, whenever a false guide meets us on the way, a few words with him will quickly establish that he is not a guide who should be followed.
Knowledge is pursued and practiced with modesty and humility and leads to dignity, freedom and justice.
The main purpose of acquiring knowledge is to bring us closer to our Creator. It is not simply for the gratification of the mind or the senses. It is not knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Knowledge accordingly must be linked with values and goals.
One of the purposes of acquiring knowledge is to gain the good of this world, not to destroy it through wastage, arrogance and in the reckless pursuit of higher standards of material comfort.
Six etiquettes of learning
lbn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah may Allaah have mercy upon him said: "There are six stages to knowledge:
Firstly: Asking questions in a good manner.
Secondly: Remaining quiet and listening attentively.
Thirdly: Understanding well.
Fourthly: Memorising.
Fifthly Teaching.
Sixthly- and it is its fruit: Acting upon the knowledge and keeping to its limits."
Conclusion
According to Quranic perspective, knowledge is a prerequisite for the creation of a just world in which authentic peace can prevail. In the case of country’s disorder or war the Quran emphasizes the importance of the pursuit of learning, Allaah says (what means): "Nor should the believers all go forth together: if a contingent from every expedition remained behind, they could devote themselves to studies in religion, and admonish the people when they return to them - that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil)." [Quran, 19:122]
And the Prophet, may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him, said: (Whoever goes out in the path to seek knowledge Allah will make easy for him the path to Paradise.) Muslim (2699)
And the Glorified and Most High says: {And it is not for the believers to go out to fight all together. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they may get instructions in religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware.} Soorat-ut-Tawbah: 122
Thus the paths to learning knowledge are abundant and to Allah is all praise. You can either register into the schools, institutes, and structured colleges where you study the religious curriculums based on Tawheed, Fiqh, Tafseer, Hadeeth, and the Arabic language. Indeed these institutes, colleges, and schools have good curriculums for the one whom Allah the Glorified and Most High grants success. And they have within them teachers who are more than competent.
You can also study in the study circles that occur in the Masaajid at the hands of the Scholars who sit with the people and teach them.
If there is not a Masjid close to you to study then go to another Masjid even if it is far and if there is a need to travel. Indeed the previous Scholars used to travel to seek knowledge on long journeys and in those times they did not have cars or planes. They only had the ability to walk or to ride on an animal despite the distance and alienation from their homelands despite this they were patient.
Knowledge is not obtained by mere hoping and easiness rather it deserves patience upon difficulty, reflection, and a pure intention.
Showing posts with label Nafil:Sacred Quran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nafil:Sacred Quran. Show all posts
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Friday, 12 February 2010
My God and my Protector-(Du'a (supplication)
Dua, sometimes written duah, means calling, asking for something, and in the Islamic sense of the word it is doing just that, but to God. The word Dua can be translated in English to 'prayer', and this is accurate, but should not be confused with the other form of Muslim prayer, the Salat (aka namaz) which is something different. Dua is unlike the obligatory pillars of Islam such as Salat and Sawm (fasting) which have a rigid standard of regulations, because through du'a we are able to use our very own individual styles of expression. the Muslim supplicator raises his hands palm-up in front of him, at the level of his chest, or on his lap during this type of prayer,
Du'a (supplication) is our own personal means of communication with our Creator and it is accepted in any language. An individual may pray to ask for forgiveness, prosperity, help, improvement of a situation, increase in faith, or to thank God for His bounty or answering previous prayers; A person can pray for anything that is good and halal (permitted Islamically), and he can also pray for the damnation of the enemy and the ending of the world's evils. An individual may also pray for other persons.
Duas can be individual and personal, but there are a great number of books that have pre-written duas, written and compiled by scholars, and these relate duas presented by Prophets (PBUT),
The Quran itself has a number of duas within its pages, one such dua is this one where Prophet Abraham (PBUH) says:
الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاء
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاء
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
[Quran 14.39] Praise be to Allah, Who has given me in old age Ismail and Ishaq; most surely my Lord is the Hearer of prayer:
[14.40] My Lord! make me keep up prayer and from my offspring (too), O our Lord, and accept my prayer:
[14.41] O our Lord! grant me protection and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall come to pass!
The last line from that dua is sometimes said in a popular Qunoot dua, which is a special type of dua that is said in regular Salat prayers. A future article will be written about this to further elaborate.
Another dua from the Quran that we can use personally when we make dua is this:
لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
[Quran 2.286] ...Our Lord! do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake; Our Lord! do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us, Our Lord do not impose upon us that which we have not the strength to bear; and pardon us and grant us protection and have mercy on us, Thou art our Patron, so help us against the unbelieving people.
We have all undoubtedly been through some testing moments in our lives, and in such situations may have turned to close family and friends for help. Although they can provide us with valuable reassurance and comfort, they probably can do very little in helping to resolve the problem. Therefore it is necessary to confide in He who is the All-Listening and Most Wise, since it is only Allah (SWT) who has the power to really make a difference. Verily Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran,
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
[Quran 2.186] And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way.
However, it is important that we do not get into the habit of making du'a as a last resort and only after all else has failed. Surely if we remember Allah (SWT) at times of well-being, then He will remember us at times of difficulty. Therefore supplication should be a regular part of our lives, especially since it strengthens our relationship with Allah (SWT).
The severity of neglecting du'a
The consequence of not making du'a is explicitly summarized in a single ayah (verse) of the Holy Quran:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
[Quran 40.60] And your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will answer you; surely those who are too proud for My service shall soon enter hell abased.
Du'a - Our connection to the heavens
Dua, sometimes written duah, means calling, asking for something, and in the Islamic sense of the word it is doing just that, but to God. The word Dua can be translated in English to 'prayer', and this is accurate, but should not be confused with the other form of Muslim prayer, the Salat (aka namaz) which is something different. Dua is unlike the obligatory pillars of Islam such as Salat and Sawm (fasting) which have a rigid standard of regulations, because through du'a we are able to use our very own individual styles of expression.
The Muslim supplicator raises his hands palm-up in front of him, at the level of his chest, or on his lap during this type of prayer, but this is not a requirement.
Du'a (supplication) is our own personal means of communication with our Creator and it is accepted in any language. An individual may pray to ask for forgiveness, prosperity, help, improvement of a situation, increase in faith, or to thank God for His bounty or answering previous prayers; A person can pray for anything that is good and halal (permitted Islamically), and he can also pray for the damnation of the enemy and the ending of the world's evils. An individual may also pray for other persons.
Duas can be individual and personal, but there are a great number of books that have pre-written duas, written and compiled by scholars, and these relate duas presented by Prophets (PBUT), Imams (AS), and other Ma'soomeen (AS). The Quran itself has a number of duas within its pages, one such dua is this one where Prophet Abraham (PBUH) says:
الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاء
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاء
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
[Quran 14.39] Praise be to Allah, Who has given me in old age Ismail and Ishaq; most surely my Lord is the Hearer of prayer:
[14.40] My Lord! make me keep up prayer and from my offspring (too), O our Lord, and accept my prayer:
[14.41] O our Lord! grant me protection and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall come to pass!
The last line from that dua is sometimes said in a popular Qunoot dua, which is a special type of dua that is said in regular Salat prayers. A future article will be written about this to further elaborate.
Another dua from the Quran that we can use personally when we make dua is this:
لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
[Quran 2.286] ...Our Lord! do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake; Our Lord! do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us, Our Lord do not impose upon us that which we have not the strength to bear; and pardon us and grant us protection and have mercy on us, Thou art our Patron, so help us against the unbelieving people.
Other duas can be found in special books, and some of these duas are formulated to help certain situations like seeking pregnancy, stopping nightmares and many other things. Some published duas are very popular, like.There is a formulated dua for every day of the week and almost every situation, and these are good to recite, and very beneficial.
Importance of du'a
We have all undoubtedly been through some testing moments in our lives, and in such situations may have turned to close family and friends for help. Although they can provide us with valuable reassurance and comfort, they probably can do very little in helping to resolve the problem. Therefore it is necessary to confide in He who is the All-Listening and Most Wise, since it is only Allah (SWT) who has the power to really make a difference. Verily Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran,
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
[Quran 2.186] And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way.
However, it is important that we do not get into the habit of making du'a as a last resort and only after all else has failed. Surely if we remember Allah (SWT) at times of well-being, then He will remember us at times of difficulty. Therefore supplication should be a regular part of our lives, especially since it strengthens our relationship with Allah (SWT).
The severity of neglecting du'a
The consequence of not making du'a is explicitly summarized in a single ayah (verse) of the Holy Quran:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
[Quran 40.60] And your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will answer you; surely those who are too proud for My service shall soon enter hell abased.
Recommended etiquettes of du'a
As with all actions it is commendable that we start with the phrase 'Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem' (In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful), it is also recommended that we refer to our Creator and His glory through mentioning His names and attributes. Next, it is beneficial to invoke blessings on the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
It is also strongly advised that before praying for ourselves we pray for others first, especially for those who have died. This is because when a person's life draws to a close, the opportunity for repentance and doing good ceases, and the deceased is held at a transitional phase which lies between death and the day of judgment - this is the state of Barzakh. . During this very vulnerable time the person is subject to a lot of questioning and punishment, therefore it is the supplication of the living for the dead that can help them at this most crucial point. In remembering the dead in our prayers we can only hope that when the time comes for our own souls to return to their Maker, there will be Muslims praying for us throughout this duration of difficulty. In addition to this, mentioning our Muslim brothers and sisters in du'a not only teaches us to be more compassionate, but it also means that the du'a is more likely to be accepted.
There are a couple of prerequisites for du'a to be accepted, with some being more serious than others. One important thing to keep in mind is the 'give and take' aspect of du'a - why should Allah give us anything we ask for if we do not do what He asks of us - we don't give anything back for what He has given us. Why would Allah grant a poor excuse for a believer what he covets, when this bad Muslim only angers God by sinning continuously and not even doing the simple obligatory deeds of worship, the minimum at least?
God has an agreement with the people that He will grant them what they wish if they fulfill the requirements of the covenant, but yet people continue to sin and they ask: Why are my prayers not answered? People should ask: Do I really deserve it?
Some things that are required for prayers to be accepted:
Stop Sinning - Sins come in three grades: Greater sins, great sins, and minor sins. A single greater sin can make your dua count for nothing for a considerable time, sometimes (but rarely) permanently. After doing such a sin the person must truly repent for ever, just hoping that God may shed His mercy upon them, even though He could deny them His mercy for they are not worthy. A great sin is grave enough for dua to be denied for a good length of time, until the perpetrator asks god to forgive them a couple of times sincerely. A great number of minor sins, sins that sometimes the sinner does not realize they are doing, can add-up and rise to a certain level where God just says this person does not even deserve anything because the person does not cease their evil-doings. If someone has wronged another person then they should right that wrong before they should expect their prayers to be answered, or for them to be forgiven.
A few lines explain these concepts:
O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which tear apart modesty. O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which bring down misfortunes. O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which alter blessings. O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which hold back supplication. O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which cut down hopes. O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which bring down distress. O Allah! Forgive me every sin that I have committed, and every mistake that I have made. ... O my Master! I ask You by Your might, not to let my ugly deeds and acts conceal my supplication from You, not to disgrace me by exposing what is secret of my (acts), which (only) You are aware of, ... My God and my Protector! You have laid on me rules (to follow), but I followed my own whims. ... I come to You, My God, after my shortcoming, ... I do not find any way out from what I have done, nor any place of refuge to turn to about my affairs, other than Your acceptance of my apology, and Your entering me into the range of Your mercy. O Allah! Therefore, accept my apology, have mercy upon the severity of my affliction, and free me from the tightness of my chains.
Good fortune.
1. Wealth: If a Muslim becomes the owner of vast wealth, he should show his gratitude to Allah by paying Zakat duly.
2. Health: If a Muslim is physically healthy, he should show his gratitude and obedience by performing the pilgrimage (Hajj), provided that he is financially capable
3. Sudden solution: If a Muslim finds that a big problem in his life has been solved, he should show gratitude immediately to Allah by performing a Sijdah. And later, he should perform extra prayers.
Misfortune
Well, you can come up with examples yourself.
The main thing is that Muslims should do his work and for the results depend on Allah. If he is going through hard times, he should still stick to praying to Him and abiding by His orders to show His trust in Him.
If a person close to him dies, instead of asking Allah questions, he should accept the tragedy and understand that what has happened is Allah's decision. This shows trust in Allah's decisions
I have always felt that it is really not the death of the one that dies, but the one that lives on. The dearly departed are released from the toil of this life for a serenity that we cannot imagine. In published data about NDEs or near death experiences in which people have had cardiac arrests but were resuscitated, the next world is reported to be one of incredible peace and pleasure. The refrain in all these NDE reports is that the subject did not want to return to this world but was told that their time had not yet come so they had to. What gives credibility to these reports is the amazing concordance in all of them describing a tunnel with a light at the end of it, seeing predeceased relatives and experiencing an enveloping tranquillity.
The suffering of the survivors is usually intense and seemingly endless. The multifarious struggles: financial, logistic, emotional and spiritual. And the invariable "why me" question, for which no answers come then.
"Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'aan or are their hearts locked up?" (Surah Muhammad 47:24) is only one of the many verses in the Qur'aan that exhort us to think and reflect on nature and events. "Not a leaf falls without His knowledge," (Surah An'am 6:59) and other verses like: "No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz), before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah," (Surah Al-Hadid 57:22) are evidence against events happening randomly or due to tectonic shifts or weather related phenomena.
A Muslim's belief is complete only after his acknowledgment of God, all the prophets, the angels, the books, the Day of Judgment and "qadaa wa qadar" or fate and predestination. Belief in fate and predestination does not in any way release us from responsibility of our actions. The fact that God has full knowledge of all that will be does not reduce us to a robot-like state. Shaykh Fadlallah Haeri explains well in his book "Decree and Destiny" that there was the advent of the Jabbariyya who believed that all was determined by God and Man was powerless, and the Qaddarriya who believed that nothing was predetermined and man was able to control his destiny. Shaykh Haeri states that the reality actually lies somewhere between those two extremes.
"And know that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial, and it is with Allah that lies your highest reward" (Surah Anfaal, 8:28). This verse speaks of how man will be tested and the Qur'aan speaks also of punishment in this world as well as the next. I spent many years trying to figure out how one could tell whether an unfortunate incident was a test or a punishment. At the inception with the moral compass given to us at the time of the Primordial Oath, we are able to distinguish right from wrong and thus tell whether our record has been good, bad or ugly.
In less clear situations, it was Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani's book "Futuhul Ghayb" or Revelations of the Unseen that gave me my answer. He says that it is a punishment if the person complains all the time and is bitter, a test if the person tolerates it with patience and for spiritual elevation if the misfortune is borne with cheerfulness.
On August 19, 1999 a powerful earthquake killed 6000 people in Turkey. The day prior to it the Turkish government had passed a law that would jail any person caught teaching their children the Qur'aan within their home. True to the refrain in the Qur'aan, the revelation in the Qur'aan is only for those who reflect. In the town of Golcuk buildings that were constructed recently were destroyed but a mosque and its minaret built a century earlier stand unscathed. The building next to it is also standing for had it fallen it would have likely damaged the mosque. It is easy to give bland scientific explanations for natural disasters. And yet if one was to reflect and realise that there is nothing that occurs without a reason, a whole lot could be learned from life and events. And we would be a step closer to our Maker, knowing whom, or gnosis, should be our raison d'etre.
In the recent tsunami, the province of Aceh in Indonesia was essentially wiped out. And yet in many affected areas in Indonesia dozens of mosques stand untouched amidst the rubble around them. Secular interpretations say that mosques were better constructed and so escaped damage. However, according to an article by a non-Muslim journalist, in the town of Sigli a mosque made of wood stands whilst surrounding structures have been destroyed.
Whilst rebellious incidents such as the legislation in Turkey just prior to the earthquake have not been reported from Indonesia, it seems to be a matter of whether or not one is able to appreciate the concept of cause and effect that is mentioned in the Qur'aan. Our bad deeds as cause and ravaging disasters as effect, with the House of God bearing silent sombre testimony to His ire. On the happier side a great test for the survivors who lost entire families with an unscathed mosque as though saying that He tests us with our money and our children and those that bear with patience and fortitude earn a great station of closeness with Him and lasting bliss in the Hereafter.
Allah menitions in the Quran that when an evil befalls us it is due to what our own hands have earned. Also our beloved Messenger, Muhammad (sallalahu 'alayhi wassallam) said in a hadith that the most tried are the Prophets, then those in piety after those. So therefore in our day to daylife when things go wrong in our lives how do we decide whether it is due to our sinfulness or that Allah loves us . and therefore sends a trial upon us
Jazakallahu khairun
Du'a (supplication) is our own personal means of communication with our Creator and it is accepted in any language. An individual may pray to ask for forgiveness, prosperity, help, improvement of a situation, increase in faith, or to thank God for His bounty or answering previous prayers; A person can pray for anything that is good and halal (permitted Islamically), and he can also pray for the damnation of the enemy and the ending of the world's evils. An individual may also pray for other persons.
Duas can be individual and personal, but there are a great number of books that have pre-written duas, written and compiled by scholars, and these relate duas presented by Prophets (PBUT),
The Quran itself has a number of duas within its pages, one such dua is this one where Prophet Abraham (PBUH) says:
الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاء
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاء
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
[Quran 14.39] Praise be to Allah, Who has given me in old age Ismail and Ishaq; most surely my Lord is the Hearer of prayer:
[14.40] My Lord! make me keep up prayer and from my offspring (too), O our Lord, and accept my prayer:
[14.41] O our Lord! grant me protection and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall come to pass!
The last line from that dua is sometimes said in a popular Qunoot dua, which is a special type of dua that is said in regular Salat prayers. A future article will be written about this to further elaborate.
Another dua from the Quran that we can use personally when we make dua is this:
لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
[Quran 2.286] ...Our Lord! do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake; Our Lord! do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us, Our Lord do not impose upon us that which we have not the strength to bear; and pardon us and grant us protection and have mercy on us, Thou art our Patron, so help us against the unbelieving people.
We have all undoubtedly been through some testing moments in our lives, and in such situations may have turned to close family and friends for help. Although they can provide us with valuable reassurance and comfort, they probably can do very little in helping to resolve the problem. Therefore it is necessary to confide in He who is the All-Listening and Most Wise, since it is only Allah (SWT) who has the power to really make a difference. Verily Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran,
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
[Quran 2.186] And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way.
However, it is important that we do not get into the habit of making du'a as a last resort and only after all else has failed. Surely if we remember Allah (SWT) at times of well-being, then He will remember us at times of difficulty. Therefore supplication should be a regular part of our lives, especially since it strengthens our relationship with Allah (SWT).
The severity of neglecting du'a
The consequence of not making du'a is explicitly summarized in a single ayah (verse) of the Holy Quran:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
[Quran 40.60] And your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will answer you; surely those who are too proud for My service shall soon enter hell abased.
Du'a - Our connection to the heavens
Dua, sometimes written duah, means calling, asking for something, and in the Islamic sense of the word it is doing just that, but to God. The word Dua can be translated in English to 'prayer', and this is accurate, but should not be confused with the other form of Muslim prayer, the Salat (aka namaz) which is something different. Dua is unlike the obligatory pillars of Islam such as Salat and Sawm (fasting) which have a rigid standard of regulations, because through du'a we are able to use our very own individual styles of expression.
The Muslim supplicator raises his hands palm-up in front of him, at the level of his chest, or on his lap during this type of prayer, but this is not a requirement.
Du'a (supplication) is our own personal means of communication with our Creator and it is accepted in any language. An individual may pray to ask for forgiveness, prosperity, help, improvement of a situation, increase in faith, or to thank God for His bounty or answering previous prayers; A person can pray for anything that is good and halal (permitted Islamically), and he can also pray for the damnation of the enemy and the ending of the world's evils. An individual may also pray for other persons.
Duas can be individual and personal, but there are a great number of books that have pre-written duas, written and compiled by scholars, and these relate duas presented by Prophets (PBUT), Imams (AS), and other Ma'soomeen (AS). The Quran itself has a number of duas within its pages, one such dua is this one where Prophet Abraham (PBUH) says:
الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاء
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاء
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
[Quran 14.39] Praise be to Allah, Who has given me in old age Ismail and Ishaq; most surely my Lord is the Hearer of prayer:
[14.40] My Lord! make me keep up prayer and from my offspring (too), O our Lord, and accept my prayer:
[14.41] O our Lord! grant me protection and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall come to pass!
The last line from that dua is sometimes said in a popular Qunoot dua, which is a special type of dua that is said in regular Salat prayers. A future article will be written about this to further elaborate.
Another dua from the Quran that we can use personally when we make dua is this:
لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
[Quran 2.286] ...Our Lord! do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake; Our Lord! do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us, Our Lord do not impose upon us that which we have not the strength to bear; and pardon us and grant us protection and have mercy on us, Thou art our Patron, so help us against the unbelieving people.
Other duas can be found in special books, and some of these duas are formulated to help certain situations like seeking pregnancy, stopping nightmares and many other things. Some published duas are very popular, like.There is a formulated dua for every day of the week and almost every situation, and these are good to recite, and very beneficial.
Importance of du'a
We have all undoubtedly been through some testing moments in our lives, and in such situations may have turned to close family and friends for help. Although they can provide us with valuable reassurance and comfort, they probably can do very little in helping to resolve the problem. Therefore it is necessary to confide in He who is the All-Listening and Most Wise, since it is only Allah (SWT) who has the power to really make a difference. Verily Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran,
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
[Quran 2.186] And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way.
However, it is important that we do not get into the habit of making du'a as a last resort and only after all else has failed. Surely if we remember Allah (SWT) at times of well-being, then He will remember us at times of difficulty. Therefore supplication should be a regular part of our lives, especially since it strengthens our relationship with Allah (SWT).
The severity of neglecting du'a
The consequence of not making du'a is explicitly summarized in a single ayah (verse) of the Holy Quran:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
[Quran 40.60] And your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will answer you; surely those who are too proud for My service shall soon enter hell abased.
Recommended etiquettes of du'a
As with all actions it is commendable that we start with the phrase 'Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem' (In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful), it is also recommended that we refer to our Creator and His glory through mentioning His names and attributes. Next, it is beneficial to invoke blessings on the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
It is also strongly advised that before praying for ourselves we pray for others first, especially for those who have died. This is because when a person's life draws to a close, the opportunity for repentance and doing good ceases, and the deceased is held at a transitional phase which lies between death and the day of judgment - this is the state of Barzakh. . During this very vulnerable time the person is subject to a lot of questioning and punishment, therefore it is the supplication of the living for the dead that can help them at this most crucial point. In remembering the dead in our prayers we can only hope that when the time comes for our own souls to return to their Maker, there will be Muslims praying for us throughout this duration of difficulty. In addition to this, mentioning our Muslim brothers and sisters in du'a not only teaches us to be more compassionate, but it also means that the du'a is more likely to be accepted.
There are a couple of prerequisites for du'a to be accepted, with some being more serious than others. One important thing to keep in mind is the 'give and take' aspect of du'a - why should Allah give us anything we ask for if we do not do what He asks of us - we don't give anything back for what He has given us. Why would Allah grant a poor excuse for a believer what he covets, when this bad Muslim only angers God by sinning continuously and not even doing the simple obligatory deeds of worship, the minimum at least?
God has an agreement with the people that He will grant them what they wish if they fulfill the requirements of the covenant, but yet people continue to sin and they ask: Why are my prayers not answered? People should ask: Do I really deserve it?
Some things that are required for prayers to be accepted:
Stop Sinning - Sins come in three grades: Greater sins, great sins, and minor sins. A single greater sin can make your dua count for nothing for a considerable time, sometimes (but rarely) permanently. After doing such a sin the person must truly repent for ever, just hoping that God may shed His mercy upon them, even though He could deny them His mercy for they are not worthy. A great sin is grave enough for dua to be denied for a good length of time, until the perpetrator asks god to forgive them a couple of times sincerely. A great number of minor sins, sins that sometimes the sinner does not realize they are doing, can add-up and rise to a certain level where God just says this person does not even deserve anything because the person does not cease their evil-doings. If someone has wronged another person then they should right that wrong before they should expect their prayers to be answered, or for them to be forgiven.
A few lines explain these concepts:
O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which tear apart modesty. O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which bring down misfortunes. O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which alter blessings. O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which hold back supplication. O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which cut down hopes. O Allah! Forgive me those sins, which bring down distress. O Allah! Forgive me every sin that I have committed, and every mistake that I have made. ... O my Master! I ask You by Your might, not to let my ugly deeds and acts conceal my supplication from You, not to disgrace me by exposing what is secret of my (acts), which (only) You are aware of, ... My God and my Protector! You have laid on me rules (to follow), but I followed my own whims. ... I come to You, My God, after my shortcoming, ... I do not find any way out from what I have done, nor any place of refuge to turn to about my affairs, other than Your acceptance of my apology, and Your entering me into the range of Your mercy. O Allah! Therefore, accept my apology, have mercy upon the severity of my affliction, and free me from the tightness of my chains.
Good fortune.
1. Wealth: If a Muslim becomes the owner of vast wealth, he should show his gratitude to Allah by paying Zakat duly.
2. Health: If a Muslim is physically healthy, he should show his gratitude and obedience by performing the pilgrimage (Hajj), provided that he is financially capable
3. Sudden solution: If a Muslim finds that a big problem in his life has been solved, he should show gratitude immediately to Allah by performing a Sijdah. And later, he should perform extra prayers.
Misfortune
Well, you can come up with examples yourself.
The main thing is that Muslims should do his work and for the results depend on Allah. If he is going through hard times, he should still stick to praying to Him and abiding by His orders to show His trust in Him.
If a person close to him dies, instead of asking Allah questions, he should accept the tragedy and understand that what has happened is Allah's decision. This shows trust in Allah's decisions
I have always felt that it is really not the death of the one that dies, but the one that lives on. The dearly departed are released from the toil of this life for a serenity that we cannot imagine. In published data about NDEs or near death experiences in which people have had cardiac arrests but were resuscitated, the next world is reported to be one of incredible peace and pleasure. The refrain in all these NDE reports is that the subject did not want to return to this world but was told that their time had not yet come so they had to. What gives credibility to these reports is the amazing concordance in all of them describing a tunnel with a light at the end of it, seeing predeceased relatives and experiencing an enveloping tranquillity.
The suffering of the survivors is usually intense and seemingly endless. The multifarious struggles: financial, logistic, emotional and spiritual. And the invariable "why me" question, for which no answers come then.
"Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'aan or are their hearts locked up?" (Surah Muhammad 47:24) is only one of the many verses in the Qur'aan that exhort us to think and reflect on nature and events. "Not a leaf falls without His knowledge," (Surah An'am 6:59) and other verses like: "No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz), before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah," (Surah Al-Hadid 57:22) are evidence against events happening randomly or due to tectonic shifts or weather related phenomena.
A Muslim's belief is complete only after his acknowledgment of God, all the prophets, the angels, the books, the Day of Judgment and "qadaa wa qadar" or fate and predestination. Belief in fate and predestination does not in any way release us from responsibility of our actions. The fact that God has full knowledge of all that will be does not reduce us to a robot-like state. Shaykh Fadlallah Haeri explains well in his book "Decree and Destiny" that there was the advent of the Jabbariyya who believed that all was determined by God and Man was powerless, and the Qaddarriya who believed that nothing was predetermined and man was able to control his destiny. Shaykh Haeri states that the reality actually lies somewhere between those two extremes.
"And know that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial, and it is with Allah that lies your highest reward" (Surah Anfaal, 8:28). This verse speaks of how man will be tested and the Qur'aan speaks also of punishment in this world as well as the next. I spent many years trying to figure out how one could tell whether an unfortunate incident was a test or a punishment. At the inception with the moral compass given to us at the time of the Primordial Oath, we are able to distinguish right from wrong and thus tell whether our record has been good, bad or ugly.
In less clear situations, it was Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani's book "Futuhul Ghayb" or Revelations of the Unseen that gave me my answer. He says that it is a punishment if the person complains all the time and is bitter, a test if the person tolerates it with patience and for spiritual elevation if the misfortune is borne with cheerfulness.
On August 19, 1999 a powerful earthquake killed 6000 people in Turkey. The day prior to it the Turkish government had passed a law that would jail any person caught teaching their children the Qur'aan within their home. True to the refrain in the Qur'aan, the revelation in the Qur'aan is only for those who reflect. In the town of Golcuk buildings that were constructed recently were destroyed but a mosque and its minaret built a century earlier stand unscathed. The building next to it is also standing for had it fallen it would have likely damaged the mosque. It is easy to give bland scientific explanations for natural disasters. And yet if one was to reflect and realise that there is nothing that occurs without a reason, a whole lot could be learned from life and events. And we would be a step closer to our Maker, knowing whom, or gnosis, should be our raison d'etre.
In the recent tsunami, the province of Aceh in Indonesia was essentially wiped out. And yet in many affected areas in Indonesia dozens of mosques stand untouched amidst the rubble around them. Secular interpretations say that mosques were better constructed and so escaped damage. However, according to an article by a non-Muslim journalist, in the town of Sigli a mosque made of wood stands whilst surrounding structures have been destroyed.
Whilst rebellious incidents such as the legislation in Turkey just prior to the earthquake have not been reported from Indonesia, it seems to be a matter of whether or not one is able to appreciate the concept of cause and effect that is mentioned in the Qur'aan. Our bad deeds as cause and ravaging disasters as effect, with the House of God bearing silent sombre testimony to His ire. On the happier side a great test for the survivors who lost entire families with an unscathed mosque as though saying that He tests us with our money and our children and those that bear with patience and fortitude earn a great station of closeness with Him and lasting bliss in the Hereafter.
Allah menitions in the Quran that when an evil befalls us it is due to what our own hands have earned. Also our beloved Messenger, Muhammad (sallalahu 'alayhi wassallam) said in a hadith that the most tried are the Prophets, then those in piety after those. So therefore in our day to daylife when things go wrong in our lives how do we decide whether it is due to our sinfulness or that Allah loves us . and therefore sends a trial upon us
Jazakallahu khairun
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
"The key to HEAVEN is SALAH.
Mu'adh ibn Jabal narrated that the Messenger of Allah ? said, "The uppermost level of the matter is Islam, its pillar is salah and the top of its hump is jihad." [Tirmidhi]
Salah, we are to understand, is the main pillar of Islam. If you can imagine a tent with five "pillars" or poles--four around the outside, at the corners, and one in the center. That center pole is the one which gives the tent its shape, and that is the salah in Islam. It is the very first obligation on a Muslim after the shahadah, based on a hadith I've related earlier from Mu'adh. It was prescribed in the heavens during the Israa' wal-Mi'raaj, without any intermediaries.
The Salah has a public call, five times a day, to remind the people. This also indicates that we should be mindful of the time, and that the call is made publicly and regularly shows the value of salah--everyone hears it, regardless of where they are or what they are doing. The men and women, young and old, all hear the reminder.
Another indication of the value of salah in Islam is that there is an obligatory state of purification necessary before beginning--wudhu. A person cannot come to prayer unless he or she is ritually pure, having washed after going to the bathroom, being intimate with a spouse, or coming clean from menstruation (for a woman.)
The fact that the obligation of salah remains even if a person is sick or traveling also indicates the importance of salah. There is a hadith to the effect that salah is the best of all deeds of worship. And the first thing we will be held to account for between us and Allah on the Day of Judgment is our salah.
Salah is a practical sign of obedience to the commands of Allah (s.w.t.). Its importance has been emphasized about 500 times in the Holy Qur’an.
Power of Prayers
Prayer is related to purity of heart. As we forgive others, God perpetually forgives us. Forgiveness is one of the deepest parts of love because it is one of the most difficult to give. But anger is devastating to prayer. The prayers of children are extremely powerful. Their faith is pure.
Salah is the name for the obligatory prayers that are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam and there are no priests. Prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Qur'an and is generally chosen by the congregation.
Prayer Points:
Surrender your problem entirely to God.
Be humble.
Forgive all your enemies.
Have faith. Do not doubt.
Thank God in advance and praise Him.
Pray from the heart.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said,
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
The generality of the Prophet’s (SAW) statement includes women. Therefore, all the actions of the prayer apply equally to men and women. There is nothing in the Sunnah to necessitate the exception of women from any of these descriptions. It's a major misconception in Islam, that women pray different than men. Outside of the dress code, women do not pray different then men. Men and women pray equally in the same manner. There is no difference between the way a man prays and the way a woman prays.
..............................................What is a Rakat?..............................
2 Rakat Example
Beginning First Rakah
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA KALLAH HUMMA WABI HAMDIKA WATABARA KASMUKA WATA'ALA JAD-DUKA WALA ILAHA GHAVRUK"
(You are Glorified, Oh Allah, and Praised, Your Name is Blessed, Your Majesty is Exalted, and none has the right to be worshipped but You)
"A'U'THU BILLAHI MINASH-SHAITAN-IR-RAJEEM"
(I seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan the cursed one)
Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha
"BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM"
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"ALHAMDU LIL-LAHI RAB-BIL 'ALAMEEN" (Pause)
"AR RAHMA NIR-RAHEEM" (Pause)
"MALIKI YAWMID-DEEN" (Pause)
"IYYAKA NA'BUDU WA IYYAKA NASTA'EEN" (Pause)
"IHDINAS SIRATAL MUSTAQEEM" (Pause)
"SIRATAL LATHENA AN'AMTA 'ALAYHIM" (Pause)
"GHAYRIL MAGHDUBI 'ALAYHIM WALAD THAL-LEEN"
"AMEEN"
[All the praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists.) The Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians)] (Oh Allah Answer)
Reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas
"BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM" (Pause)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"QUL HUWAL LAHU AHAD" (Pause)
"ALLAH HUS SAWMAD" (Pause)
"LAM YALID WALAM YULAD" (Pause)
"WALAM YAKUN LAHU KUFUWAN AHAD"
{Say: [Oh Muhammad (SAW)]: He is Allah, (the) One, Allah As-Sawmad (the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him}
Performing Rukoo
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI YAL ATHEEM" (3 times)
(Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest)
"SAMEE 'ALLAH HU LIMAN HAMEEDA"
(Allah listens to the one who praises Him)
"RAB-BANA LAKAL HAMD"
(Oh, our Lord, all the praise be to You)
Performing Sujood
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI A'LA" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"ALLAH HUM MAGHFIRLEE WARHAMNEE WAJBURNEE WAR FA'NEE WAHDINEE WA 'AFINEE WARZUQNEE"
(Oh Allah, forgive me, and have mercy on me, and keep me on the right path, and keep me healthy, and provide me with Halaal sources of living, and complete my shortcomings, and make my rank high)
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI A'LA" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
Rising For Second Rakah
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha
"BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM"
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"ALHAMDU LIL-LAHI RAB-BIL 'ALAMEEN" (Pause)
"AR RAHMA NIR-RAHEEM" (Pause)
"MALIKI YAWMID-DEEN" (Pause)
"IYYAKA NA'BUDU WA IYYAKA NASTA'EEN" (Pause)
"IHDINAS SIRATAL MUSTAQEEM" (Pause)
"SIRATAL LATHENA AN'AMTA 'ALAYHIM" (Pause)
"GHAYRIL MAGHDUBI 'ALAYHIM WALAD THAL-LEEN"
"AMEEN"
[All the praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists.) The Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians)] (Oh Allah Answer)
Reciting Surah Al-Falaq
"BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM" (Pause)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"QUL AUTHUBI RAB-BIL FALAQ" (Pause)
"MIN SHAR-RIMA KHALAQ" (Pause)
"WA MIN SHAR-RI GHASIQIN ITHA WAQAB" (Pause)
"WA MIN SHAR-RIN NAF-FATHATI FIL 'UQAD" (Pause)
"WA MIN SHAR-RI HASIDIN ITHA HASAD" (Pause)
(Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the day-break, From the evil of what He has created; And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away). And from the evil of the witchcraft's when they blow in the knots, And from the evil of the envier when he envies)
Performing Rukoo
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI YAL ATHEEM" (3 times)
(Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest)
"SAMEE 'ALLAH HU LIMAN HAMEEDA"
(Allah listens to the one who praises Him)
"RAB-BANA LAKAL HAMD"
(Oh, our Lord, all the praise be to You)
Performing Sujood
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI A'LA" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"ALLAH HUM MAGHFIRLEE WARHAMNEE WAJBURNEE WAR FA'NEE WAHDINEE WA 'AFINEE WARZUQNEE"
(Oh Allah, forgive me, and have mercy on me, and keep me on the right path, and keep me healthy, and provide me with Halaal sources of living, and complete my shortcomings, and make my rank high)
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI A'LA" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
Beginning Tashahhud
"AT-TAHIY-YATU LIL-LAHI WAS SALAWATU WAT-TAY YIBATU. AS-SALAMU 'ALAYKA AY-YUHAN-NIBIY-YU WA RAHMA TULLAHEE WA BARKTUHU AS-SALAMU 'ALAYNA WA'ALA 'IBADIL'LA HI-SALIHEEN. ASH HADU ANLA ILAHAH ILLAL LAHU WA ASH HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAN 'AB-DUHU WA RASULUH"
[All compliments, all physical prayer, and all monetary worship are for Allah. Peace be upon you, Oh Prophet, and Allah's Mercy and Blessings. Peace be upon us, and on the righteous slaves of Allah. (For when one says that, it includes every righteous slave in the heaven and the earth.) I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah. And that Muhammad (SAW) is His slave and Messenger]
As-Salah 'Ala An-Nabiyy (SAW) [Sending Prayers on the Prophet (SAW)]
"ALLAH HUMMA SAL-LI 'ALA MUHAMMADIN WA'ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN, KAMA SAL-LAYTA 'ALA IBRHAHEEMA WA'ALA ALI IBRAHEEMA INNAKA HAMEEDUM MAJEED, ALLAH HUMMA BARAK 'ALA MUHAMMADIN WA'ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN, KAMA BARAK TA 'ALA IBRAHEEMA WA'ALA IBRAHEEMA INNAKA HAMEEDUM MAJEED"
(Oh Allah, send prayers on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent prayers on Ibraheem , and on the family of Ibraheem; You are indeed worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. Oh Allah, send blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on Ibraheem, and on the family of Ibraheem; You are indeed worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.)
Finishing Tashahhud
"ALLAH HUMMA ‘INNE A’UTHU BIKA MIN ATHABI JAHANNAM WA MIN ATHABIL QABRI WA MIN FITNATIL MAH YA WAL MAMATEE WA MIN SHAR-RIL MASIHID DAJ-JAL"
(Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the Hellfire, and from the punishment of the grave, and from the trials of living and dying, and from the evil (trials) of the False Christ)
"ALLAH HUMMA INNEE THALAMTU NAFSEE THULMAN KATHEERAN, WALA YAGHFI RITH THUNUBA ILLA ANTA FAGHFIRLEE MAGHFIRATAN MIN'INDIKA, WAR HAMNEE INNAKA ANTAL GHAFURUR RAHEEM"
[Oh Allah, I have been very cruel to myself (by ignoring my duty to you) and there is no one who can forgive the sins except You. So forgive me because You are the only Forgiver and have Mercy on me. Verily You are the Forgiver and Merciful]
"ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WA RAHMATULLAH" (once each shoulder)
(May the Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon you)
Dua’s After Tashahhud
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"ASTAGH FERRULLAH (3 times), ALLAHUMMA ANTAS SALAMU WA MINKAS SALAMU TABARAKTA YA THALJALAEE WAL IKRAM"
[I ask Allah to forgive me (3 times), Oh Allah, You are the Peace, and You are the Source of Peace, You are Blessed, Oh possessor of Glory and Honor]
"SUBHANA-ALLAH" (33 times)
(Glory be to Allah)
"ALHAMDULILLAH" (33 times)
(Praise be to Allah)
"ALLAHU AKBAR" (33 times)
(Allah is the Greatest)
"LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAHU WAH DAHU LA SHAREEKA LAHU, LAHUL MULKU WA LAHUL HAMDU, WA HUWA 'ALA KULLEE SHAY'IN QADEER"
(There is none worthy of worship except Allah alone, no associate does He have, His is the Kingdom, to Him is All-Praise, and He is well able to do all things)
How Many Rakat For Each Prayer
Fajr - 2 Sunnah* & 2 Fard
Thuhr - 2 Sunnah + 2 Sunnah* & 4 Fard & 2 Sunnah
Asr - 4 Fard
Maghrib - 3 Fard & 2 Sunnah*
Isha - 4 Fard & 2 Sunnah*
*Sunnah prayers are always done in sets of 2 rakat each. This is the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Beginning the First Rakah - Making Takbir Tahrimah (The Opening Allahu Akbar) and Raising the Hands
This first "Allahu Akbar" is called takbir tahrimah because after saying takbir tahrimah every common and worldly action, talk or movement is forbidden. The fingers should be apart (not spaced out, or together) and hands raised level with the shoulders. Hands may be raised with the takbir, after the takbir, or before the takbir. Variation is good. Takbir may be said aloud or silently at any time of day.
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the Greatest)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise them with fingers apart (not spaced out, nor together). (Sahih - Abu Dawood, Ibn Khuzaimah, Tammaam, and Al-Haakim)
Narrated Salim bin 'Abdullah (RA): My father said, "Allah's Apostle (SAW) used to raise both his hands up to the level of his shoulders when opening the prayer…" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: "When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) got up for prayer, he would say the takbir (Allahu Akbar) when standing…" (Sahih - Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his hands sometimes with takbir. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and An-Nasaa’ee)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his hands sometimes after the takbir. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and An-Nasaa’ee)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his hands sometimes before it. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawood)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Verily, the prayer of a person is not complete until he has made and ablution which has included the necessary parts of the body and has then said: 'Allahu Akbar.'" (Sahih - Tabaraani)
Pointing Eyes to the Place of Sajdah (Prostration)
Throughout the prayer the eyes of the worshipper should point to the spot where the forehead rests in Sajdah (prostration). It is prohibited to look at the sky, to look here and there or to close the eyes.
"The Prophet (SAW) used to incline his head during prayer and fix his sight towards the ground." (Sahih - Al-Baihaqee and Al-Haakim)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "People must refrain from looking up at the sky in prayer, or their sight will not return to them (and in one narration ... or their sight will be plucked away)." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari, Muslim and Siraaj)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Allah does not cease to turn to a slave in his prayer as long as he is not looking around; when he turns his face away, Allah turns away from him." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and others)
Placing the Hands and Arms on the Chest
One should then fold the right hand and arm over the left hand and arm on the chest. The right hand should look as if it is grabbing hold of the left arm with the fingers pointing toward the left elbow. It is prohibited to place the arms at or below the waist.
Wa'il ibn Hajr (RA) said, "I prayed with Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and he put his right hand over his left hand over his chest." (Sahih - Muslim, Ibn Khuzaimah, Abu Dawood)
"The Prophet (SAW) used to forbid putting one's hand on the waist during prayer [and he put his hand on his waist (to demonstrate)]." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Reciting Du'a Isti'aadhah (Supplication of Starting)
This du'a should be recited in the first rakah only. Always recite the du’a silently.
"Subhana kallah humma wabi hamdika watabara kasmuka wata'ala jad-duka wala ilaha ghavruk"
(You are Glorified, O Allah, and Praised, Your Name is Blessed, Your Majesty is Exalted, and none has the right to be worshipped but You)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Indeed, the words most loved by Allah are when His slave says: 'Subhana kallah humma wabi hamdika watabara kasmuka wata'ala jad-duka wala ilaha ghavruk.'" (Hasan - Abu Dawood and Tahaawi)
Seeking Refuge with Allah (SWT)
The following should be recited in the first rakah only. Always recite silently.
"A'u'thu billahi minash-Shaitan-ir-Rajeem."
(I seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan the cursed one)
Then, the Prophet (SAW) would seek refuge with Allah (SWT) saying: "A’u’thu billahi minash-Shaitan-ir-Rajeem." (Sahih - Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daaraquni and Al-Haakim)
Beginning with the Name of Allah (SWT)
The following should always be said silently, not aloud, in every rakah before reciting Surah al-Fatiha.
"Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem"
(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
Then Prophet (SAW) would recite, "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Awaanah, Tahaawi and Ahmad)
Reciting Surah (Chapter) Al-Fatiha (The Opening - Chapter 1)
Surah al-Fatiha must be recited in every rakah of every prayer (even when in congregation). When reciting Surah al-Fatiha divide the recitation by reciting one verse at a time. Stop at the end of each verse and do not join it with the one after, even if it is connected (in meaning) to it. "Thal-leen" should be prolonged for seven counts. Recite Surah al-Fatiha silently during the daylight prayers when the sun is up (i.e. Thuhr and Asr). In the first two rakat, recite Surah al-Fatiha aloud during the nighttime prayers when the sun is down (i.e. Fajr, Maghrib, Isha and Witr). Sunnah prayers are always said silently.
"Alhamdu lil-lahi rab-bil 'alameen. " (Pause)
"Ar rahma nir-raheem." (Pause)
"Maliki yawmid-deen." (Pause)
"Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een." (Pause)
"Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem." (Pause)
"Siratal latheena an'amta 'alayhim." (Pause)
"Ghayril maghdubi 'alayhim walad thal-leen."
[All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).]
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Alhamdu lil-lahi rab-bil 'alameen. (Here he would pause, and then say:) Ar rahma nir-raheem. (Then he would pause, and then say:) Maliki yawmid-deen..." and so on, until the end of the Surah. The rest of his recitation was also like this: stopping at the end of the verse and not joining it with the one after. (Sahih - Abu Dawood and Sahmi)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Whoever does not recite Surah Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
Reciting "Ameen" After Surah Al-Fatiha
Recite silently when alone, during the daylight prayers. Recite aloud or silently during the nighttime prayers.
"Ameen."
(Oh Allah Answer)
When the Prophet (SAW) finished reciting Surah al-Fatiha, he (SAW) would say, 'Ameen.' (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawood)
Reciting Quran After Surah Al-Fatiha
After reciting Surah al-Fatiha, read any Surah from the Quran in the first two rakats. One or more Surahs may be recited. Recite the Quran in slow, measured rhythmic tones, not racing or hurrying; rather, recite clearly and distinguish each letter. Below are a few short Surahs. Recite silently during the daylight prayers when the sun is up (i.e. Thuhr and Asr). Recite aloud during the nighttime prayers when the sun is down (i.e. Fajr, Maghrib, Isha and Witr). Before reciting any Quran in prayer one must silently, at any time of day, "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem."
Surah Al-Iklhas (The Purity - Chapter 112)
"Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem." (Pause)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"Qul huwal lahu ahad." (Pause)
"Allah hus sawmad." (Pause)
"Lam yalid. Walam yulad." (Pause)
"Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad."
(Say: [Oh Muhammad (SAW)]: He is Allah, (the) One. Allah As-Sawmad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him)
Surah Al-Falaq (The Day Break - Chapter 113)
"Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" (Pause)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"Qul authubi rab-bil falaq." (Pause)
"Min shar-rima khalaq." (Pause)
"Wa min shar-ri ghasiqin itha waqab." (Pause)
"Wa min shar-rin naf-fathati fil 'uqad." (Pause)
"Wa min shar-ri hasidin itha hasad."
(Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the day-break, From the evil of what He has created; And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away). And from the evil of the witchcraft’s when they blow in the knots, And from the evil of the envier when he envies)
Surah An-Nas (The Mankind - Chapter 114)
"Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" (Pause)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"Qul authubi rab-bin nas." (Pause)
"Malikin nas." (Pause)
"Ila hin-nas." (Pause)
"Min shar-ril waswa sil khan-nas." (Pause)
"Allathee yuwaswisu fi sudu rin-nas." (Pause)
"Minal jin-nati wan-nas."
(Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind, The King of mankind, The ilah (God) of mankind, From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allah), Who whispers in the breasts of mankind, Of jinns and men)
The Prophet (SAW) used to recite the Quran in slow, measured rhythmic tones as Allah (SWT) had instructed him, not racing or hurrying; rather, his was "a recitation clearly- distinguishing each letter. (Sahih - Ibn Al-Mubaarak)
Pausing After Quran Recitation
After completing the Quran recitation, pause for a moment.
"After completing his recitation, The Prophet (SAW) would pause for a moment..." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and Al-Haakim)
Raising Hands and Reciting Takbir
After pausing for a moment, the fingers should be apart (not spaced out, or together) and hands raised level with the shoulders. Hands may be raised with the Takbir, after the Takbir, or before the Takbir. Variation is good. The following may be said aloud or silently, at any time of day.
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the Greatest)
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) got up for prayer, he would say the takbir (Allahu Akbar) when standing, then say the takbir when bowing…" (Sahih - Muslim)
Going Into and Performing Rukoo (Bowing)
After the Takbir, go into ruku by spreading the back and making it level [such that if water were poured on it, it (the water) would stay there (i.e. not run off)]. The hands should rest on the knees with the fingers spread apart, taking care that the arms do not touch the body. The hands will look as if they are grabbing the knees. The head should not droop nor should it be raised (not lower or higher than the back), but it should be in between. Be calm and relaxed, not in a hurry. After becoming calm and relaxed when the spine has settled, silently recite the following du'a atleast three times or more (odd numbers like 3, 5, 7, 9 11, etc.). Make the ruku nearly as long as the standing. Always recite the following silently.
"Subhana Rab-bi Yal Atheem" (3 times)
(Glory be to my Lord who is the very Greatest)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "When you make Ruku, place your palms on your knees, then space your fingers out, then remain (like that) until every limb takes its (proper) place." (Sahih - Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibbaan)
"He (SAW) used to spread himself (i.e. not be in a compact position), and keep his elbows away from his sides." (Sahih - Tirmidhi and Ibn Khuzaimah)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "When you make Ruku, put your palms on your knees, spread your back (flat) and hold firm in your Ruku." (Sahih - Ahmad and Abu Dawood)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "O assembly of Muslims! Verily, the prayer is not valid of the one who does not settle his spine in Ruku and Sujud." (Sahih - Ibn Abi Shaibah, Iban Maajah and Ahmad)
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Subhana rab-bi yal atheem" (On the authority of seven different companions - Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daraaqutni, Tahaawi, Bazzaar, & Tabaraani)
The Prophet (SAW) used to make his ruku, his standing after ruku, his sujood, and his sitting in between the two sajdahs, nearly equal in length. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Standing Up From Ruku
After the perfect ruku, while raising the head and straightening the back until bones return to their joints, the fingers should be apart (not spaced out, or together) and hands raised level with the shoulders and then bring them down to the sides of the body. Hands may be raised with the du'a, after the du'a, or before the du'a. Variation is good. The du'a is read whether behind an imam or not. This standing should be about as long as the ruku. Always recite the following silently.
"Samee 'Allah hu liman hameeda"
(Allah listens to the one who praises Him)
Then say, while standing. Always recite silently:
"Rab-bana lakal hamd"
(Oh, our Lord, all the praises be to You)
The Prophet (SAW) would straighten up his back out of ruku, saying, "Samee 'Allah hu liman hameeda" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise them (hands) with fingers apart (not spaced out, nor together). (Sahih - Abu Dawood, Ibn Khuzaimah, Tammaam, and Al-Haakim)
Narrated Salim bin 'Abdullah (RA): My father said, "Allah's Apostle (SAW) used to raise both his hands up to the level of his shoulders when opening the prayer; and on saying the Takbir for bowing. And on raising his head from bowing he used to do the same and then say "Sami a-l-lahu Liman hamida, Rabbana walaka-l-hamd." And he did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in prostrations." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) has commanded all worshippers, whether behind and imam or not, to say the above on rising from ruku, by saying, "Pray as you have seen me praying." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Ahmad)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "…then rise from bowing till you stand straight…" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "No person's prayer is complete until ... he has said takbir ... then makes ruku ... then has said "Allah listens to the one who praises Him" until he is standing straight." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and Al-Haakim)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Allah, Mighty and Sublime, does not look at the prayer of the slave who does not make his backbone upright in between his bowings and prostrations." (Sahih - Ahmad and Tabraani)
The Prophet (SAW) would stand (for so long) sometimes that one would say, 'He has forgotten', [because of his standing for so long]. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Ahmad)
Reciting Takbir for Performing Sajdah (Prostration)
Recite Takbir silently or aloud, at any time of day, by saying:
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the Greatest)
The Prophet (SAW) would say takbir and go down into sajdah (prostration). (Sahih - Al -Bukhari and Muslim)
Going Down and Performing First Sajdah (Prostration)
Go down to the ground by placing the hands on the ground before the knees (palms are used for support). Fingers should be together pointed them towards the Qiblah (even the thumbs). Palms should be level with the shoulders. Nose and forehead must be equally firm on the ground. Face and hands should be firm on the ground with all the bones in the body relaxed in their proper places. Knees and toes should be down firmly and pointing with the front the toes towards the Qiblah. Heels together and feet upright. Forearms should be raised above the ground and kept away from the sides of the body such that the whiteness of the armpits can be seen from behind (imagine a small animal wanting to pass under the arms, it should be able to do so). Forearms must NEVER rest on the ground (NOT EVEN WOMEN!!!). Seven limbs must be prostrating: the palms, the knees, the feet, the forehead and nose. Spine must be completely straight during sajdah, and one must be at complete ease. Always repeat the following du'a silently atleast three times or more (in odd numbers, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,etc.), and make the sajdah nearly as long as the standing.
"Subhana Rab-bi A'la" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Subhana rab-bi a'la" (On the authority of seven different companions - Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daaraqutni, Tahaawi, Bazzaar, and Tabaraani)
The Prophet (SAW) used to say, "When one of you performs sajdah, he should not kneel like a camel, but should place his hands before his knees." (Sahih - Abu Dawood, Tammamm, and An-Nasaa’ee)
"The Prophet (SAW) would support himself on his palms (and spread them)." (Sahih - Abu Dawood)
"The Prophet (SAW) put his fingers together." (Sahih - Ibn Khuzaimah, Al-Baihaqee, and Al-Haakim)
"The Prophet (SAW) pointed them (fingers) towards the Qiblah." (Sahih - Al-Baihaqee)
"The Prophet (SAW) would put them (his palms) level with his shoulders." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and At-Tirmithi)
"The Prophet (SAW) would put his nose and forehead firmly on the ground." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and At-Tirmithi)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "When you prostrate, put your face and hands down firmly, until all of your bones are relaxed in their proper places." (Hasan - Ibn Khuzaimah)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "There is no prayer for the one whose nose does not feel as much of the ground as the forehead." (See Akhbaar Isbahaan - Daaraqutni, Tabaraani, and Abu Nu'aim)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "I have been ordered to prostrate on seven bones: on the forehead ... and he indicated by moving his hand around the nose, ... the hands, the knees and the toes, and not to tuck up the garments and hair." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise them (fore-arms) above the ground, and keep them away from his sides such that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen from behind. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would also raise them (fore-arms) above the ground and keep them away from his sides such that if a small lamb or kid wanted to pass under his arms, it would have been able to do so. (Sahih - Muslim, Abu Awaanah, and Ibn Hibbaan)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "None of you should rest arms on the ground the way a dog rests them." (Sahih - Ahmad and At-Tirmithi)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "O Assembly of Muslims! Verily, the prayer is not valid of the one who does not settle his spine in ruku and sujood." (Sahih - Ibn Abi Shaibah, Tabaraani, and Haakim)
The Prophet (SAW) used to make his ruku, his standing after ruku, his sujood, and his sitting between the two sajdahs, nearly equal in length. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Rising From Sajdah
After being calm and at ease in Sajdah, raise the head while saying silently or aloud, at any time of day:
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"The Prophet (SAW) would raise his head from Sajdah while saying takbir." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Jalsah (Sitting Between the Two Sajdahs)
Bring the left foot along the ground and sit on it. With the right knee on the ground, the right foot should be upright with toes pointing towards the Qiblah. This way of sitting is called muftarishan. Sit relaxed until every bone has returned to its proper position. This relaxing time should be almost as long as the sajdah. Always recite the following silently:
"Allah hum maghfirlee warhamnee wajburnee war fa'nee wahdinee wa 'afinee warzuqnee"
(Oh Allah, forgive me, and have mercy on me, and keep me on the right path, and keep me healthy, and provide me with Halaal sources of living, and complete my shortcomings, and make my rank high.)
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Allah hum maghfirlee warhamnee wajburnee war fa'nee wahdinee wa 'afinee warzuqnee " (Sahih - Abu Dawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah, and Al-Haakim)
"The Prophet (SAW) would lay his left foot along the ground and sit on it (relaxed)." (Ahmad and Abu Dawood)
"The Prophet (SAW) would have his right foot upright." (Sahih - An-Nasaa’ee)
"The Prophet (SAW) would point its (the foot) toes toward the Qiblah." (See Maa Rawaahu Abu Az-Zubair ‘an Ghair Jaabir - Muslim, Abu Awaanah, Abu Shaikh, and Al-Baihaqee)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "The prayer of any of you is not complete until he does this (to be relaxed until every bone returned to its (proper) position - Sahih - Abu Dawood and Al-Baihaqee)." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and Al-Baihaqee)
The last thing that Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) emphasized at his deathbed was Salah. He also said the first thing we will have to answer about on the day of judgement is Salah.
While in Salah one communicates with Allah (SWT) and experiences his presence. That's why a Hadith says: Salah is the Meraj of a Momin (Namaz is called as Meraj-ul-Momineen).
The Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) also said "The key to Heaven is Salah. The key to Salah is Purification."
"Namaz is a pillar of Religion. If Namaz is accepted all other deeds are accepted. If Namaz is rejected then all other Deeds are rejected." (Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh))
Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said: "Almighty Allah (SWT) has set the light of my eyes in Salah (Salat, Namaz) and made it the most desirable thing for me, like the food for the hungry and the water for the thirsty. The hungry is contented after the meal and the thirsty is satisfied after drinking water. But my thirst for Salah (Salat, Namaz) is never quenched."
Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said: "Everything has a face and the face of your religion is Salah (Salat, Namaz); none of you should stain the face of his religion."
According to a Hadith a companion of Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) came to him one day and asked him "What is the thing that Allah (SWT) loves most?" Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) replied "The thing that Allah (SWT) loves most is when his people pray Salah on time."
The Prophet (SAW) would lengthen it (sitting between the two sajdahs) until it was about almost as long as his sajdah. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Reciting Takbir and Performing Second Sajdah
Then move to perform the second sajdah exactly like the first sajdah by saying silently or aloud, at any time of day:
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the Greatest)
Always repeat the du'a silently atleast three times or more (in odd numbers, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,etc.), and make the sajdah nearly as long as the standing.
"Subhana Rab-bi A'la" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
"The Prophet (SAW) would say takbir and prostrate for the second time." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
"The Prophet (SAW) would say, ‘Subhana rab-bi a'la.’" (On the authority of seven different companions - Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daaraqutni, Tahaawi, Bazzaar, and Tabaraani
Rising From the Second Sajdah - End of First Rakah
After being calm and at ease, rise from the second sajdah in exactly the same way as rising from the first sajdah and say silently or aloud, at any time of day:
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the greatest)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his head from sajdah while saying takbir. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Jalsah-e-Istarahat (Sitting For Rest)
Sit in this jalsah in exactly the same way as the first jalsah.
The Prophet (SAW) would sit straight (on his left foot, upright, until every bone returned to its position). (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawood)
Islam prayer ensures that prayers are said five times each day and the timings are spread evenly throughout the day, so that a Muslim is constantly reminded of God and given sufficient opportunities to seek forgiveness and guidance from Him.
There are five obligatory prayers, which are rewardable and other optional prayers to perform. A praying Muslim must have reached the state of mental discrimination which is when a child reaches about seven lunar years.
It is said in the Holy Qur’an: "And truly Salah is hard save for the humble minded." Meaning, that Salah is hard only on those who are not ready to lead a life of obedience to Allah (s.w.t.), and on whom Salah is hard, provides himself proof of not being fit for the servitude and obedience to Allah (s.w.t.).
Salah improves and helps us to attain high moral qualities and to build a strong defense against evils which exist around us.
It is said in the Holy Qur’an, surely, Salah keeps you away from indecency and evil. This is why the prayer is described as "remembrance" to Allah (s.w.t.).
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said the bond man is nearest to Allah (s.w.t.) at the moment when he is lying in prostration before him.
Salah reminds you of Allah (s.w.t.), when you get up in the morning, it reminds you three more times when you are busy during the day, and once again before you go to bed.
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) once said, "The worst form of theft, is the theft of prayer." "How can one commit theft in prayer?" his companions asked, The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) replied "By skipping on the complete performance of bows and prostration’s."
While in salah one communicates with Allah (s.w.t.) and experiences his presence. That’s why a hadith says: Salah is the Meraaj of a Momin.
The Rasulullah (s.a.w.) also said "The key to HEAVEN is SALAH. The key to SALAH is PURIFICATION.
My dear sisters Salah is so important that a hadith says: Salah is the only distinction between a believer and a non-believer. So brothers and brothers/sisters, if we know salah is obligatory, and we know we have to read it, Why not pray it on time?
Salah, we are to understand, is the main pillar of Islam. If you can imagine a tent with five "pillars" or poles--four around the outside, at the corners, and one in the center. That center pole is the one which gives the tent its shape, and that is the salah in Islam. It is the very first obligation on a Muslim after the shahadah, based on a hadith I've related earlier from Mu'adh. It was prescribed in the heavens during the Israa' wal-Mi'raaj, without any intermediaries.
The Salah has a public call, five times a day, to remind the people. This also indicates that we should be mindful of the time, and that the call is made publicly and regularly shows the value of salah--everyone hears it, regardless of where they are or what they are doing. The men and women, young and old, all hear the reminder.
Another indication of the value of salah in Islam is that there is an obligatory state of purification necessary before beginning--wudhu. A person cannot come to prayer unless he or she is ritually pure, having washed after going to the bathroom, being intimate with a spouse, or coming clean from menstruation (for a woman.)
The fact that the obligation of salah remains even if a person is sick or traveling also indicates the importance of salah. There is a hadith to the effect that salah is the best of all deeds of worship. And the first thing we will be held to account for between us and Allah on the Day of Judgment is our salah.
Salah is a practical sign of obedience to the commands of Allah (s.w.t.). Its importance has been emphasized about 500 times in the Holy Qur’an.
Power of Prayers
Prayer is related to purity of heart. As we forgive others, God perpetually forgives us. Forgiveness is one of the deepest parts of love because it is one of the most difficult to give. But anger is devastating to prayer. The prayers of children are extremely powerful. Their faith is pure.
Salah is the name for the obligatory prayers that are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam and there are no priests. Prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Qur'an and is generally chosen by the congregation.
Prayer Points:
Surrender your problem entirely to God.
Be humble.
Forgive all your enemies.
Have faith. Do not doubt.
Thank God in advance and praise Him.
Pray from the heart.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said,
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
The generality of the Prophet’s (SAW) statement includes women. Therefore, all the actions of the prayer apply equally to men and women. There is nothing in the Sunnah to necessitate the exception of women from any of these descriptions. It's a major misconception in Islam, that women pray different than men. Outside of the dress code, women do not pray different then men. Men and women pray equally in the same manner. There is no difference between the way a man prays and the way a woman prays.
..............................................What is a Rakat?..............................
2 Rakat Example
Beginning First Rakah
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA KALLAH HUMMA WABI HAMDIKA WATABARA KASMUKA WATA'ALA JAD-DUKA WALA ILAHA GHAVRUK"
(You are Glorified, Oh Allah, and Praised, Your Name is Blessed, Your Majesty is Exalted, and none has the right to be worshipped but You)
"A'U'THU BILLAHI MINASH-SHAITAN-IR-RAJEEM"
(I seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan the cursed one)
Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha
"BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM"
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"ALHAMDU LIL-LAHI RAB-BIL 'ALAMEEN" (Pause)
"AR RAHMA NIR-RAHEEM" (Pause)
"MALIKI YAWMID-DEEN" (Pause)
"IYYAKA NA'BUDU WA IYYAKA NASTA'EEN" (Pause)
"IHDINAS SIRATAL MUSTAQEEM" (Pause)
"SIRATAL LATHENA AN'AMTA 'ALAYHIM" (Pause)
"GHAYRIL MAGHDUBI 'ALAYHIM WALAD THAL-LEEN"
"AMEEN"
[All the praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists.) The Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians)] (Oh Allah Answer)
Reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas
"BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM" (Pause)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"QUL HUWAL LAHU AHAD" (Pause)
"ALLAH HUS SAWMAD" (Pause)
"LAM YALID WALAM YULAD" (Pause)
"WALAM YAKUN LAHU KUFUWAN AHAD"
{Say: [Oh Muhammad (SAW)]: He is Allah, (the) One, Allah As-Sawmad (the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him}
Performing Rukoo
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI YAL ATHEEM" (3 times)
(Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest)
"SAMEE 'ALLAH HU LIMAN HAMEEDA"
(Allah listens to the one who praises Him)
"RAB-BANA LAKAL HAMD"
(Oh, our Lord, all the praise be to You)
Performing Sujood
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI A'LA" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"ALLAH HUM MAGHFIRLEE WARHAMNEE WAJBURNEE WAR FA'NEE WAHDINEE WA 'AFINEE WARZUQNEE"
(Oh Allah, forgive me, and have mercy on me, and keep me on the right path, and keep me healthy, and provide me with Halaal sources of living, and complete my shortcomings, and make my rank high)
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI A'LA" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
Rising For Second Rakah
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha
"BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM"
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"ALHAMDU LIL-LAHI RAB-BIL 'ALAMEEN" (Pause)
"AR RAHMA NIR-RAHEEM" (Pause)
"MALIKI YAWMID-DEEN" (Pause)
"IYYAKA NA'BUDU WA IYYAKA NASTA'EEN" (Pause)
"IHDINAS SIRATAL MUSTAQEEM" (Pause)
"SIRATAL LATHENA AN'AMTA 'ALAYHIM" (Pause)
"GHAYRIL MAGHDUBI 'ALAYHIM WALAD THAL-LEEN"
"AMEEN"
[All the praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists.) The Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians)] (Oh Allah Answer)
Reciting Surah Al-Falaq
"BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM" (Pause)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"QUL AUTHUBI RAB-BIL FALAQ" (Pause)
"MIN SHAR-RIMA KHALAQ" (Pause)
"WA MIN SHAR-RI GHASIQIN ITHA WAQAB" (Pause)
"WA MIN SHAR-RIN NAF-FATHATI FIL 'UQAD" (Pause)
"WA MIN SHAR-RI HASIDIN ITHA HASAD" (Pause)
(Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the day-break, From the evil of what He has created; And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away). And from the evil of the witchcraft's when they blow in the knots, And from the evil of the envier when he envies)
Performing Rukoo
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI YAL ATHEEM" (3 times)
(Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest)
"SAMEE 'ALLAH HU LIMAN HAMEEDA"
(Allah listens to the one who praises Him)
"RAB-BANA LAKAL HAMD"
(Oh, our Lord, all the praise be to You)
Performing Sujood
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI A'LA" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"ALLAH HUM MAGHFIRLEE WARHAMNEE WAJBURNEE WAR FA'NEE WAHDINEE WA 'AFINEE WARZUQNEE"
(Oh Allah, forgive me, and have mercy on me, and keep me on the right path, and keep me healthy, and provide me with Halaal sources of living, and complete my shortcomings, and make my rank high)
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"SUBHANA RAB-BI A'LA" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
Beginning Tashahhud
"AT-TAHIY-YATU LIL-LAHI WAS SALAWATU WAT-TAY YIBATU. AS-SALAMU 'ALAYKA AY-YUHAN-NIBIY-YU WA RAHMA TULLAHEE WA BARKTUHU AS-SALAMU 'ALAYNA WA'ALA 'IBADIL'LA HI-SALIHEEN. ASH HADU ANLA ILAHAH ILLAL LAHU WA ASH HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAN 'AB-DUHU WA RASULUH"
[All compliments, all physical prayer, and all monetary worship are for Allah. Peace be upon you, Oh Prophet, and Allah's Mercy and Blessings. Peace be upon us, and on the righteous slaves of Allah. (For when one says that, it includes every righteous slave in the heaven and the earth.) I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah. And that Muhammad (SAW) is His slave and Messenger]
As-Salah 'Ala An-Nabiyy (SAW) [Sending Prayers on the Prophet (SAW)]
"ALLAH HUMMA SAL-LI 'ALA MUHAMMADIN WA'ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN, KAMA SAL-LAYTA 'ALA IBRHAHEEMA WA'ALA ALI IBRAHEEMA INNAKA HAMEEDUM MAJEED, ALLAH HUMMA BARAK 'ALA MUHAMMADIN WA'ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN, KAMA BARAK TA 'ALA IBRAHEEMA WA'ALA IBRAHEEMA INNAKA HAMEEDUM MAJEED"
(Oh Allah, send prayers on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent prayers on Ibraheem , and on the family of Ibraheem; You are indeed worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. Oh Allah, send blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on Ibraheem, and on the family of Ibraheem; You are indeed worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.)
Finishing Tashahhud
"ALLAH HUMMA ‘INNE A’UTHU BIKA MIN ATHABI JAHANNAM WA MIN ATHABIL QABRI WA MIN FITNATIL MAH YA WAL MAMATEE WA MIN SHAR-RIL MASIHID DAJ-JAL"
(Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the Hellfire, and from the punishment of the grave, and from the trials of living and dying, and from the evil (trials) of the False Christ)
"ALLAH HUMMA INNEE THALAMTU NAFSEE THULMAN KATHEERAN, WALA YAGHFI RITH THUNUBA ILLA ANTA FAGHFIRLEE MAGHFIRATAN MIN'INDIKA, WAR HAMNEE INNAKA ANTAL GHAFURUR RAHEEM"
[Oh Allah, I have been very cruel to myself (by ignoring my duty to you) and there is no one who can forgive the sins except You. So forgive me because You are the only Forgiver and have Mercy on me. Verily You are the Forgiver and Merciful]
"ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WA RAHMATULLAH" (once each shoulder)
(May the Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon you)
Dua’s After Tashahhud
"ALLAHU AKBAR"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"ASTAGH FERRULLAH (3 times), ALLAHUMMA ANTAS SALAMU WA MINKAS SALAMU TABARAKTA YA THALJALAEE WAL IKRAM"
[I ask Allah to forgive me (3 times), Oh Allah, You are the Peace, and You are the Source of Peace, You are Blessed, Oh possessor of Glory and Honor]
"SUBHANA-ALLAH" (33 times)
(Glory be to Allah)
"ALHAMDULILLAH" (33 times)
(Praise be to Allah)
"ALLAHU AKBAR" (33 times)
(Allah is the Greatest)
"LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAHU WAH DAHU LA SHAREEKA LAHU, LAHUL MULKU WA LAHUL HAMDU, WA HUWA 'ALA KULLEE SHAY'IN QADEER"
(There is none worthy of worship except Allah alone, no associate does He have, His is the Kingdom, to Him is All-Praise, and He is well able to do all things)
How Many Rakat For Each Prayer
Fajr - 2 Sunnah* & 2 Fard
Thuhr - 2 Sunnah + 2 Sunnah* & 4 Fard & 2 Sunnah
Asr - 4 Fard
Maghrib - 3 Fard & 2 Sunnah*
Isha - 4 Fard & 2 Sunnah*
*Sunnah prayers are always done in sets of 2 rakat each. This is the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Beginning the First Rakah - Making Takbir Tahrimah (The Opening Allahu Akbar) and Raising the Hands
This first "Allahu Akbar" is called takbir tahrimah because after saying takbir tahrimah every common and worldly action, talk or movement is forbidden. The fingers should be apart (not spaced out, or together) and hands raised level with the shoulders. Hands may be raised with the takbir, after the takbir, or before the takbir. Variation is good. Takbir may be said aloud or silently at any time of day.
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the Greatest)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise them with fingers apart (not spaced out, nor together). (Sahih - Abu Dawood, Ibn Khuzaimah, Tammaam, and Al-Haakim)
Narrated Salim bin 'Abdullah (RA): My father said, "Allah's Apostle (SAW) used to raise both his hands up to the level of his shoulders when opening the prayer…" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: "When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) got up for prayer, he would say the takbir (Allahu Akbar) when standing…" (Sahih - Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his hands sometimes with takbir. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and An-Nasaa’ee)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his hands sometimes after the takbir. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and An-Nasaa’ee)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his hands sometimes before it. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawood)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Verily, the prayer of a person is not complete until he has made and ablution which has included the necessary parts of the body and has then said: 'Allahu Akbar.'" (Sahih - Tabaraani)
Pointing Eyes to the Place of Sajdah (Prostration)
Throughout the prayer the eyes of the worshipper should point to the spot where the forehead rests in Sajdah (prostration). It is prohibited to look at the sky, to look here and there or to close the eyes.
"The Prophet (SAW) used to incline his head during prayer and fix his sight towards the ground." (Sahih - Al-Baihaqee and Al-Haakim)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "People must refrain from looking up at the sky in prayer, or their sight will not return to them (and in one narration ... or their sight will be plucked away)." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari, Muslim and Siraaj)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Allah does not cease to turn to a slave in his prayer as long as he is not looking around; when he turns his face away, Allah turns away from him." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and others)
Placing the Hands and Arms on the Chest
One should then fold the right hand and arm over the left hand and arm on the chest. The right hand should look as if it is grabbing hold of the left arm with the fingers pointing toward the left elbow. It is prohibited to place the arms at or below the waist.
Wa'il ibn Hajr (RA) said, "I prayed with Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and he put his right hand over his left hand over his chest." (Sahih - Muslim, Ibn Khuzaimah, Abu Dawood)
"The Prophet (SAW) used to forbid putting one's hand on the waist during prayer [and he put his hand on his waist (to demonstrate)]." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Reciting Du'a Isti'aadhah (Supplication of Starting)
This du'a should be recited in the first rakah only. Always recite the du’a silently.
"Subhana kallah humma wabi hamdika watabara kasmuka wata'ala jad-duka wala ilaha ghavruk"
(You are Glorified, O Allah, and Praised, Your Name is Blessed, Your Majesty is Exalted, and none has the right to be worshipped but You)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Indeed, the words most loved by Allah are when His slave says: 'Subhana kallah humma wabi hamdika watabara kasmuka wata'ala jad-duka wala ilaha ghavruk.'" (Hasan - Abu Dawood and Tahaawi)
Seeking Refuge with Allah (SWT)
The following should be recited in the first rakah only. Always recite silently.
"A'u'thu billahi minash-Shaitan-ir-Rajeem."
(I seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan the cursed one)
Then, the Prophet (SAW) would seek refuge with Allah (SWT) saying: "A’u’thu billahi minash-Shaitan-ir-Rajeem." (Sahih - Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daaraquni and Al-Haakim)
Beginning with the Name of Allah (SWT)
The following should always be said silently, not aloud, in every rakah before reciting Surah al-Fatiha.
"Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem"
(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
Then Prophet (SAW) would recite, "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Awaanah, Tahaawi and Ahmad)
Reciting Surah (Chapter) Al-Fatiha (The Opening - Chapter 1)
Surah al-Fatiha must be recited in every rakah of every prayer (even when in congregation). When reciting Surah al-Fatiha divide the recitation by reciting one verse at a time. Stop at the end of each verse and do not join it with the one after, even if it is connected (in meaning) to it. "Thal-leen" should be prolonged for seven counts. Recite Surah al-Fatiha silently during the daylight prayers when the sun is up (i.e. Thuhr and Asr). In the first two rakat, recite Surah al-Fatiha aloud during the nighttime prayers when the sun is down (i.e. Fajr, Maghrib, Isha and Witr). Sunnah prayers are always said silently.
"Alhamdu lil-lahi rab-bil 'alameen. " (Pause)
"Ar rahma nir-raheem." (Pause)
"Maliki yawmid-deen." (Pause)
"Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een." (Pause)
"Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem." (Pause)
"Siratal latheena an'amta 'alayhim." (Pause)
"Ghayril maghdubi 'alayhim walad thal-leen."
[All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).]
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Alhamdu lil-lahi rab-bil 'alameen. (Here he would pause, and then say:) Ar rahma nir-raheem. (Then he would pause, and then say:) Maliki yawmid-deen..." and so on, until the end of the Surah. The rest of his recitation was also like this: stopping at the end of the verse and not joining it with the one after. (Sahih - Abu Dawood and Sahmi)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Whoever does not recite Surah Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
Reciting "Ameen" After Surah Al-Fatiha
Recite silently when alone, during the daylight prayers. Recite aloud or silently during the nighttime prayers.
"Ameen."
(Oh Allah Answer)
When the Prophet (SAW) finished reciting Surah al-Fatiha, he (SAW) would say, 'Ameen.' (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawood)
Reciting Quran After Surah Al-Fatiha
After reciting Surah al-Fatiha, read any Surah from the Quran in the first two rakats. One or more Surahs may be recited. Recite the Quran in slow, measured rhythmic tones, not racing or hurrying; rather, recite clearly and distinguish each letter. Below are a few short Surahs. Recite silently during the daylight prayers when the sun is up (i.e. Thuhr and Asr). Recite aloud during the nighttime prayers when the sun is down (i.e. Fajr, Maghrib, Isha and Witr). Before reciting any Quran in prayer one must silently, at any time of day, "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem."
Surah Al-Iklhas (The Purity - Chapter 112)
"Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem." (Pause)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"Qul huwal lahu ahad." (Pause)
"Allah hus sawmad." (Pause)
"Lam yalid. Walam yulad." (Pause)
"Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad."
(Say: [Oh Muhammad (SAW)]: He is Allah, (the) One. Allah As-Sawmad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him)
Surah Al-Falaq (The Day Break - Chapter 113)
"Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" (Pause)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"Qul authubi rab-bil falaq." (Pause)
"Min shar-rima khalaq." (Pause)
"Wa min shar-ri ghasiqin itha waqab." (Pause)
"Wa min shar-rin naf-fathati fil 'uqad." (Pause)
"Wa min shar-ri hasidin itha hasad."
(Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the day-break, From the evil of what He has created; And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away). And from the evil of the witchcraft’s when they blow in the knots, And from the evil of the envier when he envies)
Surah An-Nas (The Mankind - Chapter 114)
"Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" (Pause)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
"Qul authubi rab-bin nas." (Pause)
"Malikin nas." (Pause)
"Ila hin-nas." (Pause)
"Min shar-ril waswa sil khan-nas." (Pause)
"Allathee yuwaswisu fi sudu rin-nas." (Pause)
"Minal jin-nati wan-nas."
(Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind, The King of mankind, The ilah (God) of mankind, From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allah), Who whispers in the breasts of mankind, Of jinns and men)
The Prophet (SAW) used to recite the Quran in slow, measured rhythmic tones as Allah (SWT) had instructed him, not racing or hurrying; rather, his was "a recitation clearly- distinguishing each letter. (Sahih - Ibn Al-Mubaarak)
Pausing After Quran Recitation
After completing the Quran recitation, pause for a moment.
"After completing his recitation, The Prophet (SAW) would pause for a moment..." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and Al-Haakim)
Raising Hands and Reciting Takbir
After pausing for a moment, the fingers should be apart (not spaced out, or together) and hands raised level with the shoulders. Hands may be raised with the Takbir, after the Takbir, or before the Takbir. Variation is good. The following may be said aloud or silently, at any time of day.
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the Greatest)
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) got up for prayer, he would say the takbir (Allahu Akbar) when standing, then say the takbir when bowing…" (Sahih - Muslim)
Going Into and Performing Rukoo (Bowing)
After the Takbir, go into ruku by spreading the back and making it level [such that if water were poured on it, it (the water) would stay there (i.e. not run off)]. The hands should rest on the knees with the fingers spread apart, taking care that the arms do not touch the body. The hands will look as if they are grabbing the knees. The head should not droop nor should it be raised (not lower or higher than the back), but it should be in between. Be calm and relaxed, not in a hurry. After becoming calm and relaxed when the spine has settled, silently recite the following du'a atleast three times or more (odd numbers like 3, 5, 7, 9 11, etc.). Make the ruku nearly as long as the standing. Always recite the following silently.
"Subhana Rab-bi Yal Atheem" (3 times)
(Glory be to my Lord who is the very Greatest)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "When you make Ruku, place your palms on your knees, then space your fingers out, then remain (like that) until every limb takes its (proper) place." (Sahih - Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibbaan)
"He (SAW) used to spread himself (i.e. not be in a compact position), and keep his elbows away from his sides." (Sahih - Tirmidhi and Ibn Khuzaimah)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "When you make Ruku, put your palms on your knees, spread your back (flat) and hold firm in your Ruku." (Sahih - Ahmad and Abu Dawood)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "O assembly of Muslims! Verily, the prayer is not valid of the one who does not settle his spine in Ruku and Sujud." (Sahih - Ibn Abi Shaibah, Iban Maajah and Ahmad)
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Subhana rab-bi yal atheem" (On the authority of seven different companions - Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daraaqutni, Tahaawi, Bazzaar, & Tabaraani)
The Prophet (SAW) used to make his ruku, his standing after ruku, his sujood, and his sitting in between the two sajdahs, nearly equal in length. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Standing Up From Ruku
After the perfect ruku, while raising the head and straightening the back until bones return to their joints, the fingers should be apart (not spaced out, or together) and hands raised level with the shoulders and then bring them down to the sides of the body. Hands may be raised with the du'a, after the du'a, or before the du'a. Variation is good. The du'a is read whether behind an imam or not. This standing should be about as long as the ruku. Always recite the following silently.
"Samee 'Allah hu liman hameeda"
(Allah listens to the one who praises Him)
Then say, while standing. Always recite silently:
"Rab-bana lakal hamd"
(Oh, our Lord, all the praises be to You)
The Prophet (SAW) would straighten up his back out of ruku, saying, "Samee 'Allah hu liman hameeda" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise them (hands) with fingers apart (not spaced out, nor together). (Sahih - Abu Dawood, Ibn Khuzaimah, Tammaam, and Al-Haakim)
Narrated Salim bin 'Abdullah (RA): My father said, "Allah's Apostle (SAW) used to raise both his hands up to the level of his shoulders when opening the prayer; and on saying the Takbir for bowing. And on raising his head from bowing he used to do the same and then say "Sami a-l-lahu Liman hamida, Rabbana walaka-l-hamd." And he did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in prostrations." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) has commanded all worshippers, whether behind and imam or not, to say the above on rising from ruku, by saying, "Pray as you have seen me praying." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Ahmad)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "…then rise from bowing till you stand straight…" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "No person's prayer is complete until ... he has said takbir ... then makes ruku ... then has said "Allah listens to the one who praises Him" until he is standing straight." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and Al-Haakim)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Allah, Mighty and Sublime, does not look at the prayer of the slave who does not make his backbone upright in between his bowings and prostrations." (Sahih - Ahmad and Tabraani)
The Prophet (SAW) would stand (for so long) sometimes that one would say, 'He has forgotten', [because of his standing for so long]. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Ahmad)
Reciting Takbir for Performing Sajdah (Prostration)
Recite Takbir silently or aloud, at any time of day, by saying:
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the Greatest)
The Prophet (SAW) would say takbir and go down into sajdah (prostration). (Sahih - Al -Bukhari and Muslim)
Going Down and Performing First Sajdah (Prostration)
Go down to the ground by placing the hands on the ground before the knees (palms are used for support). Fingers should be together pointed them towards the Qiblah (even the thumbs). Palms should be level with the shoulders. Nose and forehead must be equally firm on the ground. Face and hands should be firm on the ground with all the bones in the body relaxed in their proper places. Knees and toes should be down firmly and pointing with the front the toes towards the Qiblah. Heels together and feet upright. Forearms should be raised above the ground and kept away from the sides of the body such that the whiteness of the armpits can be seen from behind (imagine a small animal wanting to pass under the arms, it should be able to do so). Forearms must NEVER rest on the ground (NOT EVEN WOMEN!!!). Seven limbs must be prostrating: the palms, the knees, the feet, the forehead and nose. Spine must be completely straight during sajdah, and one must be at complete ease. Always repeat the following du'a silently atleast three times or more (in odd numbers, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,etc.), and make the sajdah nearly as long as the standing.
"Subhana Rab-bi A'la" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Subhana rab-bi a'la" (On the authority of seven different companions - Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daaraqutni, Tahaawi, Bazzaar, and Tabaraani)
The Prophet (SAW) used to say, "When one of you performs sajdah, he should not kneel like a camel, but should place his hands before his knees." (Sahih - Abu Dawood, Tammamm, and An-Nasaa’ee)
"The Prophet (SAW) would support himself on his palms (and spread them)." (Sahih - Abu Dawood)
"The Prophet (SAW) put his fingers together." (Sahih - Ibn Khuzaimah, Al-Baihaqee, and Al-Haakim)
"The Prophet (SAW) pointed them (fingers) towards the Qiblah." (Sahih - Al-Baihaqee)
"The Prophet (SAW) would put them (his palms) level with his shoulders." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and At-Tirmithi)
"The Prophet (SAW) would put his nose and forehead firmly on the ground." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and At-Tirmithi)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "When you prostrate, put your face and hands down firmly, until all of your bones are relaxed in their proper places." (Hasan - Ibn Khuzaimah)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "There is no prayer for the one whose nose does not feel as much of the ground as the forehead." (See Akhbaar Isbahaan - Daaraqutni, Tabaraani, and Abu Nu'aim)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "I have been ordered to prostrate on seven bones: on the forehead ... and he indicated by moving his hand around the nose, ... the hands, the knees and the toes, and not to tuck up the garments and hair." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise them (fore-arms) above the ground, and keep them away from his sides such that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen from behind. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would also raise them (fore-arms) above the ground and keep them away from his sides such that if a small lamb or kid wanted to pass under his arms, it would have been able to do so. (Sahih - Muslim, Abu Awaanah, and Ibn Hibbaan)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "None of you should rest arms on the ground the way a dog rests them." (Sahih - Ahmad and At-Tirmithi)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "O Assembly of Muslims! Verily, the prayer is not valid of the one who does not settle his spine in ruku and sujood." (Sahih - Ibn Abi Shaibah, Tabaraani, and Haakim)
The Prophet (SAW) used to make his ruku, his standing after ruku, his sujood, and his sitting between the two sajdahs, nearly equal in length. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Rising From Sajdah
After being calm and at ease in Sajdah, raise the head while saying silently or aloud, at any time of day:
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the Greatest)
"The Prophet (SAW) would raise his head from Sajdah while saying takbir." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Jalsah (Sitting Between the Two Sajdahs)
Bring the left foot along the ground and sit on it. With the right knee on the ground, the right foot should be upright with toes pointing towards the Qiblah. This way of sitting is called muftarishan. Sit relaxed until every bone has returned to its proper position. This relaxing time should be almost as long as the sajdah. Always recite the following silently:
"Allah hum maghfirlee warhamnee wajburnee war fa'nee wahdinee wa 'afinee warzuqnee"
(Oh Allah, forgive me, and have mercy on me, and keep me on the right path, and keep me healthy, and provide me with Halaal sources of living, and complete my shortcomings, and make my rank high.)
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Allah hum maghfirlee warhamnee wajburnee war fa'nee wahdinee wa 'afinee warzuqnee " (Sahih - Abu Dawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah, and Al-Haakim)
"The Prophet (SAW) would lay his left foot along the ground and sit on it (relaxed)." (Ahmad and Abu Dawood)
"The Prophet (SAW) would have his right foot upright." (Sahih - An-Nasaa’ee)
"The Prophet (SAW) would point its (the foot) toes toward the Qiblah." (See Maa Rawaahu Abu Az-Zubair ‘an Ghair Jaabir - Muslim, Abu Awaanah, Abu Shaikh, and Al-Baihaqee)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "The prayer of any of you is not complete until he does this (to be relaxed until every bone returned to its (proper) position - Sahih - Abu Dawood and Al-Baihaqee)." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and Al-Baihaqee)
The last thing that Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) emphasized at his deathbed was Salah. He also said the first thing we will have to answer about on the day of judgement is Salah.
While in Salah one communicates with Allah (SWT) and experiences his presence. That's why a Hadith says: Salah is the Meraj of a Momin (Namaz is called as Meraj-ul-Momineen).
The Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) also said "The key to Heaven is Salah. The key to Salah is Purification."
"Namaz is a pillar of Religion. If Namaz is accepted all other deeds are accepted. If Namaz is rejected then all other Deeds are rejected." (Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh))
Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said: "Almighty Allah (SWT) has set the light of my eyes in Salah (Salat, Namaz) and made it the most desirable thing for me, like the food for the hungry and the water for the thirsty. The hungry is contented after the meal and the thirsty is satisfied after drinking water. But my thirst for Salah (Salat, Namaz) is never quenched."
Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said: "Everything has a face and the face of your religion is Salah (Salat, Namaz); none of you should stain the face of his religion."
According to a Hadith a companion of Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) came to him one day and asked him "What is the thing that Allah (SWT) loves most?" Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) replied "The thing that Allah (SWT) loves most is when his people pray Salah on time."
The Prophet (SAW) would lengthen it (sitting between the two sajdahs) until it was about almost as long as his sajdah. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Reciting Takbir and Performing Second Sajdah
Then move to perform the second sajdah exactly like the first sajdah by saying silently or aloud, at any time of day:
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the Greatest)
Always repeat the du'a silently atleast three times or more (in odd numbers, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,etc.), and make the sajdah nearly as long as the standing.
"Subhana Rab-bi A'la" (3 times)
(Oh Allah, Glory be to You, the Most High)
"The Prophet (SAW) would say takbir and prostrate for the second time." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
"The Prophet (SAW) would say, ‘Subhana rab-bi a'la.’" (On the authority of seven different companions - Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daaraqutni, Tahaawi, Bazzaar, and Tabaraani
Rising From the Second Sajdah - End of First Rakah
After being calm and at ease, rise from the second sajdah in exactly the same way as rising from the first sajdah and say silently or aloud, at any time of day:
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is the greatest)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his head from sajdah while saying takbir. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Jalsah-e-Istarahat (Sitting For Rest)
Sit in this jalsah in exactly the same way as the first jalsah.
The Prophet (SAW) would sit straight (on his left foot, upright, until every bone returned to its position). (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawood)
Islam prayer ensures that prayers are said five times each day and the timings are spread evenly throughout the day, so that a Muslim is constantly reminded of God and given sufficient opportunities to seek forgiveness and guidance from Him.
There are five obligatory prayers, which are rewardable and other optional prayers to perform. A praying Muslim must have reached the state of mental discrimination which is when a child reaches about seven lunar years.
It is said in the Holy Qur’an: "And truly Salah is hard save for the humble minded." Meaning, that Salah is hard only on those who are not ready to lead a life of obedience to Allah (s.w.t.), and on whom Salah is hard, provides himself proof of not being fit for the servitude and obedience to Allah (s.w.t.).
Salah improves and helps us to attain high moral qualities and to build a strong defense against evils which exist around us.
It is said in the Holy Qur’an, surely, Salah keeps you away from indecency and evil. This is why the prayer is described as "remembrance" to Allah (s.w.t.).
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said the bond man is nearest to Allah (s.w.t.) at the moment when he is lying in prostration before him.
Salah reminds you of Allah (s.w.t.), when you get up in the morning, it reminds you three more times when you are busy during the day, and once again before you go to bed.
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) once said, "The worst form of theft, is the theft of prayer." "How can one commit theft in prayer?" his companions asked, The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) replied "By skipping on the complete performance of bows and prostration’s."
While in salah one communicates with Allah (s.w.t.) and experiences his presence. That’s why a hadith says: Salah is the Meraaj of a Momin.
The Rasulullah (s.a.w.) also said "The key to HEAVEN is SALAH. The key to SALAH is PURIFICATION.
My dear sisters Salah is so important that a hadith says: Salah is the only distinction between a believer and a non-believer. So brothers and brothers/sisters, if we know salah is obligatory, and we know we have to read it, Why not pray it on time?
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Clearly Understand about Islam
THE RELIGION OF ISLAM
At the core of Islam is the Qur'an, believed to be the final revelation by a transcendent Allah to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam; since the Divine Word was revealed in Arabic, this language is used in Islamic religious practice worldwide. Muslims believe in final reward and punishment, and the unity of the umma, the "nation" of Islam. Muslims submit to Allah through arkan ad-din, the five basic requirements or "pillars": shahadah, the affirmation that "there is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God"; salah, the five daily ritual prayers; zakat, the giving of alms, also known as a religious tax; Sawm, the dawn-to-sunset fast during the lunar month of Ramadan; and hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. The importance of the hajj can hardly be overestimated: this great annual pilgrimage unites Islam and its believers from around the world.
The ethos of Islam is in its attitude toward Allah: to His will Muslims submit; Him they praise and glorify; and in Him alone they hope. However, in popular or folk forms of Islam, Muslims ask intercession of the saints, prophets, and angels, while preserving the distinction between Creator and creature. Islam views the Message of Muhammad as the continuation and the fulfillment of a lineage of Prophecy that includes figures from the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament, notably Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. Islamic law reserves a communal entity status for the ahl al-kitab, People of the Book, i.e., those with revealed religions, including Jews and Christians. Islam also recognizes a number of extra-Biblical prophets, such as Hud, Salih, Shuayb, and others of more obscure origin. The chief angels are Gabriel and Michael; devils are the evil jinn.
The first thing that one should know and clearly understand about Islam is what the word "Islam" itself means. The religion of Islam is not named after a person as in the case of Christianity which was named after Jesus Christ, Buddhism after Gotama Buddha, Confucianism after Confucius, and Marxism after Karl Marx. Nor was it named after a tribe like Judaism after the tribe of Judah and Hinduism after the Hindus. Islam is the true religion of "Allah" and as such, its name represents the central principle of Allah's "God's" religion; the total submission to the will of Allah "God". The Arabic word "Islam" means the submission or surrender of one's will to the only true god worthy of worship "Allah" and anyone who does so is termed a "Muslim", The word also implies "peace" which is the natural consequence of total submission to the will of Allah. Hence, it was not a new religion brought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) I in Arabia in the seventh century, but only the true religion of Allah re-expressed in its final form.
Islam is the religion which was given to Adam, the first man and the first prophet of Allah, and it was the religion of all the prophets sent by Allah to mankind. The name of God's religion lslam was not decided upon by later generations of man. It was chosen by Allah Himself and clearly mentioned in His final revelation to man. In the final book of divine revelation, the Qur'aan, Allah states the following:
"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion". (Soorah Al-Maa'idah 5:3)
"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah (God) never will It be accepted of Him" (Soorah Aal'imraan 3:85)
"Abraham was not a Jew nor Christian; but an upright Muslim." (Soorah Aal'imraan 3:67)
Nowhere in the Bible will you find Allah saying to Prophet Moses' people or their descendants that their religion is Judaism, nor to the followers of Christ that their religion is Christianity. In fact, Christ was not even his name, nor was it Jesus! The name "Christ" comes from the Greek word Christos which means the annointed. That is, Christ is a Greek translation of the Hebrew title "Messiah". The name "Jesus" on the other hand, is a latinized version of the Hebrew name Esau.
For simplicity's sake, I will however continue to refer to Prophet Esau (PBUH) as Jesus. As for his religion, it was what he called his followers to. Like the prophets before him, he called the people to surrender their will to the will of Allah; (which is Islam) and he warned them to stay away from the false gods of human imagination.
According to the New Testament, he taught his followers to pray as follows: "Yours will be done on earth as it is in Heaven".
Since the total submission of one's will to Allah represents the essence of worship, the basic message of Allah's divine religion, Islam is the worship of Allah alone and the avoidance of worship directed to any person, place or thing other than Allah.Since everything other than Allah, the Creator of all things, is Allah's creation; it may be said that Islam, in essence calls man away from the worship of creation and invites him to worship only its Creator. He is the only one deserving man's worship as it is only by His will that prayers are answered. If man prays to a tree and his prayers are answered, it was not the tree which answered his prayers but Allah who allowed the circumstances prayed for to take place. One might say, "That is obvious," however, to tree-worshippers it might not be. Similarly, prayers to Jesus, Buddha, or Krishna, to Saint Christopher, or Saint Jude or even to Muhammad, are not answered by them but are answered by Allah. Jesus did nottell his followers to worship him but to worship Allah. As the Qur'an states:
"And behold Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary Did you say to men, Worship me and my mother as gods besides Allah He will say-"Glory to you I could never say what I had no right (to say')" (Soorah Al-Maa'idah- 5:116)
Nor did he worship himself when he worshipped but rather he worshipped Allah. This basic principle is enshrined in the opening chapter of the Qur'aan, known asSoorah Al-Faatihah, verse 4:
"You alone do we worship and from you alone do we seek help".
Elsewhere, in the final book of revelation, the Qur'aan, Allah also said:
"And your Lord says:"Call on Me and I will answer your(prayer)."(Soorsh Mu'min 40:60)
it is worth noting that the basic message of Islam is that Allah and His creation are distinctly different entities. Neither is Allah His creation or a part of it, nor is His creation Him or a part of Him.
This might seem obvious, but, man's worship of creation instead of the Creator is to a large degree based on ignorance of this concept. It is the belief that the essence of Allah is everywhere in His creation or that His divine being is or was present in some aspects of His creation, which has provided justification for the worship of creation though such worship maybecalled the worship of Allah through his creation. How ever, the message of Islam as brought by the prophets of Allah is to worship only Allah and to avoid the worship of his creation either directly or indirectly. In the Our'aan Allah clearlystates:
"For We assuredly sent amongst every people a prophet,(with the command) worship meand avoid false gods " (Soorsh Al-Nahl 16:36)
When the idol worshipper is questioned as to why he or she bows down to idols created by men, the invariable reply is that they are not actually worshipping the stone image, but Allah who is present within it. They claim that the stone idol is only a focal point for Allah's essence and is not in itself Allah! One who has accepted the concept of the presence of God's being within His creation in any way will be obliged to accept this argument of idolatry. Whereas, one who understands the basic message of Islam and its implications would never concede to idolatry no matter how it is rationalized. Those who have claimed divinity for themselves down through the ages have often based their claims on the mistaken belief that Allah is present in man. They merely had to assert that although Allah according to their false beliefs, is in all of us, He is more present in them than in the rest of us. Hence, they claim, we should submit our will to them and worship them as they are either God in person or God concentrated within the person.
Similarly, those who have asserted the godhood of others after their passing have found fertile ground among those who accept the false belief of God's presence in man. One who has grasped the basic message of Islam and its implications could never agree to worship another human being under any circumstances. God's religion in essence is a clear call to the worship of the Creator and the rejection of creation-worship in any form. This is the meaning of the motto of Islam:
"Laa Elaaha lllallaah" (There is no god but Allah)
Its repetition automatically brings one within the fold of Islam and sincere belief in it guarantees one Paradise.
Thus, the final Prophet of Islam is reported to have said, "Any one who says: There is no god but Allah and dies holding that (belief) will enter paradise".(Reported by Abu Dharr and collected by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).
It consists in the submission to Allah as one God, yielding to Him by obeying His commandments, and the denial of polytheism and polytheists.
The Great Challenge to Produce One Chapter Like the Chapters of the Holy Quran.
God has said in the Quran:
And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed (the Quran) to Our worshiper (Muhammad ), then produce a chapter like it, and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides God if you are truthful. And if you do not do it, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones. It has been prepared for disbelievers. And give good news (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good deeds, that for them are gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow.... (Quran, 2:23-25)
Ever since the Quran was revealed, fourteen centuries ago, no one has been able to produce a single chapter like the chapters of the Quran in their beauty, eloquence, splendor, wise legislation, true information, true prophecy, and other perfect attributes. Also, note that the smallest chapter in the Quran (Chapter 108) is only ten words, yet no one has ever been able to meet this challenge, then or today.1 Some of the disbelieving Arabs who were enemies of the Prophet Muhammad tried to meet this challenge to prove that Muhammad was not a true prophet, but they failed to do so.2 This failure was despite the fact that the Quran was revealed in their own language and dialect and that the Arabs at the time of Muhammad were a very eloquent people who used to compose beautiful and excellent poetry, still read and appreciated today.
The smallest chapter in the Holy Quran
The smallest chapter in the Holy Quran (Chapter 108) is only ten words, yet no one has ever been able to meet the challenge to produce one chapter like the chapters of the Holy Quran.
VIRTUES of SALATUL AWWABEEN: 6 or 20 NAFL RAKA'AH
Hadrat Ayeshah narrated that the Rasoolallah said: For the person who offers 20 Raka'ah nafl after the Maghrib Salat Allah Ta'ala will make a house for him in Paradise. {Tirmidhi, Mishkat, Tarteeb Shareef pg. 169}
Hadrat Abu Hurairah narrated that the Rasoolallah said: The person who offers 6 Raka'ah Nafl after the Maghrib Salah, and does not speak evil in between receives rewards equal to 12 years of worship. {Tirmidhi, Mishkat, Tarteeb Shareef pg. 169}
How to perform prayers of Ishraq, Duha (Chaasht), Awabeen, Tahajjud, Tasbeeh, Hajaat to the benefits of greatness that accrue from them.
Prayer of Ishraq
Salatud Duha [Chaasht]
Salatul Awwabeen
Prayer of Tahajjud
Salatul Tasbih
Salatul Hajaat
Prayer of Ishraq
The beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has said: Those who perform the Fajr prayer in congregation (Jamaa’at), read the Zikr (remembrance of Allah) till the sun has completely arisen (length of a spear from the horizon, after 20 minutes of sunrise) and read 2 Raka-at Nafil prayer, will have the benedictions (sawaab) equal to those of Haj-Umrah. It is recommended to read the Surah Fateha and Ayyat-uk-Kursi till Khaalidoon, in the first Raka-at, and in the second Raka-at to read, after Surah Fateha, Aamanar Rasul till the end of Suratul Baqarah. In the case that this verse cannot be read from memory, one can recite any other verse and then ask Duas. Woman should read all prayers of Farz and Nafil at home and will derive the same benefits (sawaab) that accrue from prayer performed at the Mosque (Tirmizi Shareef).
Salatul Duha [Chaasht]
The beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has said: For the one that has read the 12 Raka-at Salatud Duha, Allah will build for him a golden castle in paradise, and the one that always reads the 2 Raka-ats of Chaasht will have his sins forgiven even though they may be of oceanic dimensions (Tirmizi and Then Maaja). The prayer of Chaasht consists of 2 Raka-at and of a maximum of 12 Raka-ats. It should be read between the time the sun has completely risen from the horizon and before Zawal (zenith of the sun).
Salatul Awwabeen
This Nafil prayer is read after the Farz (Fard) and Sunnat of Maghrib. It consist of a minimum of 6 Raka-ats and this Nafil prayer procures many benedictions (blessings) and mercy.
Prayer of Tahajjud
Our Master, the beloved Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has said: In Paradise there is a castle reserved for those who read Tahajjud and the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) further adds, those who pray at night will enter paradise without having to account for their acts in this life. The Nafils of Tahajjud are read after the Esha prayer, but it is important to sleep before performing Tahajjud. The prayer consists of a minimum of 2 Raka-ats, and a maximum of 8 or 12 Raka-ats (to be read according ones capacity).
After Esha prayers sleep for some time, then wake up any time during the night before the rise of morning for Tahajjud prayers. With the performance of 2 Rakats you have duly achieved your Tahajjud. However, the performance of 8 Rakats in Sunnat, and complying with the practice of the Holy Saints of Islam and performing 12 Rakats is commendable.
It is recommended that you recite in your prayers as much of the Sacred Quran as you know. If you happen to know by heart the whole of the Sacred Quran you may, in at least 3 nights or most 4 nights of Tahajjud effectuate the complete reading of the Sacred Quran.
Otherwise, you may recite 3 Surah Ikhlas (Qul Hu Allahu Ahad) after your "Alhamdu..." in every Rakat and you will thus derive full benefits of the full recital of the Sacred Quran in every Rakat.
Salatul Tasbih
Our beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had taught this Nafil prayer to his Uncle, Hazrat Abbas (RA) and told him; He who performs this prayer will have his past and future sins forgiven. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has recommended to read this prayer daily on each Friday or once a month or once a year, in case of this not being possible, to read it even once in one’s life. This Nafil prayer provides limitless benefits both in the material and spiritual life.
How to perform this Nafil:
After having pronounced one’s intention (Niyat), say Allaho-Akbar, read "Subhanaka-Alla humma" completely (Sana), read now 15 times "Subhaanallah wal hamdo Lillaah wala illaha Illallah Wallah-o-Akbar." Then read Aoozu billah and Bismillah (completely) and Surah Fateha. Then recite 10 times the Tasbih mentioned above and go to Ruku. Here also recite 10 times the Tasbih before raising yourself to read another 10 times the same Tasbih, this time in a standing position. Then prostrate (Sajdah) and read 10 times the Tasbih, sit now and read again 10 times this Tasbih (Jalsa) and prostrate again, Tasbish 10 times in the 2nd Raka-at begin by reading 15 times this Tasbih before reading "Bismillah" and Surah Fateha. After that read 10 times the Tasbih and then proceed as in the first Raka-at. To end the second Raka-at, read as usual "Attahiyat", "Durood" and "Duas". Then read 2 other Raka-ats. As in each Raka-at the Tasbih is recited 75 times, it means that in all 4 Raka-at the Tasbih is read 300 times. In the other 2 Raka-at, after "Subhana Rabbiyal-azeem", read the Tasbih 75 times and in the Sajdah (prostrations after Subhaan Rabbiyal-ala) read again 75 times the Tasbih.
Note: No fixed time has been prescribed for this prayer, a fact, which means that besides any time prohibited this prayer, can be read at any time.
Salatul Hajaat
In case of difficulty, illness or of authorized necessity this prayer is read. The beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had taught this to a blind person who, as soon as he performed it, regained his eyesight. (Tirmizi Shareef Tibrani)
To perform this prayer it is recommended to wear one’s best and clean clothes and to perform pleasingly one’s ablution (Wudu). Then 2 Raka-ta Nafil is read in the usual way, after salaam this dua is read:
Allahuma Inni As-aloka wa (Atawassalo) Wa Atawajjaaho ilaika be nabbiyeka Muhammadin nabi yir Rahmate ya Rasullulah. Inni tawajjahto be ka ila Rabbi fi hajaati haa-zehi (here we make our requests (le tuqza li) Allahumma fashaffiho fiya
Translation: O Allah I implore You and I come near You through the intermediary of Your Prophet (Nabee) Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) who is the Prophet of Grace. Ya Rasullullah, through your intercession I implore Allah to accept my request. O Allah grant the intercession of your Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in my favor.
VIRTUES of SUNNAH
"Tell them O' Muhammad that if you love Allah then follow my
footsteps {follow my Sunnah}, Allah Subhanna Wa Ta'la will love you and He will forgive all your sins. Indeed He is Most Forgiving and Merciful."
Indeed following the Sunnah of the Rasoolallah is following the Siratal Mustaqeem. Indeed the very purpose of The Coming of The Rasoolallah was to show his followers how to put the Guidance of the Holy Quran into practice in their lives. This is also why Allah Subhanna Wa Ta'la described His beloved messenger Muhammadin The Quran as Uswatul Husnah {the perfect model} for his followers, and indeed the word "Ummah" which means followers, is in itself self explanatory. How can we be his Ummah without following him?
When Allah Subhanna Wa Ta'la has mentioned in the Holy Quran that He did not create humans and Jinns but for His Worship, it is obvious that worship does not just include rituals of Salat, Fasting, Zakah and Hajj. Since the entire purpose of our creation is to worship our Creator, our entire life is therefore to be spent in His Worship. Indeed this larger worship would include all the hours of the day, every day of the month and every day of the year. If the word worship only meant the compulsory rituals, the Rasoolallah would have finished his mission in just one year. Therefore every aspect of the life of our beloved Prophet Muhammad which is his Sunnah can truly reflect the larger and wider meaning of the word worship.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad saw therefore commanded his holy companions males, females, and his holy wives, very early in his mission to write down and note every action performed by him and everything said by him very carefully and then convey it to those not present. Therefore it is from the collection of the Ahadith {Hadith singular} that we get a clear, picture of his practices, which forms the sum total of the worship of Allah Subhanna Wa Ta'la, as revealed in the Holy Quran. To complete the picture: we need to follow and obey our Beloved Prophet Muhammad to learn how to worship our Lord and Creator; We need to look and follow the Sahabah {companions} May Allah be pleased with them all to learn how closely they obeyed and followed the Rasoolallah in every action of his, from the simplest and common place to the performance of all the compulsory rituals of worship
When there is only a single star left in the sky..
At that very moment, the path of forgiveness will close.
The writing in the Quran will vanish.
The sun will lower itself with the earth.
Prophet Muhammad Salalallahu Alayhi Wassallam said, ‘Who ever delivers this news to someone else,
I will on the Day of Judgement make for him a place in Jannat.’
When Mu’min will enter into Jannah, it will be announced
1. You will remain healthy forever, disease will never come.
2. You will remain alive for ever, death will never come.
3. You will remain in bounties which will never be finished.
Jannah is made with
Bricks of Gold and Silver.
Its cement is of perfumed Musk.
Its chips are pearls and Yaqoot.
Its sand is Zafraan.
There are eight doors of Jannah. These are eight grades of Jannah
1. Jannatul Mava
2. Darul Maqaam
3. Darul Salaam
4. Darul Khuld
5. Jannat-ul-Adan
6. Jannat-ul-Naeem
7. Jannat-ul-Kasif
8. Jannat-ul-Firdous
Jannatul Mava is in the lowest,
Jannat-ul-Adan is the middle &
Jannat-ul- Firdous is on the highest.
Food of Jannah
They will eat foods and fruits continuously up to 40 years.
Every bowl will have a new taste.
They will take eructation which will digest the food and there will be perfumed sweating for the digestion of water.
There will be no urine and stool.
Place Name
There will be gardens in Jannah.
Every garden will have the length of about 100 year’s journey.
The shadow of these gardens will be very dense.
Their plants will be free of thorns.
The size of their leaves will be equal to ears of elephants.
Their fruits will be hanging in rows.
Those who love each other for the sake of Allah will get a pillar of Yaqoot,
On which there will be seventy thousand (70,000) rooms.
These will shine for the residents of Jannah as the sun shines for the residents of Duniya.
There will be rooms in Jannah in such a way that every room will have seventy thousand (70,000) dinning sheets.
On every dinning sheet 70,000 types of foods will be served.
For their service 80,000 young boys will be moving around looking like beautiful scattered pearls.
One bunch of dates will be equal to the length of 12 arms.
The size of a date will be equal to the big pitcher.
These will be whiter than milk, sweeter than honey and softer than butter and free
Of seeds.
The stem of these plants will be made up of gold and silver.
There will also be gardens of grapes. The bunches of grapes will be very big.
The size of a single grape will be equal to a big pitcher.
Someone asked, Ya Rasulullah (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam):
will it be sufficient for me and my family.
It was answered, it will be sufficient for you and your whole tribe.
The Dresses of Jannah
The dress of Jannah will be very beautiful.
One will wear 70 dresses at a time.
These will be very fine, delicate, weightless, having different colors.
These dresses will be so fine that the body even the heart will be visible.
And the waves of love in the hearts will also be visible.
These dresses will never become old, never be dirty and will never tear.
There will be four canals in every Jannah.
1. Water
2. Milk
3. Honey
4. Sharabun Tahoora.
There will also be three fountains in Jannah:
1. Kafoor
2. Zanjabeel
3. Tasneem
Qualities of People of Jannah
In Jannah, height of every Mo ‘min, will be equal to the height of
Hazrat Adam (Alaihissalaam) 60 arms (90 feet).
Beauty will be like that of Hazrat Yousuf (Alaihissalaam).
Age of youth will be like that of Hazrat Esa (Alaihissalaam) 30-33 years).
Sweetness of voice will be like that of Hazrat Dawud (Alaihissalaam).
Tolerance will be like that of Hazrat Yaqoob (Alaihissalaam).
Patience will be like that of Hazrat Ayyub (Alaihissalaam).
Habits will be like that of Sayyaduna Muhammad (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam)
NOTE:
If a person makes Du’a for Jannah three times,
Jannah requests Allah that O, Allah; make his entry into Jannah.
And if a person makes Du’a for safety from Jahannum three times,
The Jahannum requests Allah that, O, Allah; save him from Jahannum.
Please pass on and may Allah grant the entire Ummah of Nabi sallalahu alayhi wasallam Jannat ul Firdous Ameen!
Every good act is charity
At the core of Islam is the Qur'an, believed to be the final revelation by a transcendent Allah to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam; since the Divine Word was revealed in Arabic, this language is used in Islamic religious practice worldwide. Muslims believe in final reward and punishment, and the unity of the umma, the "nation" of Islam. Muslims submit to Allah through arkan ad-din, the five basic requirements or "pillars": shahadah, the affirmation that "there is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God"; salah, the five daily ritual prayers; zakat, the giving of alms, also known as a religious tax; Sawm, the dawn-to-sunset fast during the lunar month of Ramadan; and hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. The importance of the hajj can hardly be overestimated: this great annual pilgrimage unites Islam and its believers from around the world.
The ethos of Islam is in its attitude toward Allah: to His will Muslims submit; Him they praise and glorify; and in Him alone they hope. However, in popular or folk forms of Islam, Muslims ask intercession of the saints, prophets, and angels, while preserving the distinction between Creator and creature. Islam views the Message of Muhammad as the continuation and the fulfillment of a lineage of Prophecy that includes figures from the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament, notably Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. Islamic law reserves a communal entity status for the ahl al-kitab, People of the Book, i.e., those with revealed religions, including Jews and Christians. Islam also recognizes a number of extra-Biblical prophets, such as Hud, Salih, Shuayb, and others of more obscure origin. The chief angels are Gabriel and Michael; devils are the evil jinn.
The first thing that one should know and clearly understand about Islam is what the word "Islam" itself means. The religion of Islam is not named after a person as in the case of Christianity which was named after Jesus Christ, Buddhism after Gotama Buddha, Confucianism after Confucius, and Marxism after Karl Marx. Nor was it named after a tribe like Judaism after the tribe of Judah and Hinduism after the Hindus. Islam is the true religion of "Allah" and as such, its name represents the central principle of Allah's "God's" religion; the total submission to the will of Allah "God". The Arabic word "Islam" means the submission or surrender of one's will to the only true god worthy of worship "Allah" and anyone who does so is termed a "Muslim", The word also implies "peace" which is the natural consequence of total submission to the will of Allah. Hence, it was not a new religion brought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) I in Arabia in the seventh century, but only the true religion of Allah re-expressed in its final form.
Islam is the religion which was given to Adam, the first man and the first prophet of Allah, and it was the religion of all the prophets sent by Allah to mankind. The name of God's religion lslam was not decided upon by later generations of man. It was chosen by Allah Himself and clearly mentioned in His final revelation to man. In the final book of divine revelation, the Qur'aan, Allah states the following:
"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion". (Soorah Al-Maa'idah 5:3)
"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah (God) never will It be accepted of Him" (Soorah Aal'imraan 3:85)
"Abraham was not a Jew nor Christian; but an upright Muslim." (Soorah Aal'imraan 3:67)
Nowhere in the Bible will you find Allah saying to Prophet Moses' people or their descendants that their religion is Judaism, nor to the followers of Christ that their religion is Christianity. In fact, Christ was not even his name, nor was it Jesus! The name "Christ" comes from the Greek word Christos which means the annointed. That is, Christ is a Greek translation of the Hebrew title "Messiah". The name "Jesus" on the other hand, is a latinized version of the Hebrew name Esau.
For simplicity's sake, I will however continue to refer to Prophet Esau (PBUH) as Jesus. As for his religion, it was what he called his followers to. Like the prophets before him, he called the people to surrender their will to the will of Allah; (which is Islam) and he warned them to stay away from the false gods of human imagination.
According to the New Testament, he taught his followers to pray as follows: "Yours will be done on earth as it is in Heaven".
Since the total submission of one's will to Allah represents the essence of worship, the basic message of Allah's divine religion, Islam is the worship of Allah alone and the avoidance of worship directed to any person, place or thing other than Allah.Since everything other than Allah, the Creator of all things, is Allah's creation; it may be said that Islam, in essence calls man away from the worship of creation and invites him to worship only its Creator. He is the only one deserving man's worship as it is only by His will that prayers are answered. If man prays to a tree and his prayers are answered, it was not the tree which answered his prayers but Allah who allowed the circumstances prayed for to take place. One might say, "That is obvious," however, to tree-worshippers it might not be. Similarly, prayers to Jesus, Buddha, or Krishna, to Saint Christopher, or Saint Jude or even to Muhammad, are not answered by them but are answered by Allah. Jesus did nottell his followers to worship him but to worship Allah. As the Qur'an states:
"And behold Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary Did you say to men, Worship me and my mother as gods besides Allah He will say-"Glory to you I could never say what I had no right (to say')" (Soorah Al-Maa'idah- 5:116)
Nor did he worship himself when he worshipped but rather he worshipped Allah. This basic principle is enshrined in the opening chapter of the Qur'aan, known asSoorah Al-Faatihah, verse 4:
"You alone do we worship and from you alone do we seek help".
Elsewhere, in the final book of revelation, the Qur'aan, Allah also said:
"And your Lord says:"Call on Me and I will answer your(prayer)."(Soorsh Mu'min 40:60)
it is worth noting that the basic message of Islam is that Allah and His creation are distinctly different entities. Neither is Allah His creation or a part of it, nor is His creation Him or a part of Him.
This might seem obvious, but, man's worship of creation instead of the Creator is to a large degree based on ignorance of this concept. It is the belief that the essence of Allah is everywhere in His creation or that His divine being is or was present in some aspects of His creation, which has provided justification for the worship of creation though such worship maybecalled the worship of Allah through his creation. How ever, the message of Islam as brought by the prophets of Allah is to worship only Allah and to avoid the worship of his creation either directly or indirectly. In the Our'aan Allah clearlystates:
"For We assuredly sent amongst every people a prophet,(with the command) worship meand avoid false gods " (Soorsh Al-Nahl 16:36)
When the idol worshipper is questioned as to why he or she bows down to idols created by men, the invariable reply is that they are not actually worshipping the stone image, but Allah who is present within it. They claim that the stone idol is only a focal point for Allah's essence and is not in itself Allah! One who has accepted the concept of the presence of God's being within His creation in any way will be obliged to accept this argument of idolatry. Whereas, one who understands the basic message of Islam and its implications would never concede to idolatry no matter how it is rationalized. Those who have claimed divinity for themselves down through the ages have often based their claims on the mistaken belief that Allah is present in man. They merely had to assert that although Allah according to their false beliefs, is in all of us, He is more present in them than in the rest of us. Hence, they claim, we should submit our will to them and worship them as they are either God in person or God concentrated within the person.
Similarly, those who have asserted the godhood of others after their passing have found fertile ground among those who accept the false belief of God's presence in man. One who has grasped the basic message of Islam and its implications could never agree to worship another human being under any circumstances. God's religion in essence is a clear call to the worship of the Creator and the rejection of creation-worship in any form. This is the meaning of the motto of Islam:
"Laa Elaaha lllallaah" (There is no god but Allah)
Its repetition automatically brings one within the fold of Islam and sincere belief in it guarantees one Paradise.
Thus, the final Prophet of Islam is reported to have said, "Any one who says: There is no god but Allah and dies holding that (belief) will enter paradise".(Reported by Abu Dharr and collected by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).
It consists in the submission to Allah as one God, yielding to Him by obeying His commandments, and the denial of polytheism and polytheists.
The Great Challenge to Produce One Chapter Like the Chapters of the Holy Quran.
God has said in the Quran:
And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed (the Quran) to Our worshiper (Muhammad ), then produce a chapter like it, and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides God if you are truthful. And if you do not do it, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones. It has been prepared for disbelievers. And give good news (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good deeds, that for them are gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow.... (Quran, 2:23-25)
Ever since the Quran was revealed, fourteen centuries ago, no one has been able to produce a single chapter like the chapters of the Quran in their beauty, eloquence, splendor, wise legislation, true information, true prophecy, and other perfect attributes. Also, note that the smallest chapter in the Quran (Chapter 108) is only ten words, yet no one has ever been able to meet this challenge, then or today.1 Some of the disbelieving Arabs who were enemies of the Prophet Muhammad tried to meet this challenge to prove that Muhammad was not a true prophet, but they failed to do so.2 This failure was despite the fact that the Quran was revealed in their own language and dialect and that the Arabs at the time of Muhammad were a very eloquent people who used to compose beautiful and excellent poetry, still read and appreciated today.
The smallest chapter in the Holy Quran
The smallest chapter in the Holy Quran (Chapter 108) is only ten words, yet no one has ever been able to meet the challenge to produce one chapter like the chapters of the Holy Quran.
VIRTUES of SALATUL AWWABEEN: 6 or 20 NAFL RAKA'AH
Hadrat Ayeshah narrated that the Rasoolallah said: For the person who offers 20 Raka'ah nafl after the Maghrib Salat Allah Ta'ala will make a house for him in Paradise. {Tirmidhi, Mishkat, Tarteeb Shareef pg. 169}
Hadrat Abu Hurairah narrated that the Rasoolallah said: The person who offers 6 Raka'ah Nafl after the Maghrib Salah, and does not speak evil in between receives rewards equal to 12 years of worship. {Tirmidhi, Mishkat, Tarteeb Shareef pg. 169}
How to perform prayers of Ishraq, Duha (Chaasht), Awabeen, Tahajjud, Tasbeeh, Hajaat to the benefits of greatness that accrue from them.
Prayer of Ishraq
Salatud Duha [Chaasht]
Salatul Awwabeen
Prayer of Tahajjud
Salatul Tasbih
Salatul Hajaat
Prayer of Ishraq
The beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has said: Those who perform the Fajr prayer in congregation (Jamaa’at), read the Zikr (remembrance of Allah) till the sun has completely arisen (length of a spear from the horizon, after 20 minutes of sunrise) and read 2 Raka-at Nafil prayer, will have the benedictions (sawaab) equal to those of Haj-Umrah. It is recommended to read the Surah Fateha and Ayyat-uk-Kursi till Khaalidoon, in the first Raka-at, and in the second Raka-at to read, after Surah Fateha, Aamanar Rasul till the end of Suratul Baqarah. In the case that this verse cannot be read from memory, one can recite any other verse and then ask Duas. Woman should read all prayers of Farz and Nafil at home and will derive the same benefits (sawaab) that accrue from prayer performed at the Mosque (Tirmizi Shareef).
Salatul Duha [Chaasht]
The beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has said: For the one that has read the 12 Raka-at Salatud Duha, Allah will build for him a golden castle in paradise, and the one that always reads the 2 Raka-ats of Chaasht will have his sins forgiven even though they may be of oceanic dimensions (Tirmizi and Then Maaja). The prayer of Chaasht consists of 2 Raka-at and of a maximum of 12 Raka-ats. It should be read between the time the sun has completely risen from the horizon and before Zawal (zenith of the sun).
Salatul Awwabeen
This Nafil prayer is read after the Farz (Fard) and Sunnat of Maghrib. It consist of a minimum of 6 Raka-ats and this Nafil prayer procures many benedictions (blessings) and mercy.
Prayer of Tahajjud
Our Master, the beloved Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has said: In Paradise there is a castle reserved for those who read Tahajjud and the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) further adds, those who pray at night will enter paradise without having to account for their acts in this life. The Nafils of Tahajjud are read after the Esha prayer, but it is important to sleep before performing Tahajjud. The prayer consists of a minimum of 2 Raka-ats, and a maximum of 8 or 12 Raka-ats (to be read according ones capacity).
After Esha prayers sleep for some time, then wake up any time during the night before the rise of morning for Tahajjud prayers. With the performance of 2 Rakats you have duly achieved your Tahajjud. However, the performance of 8 Rakats in Sunnat, and complying with the practice of the Holy Saints of Islam and performing 12 Rakats is commendable.
It is recommended that you recite in your prayers as much of the Sacred Quran as you know. If you happen to know by heart the whole of the Sacred Quran you may, in at least 3 nights or most 4 nights of Tahajjud effectuate the complete reading of the Sacred Quran.
Otherwise, you may recite 3 Surah Ikhlas (Qul Hu Allahu Ahad) after your "Alhamdu..." in every Rakat and you will thus derive full benefits of the full recital of the Sacred Quran in every Rakat.
Salatul Tasbih
Our beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had taught this Nafil prayer to his Uncle, Hazrat Abbas (RA) and told him; He who performs this prayer will have his past and future sins forgiven. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has recommended to read this prayer daily on each Friday or once a month or once a year, in case of this not being possible, to read it even once in one’s life. This Nafil prayer provides limitless benefits both in the material and spiritual life.
How to perform this Nafil:
After having pronounced one’s intention (Niyat), say Allaho-Akbar, read "Subhanaka-Alla humma" completely (Sana), read now 15 times "Subhaanallah wal hamdo Lillaah wala illaha Illallah Wallah-o-Akbar." Then read Aoozu billah and Bismillah (completely) and Surah Fateha. Then recite 10 times the Tasbih mentioned above and go to Ruku. Here also recite 10 times the Tasbih before raising yourself to read another 10 times the same Tasbih, this time in a standing position. Then prostrate (Sajdah) and read 10 times the Tasbih, sit now and read again 10 times this Tasbih (Jalsa) and prostrate again, Tasbish 10 times in the 2nd Raka-at begin by reading 15 times this Tasbih before reading "Bismillah" and Surah Fateha. After that read 10 times the Tasbih and then proceed as in the first Raka-at. To end the second Raka-at, read as usual "Attahiyat", "Durood" and "Duas". Then read 2 other Raka-ats. As in each Raka-at the Tasbih is recited 75 times, it means that in all 4 Raka-at the Tasbih is read 300 times. In the other 2 Raka-at, after "Subhana Rabbiyal-azeem", read the Tasbih 75 times and in the Sajdah (prostrations after Subhaan Rabbiyal-ala) read again 75 times the Tasbih.
Note: No fixed time has been prescribed for this prayer, a fact, which means that besides any time prohibited this prayer, can be read at any time.
Salatul Hajaat
In case of difficulty, illness or of authorized necessity this prayer is read. The beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had taught this to a blind person who, as soon as he performed it, regained his eyesight. (Tirmizi Shareef Tibrani)
To perform this prayer it is recommended to wear one’s best and clean clothes and to perform pleasingly one’s ablution (Wudu). Then 2 Raka-ta Nafil is read in the usual way, after salaam this dua is read:
Allahuma Inni As-aloka wa (Atawassalo) Wa Atawajjaaho ilaika be nabbiyeka Muhammadin nabi yir Rahmate ya Rasullulah. Inni tawajjahto be ka ila Rabbi fi hajaati haa-zehi (here we make our requests (le tuqza li) Allahumma fashaffiho fiya
Translation: O Allah I implore You and I come near You through the intermediary of Your Prophet (Nabee) Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) who is the Prophet of Grace. Ya Rasullullah, through your intercession I implore Allah to accept my request. O Allah grant the intercession of your Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in my favor.
VIRTUES of SUNNAH
"Tell them O' Muhammad that if you love Allah then follow my
footsteps {follow my Sunnah}, Allah Subhanna Wa Ta'la will love you and He will forgive all your sins. Indeed He is Most Forgiving and Merciful."
Indeed following the Sunnah of the Rasoolallah is following the Siratal Mustaqeem. Indeed the very purpose of The Coming of The Rasoolallah was to show his followers how to put the Guidance of the Holy Quran into practice in their lives. This is also why Allah Subhanna Wa Ta'la described His beloved messenger Muhammadin The Quran as Uswatul Husnah {the perfect model} for his followers, and indeed the word "Ummah" which means followers, is in itself self explanatory. How can we be his Ummah without following him?
When Allah Subhanna Wa Ta'la has mentioned in the Holy Quran that He did not create humans and Jinns but for His Worship, it is obvious that worship does not just include rituals of Salat, Fasting, Zakah and Hajj. Since the entire purpose of our creation is to worship our Creator, our entire life is therefore to be spent in His Worship. Indeed this larger worship would include all the hours of the day, every day of the month and every day of the year. If the word worship only meant the compulsory rituals, the Rasoolallah would have finished his mission in just one year. Therefore every aspect of the life of our beloved Prophet Muhammad which is his Sunnah can truly reflect the larger and wider meaning of the word worship.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad saw therefore commanded his holy companions males, females, and his holy wives, very early in his mission to write down and note every action performed by him and everything said by him very carefully and then convey it to those not present. Therefore it is from the collection of the Ahadith {Hadith singular} that we get a clear, picture of his practices, which forms the sum total of the worship of Allah Subhanna Wa Ta'la, as revealed in the Holy Quran. To complete the picture: we need to follow and obey our Beloved Prophet Muhammad to learn how to worship our Lord and Creator; We need to look and follow the Sahabah {companions} May Allah be pleased with them all to learn how closely they obeyed and followed the Rasoolallah in every action of his, from the simplest and common place to the performance of all the compulsory rituals of worship
When there is only a single star left in the sky..
At that very moment, the path of forgiveness will close.
The writing in the Quran will vanish.
The sun will lower itself with the earth.
Prophet Muhammad Salalallahu Alayhi Wassallam said, ‘Who ever delivers this news to someone else,
I will on the Day of Judgement make for him a place in Jannat.’
When Mu’min will enter into Jannah, it will be announced
1. You will remain healthy forever, disease will never come.
2. You will remain alive for ever, death will never come.
3. You will remain in bounties which will never be finished.
Jannah is made with
Bricks of Gold and Silver.
Its cement is of perfumed Musk.
Its chips are pearls and Yaqoot.
Its sand is Zafraan.
There are eight doors of Jannah. These are eight grades of Jannah
1. Jannatul Mava
2. Darul Maqaam
3. Darul Salaam
4. Darul Khuld
5. Jannat-ul-Adan
6. Jannat-ul-Naeem
7. Jannat-ul-Kasif
8. Jannat-ul-Firdous
Jannatul Mava is in the lowest,
Jannat-ul-Adan is the middle &
Jannat-ul- Firdous is on the highest.
Food of Jannah
They will eat foods and fruits continuously up to 40 years.
Every bowl will have a new taste.
They will take eructation which will digest the food and there will be perfumed sweating for the digestion of water.
There will be no urine and stool.
Place Name
There will be gardens in Jannah.
Every garden will have the length of about 100 year’s journey.
The shadow of these gardens will be very dense.
Their plants will be free of thorns.
The size of their leaves will be equal to ears of elephants.
Their fruits will be hanging in rows.
Those who love each other for the sake of Allah will get a pillar of Yaqoot,
On which there will be seventy thousand (70,000) rooms.
These will shine for the residents of Jannah as the sun shines for the residents of Duniya.
There will be rooms in Jannah in such a way that every room will have seventy thousand (70,000) dinning sheets.
On every dinning sheet 70,000 types of foods will be served.
For their service 80,000 young boys will be moving around looking like beautiful scattered pearls.
One bunch of dates will be equal to the length of 12 arms.
The size of a date will be equal to the big pitcher.
These will be whiter than milk, sweeter than honey and softer than butter and free
Of seeds.
The stem of these plants will be made up of gold and silver.
There will also be gardens of grapes. The bunches of grapes will be very big.
The size of a single grape will be equal to a big pitcher.
Someone asked, Ya Rasulullah (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam):
will it be sufficient for me and my family.
It was answered, it will be sufficient for you and your whole tribe.
The Dresses of Jannah
The dress of Jannah will be very beautiful.
One will wear 70 dresses at a time.
These will be very fine, delicate, weightless, having different colors.
These dresses will be so fine that the body even the heart will be visible.
And the waves of love in the hearts will also be visible.
These dresses will never become old, never be dirty and will never tear.
There will be four canals in every Jannah.
1. Water
2. Milk
3. Honey
4. Sharabun Tahoora.
There will also be three fountains in Jannah:
1. Kafoor
2. Zanjabeel
3. Tasneem
Qualities of People of Jannah
In Jannah, height of every Mo ‘min, will be equal to the height of
Hazrat Adam (Alaihissalaam) 60 arms (90 feet).
Beauty will be like that of Hazrat Yousuf (Alaihissalaam).
Age of youth will be like that of Hazrat Esa (Alaihissalaam) 30-33 years).
Sweetness of voice will be like that of Hazrat Dawud (Alaihissalaam).
Tolerance will be like that of Hazrat Yaqoob (Alaihissalaam).
Patience will be like that of Hazrat Ayyub (Alaihissalaam).
Habits will be like that of Sayyaduna Muhammad (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam)
NOTE:
If a person makes Du’a for Jannah three times,
Jannah requests Allah that O, Allah; make his entry into Jannah.
And if a person makes Du’a for safety from Jahannum three times,
The Jahannum requests Allah that, O, Allah; save him from Jahannum.
Please pass on and may Allah grant the entire Ummah of Nabi sallalahu alayhi wasallam Jannat ul Firdous Ameen!
Every good act is charity
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