CHAPTER IV

THE CONTENTS OF SALAH

Salah in Islam is a unique institution. It brings man closer to Allah by harmonising his mental attitude with physical posture. In Salah, a Muslim submits himself completely to his Creator.

When you are sure that you have fulfilled all the necessary conditions for Salah, you ready to offer Salah. A detailed account of how to say Salah is given below:

Say to yourself that you intend to offer this Salah(Fajr, Zuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib or 'Isha) Fard or Sunnah. Then raise your hands to your ears (as in figure 15)

ALLAHU AKBAR

Allah is the greatest.

NOTE: The hand is in line with ear lobe

NOTE: Ladies lift their hands up to their shoulders only as shown above.

Now placing your right hand on the left, just below, above or on the navel (as shown in figure 18 - and ladies placing their hands on their chest as shown in figure 17b) recite the following:

SUBHANA-KALLAH-HUMMA WA BI-HAMDAKA

O Allah, Glorified, praise worthy.

WATABARAKAS-MUKA WATA`ALA JADDUKA

and blessed is They Name and exalted Thy Majesty

WA-LA ILAHA GHAIRUK

and there is no deity worthy of worship except Thee.

A`U-THU-BIL-LA-HI MINASHAITANIR RAJEEM

I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected Satan

BISMILAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

After this recite the opening Surah, Al-Fatihaha:

ALHAMDU LIL-LAHI RAB-BIL `ALAMIN

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

AR-RAHMAN-NIR RAHIM

the Beneficent, ther Merciful

MALIKI YAW-MID-DIN

Master of the Day of Judgement

IYYA-KA N`ABUDU WA-IYYAKA NASTA`IN

Thee alone we worship and to Thee alone we turn for help.

IHDI-NAD-SIRA TAL MUSTAQIM

Guide us in the straight path.

SIRA TAL-LATHINA AN-`AMTA `ALIAHIM

the path of those whom You favoured

GHAIRIL MAGHDUBI `ALAINHIM

and who did not deserve Thy anger

WALAD-HALLIN (AMEEN)

or went astray.

Now recite the following or any other passage from the Holy Qur`an:

BISMILA-HIR RAHMA-NIR RAHIM

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, ther Merciful

QUL HU-WAL-LAHO AHAD

Say: Allah is one and the only God

ALLA-HUS-SA-MAD

Allah, upon whom all depend

LAM YALID WALAM YULAD

He begots not, nor is He begotten,

WALAM YAKUL-LAHU KUFU-WAN AHAD

and there is nothing which can be compared to Him.

Now bow down saying:

ALLAHU AKBAR

Allah is the greatest.

Place your hands on your knees and in this inclined position (Ruku` as shown in figure 19) recite these words thrice:

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL ATHIM

Glory to my Lord the great.

Postrure for ladies in Ruku` is slighty different to that of a man

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL ATHIM

Glory to my Lord the great.

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL ATHIM

Glory to my Lord the great.

Then come to the standing position (figure 21 & 22) saying:

SAMI `ALLAHU LIMAN HAMIDAH

Allah has heard all who praise Him.

RAB-BANA LAKAL HAMD

Our Lord: Praise be to Thee

Now saying "Allahu Akbar" prostrate on the ground with your forehead, the knees the nose and palms of both hands touching the ground. In this position ajdah - as in figure 23, 24 & 25) repeat these words three times at least:

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL A`ALA

Glory to my Lord the most high

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL A`ALA

Glory to my Lord the most high

NOTE: Your nose & forehead in with carpet

Sit upright with knees still on the ground after a moments rest perform the second Sajdah saying:

ALLAHU AKBAR

Allah is the Greatest

In the second Sajdah as before recite the following words thrice:

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL A'ALA

Glory to my Lord the most high.

This completes one raka'at of Salah. The second raka'at is. said in the same way except that after the second Sajdah you sit back, with the left foot bent towards the right, which should be placed vertical to the mat with the toes touching the mat. The palms should be lifted from the mat and placed on the knees.

In this position (Q'adahas shown in figures 26 and 27 silently say these words (Tashahhud):

AT-TAHI-YATU LIL-LAHI WAS-SALAWATU WAT-TAY-YIBATU

All prayers and worship through words, action and sanctity are for Allah only.

AS-SALAMU `ALAIKA AY-YUHAN-NABIY-YU

Peace be on you, O Prophet

WARAHMATUL-LAHI WABARAKATUH

and Mercy of Allah and His blessings.

AS-SALAMU `ALAINA WA`ALA `IBADIL-LAHIS-SALIHIN

Peace be on us and on those who are righteous servants of Allah.

ASH-HADU AL-LA ILAHA IL-LAL-LAHU

I bear witness to the fact that there is no deity but Allah.

WA-ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAN `ABDUHU WARASULUH

I bear witness taht Muhammad is His slave and messenger.

In a three raka`at (i.e. Maghrib) or four raka`at (like Zuhr, `Asr and `Isha) Salah you stand up for the remaining raka`at after Tashahhud. On the other had if it is a two raka`at (Fajr) Salah, keep sitting and after this recite Darud (blessing for the Prophet) in these words:

AL-LAHUM-MA SAL-LI`ALA MUHAMMAD-IN WA `ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN

O Allah, exalt Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad

AL-LAHUM-MA SALAITA `ALA IBRAHIMA WA`ALA ALI IBRAHIMA

As Though did exalt Ibrahim and his followers.

IN-NAKA HAMIDUM MAJEED

Thou art the praised, the Glorious.

AL-LAHUM-MA BARIK MUHAMMAD-IN

O Allah, exalt Muhammad

WA 'ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN

and his followers

KAMABARAKTA 'ALA IBRAHIMA WA 'ALA ALI IBRAHIMA

as Thou has blest Ibrahim and his followers.

IN-NAKA HAMIDUM-MAJEED

Thou art the Praised, the Glorious.

Then say silently:

RAB-BIJ-'ALNI MUQIMAS-SALATI WAMIN DHUR-RIY-YATI

O Lord! Make me and my children steadfast in Prayer;

RAB-BANA WATAQAB-BAL DU'A' RAB-BIGH FIRLI

Lord! Accept the prayer. Our Lord! forgive me.

WA LIWALIDAY-YA WALIL-MU'MININA YAUMA YAQUM-UL HISAB

and my parents and believers on the Day of Judgement.

Now turn your face to the right (as in figure 30) saying;

AS-SALAMU 'ALAIKUM WA-RAHMATUL-LAH

Peace be on you and Allah's blessings.

Then turn your face to the left (as in figure 31) and repeat the above words (aloud).

This completes your two raka'at Salah. The four raka'at of Zuhr, 'Asr and 'Isha are said in an identical manner with the only difference that in the first two Raka'at of Zuhr and 'Asr, Al-Fatihah is said silently while in 'Isha prayer it is recited aloud.

If you are performing a three raka'at (like Maghrib) or four raka'at (like Zuhr, 'Asr and 'Isha) Salah stand up after Tashahhud saying ALLAHU AKBAR and recite Al-Fatihah. You must remember that Al-Fatihah is always recited silently in the third and fourth raka'at of every Salah. When you are offering Fard Salah do not recite any additional passage from the Holy Qur'an after Al-Fatihah in the last two raka'at. After the second Sajdah in the fourth raka'at say the Tashahhud, Darud and end with "AS-SALAMU 'ALAIKUM WA-RAHMATUL-LAH" to each side (first right, then left as shown in the above pictures). This marks the end of Salah.