Perfecting Salah Through Voluntary Prayers PDF

UNIT 3: FIQH ( Perfecting Sal ah thr oug h Vo lun tar y Prayers In this chapter, you will learn about: The centralit y of ~alah in Islam. Nafl ~alahs and other special actions related to ~alah. Perform ing ~alah with perfectio n. Salah is the most importan t of all the religious actions; t...

UNIT 3: FIQH ( Perfecting Sal ah thr oug h Vo lun tar y Prayers In this chapter, you will learn about: The centralit y of ~alah in Islam. Nafl ~alahs and other special actions related to ~alah. Perform ing ~alah with perfectio n. Salah is the most importan t of all the religious actions; therefore , a Muslim must guard this special act of worship and pillar of Islam to succeed in both worlds. The caliph 'Umar ~ would ensure all his governor s understo od the importan ce of ~alah by writing to them: "Whoeve r safeguar ds [~alah] and is punctua l with it will safeguar d their religion, and whoever neglects it will be more neglectf ul in all other matters."' Along with farQ ~alahs (compuls ory prayers), nafl ~alahs (voluntar y prayers) are also beneficia l for a Muslim. This is because nafl ~alahs are a means of completi ng and perfectin g the farQ. The Prophet ~ explaine d this as follows: "Indeed, the first deed a servant will be called to account for on the Day of Resurrec tion is their ~alah. If it is complete , they will be successfu l and saved; but if it is defective [and incomple te], they will have failed and lost. So, if someone is deficient in their farQ prayers, then the Lord - Mighty and Majestic - will say: 'See [if] My servant has any voluntar y prayers.' And through them, the shortage in their farQ prayers will be complete d. Then, the rest of their deeds will be dealt with in a like manner." 2 PERFECTING SALAH THROUGH VOLUNTARY PRAYERS 77 In a b.adith qudsi, Allah db.- says: "My servant gains nearness e Sunnah !?alah to Me through nothing more beloved to Me than what I made Remember, natl ~alahs are in compulsory for them. My servant continues to gain nearness to addition to the sunnah prayers Me through voluntary acts until I love them[...]."3 This b.adith that are performed before and explains that, for a Muslim, gaining closeness to Allah d&., after a far~. The Prophet ~ begins with doing farg (compulsory) acts of worship, and then said regarding the sunnah prayers: "Whoever performs continuing with nafl acts until one reaches the ultimate goal, 12 rak'ahs in a day and night, which is gaining the love of Allah d&.,. a house will be built for them In worshipping Allah db.-, the Prophet #.f;, said that he found inJannah: comfort in ~alah, and thus he used to perform a lot of voluntary prayers. The diagram below highlights these. Four before ?uhr and two after it, Two after Maghrib Two after 'Ishii' and Two before Fajr" (TirmidhT: 415). Nafl ~alah during the day One should not run to l;alah even $alat al-lshraq if running late The prayer after sunrise The Prophet mfe has said: "Whoever performs the morning prayer ($alat al-Fajr) in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then performs two rak'ahs, I they will receive the reward of a [complete] l:lajj and an 'umrah."4 Quantity: 2 rak'ahs (units) Time: Shortly after sunrise $alat al-i;>ut,a The mid-morning prayer Note: Many scholars have also Allah has said in a IJadith qudsT: explained that $alat al-lshraq "O son of Adam, perform four Among the wisdom of and al-0u!Ja are both one and rak'ahs for Me at the beginning of the same, and can be performed performing l;alah is that it the day, [and] I shall take care of as 2,4,8, or more units.7 teaches punctuality and you for the rest [of the day)."5 time-management This The Prophet ifP- advised some of Quantity: up to four rak'ahs discipline is required not his companions to perform $alat (units), performed in units of only for l;alah, but it also two. 8 extends to all aspects of a al-0u!Ja and they did not leave it for as long as they lived.8 Time: mid-morning. Muslim's life. Nafl ,atah at night ~ One reason f.... their sacrific. or this reward.. 1ng Sle al-Tahajjud: "The ~P for ~alat IS Salat al-Tahaliud gardens and s. Pious Will b (Qiyiim al-Layl, the 'night prayer') Pnngs Sin what their Lo d. ' receiv·ing r Will h them. Before th· ave 9ive This Is a voluntary prayer, usually. [in th e,r is, they nto deeds) Th Were 9 performed in the final hours of the little at night; a~d ~~ useo to~ 1 night. The Prophet @ said: "The before dawn th he hours P night prayer is two by two,"9 ex- f ' ' ey WOUid org1veness" (51 ·15 c!Sk for plaining that the rak'ahs of Tahallud · -18), are performed in units of two. Additionally $alat I ' a -Taha·· was also a pract,· JJlJd , ceofpre · $alat al-Tahallud is one of the first prophets 11,. I. V1ous r~. n expla,nin acts Allah ~ ordered the Prophet method for worship at.g the best tffJ, to do. He used to perform this performed the night prayer in a Prophet ~ said· "Th night, the f-!'ff. e best o~,- prayer at home and even while beautiful and lengthy manner, all the $alah of Dawud ( ""'ah is travelling.10 This is because of the throughout the year. 12 1 to sleep half the nigh;·· ·t He u~ , 8 and[1n status of this prayer. The Prophet prayer} for a third of it and Furthermore, Allah ~ promises 1 · · sixth of it. 13seep ~ said, "The best $81ah after the [the remaining} farc;l is the night prayer, " 11 and he a great reward for the righteous. The $alah of Dawud ® Be consistent Pray'811t When one perfonns $aJit al-Tahajjud, one should try IW1d re- main consistent The Prophet i once advised a companion: "0 'Abdullah, do not be like so-and-so: he used to s1a1d at Sleep half Sleep night [in prayer), then abandoned the night final 1 'G of tl1e standing at night fin prayerr 111qlit (Bukhari: 1152). The Prophet ~ pertormed Tahajjud and Wllr together. Including the three rak'ahs ol ~~ Wttr, the Prophet Mfl! pertormed 9 rak'ahs. ~ 11 and sometiffl89 13 (l1nllkli= 440 444). 'nyyola'bellttDpe rfolffl~ at It. spedfledtlme- - : ,.. Is not pti I..... Vo",~.,_ltd perfuilmll8 tw0.:,:...... wlhthe...... Other occasional natl !?alah Salat al-Taraw'il:I The prayer with rests The Prophet i!: said: "Whoever stands [in $alah] in the [nights oij Ramac;lan, all their previous sins are forgiven for them." 14 11n1n1n- -· _... - ~ ·--..... - ''9'~ 1n~rrJT7 He also said: "Whoever stands :~~~~~~-~~\~'~ ~ -,.~ ;~:fir pn $alah) with the imam until he turns away, a [full) night's [prayer] ~ · ~ ','.';," ~ ', ~ ',..... 1::::::.' ff,-r- is recorded for them." 15 This is performed only in the month of Ramac;lan, after the 'lsha' prayer. ~~ The practice in Makkah and Madfnah from the caliphate of ii.~-..:....,_..,:_4-.~~.. _ __ ---- 'Umar ~ until today has been to perform 20 rak'ahs of TarawTI:i every Ramac;lan. $alat al-Kusuf $alat al- Khusuf $alat al-lstisqa' The prayer of solar eclipse The prayer of lunar eclipse The prayer for rainfall During a solar eclipse, the The Prophet ~ said: "Indeed, During a drought, the Prophet i!: Prophet ~ and his companions the sun and the moon do not begged Allah ~ for rainfall and. performed a lengthy $alah in eclipse due to someone's death; performed a two-rak'ah $8lah. 19 congregation. 16 rather, they are signs of Allah's signs. So, when you see them If there is a drought, Muslims can $alat al-Kusuf is sunnah [eclipsing], stand and pray." 18 perform this prayer. It is performed mu'akkadah. It is performed in exactly like $alat al-Eid, with the two rak'ahs with long recitations This is a two-rak'ah $alah extra takbTrs across both rak'ahs. (performed out loud), long ruku' performed at the time of a lunar However, there is no khutbah after and long sujOd.17 This $81ah is eclipse. It is performed in the the $8lah, but du'a' and the takbir performed only at the time of a same way as $alat al-Kusot. of Eid before it. 20 solar eclipse. So UNIT Special deeds related to ,alah The Prop h t :i#t. also taught other special acti e~ ons associated with ~alah. They are to the main actions of prayer and are. fd ,_, d. umque types o u a an d SUJud ,_. one nad · Some of these 1. ditio performed outside of ~alah. n actions are. Ounut al-Nazilah -. The supplication d ue to a~ ~-hen a calamity befalls. it 1s advisable to mak Mushrns,.. ns1ng from rukO ' in th edu'a' "'icr ""- , esec ond ra k ah of $alat al-Fajr. This i QunOt al-Nazilah. scalled After rising from rukii' the. _.. , 111lam(~ a person,~.raymg individually) Yll'D make du a for the Muslims Who s~ffering ~rom hardship. The in : WIii do this audibly. -- -- ---- --- - - -- - -------- - Sajdat al-Tilawah Method: The prostration of recitation occasions, then two sajdahs Go into sujOd saying takb, become necessary. tasbil), then rise again whi::,..,. There are 14 verses in the Qur'an nouncing the takbTr. that require a Sajdat al-Tilawah Note: Try to recite these ayat after they are recited. For exampl quietly to avoid making the sajdml e, Additional rules: when the Prophet @Ip, recited SOr necessary on someone who might ah al-Najm, he prostrated. 21 not be ready to perform tt. Starting and finishing from the sitting position is permissible. Hearing ayat of sujud on alive Rules: esajdat al-Tilawah is wajib upon broadcast will require asajdah. I Only one sajdah is necessary If it is a recording, no sajdah is all who recite or hear an ayah of from one ayah, even if one read sajdah from the Qur'an. s/ necessary. hears it many times. However, Menstruating women are not required to perform it. if read/heard on two separate  II ~:;':itarA (::· '!~ ~~" - : if!"-~~'!~:!": r_,.._ _ ~ {',~·;-~~":f/J,liJIJil?iii~ - - - ~,.,.,-. :;o:,'!'.._~ ~ ~:~~....z:c.:E.-,;:;i'.:l,j:'~.~ '\ 1~.;..r -- PERFECTING SALAH THROUGH VOLUNTARY PRAYERS 81 Sajdat al-Shukr The prostration of gratitude When informed about a man having accepted Islam, the Prophet ~ thanked Allah &, by prostrating. 22 This is called Sajdat al-Shukr. Performing Sajdat al- Shukr at the occurrence of a new blessing is musta!Jabb. Method: As with everything related to ~alah, one must be in a state of wuc;iu' and face the qiblah when performing Sajdat al-Tilawah and Sajdat al-Shukr. iWI  82 UNIT. ~alah is disliked unless it is should ensu done to aid concentration. retha tucked into t t tops ~- rouse....e exposing the b rs to avoid Use common sense when ·-d ackwh·1I e ir1 suiu. Girls sh0 performing ~alah in public. Do £orearms and uidellsure ,L not block paths and walkways. c. II Iower I 'lie tU y covered. egs are The Prophet~ said: "Do not sit in the pathways." He then added, if one must do so, then "give the path its right"2J Perfecting ~alah: Avoid heavily populated tips and advice areas when performing ~alah in public. Instead, find a quiet Be mindful of others and calm spot; and if using when performing ~alah in a private space, always seek congregation. For instance, permission first recite quietly; as whispering too loudly disturbs those When performing ~alah nearby, and avoid spreading individually in the masjid or elbows to the extent that it at home, use a sutrah (barrier), troubles those next to you. even when there is little fear of people walking past Also, Ensure that you form the be mindful of not blocking rows properly: keep them walkways and entrances. straight and stand close to one another, with the arms touching. There should be no ) gaps between worshippers. Nafl ~alah in a car or Ifa gap appears in front vehicle when travelling during ~alah, take steps and While travelling, the proceed forward to fill the Prophet fff!i used to perform gap. This is not considered najl ~aliih on his came~ and 'arnal kathir (excessive If you need to perform when he wanted to perform movement) in ~alah. If the ~alah sitting, sit on the ground f ar4 ~aliih, he would dismount gap is on the side, take steps instead of using a chair. You the camel and pray on the sideways to fill it Keeping the should use a chair only when ground, facing the qiblah rows tightly closed is wajib. you are physically unable to sit (Bukhari: 400; Muslim: 7oo). on the ground. Therefore, one may perfortn It is sunnah to keep the na" saliih in a car, plane eyes open while performing Ensure your 'awrah does · or"'another vehicle Wit· hout ~alah. Closing the eyes during not uncover during ~alah. Boys. tofiace the.,.niblah. needing Differences in pe~._..,c1lah Keywords and vocabulary If you notice people performing ~.;lah in a different way to Natl: a voluntary act of what you have learnt, do not worry about this or think you need to worship. correct them. There is more than one valid method of performing Calamity: an event causing ~alah, and they are all based on the Sunnah. One great benefit of the great damage or distress. different ways is that they all keep every sunnah of the Prophet ~ Drought: lack of rainfall in practice among Muslims. Common differences include: which leads to a shortage of Raising hands before and after rukii '. water, thereby affecting crops and animal life. Saying ii.min loudly. Reciting Siirah al-Fatil).ah behind the imam. Sitting for a short duration after both sajdahs (rather than getting up straight away). Raising the finger differently in tashahhud. Performing Salat al-'A~r at an earlier time. (1) Millik: 6. (2) NasAi: 465; Abu Diwud: 864; Twmidhl: 413. (3( Bukhari: 6502. (4) T,rmidhi: 586. Performing an additional two rak'ahs individually before (5) Abu Diwud: 1289; Tirmidhl: 475. (6) Muslim: 722. Bukhils!: 1981; Muslim: 721; performing Salat al-Maghrib. Muslim: 719. Bukhiri: 1103; Muslim: 336. (8) Tirmidhi: 598. (9( Bukhiri: 990; Muslim: 749. (10) Bukhari: 1000. (11) Tormidhl: 438. (12) Bukhiri: 3569; As Muslims, whenever we face differences, we should always Muslim: 738. (13) Bukhiri: 1131; Muslim: 1159. remember that the Prophet~ said,"[...] and be brothers, 0 Allah's (14) Bukhin: 37; MusHm: 759. (15) NuU 1384; Abu Diwlid: 1375; Tormidhi: 806; lbn Mijah: 1327. (16) BukhM: servants."24 If you are confused or worried (or someone claims your 1058; Muslim: 901. (17) Bukhilll: 1058; Muslim: 901. method is incorrect), avoid debate; instead, talk to your teachers, (18) Bukhiri: 1041; Muslim: 911. (19) BukhM: 1026. (20) TirmldhT: 558. (21) BukhM: 1070. (22) Bayhaqi, AJ- local imams or 'ulama', who can explain the reasons behind these &man al-Kubrli: 3932. (23( Bukhiri: 2465. differences. (24) Bukhiri: 6064; Muslim: 2558.