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Every Muslim is ordered to make ablution before
performing prayer. Without ablution, prayer is invalid and unaccepted by
Allah (to Him belongs all Dignity and Glory). In the Holy Qur'an Allah
says:
(O you who believe! When you intend to offer
prayer, wash your faces and your arms (fore-arms) up to the elbows, rub
(by passing wet hands over) your heads, and wash your whole body.) [Holy
Qur'an:5:6]
With the revelation of this important verse, on
prayer could be performed without ablution.
If using the water is impossible, or difficult,
you can perform tayammom, (as it will be later explained).
How to Make Ablution:
It was narrated by Al-Bukhari that Prophet
Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had said:
"Perform your prayers in the same manner you
have seen me doing. " Therefore, here is the explanation for the
Prophet's manner of prayer:
1. To perform completely the abulution, adopting
the method commanded by Allah in the Qur'an:
"O ye who believe, when ye prepare for prayer,
wash your faces and your hands (and arms) to the elbows, rub your
heads (with water) and (wash) your feet to the ankles."(5:6)
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on
him) said:
"Prayer without ablution is invalid"
2. To turn one's face and whole body towards the
Ka‘aba, The Holy House at Makkah, intending by heart to perform the
prayer which he wants to fulfill, whether it is an obligatory prayer or
a supererogatory prayer, the worshipper in all cases, should not
pronounce his intention openly, because neither the prophet nor his
companions used to utter the intention for prayer. Thus, pronouncing the
intention for prayer in audible voice is a heresy and an illicit action.
Whether the individual be an Imam or performs his prayer individually,
he should make (A Sutra) i.e. a curtain for his prayer. Directing the
face towards the Qibla (The Ka‘aba at Makkah) is an imperative condition
for every prayer. However, there are few exceptions for this rule
explained in authoritative books for whom who wish to refer.
3. To pronounce "Takbirat Al Ihram" that is to
say "Allahu Akabar" celebrating by that the greatness of Allah and
looking meanwhile, downwards to the place where he will prostrate.
4.To raise one's hands up to the level of the
shoulders of near to the lobes of the his ears, while pronouncing "Takbirat
Al-Ihram".
5. To put one's right hand over his left hand
and left wrist, and put them both over the chest, as the Prophet(peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to do.
6. It is advisable that the worshipper recite
this opening supplication saying:
"Allahumma ba‘id bayni wa bayena khatayaya kama
ba‘adta bayena al-mashriki wal maghribi, Allahumma naqqiniy min aldans
.. Allahumma igysilniy min khatayaya bilmai wathalgi walbarad."
This supplication means:
"O Allah, separate me from my sins as You have
separated the east and west. O Allah, cleanse me of my sins as the white
rope is cleansed from dirt. O Allah, wash off my sins with water, snow
and hail."
Or, he may say instead:
"Sobhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika watabaraka
Ismoka wata‘la jaddoka wala ilaha ghayroka"
This supplication means:
Praise and glory be to Allah. Blessed be Your
Name, exalted be Your majesty and Glory. There is no god but You."
Or he may say any other supplications which the
Prophet, (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) used to say in his
prayers. It is better to recite these supplications alternately, the
first one in the morning prayer "Zuhr", each one by turn, in conformity
with what the Prophet used to do.
After reciting the opening supplication, the
worshipper/ says:
"Aouuzo billahi min al-shaytani-r-ragim"
Which means:
"I seek protection of Allah against the accrued
Satan."
Then the says:
"Bismillahi-Rahmani Raheem."
Which means:
"In the name of Allah, the All Merciful, the All
Compassionate."
and recites the Fatiha (the opening Sura of the
glorious Qur'an). Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him,
said:
"Prayer without reciting the Fatiha is invalid.
"
The worshippers should say "Ameen" after
reciting the Fatiha loudly if the prayer is said loudly, and whisper it
in inaudible prayers. To be in conformity with the traditions of the
Prophet, the worshipper is advised to recite verses from medium size
Suras of the Qur'an in the Zuhr (noon), A‘sr (late afternoon), and I‘sha
(night) prayers. As for the Fajr (morning) prayer, the worshipper is
advised to recite a passage from the long Suras of the Qur'an. He has
the choice in Maghrib prayer (Evening prayer) either to recite passages
from the long Suras or from the short Suras of the Qur'an.
7. Then, the worshipper bows in "Ruku" raising
his hands up to the level of his shoulders or ears while saying "Allahu
Akbar" "Allah is Great" then bends down, making his head and back on one
level and putting his hands withthe fingers spread on his knees. The
worshipper should feel serenity and tranquillity while bowing, he should
say thrice at least:
"Subhana Rabbiayl A'zim"
Which means:
"Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty."
It is advisable to say while bowing in addition
to that:
"Subhanak-Allahumma Rabbana wa bi hamdika,
Allahumma Ighfir liy"
Which means:
"Glory be to Thee, O Allah, and I praise Thee,
forgive me my sins."
8.To raise one's head up from bowing, raising
one's hands to the level of his shoulders or ears, saying, in case of
being Imam or praying alone:
"Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah"
Which means:
"Allah listens to him who praises Him"
While resuming the standing position, he should
say:
"Rabbana wa laka al hamdu hamdan katheera'n
tayyiban mobarakan feehiy mil'a ssamawati wa mila alardhi wa mil'a ma
baymahoma wa shita min shiyin ba'ad"
This supplication means:
"Our Lord, praise be for Thee only, praise
plentiful and blessed as to fill the heavens, the earth what in between,
and fill that which will please Thee besides them."
But if the worshipper is a follower, and led in
his prayer by the Imam he should say when rising up "Rabbana wa laka
alhamd...etc.
It is advisable for the Imam, the follower, or
who prays alone to add also:
"You Allah who deserve all praises and all
glory, your praising is the best and most true of whatever Your servants
can say, we all are Your servants, Our Lord, no one can ever deprive
aught of what You have bestowed and no one can ever give aught of what
You have deprived."
The worshipper is advised to put his hands on
his chest, as he had done before he bowed. Both Wa'il Ibn Haggar and
Shal Ibn Sai'yd reported that this was the manner of the Prophet when he
used to raise his head up after bowing.
9. To prostrate saying "Allahu Akbar" "Allah is
Great". His fingers and toes should be directed towards the Qibla
Makkah, and his hands should be stretched, and the fingers close
together and not separated. In prostration, the worshipper should use
these seven organs:
The forehead, the nose, both hands, both knees
and the internal parts of the toes.
These seven organs should say thrice or more:
"Subhana Rabbiyal A‘ala"
Which means:
"Glorified is my Lord, the Exalted."
It is advisable to say:
"Subhanaka Allahuma Rabbana wa bi hamdika,
Allahuma Ighfir-liy."
This means:
"Glory be to Thee, Our Lord, and I praise Thee.
Our Lord, forgive me my sins."
It is recommendable for the worshipper to exceed
more and more in supplications and ask for more from his Lord, because
the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be on him, said:
Which means: "As for bowing "Ruku" you should
glorify your Lord during performing it, as for prostration, you should
do your best to supplication and ask for more from Him, because your
supplications during prostration are more worthy to be accepted."The
worshipper should ask his Lord for prosperity both in this worldly life
and in the Hereafter. Whether it is an obligatory prayer or an optional
prayer, the worshipper, while prostrating, should neither bring his
hands close to his sides, nor stick his abdomen to his thighs or his
thighs to his legs. The worshipper's arms should be raised up from the
ground because the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be on him,
prohibited putting the arms and stretching them on the ground, ordering
that "adjust your prostration, keep straight in it, and stretch not your
hands on the ground as dogs."
10. He should raise his head from prostration
saying:
"Allahu Akbar" and lays his left foot flat on
the ground and sits upon it, keeping his right foot erected, his hands
on his thighs and knees, and says:
"O my Lord, forgive me have mercy on me, guide
me, provide me with your blessings and console me."
The worshipper should feel tranquillity during
this pause.
11.To prostrate again saying "Allahu Akbar" and
repeating during his prostration what he did and said in the first
prostration.
12. Then the worshipper raises his head saying "Allahu
Akbar" taking a pause similar to the pause between the two prostrations;
this is called "the pause for rest. " It is recommended for the
worshipper to do such a pause, but there is no sin if he desists from
it. Then the worshipper rises up and stands supporting on his knees*, or
on the ground if he cannot support himself on the knees, reads the
Fatihah (The opening Sura of the glorious Qur'an) and some other verses
the Qur'an and do as just as he did in the first Rakaah (unit of
prayer). Those who pray behind the Imam should not compete with him in
the prayer actions as the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon
him) said:
Which means: The Imam is to be followed, if he
says: "Allahu Akbar" which means "Allah is Great" then say the same
after him. If he bows in "Ruku" bow after him. If he says: "Samia-l-lahu
liman hamidah" which means "Our Lord! All praises are for Thee"; and if
he prostrates, after him."(Bukhari V:1 P.37)
13.If the prayer consists of two Rakaat (two
units of prayer) as the morning prayer "Fajr", Feast prayer "Eid", or
the Friday prayer "Jumu'a, the worshipper sits after the second
prostration, with his right foot laid down, putting his right hand on
his right thigh, all his fingers close-fisted save the index finger
which he uses to point out as a sign for his monotheistic belief, and
his left hand is put on his left thigh. There is nothing in the way, if
the worshipper keeps both the little and ring fingers closed, while
rounding his thumb and middle finger in a ring-shape, and uses his index
finger to point out as a sign for his monotheistic belief. It has been
related that the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be on him,
had practised both of these ways, thus, it is advisable for the
worshipper to perform the first way once and other on the second time.
The worshipper reads the Tashahud while sitting
and says:
"Al-tahiyatu lilahi wasalawatu watayibatu
Assalamu alayka ayuha-n-nabiyu wa rahmat-u-llahi wa barakatuhu. Assalamu
alayina wa ala ibadi-l-lahi-s-salalihiyn. Ash-hadu ala ilaha ila lahu wa
ash-hadu anna Muhammadan a‘bdoho wa raswuloh. Allahuma salliy ala
Muhammad wa a‘la aali Muhammad, kama salayata ala Ibrahima wa aali
Ibrahim. Inaka Hamidon Majid. Wa barik ala Muhammad wa ala aali Muhammad
kama barakta ala Ibrahima wa aali Ibrahima. Inaka Hamidon Majid."
This means:
"Greetings, prayers and the good things of life
belong to Allah. Peace, mercy and blessing of Allah be on you, O
Prophet. May peace be upon us and on the devout slaves of Allah. I
testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is
His slave and messenger. O Allah, bless Muhammad and his family. You are
the Most-Praised, The Most-glorious. O Allah, bestow Your grace on
Muhammad and his family as You bestowed it on Ibrahim and his family.
You are the Most-Praised, The Most-glorious."
After reciting the Tashahud, the worshipper asks
Allah's protection from four evils, he should say:
"My Lord, I ask your protection from torment of
the hell, torment of the grave the trials in life-time and after death,
and from the impostor Antichrist. "
The worshipper may ask Allah for prosperity in
this worldly life and in the Hereafter, supplicate Allah to bestow His
favors on his parents and the other Muslims. He could do this in both
obligatory and optional prayers. It has been reported by Ibn Massoud
that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, taught him how
to recite the Tashahud and told him that the worshipper should invoke
Allah and ask Him for the more beloved wishes which he likes, or as it
has been related in other wordings, the worshipper should ask Allah for
whatever he wishes. In this manner, the prosperities of this worldly
life and the life to come. The worshipper terminates his prayer by
turning his face to right saying:
"As-salamu alai kum wa rahmatu Allah" and to the
left saying this salutation which means "Peace and mercy of Allah be on
you."
14. In case of a three Rakaat Prayer (prayer
consisting of three units) as that of Magrhib prayer, (evening prayer),
or a four-Rakaat prayer like that of noon prayer (Zuhr), A‘sr prayer
(late afternoon) or, I‘sha prayer (night prayer), the worshipper stands
up to the level of his shoulders saying (Allahu Akbar). The worshipper
puts his hands over his chest as it had been explained before, and
recites only the Fatiha. There is no objection if be adds to the
performing the third or fourth Rakaat (units of prayer) of noon prayer (Zuhr),
because this was stated to be one of the manners adopted by the Prophet,
may peace and blessings of Allah be on him, according to the tradition
reported by Abi Saied.
After the third Rakaah of Maghrib prayer
(evening prayer), and the fourth Rakaah of Zuhr (noon), A‘sr (afternoon)
and I‘sha prayer (night prayer), the worshipper recites the Tashahud and
terminates his prayers by saying:
"Assalamu-alaikum wa rahmatu Allah"
while turning first to the right, and second to
the left as it has been explained before.
It is not an obligatory duty, but it is a
recommendable prophetic tradition to invoke Allah after terminating the
prayer by asking Him forgiveness thrice and saying before turning one's
face towards his followers if he is the Imam:
"O Allah, You are peace and from You is peace,
You are blessed, O possessor of Glory and Honour."
It is advisable for the worshipper to Say:
"There is no god but Allah. He is the One. He
has no partner. His is the dominion and to Him alone is the praise. He
has power over all things. O Lord, none may give what You have given and
none may give what You have withheld and the riches cannot avail a
wealthy person with You. There is no might or power except by the
support of Allah. There is no god but Allah and we do not worship but
Him alone. To Him alone belong all bounties, to Him alone belong all
grace, and to Him worthy praise is accorded. There is no god but Allah,
to Whom we are sincere in devotion, even though the unbelievers may
detest it."
It is also advisable to the worshipper to extol
Allah 33 times by saying (Subhana Allah). Praise Him by saying (Al Hamdu
lil-Allah) 33 times also by saying (Allah Akbar) and worshipper
completes his supplications to be one hundred by saying once:
"There is no god but Allah. He is the One. He
has no partner. His is the dominion and to Him alone is the praise. He
has power over all things."
The worshipper adds to that the recitation of
the verse of the Throne "Ayat Al-kursiy", Surat Al-Iklas, Surat El-Falaq,
and Surat An-Nas. It is recommendable to recite these Suras thrice after
the Fajr prayer (Morning prayer) and the Maghrib prayer (evening prayer)
because this was reported to be one of the traditions of the Prophet,
peace and blessings of Allah be on him. As it had been stated before,
all these after-prayer supplications are optional and not obligatory.
Every Muslim, whether be male or female, is
recommended to pray 12 Rakaat of supererogatory prayers every day: four
of these Rakaat are before noon prayer, two after it, two after Maghrib
prayer two after I‘sha prayer and two before the morning prayer -These
supererogatory prayers- called (Rawatib) which means: "Certain
supererogatory exercises of optional prayers." The prophet peace and
blessings of Allah be on him, preserved the performance of these
optional prayers wherever he settled. During his travels, he used to
practise the two optional Rakaat before the morning prayer and also the
Witr prayer (after I‘sha prayer). There is no objection to perform these
optional prayers in the mosque, but it is better to perform it at home,
because the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him said: "The
best of the prayers are those which are fulfilled at one's home, with
exception to obligatory prayers which should be performed in
congregation at the mosque."
Observance of fulfilling these optional prayers
is a means for gaining admission to paradise. The Prophet, may peace and
blessings of Allah be on him, said:
"Whoever prays optionally twelve Rakaat every
one day and night, Allah will reward him by an established dwelling in
the Paradise."
It is also advisable to the Muslim to pray four
optional Rakaat before A‘sr prayer (afternoon prayer), two before
Maghrib prayer (evening prayer), and two before I‘sha prayer (night
prayer, because this manner was reported to be one of the traditions of
the Prophet. Allah, the Almighty says:
"You have indeed in the messenger of Allah an
excellent exemplar" (33:21).
And the prophet (May the peace of Allah be upon
him) said:
"Perform your prayer in the same manner as you
had seen me doing."
Allah is the He Who is Able to render us success
and prosperity, and may Allah give His blessings and peace to our
Prophet Muhammad son of Abdellah, his family, his companions and whoever
follows his way till doomsday.
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* It is reported that Prophet peace be upon him
have said: "If any of you makes Sujood, he should not kneel as the camel
does. Let him place his hands (on the ground) before his knees."
Authenticated in Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawood.
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