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)