How to Pray Correctly in Islam
Content
- The Degrees of Intention
- The Conditions of Takbirat al-Ihram
- The Conditions of Surah al-Fatihah
- The Tashdīds of Surah al-Fatihah
- The Raise of the Hands
- The Conditions of Prostration (Sujud)
- The Limbs of Prostration
- Tashdīds in Tashahhud
- Tashdīds in Salawat
- Tashdīds in Salam
- The Times of Prayer
- The Types of Horizons
- The Times Forbidden to Offer Prayers
- The Pauses in Prayers
- The Composure (Tuma’ninah)
- Commentary
-
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Islamic Shariah: Law and Theology
The Degrees of Intention
(فصل) النيه ثلاث درجات : إن كانت الصلاة فرضا وجب قصد الفعل والتعيين والفرضية
وإن كانت نافلة مؤقتة كراتبة او ذات سبب وجب قصد الفعل والتعيين ، وان كانت نافلة
مطلقة وجب قصد الفعل فقط .
الفعل :أصلي والتعيين: ظهرا أو عصرا و الفرضية :
فرضا .
Chapter
There are Three Degrees of Intention:
If the ṣalāh is
farḍ, it is compulsory to intend:23
a. The act of ṣalāh – the intention
of performing ṣalāh.
b. The actual ṣalāh that is being offered e.g. Ẓuhr
or ʿAṣr.
c. It being a farḍ ṣalāh.
If the ṣalāh is a periodic
nafl like “rawātīb”24 or it has a specific reason,25 it is compulsory to
intend:
a. The act of ṣalāh – the intention of performing ṣalāh.
b.
The actual ṣalāh that is being offered e.g. sunnah before ṣubh or “Istisqāʾ”
(ṣalāh seeking rain).
If the ṣalāh is a muṭlaq nafl,26 it is
compulsory to intend:
a. The act of ṣalāh – the intention of performing
ṣalāh.
The Conditions of Takbirat al-Ihram
(فصل) شروط تكبيرة الإحرام : ستة عشرة أن تقع حالة القيام في الفرض وأن تكون
بالعربيه وأن تكون بلفظ الجلالة وبلفظ أكبر والترتيب بين اللفظتين وأن لايمد همزة
الجلالة وعدم مد باء أكبر وأن لا يشدد الباء وأن لايزيد واواً ساكنة أو متحركة
بين الكلمتين ، وأن لايزيد واوا قبل الجلالة وأن لايقف بين كلمتي التكبير وقفة
طويلة ولا قصيرة ، وأن يسمع نفسة جميع حروفها ودخول الوقت في المؤقت وإيقاعها حال
الإستقبال وأن لا يخل بحرف من حروفها وتأخير تكبيرة المأموم عن تكبيرة الإمام.
Chapter
The Conditions of Takbirat al-ihram are Sixteen:
1.
That it is pronounced while standing in the farḍ ṣalāh.
2. That it be in
Arabic.
3. That it be with the word “Allahu”.
4. That it be with the
word “akbar”.
5. The sequence between these two words “Allahu akbar” is
followed.
6. Not to lengthen the hamzah of the word “Allah”.27
7.
Not to lengthen the letter of “ba” of “akbar”.28
8. Not to double the
letter of “ba”.29
9. Not to add a “waw” sakin or mutaharrik between these
two words.30
10. Not to add a “waw” before the word “Allah”.
11. Not
to pause for a long or short while between these two words.
12. To hear
oneself uttering its entire letters.31
13. Entering of the time of
ṣalāh.
14. For it to occur while facing towards the qiblah.
15. Not
to change even a single letter.
16. To delay the takbir of the maʾmūm
(follower) till after the takbir of the imām.
The Conditions of Surah al-Fatihah
(فصل ) شروط الفاتحة عشرة : الترتيب والموالاة ومراعاة تشديداتها وأن لا يسكت سكتة طويلة ولا قصيرة يقصد قطع القراءة وقراءة كل آياتها ومنها البسملة وعدم اللحن المخل بالمعنى وأن تكون حالة القيام في الفرض ، وأن يسمع نفسة القراءة وأن لا يتخللها ذكر أجنبي
Chapter
The Conditions of Surah al-Fatihah are Ten:
1.
Sequence.
2. Continuity.
3. To perfect (pronunciation of) its
letters.
4. To perfect its tashdīds.
5. Not to pause for a long or
short while with the intention of terminating the recitation.
6. Reciting
all its verses including the “basmalah”.
7. Not to commit a mistake that
alters the meaning.
8. To recite it while standing in the obligatory
prayer.
9. To hear one’s own recitation.
10. No foreign recitation
should be recited in-between (the al-Fātiḥah).
The Tashdīds of Surah al-Fatihah
(فصل) تشديدات الفاتحة أربع عشرة : بسم الله فوق اللام ، الرَّحمن فوق الراء ، الرَّحيم فوق الراء ، الحمد لله فوق لام الجلالة ، ربُّ العالمين فوق الباء ، الرَّحمن فوق الراء ،مالك يوم الدِّين فوق الدال ، إيَّاك نعبد فوق الياء ، إيَّاك نستعين فوق الياء ، اهدنا الصِّراط المستقيم فوق الصاد ، صراط الَّذين فوق اللام ، أنعمت عليهم غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضَّالِّين فوق الضاد واللام .
Chapter
There are 14 tashdīds that are recited on various word of
Surah al-Fatihah
1. Above the letter “ل”
2. Above the letter “ر”
3.
Above the letter “ر”
4. Above the letter “ل”
5. Above the letter
“ب”
6. Above the letter “ر”
7. Above the letter “ر”
8. Above
the letter “د”
9. Above the letter “ي”
10. Above the letter “ي”
11.
Above the letter “ل”
12. Above the letter “ل”
13. and 14. Above the
letter “ض” and “ل”
The Raise of the Hands
(فصل) يسن رفع اليدين في أربعة مواضع: عند تكبيرة الإحرام وعند الركوع وعند
الإعتدال وعند القيام من التشهد الأول .
Chapter
It is Sunnah to Raise the Hands in Four Places:35
1.
During the takbīrat al-iḥrām.36
2. When going into rukūʿ.37
3. When
straightening up (iʿitidāl).38
4. When standing up from the first
tashahhud.
The Conditions of Prostration (Sujud)
(فصل) شروط السجود سبعة : أن يسجد على سبعة أعضاء وأن تكون جبهته مكشوفة والتحامل
برأسة وعدم الهوى لغيره وأن لايسجد على شيء يتحرك بحركته وارتفاع أسافلة على
أعالية والطمأنينة فية.
Chapter
The Conditions of Prostration (sujud) are Seven:
1.
To prostrate upon seven limbs.39
2. The forehead should be exposed.40
3.
To make sajdah by resting on the head.41
4. Not to intend anything but
sajdah.42
5. Not to prostrate on something that moves with one‟s own
movement.
6. That one rear’s be higher than one’s head.
7. Remain
motionless for a moment whilst prostrating
The Limbs of Prostration
(خاتمة) أعضاء السجود سبعة : الجبهة وبطون الكفين والركبتان وبطون الأصابع
والرجلين.
Conclusion
The Seven Limbs of Prostration are seven:
1. The
forehead,
2. and 3 both palms,
4. and 5 both knees
6. and 7
the portion under the toes of each foot.
Tashdīds in Tashahhud
(فصل) تشديدات التشهد إحدى وعشرون : خمس في أكمله وستة عشر في أقلة : التحيات على
التاء والياء المباركات الصلوات على الصاد ، الطيبات على الطاء والياء ، لله على
لام الجلالة ، السلام على السين ، عليك أيها النبي على الياء والنون والياء ،
ورحمه الله على لام الجلاله ، وبركاته السلام على السين ، علينا وعلى عباد الله
على لام الجلاله ، الصالحين على الصاد، أشهد أن لاإله على لام ألف ،إلا الله على
لام ألف ولام الجلاله، وأشهدأن على النون ، محمدا رسول الله على ميم محمدا وعلى
الراء وعلى لام الجلاله.
Chapter
There are 21 tashdīds that are recited in tashahhud,
Five are their completion and 16 are minimal of the tashahhud43
1
and 2 Above the letter “ت” and “ي”
3. Above the letter “ص”
4 and 5
Above the letter “ط” and “ي”
6. Above the letter “ل”
7. Above
the letter “س”
8, 9 and 10 Above the letter “ي” and “ن” and “ي”
11.
Above the letter “ل”
12. Above the letter “س”
13. Above the letter
“ل”
14. Above the letter “ص”
15. Above the letter “لاَ”
16 and
17 Above the letter “لاَ” and “ل”
14. Above the letter “ن”
19, 20
and 17 Above the letter “م” and “ر” and “ل”
Tashdīds in Salawat
(فصل ) تشديدات أقل الصلاة على النبي أربع : اللهم على اللام والميم ، صل على
اللام ، على محمد على الميم .
Chapter
There are four tashdīds for the minimal salawat upon
Nabi
1. Above the letter “ل” and “م”
2. Above the letter “ل”
3.
Above the letter “م”
Tashdīds in Salam
(فصل) أقل السلام : السلام عليكم تشديد السلام على السين .
Chapter
The minimal salām is “Assalāmu ʿalaykum”:
The tashdid
in salam is above the letter “س”
The Times of Prayer
(فصل) أوقات الصلاة خمس: أول وقت الظهر زوال الشمس ، وآخره مصير ظل الشيء مثله
غير ظل الإستواء ، وأول وقت العصر إذا صار ظل كل شيء مثلة وزاد قليلا ، وآخره
غروب الشمس . وأول وقت المغرب غروب الشمس وآخره غروب الشفق الأحمر ، وآخره طلوع
الفجر الصادق وآخره طلوع الشمس .
Chapter
The Times of Prayer are Five:
1. The time of Zuhur
begins after the sun descends from its zenith (zawāl) and it ends when an
object’s shadow equals its length in addition to the length of its shadow at
the time of zawāl.
2. The time of ʿAṣr begins when the object’s shadow
equals its length in addition to the length of its shadow at the time of
zawāl, and ends when the sun sets.
3. The time of Maghrīb begins from
sunset and ends with the disappearance of the red horizon.
4. The time of
ʿIsha begins from the setting of the red horizon and it ends at fajar sadiq.
5. The time of Subuh begins from the dawn until sunrise
The Types of Horizons
الأشفاق ثلاثة : أحمر وأصفر وأبيض .الأحمر مغرب ولأصفر والأبيض عشاء . ويندب تأخير صلاه العشاء إلى أن يغيب الشفق الأحمر والأبيض
There are three types of horizons; red, yellow and white:
The red
horizon is at the time of Maghrīb, while the yellow and white are at the time
of ʿIshāʾ.
It is sunnah to delay the prayer of ʿIshāʾ till the
yellow and white horizons disappear.
The Times Forbidden to Offer Prayers
(فصل ) تحرم الصلاة التي ليس لها سبب متقدم ولا مقارن في خمسة أوقات : عند طلوع
الشمس حتى ترتفع قدر رمح وعند الإستواء في غير يوم الجمعة حتى تزول ، وعند
الإصفرار حتى تطلع الشمس وبعد صلاة العصر حتى تغرب .
Chapter
There are 5 times in a day during which it is prohibited to
offer those prayers which do not have an immediate or preceding cause:
1.
At the time of sunrise until the sun rises to the extent of the height of a
spear.
2. At the time when the sun is at its zenith until it declines,
except on Fridays.
3. At the time the sun becomes yellow/pale until
sunset.
4. After Ṣubh ṣalāh until sunrise.
5. After ʿAsar prayer
until sunset.
The Pauses in Prayers
(فصل) سكتات الصلاة ستة : بين تكبيرة الإحرام ودعاء الإفتتاح والتعوذ، وبين
الفاتحة والتعوذ، وبين آخر الفاتحة وآمين ، وبين آمين والسوره ، وبين السورة
والركوع .
Chapter
The Pauses in prayers are Six:
1. Between the
takbīrat al-iḥrām and the “duʿā iftitah” (the opening duʿā).
2. Between
the “duʿā iftitah” (the opening duʿā) and taʿawwudh
3. Between the
taʿawwudh and Sūrah al-Fātiḥah.
4. Between the completion of Sūrah
al-Fātiḥah and saying, “Āmīn”.
5. Between “Āmīn” and the sūrah.
6.
Between the sūrah and bowing (rukuʿ).
The Composure (Tuma’ninah)
(فصل) الأركان التي تلزمه فيها الطمأنينة أربعة : الركوع والإعتدال والسجود
والجلوس بين السجدتين .
الطمأنينة هي : سكون بعد حركة بحيث يستقر كل عضو
محله بقدر سبحان الله .
Chapter
There are Four Postures in Which Ṭumaʾnīnah
(Composure) is
Compulsory:
1. In rukuʿ.
2. In iʿtidāl (when straightening up
after rukuʿ).
3. In sujud.
4. While sitting between the two
sajdahs.
Ṭumaʾnīnah (composure) is a pause after movements to such
an extent that every limb remains in its place for the duration of reciting
subḥānallah.
_______________________________________
Commentary
23 It is sufficient for a person to make intention to offer the
fard salah of Zuhr.
24 Those
sunnah salah performed either before or
after the five fard ssalah.
25 Like the salah of ' Eid al-Fitr or salah al-istisqa ' (seeking rain). It is
sufficient that a person makes intention to offer salah of 'Eid al-Fitr or
al-istisqa ' .
26 Those nafl salah that have no time or
cause. A person performs them when one wants for additional rewards. It is
sufficient to merely make the intention of performing salah for
these salah.
27 By reciting it as "Allahu akbar," this can result in the meaning changing.
28 By rec1tmg it as "Allahu akbar," this can result in the meaning changing.
29 By reciting it with the tashdid.
30 By reciting it as "Allahti akbar" or "Allahu wakbar".
31 That one can hear them oneself, given normal hearing and lack of extraneous noise. There is no need to raise one 's voice if there is lot of noise.
32 The al-Fatihah is not considered to be interrupted if a one replies to the "Amin" of the imam, reminding him of the right ayat (verse) when he errs, prostrates with the imam in "sajdah tilawah", forgetfully falls silent or absentmindedly adds some dhikr in it.
33 If one omits one of the al-Fatihah 's letters, fails to double a letter that should be doubled , or substitutes a wrong letter for the right one, it invalidates one's recital of that particular word, and one must recite that word again. This will not invalidate one's alah unless it changes the meaning and was done deliberately. Mistakes in a harakah (short vowel) are not harmful as long as they do not alter the meaning.
34 Its entire letters should be recited while standing.
35 It is from the "sunan hay 'ah" of the alah, the wisdom being to show respect and reverence to Allah .
36 Begin raising the hands at the beginning of the takbir and put them down at the end of the takbir, means that raising of the hands must be simultaneous with the takbir from the beginning till the end.
37 A person starts raising his hands at the beginning of takbir and prolongs the takbir until he places his hands upon his knees, fingers spread apart and backbone and head are straight.
38 A person begins raising his hand with the raising of the head and the
takbir; when he straightens, he lowers his hands.
39 It is sunnah to place the nose on the ground, however, sajdah will be in order if the nose does not touch the ground.
40 If one is wearing a bandage over the forehead because of an injury, sajdah may be made on the bandage without the need of repeating it afterwards with the condition that the bandage was put on while one was in the state of purity.
41 The weight of the head and neck should be applied to the place of sajdah so that the forehead is firmly stationed on the ground.
42 If one merely fell down after the i'tidal, this will not be regarded as sajdah. The person will have to return to i ' tidal and then go into sajdah.
43 The minimal tashahhud is: