CHAPTER III

THE CONDUCT OF SALAH

In this section, some guide lines for the correct performance of Salah are given

The most important pre-requisite, Wudu (ablution), is explained in the last chapter. Other important condition are:

1. TIME

Each of the Salah must be offered at or during its proper time. No Salah can be said before its time. There are five obligatory prayers in a day.

• Fajr - the morning prayer.
• Zuhr - the early afternoon prayer.
• 'Asr - the late afternoon prayer.
• Maghrib - the sun-set prayer.
• 'Isha - the night prayer.

2. DRESS

Before offering your Salah 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 Salah must be clean and free from all filth. During the monthly period women are free from obligation of Salah.

3. PLACE

Wherever a man might be, he can turn towards Allah in Salah and in devotion. The prophet has said, "The (whole of the) earth has been rendered for me a mosque: pure and clean". Preferably Salah is to be offered in jama'at (congregation). Whenever possible, one should pray facing the Ka'bah, Makkah.

FARD OR NAFILAH

Salah is composed of the Fard (obligatory) and the Nafilah (superogatory) prayers.

The Fard Salah are five in a day. Failure to perform any one of them is a blameable sin. The Nafilah includes the Sunnah, which the Prophet (S.A.W.) used to perform regularly before or after each Fard Salah.

PRAYERS IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

When in circumstances where it is not possible to pray, or when on journey, you are permitted to shorten Salah. Such a shortened prayer is known as Salatul-Qasr.

When travelling one may offer two raka'ats in place of four raka'ats in Zuhr, Asr and 'Isha, but there is no change in the two raka'ats of Fajr and three raka'ats of Maghrib Salah. Besides this concession in Fard Salah, one may leave all the additional Sunnah except the two Sunnah raka'ats of Fajr and the Witr of 'Isha prayer. But a section of Muslims do perform Sunnah even when on a journey.

In case the stay at any one place during the journey exceeds a fortnight, complete the Salah, with all the Fard and Sunnah raka'ats must be offered.

If you are sick, you may offer your Salah in a sitting position or Iying in bed, by making signs in place of the physical movements.

In journey, in sickness and in other emergencies, one is allowed to offer two separate Salah jointly. Thus Zuhr and 'Asr can be said together in the last part of the period of Zuhr, Maghrib and 'Isha may also be offered similarly towards the end of Maghrib time (when it is almost dark).

THE CALL TO PRAYER ADHAN

To assemble the Muslims for congregational prayer, "Adhan", or the call to prayer is given. The caller (Mu'adh-dhin) stands facing Ka'bah (Qiblah), and raising his hands to his ears calls in a loud voice:

ALLAHU AKBAR

Allah is the greatest.

ALLAHU AKBAR

Allah is the greatest.

ALLAHU AKBAR

Allah is the greatest.

ALLAHU AKBAR

Allah is the greatest.

ASH-HADU AL-LA ILAHA ILLALLAH

I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah.

ASH-HADU AL-LA ILAHA ILLALLAH

I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah.

ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAR-RASULULAH

I bear witness that Muhammed (S.A.W.) is the Messenger of Allah

ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAR-RASULULAH

I bear witness that Muhammed (S.A.W.) is the Messenger of Allah.

HAYYA 'ALAS SALAH

Come to prayer.

HAYYA 'ALAS SALAH

Come to prayer.

HAYYA 'ALAL FALAH

Come to your Good.

HAYYA 'ALAL FALAH

Come to your Good.

ALLAHU AKBAR

Allah is the Greatest.

ALLAHU AKBAR

Allah is the Greatest.

LA ILAHA ILLALLAH

There is no deity but Allah.

In Adhan for Fajr Salah, the following sentence is added after:

HAYYA 'ALAL FALAH

ASSALATU KHAYRUM MINAN NAUM

Salah is better than sleep.

ASSALATU KHAYRUM MINAN NAUM

Salah is better than sleep.

DU'A AFTER ADHAN

On completion of the Adhan, Muslims are recommended to recite

ALLAHUMMA RABBA HADHI-HID-DA'WA-TIT-TAMMAH

O Allah! Lord of this complete call and prayer of ours, by the blessing of it.

WAS-SALATIL QAAE-MATI MUHAMMADANIL-WASILATA

give to Muhammed his eternal riqhts of intercession,

WAL FADI-LAT WAD-DARAJATAR RAFI-A

distinction and highest class (in paradise).

WAB 'ATH-HU MAQAMAM-MAHMUDA-NI LATHI WA `ADTAK

And raise him to the promised rank You have promised him.

WAR-ZUQ-NA SHA FA 'ATAHU YAUM-AL-QIYAMAH

and bestow his Intercession on us on the day of judgement.

IN-NAKA LA-TUKHULIFUL-MI`AD

Surely You never go back on your word.

IQAMAH

After Adhan when the Muslims are assembled at the place of worship, a second call (Iqamah) is recited by one of the group. This signals the start of the congregational Salah. It is similar to Adhan except that it is recited faster but in a lower tone and these sentences are recited after HAYYA 'ALAL FALAH:

QAD QAMATIS SALAH

The prayer has begun

QAD QAMATIS SALAH

The prayer has begun.