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