Benefits of Solat

Solat is one of the five fundamental requirements that a Muslim is obligated to perform. Solat is given the highest priority in the Holy Quran. There are many benefits of Solat described in the Book of Allah. It says, innassalata tanha anil fahsha'i, Surely Prayer restrains one from indecency. (29:46) In chapter Luqman, We read that when Hadhrat Luqman was giving advice to his son, the first and foremost on his mind was to remind his son, ya bunayya aqimissalat "O my dear son,! observe Prayer." (31:8)

According to a Hadith the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, inna fissalati shifa'a " verily there is cure in salat ". According to a Muslim scholar, a Muslim who offers solat regularly has very little chance of getting arthritis as we exercise our bones and joints while we offer salat.

In the light of this Hadith we shall endeavor to describe some orthopedic benefits of salat in this short note.

1. Regular exercise reduces cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol causes heart failures, strokes, diabetes and many other ailments. It is a known fact that people in professions where exercise is required have less amount of cholesterol in their bodies.
2. Solat is an excellent form of exercise to prevent indigestion. In the morning when stomach is empty, a Muslim is required to offer fewer number of Rak'aat whereas in the evening after the dinner we offer an extra number of Rak'aat.
3. By offering Takbir at the beginning of solat, we move hand and shoulder muscles thereby increasing the flow of blood towards torso. Akamat performs a similar function.
4. The most important function in solat is sajdah where we touch the ground with our forehead. This posture increases fresh supply of blood to our brain. Needless to say in certain forms of yoga some adherents stand on their heads for the same purpose.
5. In tashah'hud position, our hip, elbow, knee joints, backbone, wrist joints move in a way that it provides a form of relaxation to our entire body. Pressure is applied on the body parts as if it was a kind of massage which releases tension.
6. Heart in the most important organ in the body. It supplies fresh blood to all body tissues. These body movements performed during salat are an excellent source of exercise for our heart as well. According to a Hadith of the Holy Prophet,"There is an organ in the body, when it is healthy, the whole body is healthy, and when this is sick, the entire body becomes sick". It is the heart.
7. A remarkable tissue in our body is cartilage. It is unique in being a living tissue with no direct blood supply. The only way it receives nutrients and oxygen is by movements of the joints. The pumping effect forces blood into the joint area which would otherwise be bypassed. Those who sit at the terminals are in greater danger of ending up with dead cartilage tissues that will subsequently wear away. This will leave us with arthritis, painful joints and paralysis. Bacteria and viruses find safe haven in joints for this reason as no blood cell can get at them and in most cases neither can antibodies. Solat therefore, has many orthopedic benefits for all Muslims. Next time you offer solat, thank Almighty Allah that He made you a Muslim. Indeed, there is cure in solat.

Isya Prayer

Isha prayer consist of 4 rakaat which is same as like the zuhur and asr prayers and isha prayer is the fifth fardhu prayer in Islam..‘Isha prayer must be performed before midnight, and it is not permissible to delay it until midnight, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The time of ‘Isha’ is until midnight” (narrated by Muslim, al-Masaajid wa Mawaadi’ al-Salaah, 964). So you have to pray it before midnight, based on the length of the night, because the night may be longer or shorter, so the guideline is how many hours the night lasts. If the night is ten hours long, then it is not permissible to delay it until the end of the fifth hour. The best way it to pray it in the first third of the night. If a person prays it at the beginning of the time for ‘Isha, that is OK, but if he delays it a little while, that is preferable, because the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recommend delaying ‘Isha’ prayer for a little while. But if someone prays it at the beginning of its time, after the twilight – the reddish afterglow along the horizon – has vanished, there is nothing wrong with that. And Allaah knows best.

Maghrib Prayer Tutorial

This video enhance a clear understanding on how to pray the Maghrib Prayer....

Tutorial about Asr Prayer

Source : Youtube Video

Zuhr Prayer (Noon Prayer)

Time Duration : After the sun begins to decline from its zenith until it is about midway on its course to set.

Ra'kaats         :  4 Sunna (Muakadda) + 4 Farad + 2 Sunna (Muakadda) + 2 Nafl (Non obligatory)

Umm Habibah (radiallahu anha) reported: The Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa salam) said, "Whoever observes the practice of performing four Rak`ah before Zuhr prayer and four (2 sunnah, 2 nafl) after the Zuhr prayer, Allah will shield him against the Fire (of Hell)."

[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

Commentary: This Ahadith mean that a person who follows this course of practice, will die as a Muslim and will not remain in Hell for ever like the Kuffar (infidels) unless Allah has forgiven all his sins for him and would, as a result, save him from Fire altogether. That is, Almighty Allah will not let him live in Hell for ever. According to some Ahadith, the fire of Hell will not touch him, which also amounts to saying that he will not be kept in Hell for all eternity. If a Muslim is liable to punishment, his stay in Hell - for a few days or weeks or months depending on the nature of his sins - is not a contravention of such Ahadith because he will ultimately be released from Hell and brought to Jannah. "Allah will shield him against the Fire'' should not be taken to mean that a Muslim will not be sent to Hell no matter what he does. If Almighty Allah does not forgive him in the very first instance, he will have to suffer the torment of Hell as long as He would like and then he will be sent to Jannah.

`Abdullah bin As-Sa'ib (radiallahu anh) reported: The Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa salam) used to perform four Rak`ah prayer after the declining of the sun before Zuhr prayer and would say, "This is an hour at which the gates of heaven are opened, and I like that my good deeds should rise to heaven at that time.''

[At-Tirmidhi].

Commentary: The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasalam) used to perform the four Rak`ah Sunnah of Zuhr prayer when the sun started declining. In fact, except for `Isha' prayer, he would perform every Salat at its early hours.

The phrase "the gates of heaven are opened'' means that the good deeds that people do are lifted to the heavens at that time.

`Aishah (radiallahu anha) reported: If the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa salam) could not perform four Rak`ah before Zuhr prayer, he would perform them after it (i.e., after the obligatory prayer).

[At-Tirmidhi].

Commentary: This Hadith tells us about the preparation which the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa salam) used to make for performing the Sunnah. Every Muslim should, therefore, make full preparation for performing Sunnah. If one is unable to perform it before the Fard prayer, then one must do it afterwards.

source : http://www.muftisays.com/blog/Seifeddine-M/359_20-06-2010/the-importance-and-virtues-of-the-sunnah-salah.html

Importance of Subuh (Fajr) Prayer

It is easy to understand how the idea of Muslims praying five mandatory prayers a day is misunderstood to mean that they pray only those five observances and no more. The key word here is mandatory.

Muslims should know the great status of fajr in the sight of Allah. Allah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) “Establish regular prayers at the sun’s decline till the darkness of the night, and the recital of the Qur’an in the fajr prayer, for the recital of the fajr is witnessed” (Al-Israa 17:78)

In addition, the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever prays the fajr prayer in congregation, it is as if he (or she) had prayed the whole night long.” [Muslim & Tirmidhi]. Now, to show the seriousness of missing this prayer, we present the Hades of the Prophet (PBUH) “The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are ishaa and fajr, but if they only knew what they contain, they would come even if they had to crawl.” [Ahmad]

The Fajr (dawn) prayer is amongst the most important acts of worship, being one of the five obligatory prayers. Unfortunately many of us have become so used to missing it at its prescribed time – which ends at sunrise – that we have forgotten its position in our religion, and barely feel anything is wrong when we wake up in the morning for work or school without having performed the fajr prayer. On the other hand, if one of us was to miss a job interview or a flight, we all know how disappointed he or she would feel.

Do not let Satan benefit from his actions. Do not put off a good that you intended to do as you never know how much reward you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good.

Source : http://www.quranreading.com/blog/islamic-knowledge/the-importance-of-fajr-prayer/

Praying Jamaah

Pray together praying which so ray from the Prophet. Deeding obligatory not perfect if doing self in fact of this attitude are indication hypocrite are the most obvious are said from the friends from Prophet Ibnu Mas’ud “No persons who difference pray jamaah without hypocrite persons who clear his hypocrite”.

That truth pray jamaah (congregation) is way perfect to start together sturdy, because all persons who rukuk and sujud to Allah all persons will be bend down one direction and just say The Name of Allah, one Illah. When they pray on back the leader of communal player, they stand up in one close ranks, so they will forget with their world material, they sujud to Allah are servants, there is not who so high, their head and there is not the best face, Imam Muslim story in his shahih from Abi Hurairah, He said Rasullullah said:

Generally praying is so important for our life, especially pray jamaah with high class and it use which so high, and so Islam very defects to persons who forget praying.

source : http://engassalaam.blogspot.com/2009/03/praying-jamaah.html

Obligatory Prayer (Shalat Fardhu)

In this post i would like to discuss regarding the Obligatory Prayer and in Islamic terms is known as "SHALAT FARDHU"..Each of every single Muslims are compulsory to perform Obligatory Prayer FIVE times a day....each day the 1st prayer begins with Subuh Prayer, Zuhur Prayer, As'r Prayer, Maghrib Prayer and Isya' Prayer....

So, i would like to discuss about the procedures in order how to perform the obligatory prayers..Subuh Prayer and Maghrib Prayer has differences on the ra'kaat which subuh consist of 2 ra'kaat and maghrib is 3 ra'kaat whereby Zuhur, As'r and Isya' consist of 4 ra'kaat on each prayers.....

For shalat with 4 Raka'at (shalat zuhur, as'r,isya')

1st Raka'at

1.Niat (Intention) - *Rukun

-Made in the heart, not verbal & can be in any language.

2.Qiyam (Stand) - *Rukun

-Feet slightly apart, not very wide apart, equal weight on both feet. Eyes focused on the place of sujud.

-Body upright, not slouching.

3.Say Takbiratul Ihram, "Allahu Akhbar" (Opening Takbir - Entry to shalat) - *Rukun

-Verbal, not in the heart. Cannot be said in any other language.

-Hands raised to ear level (for men) or to shoulder level (for women).

-Fingers not apart or tightly closed, palms facing qiblah.

4.Position right hand/arm on the left hand/arm, placed on chest/above the navel.

5.Recite Basmallah, Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim," then do'a iftitah (opening do'a) - *Sunnah

6. Recite Al-Fatihah - *Rukun

-Verbal, not in the heart. To be recited accurately

- To say 'amin' together with imam is sunnah muakadah.

Note: Improper to say 'amin' before imam (for shalat jemaah).

7. Recite a surah from Al Quran (For 1st and 2nd raka’at) – *Sunnah

8. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

· Hands raised as in the opening takbir.

9. Ruku’ (Bowing down) – *Rukun

· Correct position, no ‘stealing’: Back and head straight, parallel to the ground. Hand on knees (not below or above knees). Elbow away from body (for men) or close to body (for women).

· With tuma’ninah (pause for the duration of 1 tasbih at least).

· Say tasbih for ruku’ 3 times – *Sunnah

Common mistakes: Elbow bent hence back is stooped too low and position is not firm.

10. Straightening up from ruku’ and raise your hands as in the opening takbir.

· Say ‘Sami ‘allahu liman hamidah’ (Allah hears who praises Him) – *Sunnah

11. I’tidal (Upright posture after ruku’) – *Rukun

· Hands by the side

· With tuma’ninah

· Say ‘Rabbana lakalhamd’ (O our lord, to You the praise is due)

Common mistakes: Hunched body. Swinging of arms 3 times or more. No pause at all. Raised hands facing upwards.

12. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

13. Sujud (Prostration) – *Rukun

· 7 parts of the body must touch the ground: the forehead (& nose), 2 palms of the hands, 2 knees and the toes of the 2 feet.

· For men: Elbows raised and away from body and abdomen lifted from thighs OR

· For women: Elbows close to body and trunks close to thighs.

· With tuma’ninah

· Say tasbih for sujud 3 times – *Sunnah

Common mistakes: Elbows close to body, arms flat on the floor, toes pointing backwards, feet lifted off the floor.

14. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

15. Sit between sujud – *Rukun

· Sitting iftirasy: The buttock is sitting on the left feet which is flat on the ground, right feet upright with toes pointing towards qiblah.

· Hands on thighs with fingertips aligned with the tips of knees.

· Body straight.

· With tuma’ninah

· Say ‘Rabbighfir li warhamni wajburni warfa’ni warzuqni wahdini wa ‘afini wa fu’anni (O my lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, fulfill my needs, raise me, provide for me, guide me, and protect me from sickness, pardon my sins) – *Sunnah

Common mistakes: Feet cross over each other with buttock sitting on them. Body bent.

16. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

17. Sujud (Prostration) – *Rukun

18. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

2nd Raka’at

19. Qiyam (as in no. 2) – *Rukun

20. Repeat no.6 to 17

21. Sit for 1st Tashahud – *Sunnah

· Sitting iftirasy: The buttock is sitting on the left feet which flat on the ground, right feet upright with toes pointing towards qiblah.

· Left hand on left thigh with fingertips aligned with tips of knees. Clench right hand and place on right thigh.

· Body straight.

Recite 1st Tashahud – *Sunnah

· Point the index finger of the right hand towards the qiblah at the recitation of ‘ilallah’.

· Eyes fixed on the index finger – eyes as the witness to your finger pointing and declaring that there is no other god other than Allah.

· Recite Salaawah Prophet Muhammad

This is a few words of prayer for the Prophet (PBUH – peace be upon him). The simplest salaawah is by saying: Allaahumma salli ‘alla Muhammad

22. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

· Hands raised to ear level same as in the opening takbir.

3rd Raka’at

23. Qiyam (as in no.2) – *Rukun

24. Repeat no.6 to 18

4th Raka'at

25. Qiyam (as in no.2) – *Rukun

26. Repeat no.6 to 17

27. Sitting for Final Tashahud – *Rukun

· Sitting tawaruq: The buttock is sitting on the ground, the left feet is underneath the right leg with the right feet upright, its toes pointing towards kiblat.

· Left hand on left thigh with fingertips aligned with tips of knee. Clench right hand and place on right thigh.

· Body straight.

Recite Final Tashahud

· Point the index finger of the right hand towards the qiblah at the recitation of ‘ilallah’.

· Eyes fixed on the index finger.

· Recite Salaawah Prophet Muhammad and Ibrahim.

28. Salaam/Taslim – Exit from shalat – *Rukun

This is to announce the end of Shalat:

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum warahmatullaah

Meaning: Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.

As you say the taslim, turn your head to the right (endpoint of shalat) and then left.

source : http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150155380720510

Ghusl (Full Shower)

You must perform a ghusl (full shower) in order to pray after:

1.                  You perform sexual intercourse.

2.                  Your menstruation ends.

3.                  Your postpartum bleeding ends.

4.                  You give birth to a child, even if it was without bleeding.

5.                  Your maniyy is emitted

How to Perform Ghusl

After removing any najas from the body, the ghusl is performed in the following way:

1.                  It is obligatory for you to intend in the heart to perform the obligation of ghusl when the water first touches your body.

2.                  It is obligatory to wash the whole body with water, including all of the hair. It is recommended to to do this three times.

When performing either the wudu' or ghusl, all substances which prevent water from reaching the parts to be washed and wiped must be removed. Examples are: nail polish on fingernails and toenails and waterproof mascara.

source : http://www.sunna.info/prayer/TheBasicsoftheMuslimsPrayer.php#Taharah (Purification)

Process of Wudhu (Ablution)

MAKING INTENTION FOR WUDHU (NIYAT)

Before starting the actions or wudhu it is necessary to make niyat. Make niyat that the act of performing wudhu is for the purpose of purity only. Niyat should be made in the heart because it is an action of the heart and not of the tongue.

Niyat by words is not approved by Prophet Muhammad(saw).Then start the wudu by saying:-

Bismillah hir rahma nir-raheem (In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful)

ACTIONS FOR PERFORMING ABLUTION.

Wash the hands-up to the wrist making sure that no pan of the hands Is left dry.

Rinse the mouth taking up water with the right hand.

Clean the nose: sniff water up front the right palm and then eject water with the left hand.

Wash the face from ear to ear, and forehead to chin make sure that no part of the face is left dry.

Then wash the forearms (right forearm first) up to the elbows making sure that no part of them is left dry.

Rub the head as follows:- Wet your fingers and then wipe the head with your fingers starting from the forehead, taking them to the nape of the neck, then bring them back to the forehead.

Clean the ears by inserting the tips of the index fingers waned with water into the ears, twist them around the folds of the ears then pass the thumb behind the ears from the bottom, upwards.

Wash the feet (right foot first) up to the ankles making sure that no parts of the feat are left dry, especially between the toes.

SPECIAL FACILITIES IN ABLUTION

Rubbing the socks with wet hands instead of washing the feet is allowed provided that the socks have been put on after performing an ablution, including washing the feet. This is allowed for 24 hours from the time of ablution, and for 3 days if the person is on a journey. After this time the feet must bit washed. Similarly if them is a wound in any parts of the body, which has

to be washed in ablution, and if washing that particular part is likely to cause harm, it is permissible to wipe the dressing of the wound with wet hand.

HADITH

Mughira bin shubah said, " Prophet (saw) performed ablution and wiped over his socks and sandals." (Ahmad, Tirmizi, Abu Dawud, and Ibn- Majah).

Each detail of ablution has been performed by Prophet Muhammad(saw) once, twice or three times (except rubbing of head and cleaning of ears, i.e. actions 6 and 7 should only be done once.Since all the above methods meet Prophet's (saw) approval we can perform ablution by doing the actions once, twice or three times, provided that no part has been left dry.

Amr bin Shuaib, quoting his father on the authority of his grandfather narrated that Prophet Muhammad(saw) said, "If anyone performs actions of ablution more than 3 times, he has done wrong, transgressed and done wickedly. (Nisai, Ibn Majah)

DU'A  AT THE END OF ABLUTION

"Ash hadu an lailaha illal lahu wah dahu la shareeka lahu wa ash hadu an-na Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluhu". (Muslim)

I testify that there is no deity except Allah alone. And I testify that Muhammad(saw) is His servant and messenger." 

Source : http://wwwhttp://www.islam.com/salat/wudhu.htm.islam.com/salat/wudhu.htm

Wudhu (Ablution for Prayer)

The Holy Prophet (peace be on him) said,

"WUDHU is the key to prayer as prayer is the key to Paradise. ISLAM lays extreme stress on cleanliness and "TAHARAT". 

As external actions have deep impact upon internal feelings, such as artificial crying makes a person sad as well as artificial laughter makes one happy so is cleanliness and ablution.

Purified body lends to purity of mind, however, cleanliness which is ablution, or wudhu, has been made compulsory before each prayer and in certain cases even a full bath has been made obligatory before prayer.

A Muslim is required to perform ablution (Wudhu) before Salat. Ablution prepares one mentally for Salat and it also helps concentration in prayer. It is essential to wash or moisturize these parts of the body to generate concentration because the dispersion of thoughts is due to the keenness of the body's five senses. The centers of the five senses are the eyes, ears, nose mouth, hands and feet. It has been proven from the expertise of neurologists that the chain of thought can be rerouted by cooling fingers of the hands and feet. They also say that concentration of thoughts can be achieved by cooling the nerv-ends. That is the Philosophy of Wudhu. A Mulim stands before his Creator by cooling nerve-ends of his body with Wudhu water and concentrating all his thoughts for the worship of the All-Mighty.

In Wudhu, we wash or moisturize the nerve-ends of the hands, feet, hair, mouth, nose and ears. All the main nerve-ends of the body are touched in Wudhu in one way or another. Perfect concentration of thoughts to create the proper worshipping atmosphere is thus attained.

As we learn from everyday experience that a person who has fainted can be brought back to his consc iousness by sprinkling water on his face, hands and feet which clearly proves our theory. That is why a Muslim is expected to achieve his external as well as internal consciousness by performing Wudhu.

Cleanliness and dirt are not compatible. Allah is clean and whosoever loves Him must be clean, externally as well as internally. Prayer, which is contact with Allah, is therefore unacceptable unless the person, who wants to contact his Lord, is clean. The Holy Prophet (peace be on him) said,

"The prayer of a person who does "HADATH" (passes urine, stool or wind) is not accepted till he performs or repeats Wudhu, the ablution."

Because the Muslim Ummah is expected to be the cleanest by performing ablution at least five times a day, the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) therefore, gave glad tidings that "On the day of Resurrection, my followers will be called "Ghurrul Muhajjaleen" the bright armed and bright faced, from the traces of ablution on them. Therefore, whosoever can increase the area of his radiance should try to do so by always performing ablution before the prayers. (Bukhari, Kitabul Wudhu).

Source : http://www.islamdoor.com/Prayers.htm