ThePrayer:HisRight,YourHonor.

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TheJGDIPrayerGuideYourGuideToHowToPhysicallyStartPraying

SourceDocumentAuthor:

ShaikhAbdulAzizIbnBaz[RahimUllah]

THEPRAYER:SALAHSalahisthesecondpillarofIslam.Itreferstothecompulsorydailyprayers.Salahisofferedfivetimesadayindividuallyorincongregation.WeofferSalahtorememberAllahandbringusclosertoHim.AllahsaysintheNobleQur'an,whatcanbetranslatedas,“EstablishSalahtorememberMe(Allah).”(Qur'an,20:14)SalahisproofofourfaithinAllahandIslam.Ithasbeenmadecompulsoryatcertaintimesoftheday.AllahsaysintheNobleQur'an,whatcanbetranslatedas,“Salahatfixedtimeshasbeenenjoinedonthebelievers.”(Qur'an,4:103)Thefivedailyprayersare:Fajr,Dhuhr,Asr,MaghribandIsha'.PreparationtoPerformSalahToperformyourSalahyoumustbecleanandpure.AllahsaysintheNobleQur'an,whatcanbe translated as, “Surely Allah loves those who turn to Him and those who care forcleanliness.”(Qur’an,2:222)Cleanliness of the body, clothing, and the placeswhere the prayer is performed is calledTaharah(purification).SomeimpuritiesthatmustberemovedbeforeperformingSalah:1.Humanurine.2.HumanExcrement.3.Wadi:Athickwhitesecretionthatmightbedischargedafterurination.4.Mathi:Awhitestickyprostaticfluid,(otherthanspermorsemen).5.Menstrualblood.6.Defecationandurineofanimalswhosemeatisnotpermissibletoeat(e.g.carnivores).7.Dogsaliva.8.Waterremainingafteracarnivorehasdrunkfromit.HOWTOPURIFYTHINGSIngeneral,watercanpurifyanythingthatisimpure.Onemust remove all impurities from his/her private parts by using any purematter (i.e.toilettissue)threetimes,orbyusingwater,orboth.1.Purifyingthebodyandclothing:Thisisperformedbywashingthemwithwateruntiltheyarecleansedofimpurities.Thisisespecially important in the casewhere the impurity is visible, such asmenstrual blood. Ifthere are some difficult stains that remain after washing, they can be overlooked. If theimpurityisnotvisible,suchasurine,itissufficienttowashitonce,butpreferabletowashitthreetimes.2.Purifyingclothingfromamaleinfant’surine:Thisisperformedbysprinklingwateronthestainedclothing.Ifitisstainedbytheurineofafemaleinfant,thenitmustbewashed.

3.Purifyingthebottomofshoes:This is performed by rubbing them against the ground until the remains of Najassah(impurity)areremoved.4.Purifyingtheground:(a)Pourwaterovertheimpurityontheground(soilorsand).(b)Allowingtheground(soilorsand)todryfromtheimpurity(suchasurine)willmaketheareapure,onlyiftherearenovisibletracesoftheimpurityleft.5.Purifyingwuduaidingutensilsiftheyweretouchedbydogsaliva:Thisisperformedbywashingtheutensilseventimeswithwater.Thefirstcleansingshouldbemixedwithsoil.However,ifthesalivahastouchedthebodyorclothing,thenonlyonecleansingisneeded.ThebodymustalsobefreeofHadath(ritualimpurities).TherearetwokindsofHadath:

1.MinorHadath:ThisrequiresWudu(ablution).Ithappensafteroneormoreofthefollowingoccurs:natural discharges like urine, excrement, passing gas, falling asleep, orunconsciousnessofanykind.2.MajorHadath:Thisrequireswashingthewholebody.Itcouldbecausedbyunconsciousejaculation(e.g.inone'ssleep),intercourse,menstruationorpost‐childbirthbleeding.Thistypeofwashingrequiresbathingthewholebody,including,theheadwithpurewater.

WUDU(Ablution)BeforeweperformSalahwemustfirstprepareourselves.ThispreparationincludesmakingsurethatwearecleanfromanyphysicalimpuritiesandperformingWudu.Wudu (ablution) is required forperformingSalah.Wecannotofferour Salahwithout firstmakingWudu.Herearethestepstotake:1.First,maketheNiyyah(intention)inyourheartthatthisactofWuduisforthepurposeofpreparingforSalah,andsay:"Bismillah"(inthenameofAllah).2.Washbothhandsuptothewrists(startingwiththerighthand)threetimes,makingsurethatwaterhasreachedbetweenthefingers.3.Takewaterwithyourrighthand,putitintoyourmouthandrinsethoroughlythreetimes.4.Takewaterwithyourrighthand,splashitintoyournoseandblowitoutthreetimes.(Usethelefthandifnecessarytohelpblowitout).

5.Washyourwholefacethreetimesrepeatedly.(Thewholefaceincludes:therighteartotheleftear,andtheforeheadtothebottomofthechin).6.Washtherightarmthoroughlyfromwristtoelbowthreetimes,andmakesurethatnopartofthearmhasbeenleftunwashed.Repeatwiththeleftarm.7. Move the palms of the wet hands lightly over the head, starting from the top of theforeheadtothebackofthehead,andpassingbothhandsoverthebackoftheheadtotheneck,andthenbringingthembacktotheforehead.8.Withthesamewater,rubthegroovesandholesofbothearswiththewetindexfingers,whilealsopassingthewetthumbsbehindtheearsfromthebottomupward.9.Finally,washbothfeettotheanklesthreetimes,startingwiththerightfoot.Makesurethatwaterhasreachedbetweenthetoesandcoveredtherestofthefoot.At the end of the above steps recite: "Ashhadu alla ilaha illallahu, wa ash‐hadu annamuhammadanabduhuwarasuluhu.”Thismeans:“I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, and I bearwitnessthatMuhammadisHisservantandHismessenger.”

WhatNullifiesWudu:1.Naturaldischarges:urine,stool,gas,etc.2.Fallingasleep.3.Unconsciousnessofanykind.Note:Ifyouputonyoursocks,shoes,orsandals(onlythosethatcovermostofthefoot)whileyouhaveavalidWudu,itisnotnecessarytotakethemoffeverytimeyouneedtorenewyourWudu.Youcanleavethemonandwipethetopofeachcoveredfootoncewithwethandsinplaceofwashingtheentirefoot.Youmaydothisuptotwenty‐fourhours,orforthreedaysifyouareontravel.

GHUSL(Bathing)Ghuslisbathingthewholebodywithwater.Youmustcleanyourbodyfromanyimpurities,ifany.MaketheNiyyah(intention)inyourheartthatthisactofGhuslisforthepurposeofpreparingforSalah. It isrecommendedtomakeGhusl inthefollowingorder:makeWudu,washtheheadincludingthehair,washtherightsideofyourbodyfromtheshouldertothefootthreetimes,andfinallywashtheleftsideofthebody.GhuslisrequiredforperformingSalahinthefollowingcases:1. Janabah (major ritual impurities): The discharge of seminal secretions or sexualintercourse.2.Attheendofamenstrualperiod.3.Attheendofpostpartumbleeding.

TAYAMMUM(DryAblution)YoumayperformyourSalahbyprecedingitwithTayammumasasubstituteforWuduorGhuslwhen:1.Apersoncannotfindwater,ortheamountavailableisinsufficient.2.Apersonhasnoaccesstowater.3.Apersonissavingthewaterforlateruse.4.Apersonissickandcannotusewater.5.Theuseofwaterislikelytodoharm,causeorworsenanillness,ordelaythecure.6. The performance of Wudu will cause the person to miss a funeral or Eid prayer thatcannotbemadeup.In any of these instances it is permissible to make Tayammum, which is performed asfollows:1.First,makeNiyyah(intention)inyourheartthatthisactofTayammumisforthepurposeofpreparingforSalah,andsay:"Bismillah.”2.Strikebothhandsslightlyonpureearth,sand,stone,orconcrete.3.Shakeoffhandstoremovedebrisandwipethewholeface.4.Repeatstep#2andwipetherightarmdowntotheelbow(oronlytothewrist)withthelefthandandtheleftarmdowntotheelbow(oronlytothewrist)withtherighthand.

WhatTayammumMakesPermissible:AfterperformingTayammumapersonispureandmaydoanyoftheactsrequiringritualpurification,suchasprayer.WhatNullifiesTayammum:Everything that nullifies an ablution nullifies Tayammum. If a person prays afterperformingTayammumandthenfindswater,hedoesnotneedtorepeathisprayerevenifthereistimelefttodoso.However,oncethereisnolongeravalidexcuseforTayammum,thepersonmustmakeWudubeforeofferingthenextprayer.

THEPRAYERTIMESFajrFromdawnuntiljustbeforesunrise.DhuhrAfterthesun’szenithuntillateafternoon.AsrFromlateafternoonuntiljustbeforesunset.MaghribFromsunsetuntiljustbeforetwilight(whentheskyturnscompletelydark).Isha'Fromtwilightuntildawn.Alltheseprayersmustbeprayedatthetimesmentionedabove.However,thereareexceptionsforwhenit ispermissibletocombineprayers.Forexample,(DhuhrandAsr)or(MaghribandIsha')maybeprayedrightaftereachother.

Youcancombinethesetwoprayerswhenyouaretraveling,ifyouaresick,verysleepy,verytired,orifyoucannotcontrolyourschedule(classesorwork).Thesearetheexceptionsandshouldnotbecomethenorm.If you are praying at theMasjid (mosque) in a congregation, and there are bad weatherconditions,likerain,snow,ice,etc.,thenitispermissibletocombinethesepairsofprayers.Youcanpraytheearlierprayeratthetimeofthelaterprayerorviceversa.THEFARDSALAH(compulsory)AMuslimmustprayfivetimesaday.ThecompulsoryprayersarecalledFardinArabic.EachunitofaprayeriscalledaRak'ah.TheFardprayersare:Fajr2Rak'ahsDhuhr4Rak'ahsAsr4Rak'ahsMaghrib3Rak'ahsIsha'4Rak'ahs*Jumu'ah.....2Rak'ahs(inplaceofDhuhronFridays)ShorteningPrayers:If you are traveling, then you should shorten the 4 Rak'ah prayer to a 2 Rak'ah prayer(Dhuhr,Asr,andIsha').AlsoDhuhrandAsrcanbeprayedrightaftereachother,aswellas,MaghribandIsha'.Sunnah(optional)Salah:ProphetMuhammad(pbuh)performedextraprayersvoluntarilyinadditiontoFardprayers.These prayers are called Sunnah prayers. ProphetMuhammad (pbuh) always prayed twoRak'ahs before the Fard of Fajr and three Rak'ahs after the Fard of Isha evenwhen on ajourney.Theone,three,five,seven,nine,orelevenRak'ahsafterIshaarecalledWitr(oddnumber).TheSunnahprayersareasfollows:Fajr2Rak'ahsbeforeFard.Dhuhr4Rak'ahsbeforeFardand2Rak'ahsafter.Asr4Rak'ahs(lessrecommended)beforeFard.Maghrib2Rak'ahsafterFard.Isha'4Rak'ahs(lessrecommended)beforeFard2Rak'ahsafterFard.1,3,5,7,9or11Rak'ahsofWitr.TheSunnahprayersarenormallyofferedindividuallyandnoAdhanorIqamahisneededforthoseextraprayers.

HOWTOPERFORMSALAHHaving cleansed yourself byWudu, youmay proceed to perform Salah.Wudu is a ritualcleansing.BeforeyoubeginyourSalah,however,youmustmakesurethatyouhaveacleanbody,acleanplacetopray,andthatyouarewearingclothingfreeofimpurities.TheminimumclothingrequiredduringSalahis:A.Formales:Anyclothingthatcoversfromthenavaltotheknees.Itispreferabletocovertheshoulders.B.Forfemales:Anyclothingthatcoversallofthebody(includingthehead)excepttheface,hands,andaccordingtoImamAbu‐Hanifahthetoesandaportionofthefrontofthefeet.ThewaytoofferSalahis:1. Stand upright facing the direction of Al‐Ka'bah. This position is called Qiyaam and thedirection iscalledQiblah inArabic.TheQiblah in theUK isSouthEast,however ifyouareunabletolocateacompasstofindthis, it isusefultolookoutforaSKYSatellitedishasintheUKtheypointSouthEast.2.MakeNiyyah(intention)inyourheartfortheprayeryouwanttopray.3.Raiseyourhandstoyourearsandsay:"AllahuAkbar.”Thismeans:(AllahistheGreatest).ThisiscalledTakbiratulIhram.4.Nowplaceyourrighthandontopofyour lefthandonthechestandlookdownwardtotheplacewhereyourforeheadwilltouchthegroundintheSujood(prostration)andrecitesilently:"Subhanaka allahummawa bi hamdika wa tabara kasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilahaghairuka."Thismeans:“OAllah,howperfectYouareandpraisebetoYou.BlessedisYourname,andexaltedisYourmajesty.ThereisnogodbutYou.”[Onlyrecitethissupplication,Subhanaka,atthebeginningofthefirstRak'ah]Thenrecitesilently:"A'udhubillahiminashshaitanirrajim."ThisiscalledTa'awwudh,anditmeans:“IseekshelterinAllahfromtherejectedSatan.” Thenrecite:"Bismillahirrahmanirrahim."This is calledTasmiyah,and itmeans: “In thenameofAllah, themostGracious, themostMerciful.”5.Afterthis,reciteSuratulFatihah(theopeningchapter)oftheNobleQur'an:"Al hamdu lil lahi rabbil 'alamin. Arrahmanir rahim.Maliki yawmiddin. Iyyaka na'buduwaiyyaka nasta'in. Ihdinas siratal mustaqim. Siratal ladhina an'amta'alaihim, ghairilmaghdubi'alaihimwaladdhallin.(Amin)"Thismeans:"AllpraisesandthanksbetoAllah,theLordoftheworlds,themostGracious,themostMerciful;MasteroftheDayofJudgment.

Youaloneweworship,fromYoualoneweseekhelp.Guideusalongthestraightpath‐thepathofthosewhomYoufavored,notofthosewhoearnedYourangerorwentastray.”You must recite Surat Al‐Fatihah in each unit (Rak’ah) of the prayer, if you pray alone.However,ifprayingbehindanImamandherecitesloudly,thenitisnotnecessaryforyoutoreciteit.6.NowreciteanyotherpassagefromtheNobleQur'an.Forexample:"BismillahirrahmanirrahimQulhuwal lahuahad,allahussamad, lamyalidwa lamyulad,wa lamyakul lahukufuwanahad." Thismeans:“In thenameofAllah, themostGracious, themostMerciful.Say,He isAllah,theOne.AllahisEternalandAbsolute.Hebegetsnot,norwasHebegotten.Andthereisnoneco‐equaluntoHim.”7.Nowbowdownsaying:"AllahuAkbar"andplaceyourhandsonyourkneesandsaysilently:"SubhanaRabbiyalAdhim." Thismeans: (How Perfect ismy Lord, the Supreme) three times. This position iscalledRukoo'.Keepyourheadinlinewithyourback,andlookdowntotheplaceofSujood.8.Standupfromthebowingpositionsaying:"Sami'Allahulimanhamidah"(AllahhearsthosewhopraiseHim)"Rabbanalakalhamd."Thismeans:(OurLord,praisebetoYou).9. Prostrate on the floor saying: "Allahu Akbar" with your forehead, nose, palms of bothhands,yourknees,andtoesalltouchingthefloor.Thenrecitesilently:"SubhanaRabbiyalA'la."(HowPerfectismyLord,theHighest)threetimes.ThispositioniscalledSujood.Keepyourarmsawayfromthesidesofthebodyandtheground.10.SitupfromthefloorsayingAllahu Akbar. Sit upright with your knees bent and palms placed on them and say:“Rabbighfirli.”Thismeans:“OmyLord!Forgiveme.”Say "Allahu Akbar" and again prostrate in the Sujood position. Recite "Subhana RabbiyalA'la"threetimes.Situpfromthispositionsaying"AllahuAkbar"This completes the first Rak'ahor unit of Salah.Now standup for the secondRak'ah andperformitinthesameway,exceptthatyoudonotreciteSubhanakaatthebeginning,andafter the second Sujood (prostration) you sit on the left leg while keeping the right footuprightandputyourrighthandontherightthigh,withallfingerstogetherinafistexcepttheindexfinger.

Sticktheindexfingerstraightout.Putyourlefthandontheleftthigh.NowreciteTashahhudsilently:"At‐Tahiyyatulillahiwas‐Salawatuwat‐Tayyibatu.Thismeans:“Greetings,prayersandgoodnessbelongtoAllah.As‐Salamu'alaikaayyuhannabiyyuPeacebeonyou,OProphetwarahmatullahiwabarakatuhu.Thismeans:andthemercyofAllahandHisblessings.Assalamu'alainawa’alaibadil‐Lahis‐SalihinThismeans:PeacebeonusandontherighteousservantsofAllahashhadual‐Lailahail‐LallahuwaashhaduannaMuhammadanabduhuwarasuluhu."Thismeans:IbearwitnessthatthereisnogodbutAllah,andbearwitnessthatMuhammadisHisservantandMessenger.”In a three‐Rak'ah Salah (as inMaghrib) or a four‐Rak'ah Salah (Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha) youstandupfortheremainingRak'ah(s)afteryouhavedoneTashahhud.Foratwo‐Rak'ahSalahyouremainseatedafterTashahhudandthenrecitesilentlyAssalatul‐Ibrahimiyah:"Allahummasalli'alaMuhammadinWa'alaaliMuhammadinKamasallaita'alaIbrahimawa'alaaliIbrahimawabarik'alaMuhammadinwa'alaaliMuhammadinKamabarakta'alaIbrahimaWa'alaaliIbrahimaFila'laminaInnakahamidunMajid."Thismeans:“OAllah,letYourmercycomeuponMuhammadandthefamilyofMuhammadasYouletitcomeuponIbrahimandthefamilyofIbrahimOAllah, blessMuhammad and the family ofMuhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and thefamilyofIbrahim.TrulyYouarePraiseworthyandGlorious.”Afterthissaysilently:"Allahummainnia'udhubikaminadhabijahanamwaminadhabilqabriwamin sharri fitnatilmahyawalmamatwamin sharri fitnatilmasihid dajjaal. Rabbighfir liwaliwalidayya,rabbi‐rhamhumakamarabbayanisaghira."This means: “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the torment of the Hellfire, from thetormentofthegrave,fromthetrialsandafflictionsoflifeanddeath,andfromthedeceptionof the False Christ. O my Lord! Grant me and my parents forgiveness, and bestow Yourmercyuponthem,justastheybroughtmeupwhenIwassmall.”

11.Nowturnyourfacetotherightsaying:"Assalamualaikumwarahmatullah"(peaceandthemercyofAllahbeonyou)andthentotheleftrepeatingthesamewords.This completes the two‐Rak'ah Salah. In the three or four‐Rak'ah prayers (Dhuhr, Asr,Maghrib,andIsha)thewholeprocedureisrepeatedintheremainingRak'ah(s),exceptafterTashahhud, you say "Allahu Akbar" and stand up and only recite Surat Al‐Fatiha in FardprayersandnootherSurah, thencontinuedoingtherestof theactionsasyouhavedonebefore(Rukoo',rising,Sujood).ThenstandagainforthefourthRak'ah.Also, inthe lastRak'ahofanyprayer,afteryouhavemadeyourSujood,situpandsilentlyrecitebothTashahhudandSalatulIbrahimiyyah.Attheendofanyprayer,youmustfinishbymakingTasleem.

WhentoReciteAloudorSilently:DuringobligatoryFajrprayers,yourecitetheQur'analoudinbothRak'ahs.YoualsorecitethefirsttwoRak'ahsoftheobligatoryprayersofMaghriband'Ishaaloudaswell.However, thethirdandfourthRak'ahsarealwaysrecitedsilentlyduringobligatoryprayers.Also,intheDhuhrandAsrprayers,therecitationisalwayssilentforallfourRak'ahs.Furthermore,theonewholeadsJumu'ahprayers(Fridayprayer inplaceofDhuhr)willrecitetheQur'analoud.

SalatulWitr:The Witr (odd number) prayer is extra prayers that the Prophet practiced and highlyencouragedMuslimstopracticeaswell.He(pbuh)neverleftitevenwhentraveling.YoucanofferWitrprayersanytimeafter‘Isha’untilthetimeforFajrprayer.Youmaychoosetoprayone,three,five,seven,nineorelevenRak’ahs.InWitr prayers, recite Suratul Fatihah and some other verses from theQur'an. Before orafterRukoo'of the lastRak’ah raise yourhandshighup to the levelof the shoulders andsupplicate the following Du'a (supplication) with your hands raised towards the sky. ThisDu'aiscalledDu'aal‐Qunut:"Allahumma Ihdeni Fiman Hadayt,Wa A’feni Fiman A’fayt,Watawallani Fiman Tawallayt,Wabarek li Fima A’atayt, Waqeni Sharra Ma Qadayt, Fainaka Taqdi WalaYuqda 'Alayk,WainnahuLaYadhiluManWalayt,TabaraktaRabbanaWat’alayt.”This means: “O Allah, guide me among those whom You have guided. Grant me safetyamongthosewhomYouhavegrantedsafety.TakemeintoYourchargeamongthosewhomYouhavetakenintoYourcharge.BlessmeinwhatYouhavegivenme.ProtectmefromtheevilthatYouhavedecreed,forYoudecreeandnothingisdecreedforYou.AndthereisnohumiliationforwhomYoutakeasaward.BlessedandexaltedareYou,ourLord.”After this, say: "Allahu Akbar" and bow down and complete the rest of prayer like otherprayers.

ItisgoodtoaskforforgivenessandmercyfromAllahattheendofyourSalah.Youcansaythisinyourownwordsandinyourownlanguage.ButitisbetterforyoutomemorizesomeDu'as(supplicationsprayers)fromtheProphetMuhammad(pbuh)inArabic.AndThatIsIt.YouKnowHowToPray,SoJustGoDoIt!

AllahtheExaltedsayswhatcanbetranslatedas,"Verily,As‐Salat(prayer)preventsfromAl‐Fahsha(greatsins)

andAl‐Munkar(evilandwickeddeeds)."(Qur'an,29:45)

TheProphetMuhummad,peacebeuponhim,onceaskedhiscompanions,"Tellme,iftherewereastreamatthedoorofoneof

youinwhichhetakesabathfivetimesaday,wouldanyfilthremainuponhisbody?"Theyreplied,"Nodirtwouldremain."He(pbuh)said,"Similaristhecaseofthefive(obligatory)Salats(prayers).Allahobliteratesallsinsasaresultofofferingthem."

[ReportedbyImamBukhariandMuslim]

WeaskAllahtheExaltedtomakeusamongthepeoplewhoperformtheirprayersontime,acceptitfromus,andgrantusa

greatrewardinthislifeandtheHereafter.

Ameen.

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