SALAAH The Muslim Prayer Qur’aan: “Oh my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer (Salaah) and also (raise such) among my offspring. Oh our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer (Dua).” Surah Ibrahim 14:40 DIRECTION OF KA’BAH FROM VARIOUS CITIES LONDON MOSCOW NEW YORK GGIIBBRRAALLTTAARR TOKYO LAGOS DJAKARTA SANTIAGO CAPE TOWN SYDNEY CHAPTER 1 IBADAH The word Ibadah comes from the Arabic “Abd”, which means slave or servant of Allah. Man is a born subject and servant of Allah. When he turns to Allah with humility and devotion, he performs an act of Ibadah. Ibadah is a means for purifying man’s physical and spiritual life. In Islam every good deed performed to seek the pleasure of Allah is an act of worship. The obligatory rituals of Ibadah are prayers (Salaah), fasting (Saum), charity (Zakah), Pilgrimage (Hajj) and struggling in the ways of Allah (Jihad). These along with Iman (faith) are often called the pillars of Islam. Islam is an integral whole. It covers all aspects of man’s life. The pillars unite all human activities, spiritual and material, individual and collective. The obligatory rituals of Ibadah allow “faith” (Iman) to play a practical and effective role in human life. Ibadah is therefore something positive. It is a means by which the faithful can serve Allah as well as their fellow men. The Salaah, which is the subject of this booklet, is an essential part of Ibadah. The Prophet (S.A.W.) is reported to 2 have said: “Salaah is the pillar of Islam and whosoever abandons it, demolishes the very pillar of religion.” CHAPTER 2 TAHARAH Before a person can perform prayer, s/he must be clean and pure. The Quran says: “Truly Allah loves those who turn to Him and those who care for cleanliness.” Cleanliness of mind, of body and of clothes is called Taharah or purification. It is only in such a state of purity that a Muslim may perform Salaah. Purification of the body is attained by partial or total washing with clean water. The partial wash is known as Wudu or ablution, and the total wash is called Ghusl or the washing (bath) of the whole body. Al-Wudu The process of performing Wudu is as follows: Mention the name of Allah by saying: “Bismillah-Hir-Rahma- Nir-Rahim” (In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful.) Wash both hands up to the wrists together three times, ensuring that every part including between the fingers is wet by water as shown in figures 1 (a) & (b). Figure 1(a) FFiigguurree 11((bb)) 3 Take a handful of water into the mouth & rinse the mouth three times as shown in figure 2. Snuff water contained in the right palm into the nose and then eject the water with the left hand (thrice) - as shown in figures 3 and 4. FFiigguurree 22 FFiigguurree 33 FFiigguurree 44 Wash the face, ear to ear, forehead to chin three times as shown in figures 5,6 and 7. FFiigguurree 55 FFiigguurree 66 4 FFiigguurree 77 FFiigguurree 88 Wash the right arm thoroughly from the wrist to the elbow. three times. Repeat the same with the left arm as shown in figures 8 and 9. FFiigguurree 99 FFiigguurree 1100 Run moistened hands over the head from the forehead to the back and back to the forehead (once) as in figures 10, 11 and 12. FFiigguurree 1111 FFiigguurree 1122 5 Run moistened fingers through the ears, the first finger of each hand going across the inside of the corresponding ear, while the thumb runs across the outside (once). As shown in figure 13. FFiigguurree 1133 Wash both feet up to the ankles starting from the right and ensuring that all parts particularly between the toes are wet - as shown in figure 14. FFiigguurree 1144 This may be done for a period of one day (and three days on a journey). On the condition that the socks or stockings are never removed. If they are removed, it is necessary to re-wash the feet for Wudu. This process ends with the recitation of the Kalimatus-Shahadah (words of proclaiming faith). ASH-HADU ALLAH ILAHA ILLALLAHU WA-AS-HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAN ABDUHU-WA-RASULUH. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship besides ALLAH and that Muhammed (S.A.W) is the servant and messenger of ALLAH. 6 The basic factors that break Wudu are passing wind, urine or stool; sleeping or fainting; becoming drunk or mad. A fresh wudu must be made. Ghusl (The washing or bath) The greater purification, Ghusl, is obligatory when one is defiled by nocturnal emission (a wet dream), sexual intercourse, childbirth, or when entering into the fold of Islam. These are obligatory occasions but in general one should make ghusl as part of routine cleanliness. The procedure is as follows: Begin with the name of Allah as with Wudu. Wash the hands and the affected parts of the body with water to remove any impurity. Perform Wudu as described above. Then wash the whole body three times (head to foot), using clean water for each wash. Every part of the body must be washed. Tayammum (Dry Ablution) On certain occasions, it may become either impossible (e.g. where water cannot be found or where just enough for drinking is available), or dangerous, because of illness, to use water for Wudu or Ghusl. In such situations, Tayammum (dry ablution) is performed. The procedure: Begin with the name of Allah. Strike both palms on sand, or anything containing sand or dust, like a wall or a stone etc. Pass the palms of the hands over the face once. Strike the sand etc., again with the palms. Rub the right hand with the left palm from the wrist to the elbow and similarly for the left hand with the right palm. Finish with the Kalimatus- Shahadah as with Wudu. 7 CHAPTER 3 THE CONDUCT OF SALAAH Diagram showing times of daily THUH R prayers NOON A S R SUNRISE SUNSET R M JA HGA F R BI E S H A MIDNIGHT In this section, some guidelines for the correct performance of Salaah are given. The most important prerequisite, Wudu (ablution), is explained in the last chapter. Other important conditions are: 1. Time Each of the Salaah must be offered at or during its proper time. No Salaah can be performed before its time. There are five obligatory prayers in a day. They are: Fajr Thuhr Asr Maghrib Esha The The early The late The The morning afternoon afternoon sunset night prayer. prayer. prayer. prayer. prayer. 8 2. Dress Before offering your Salaah make sure that you are properly dressed. For men and boys the dress should be such that it covers their bodies from the navel to the knees at least. Women are required to cover themselves from head to foot, leaving only the face and hands uncovered. The dress for Salaah must be clean and free from all filth. During the monthly period women are free from obligation of Salaah. 3. Place Wherever a person might be s/he can turn towards Allah in Salaah and in devotion. The Prophet (S.A.W.) has said, “The (whole of the) earth has been rendered for me a mosque: pure and clean”. Preferably Salaah is to be offered in jamaat (congregation). Whenever possible, one should pray facing the Kabah, Makkah. Fard and Sunnah Salaah is composed of the Fard (obligatory) and the Additional (Sunnah and Nafl) prayers. The Fard Salaah are the five daily salaah. Failure to perform them is a blameable sin. The Sunnah Salaah is additional salaah the Prophet (SA.W.) performed before or after the Fard Salaah. Prayers in Special Circumstances When in circumstances where it is not possible to pray, or when on journey, you are permitted to shorten Salaah. Such a shortened prayer is known as Salaatul-Qasr. When traveling one may offer two rakaats in place of four rakaats in Thuhr, Asr and Esha, but there is no change in the 9 two rakaats of Fajr and three rakaats of Maghrib Salaah. Besides this concession in Fard Salaah, one may leave all the additional Sunnah except two Sunnat rakaats of Fajr and the Witr of Esha prayer. But some scholars do teach the making of sunnah salaah even when on a journey (this is also correct). In case the stay at any one place during the journey exceeds a fortnight, complete Salaah with all the Fard and Sunnat rakaats must be offered. If you are sick you may offer your Salaah in a sitting position or lying in bed, by making signs in place of the physical movements. On journey, in sickness and in other emergencies, one is allowed to offer two separate Salaah jointly. Thus, Thuhr and Asr can be said together in the last part of the period of Thuhr. Maghrib and Esha may also be offered similarly towards the end of Maghrib time (when it is almost dark). The Call to Prayer - Adhaan To assemble the Muslims for congregational prayer, “Adhaan” , or the call to prayer is given. The caller (Mu’adh- dhin) stands facing the Ka’bah (Qiblah), and raising his hands to his ears calls in a loud voice: ALLAHU AKBAR ALLAHU AKBAR Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. ALLAHU AKBAR ALLAHU AKBAR Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. 10