CHAPTER VI

SALAH ON SPECIFIC OCCASIONS

JUMU'AH (or Friday) Prayer

Beside the daily Salah, the Friday prayer is also obligatory upon Muslim men. For Muslim women it is not obligatory, but is desirable if they are able to do so without upsetting their household work.

The Friday Salah is offered in congregation on Friday at Zuhr time. First the Imam delivers a sermon (Khutabh). Then he leads the congregation in a two raka'at Salah. After this two or more raka'at of Sunnah or Nafilah prayers are offered individually.

TARAWIH (or Ramadan) PRAYER

These prayers are offered during the month of Ramadan after 'Isha Salah. These consist of eight, twelve or twenty raka'at, and are offered two by two with a short rest between every four raka'at. They may be said alone but 4 collective prayers are recommended. These are additional 4 Sunnah prayers.

THE `ID PRAYERS (Salatul-`ldayn)

There are two 'Id or occasions of great festivity for the Muslims. The first is called ldul-Fitr or the festival of fastbreaking. It is celebrated on the first day of the tenth Islamic month (Shawwal) following Ramadan, the month of fasting. It marks great thanks-giving for the Muslims all over the world.

The second 'Id is the `Idul-Adha or the festival of great sacrifice, which is observed on the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah, the last Islamic month. The animals are sacrificed to celebrate the great sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him)

On both these `Ids, Id prayers are offered in congregation any time after sunrise and before noon. There is no Adhan (call for prayer) or Iqamah (second call before congregation). The Id prayer consists of two raka'at (offered just as the two raka'at of Jumu'ah prayer are said) with six to sixteen additional 'Takbirs' (ALLAHU AKBAR). You say three or more Takbirs in the first raka'at after 'Thana' and three or more 'Takbirs' in the second raka'at before you bow down for Ruku'.

A sermon (Khutbah) is delivered by the Imam (leader of the prayer) after the two raka'at Id prayer unlike the Jumuiah prayer when it precedes the prayer.

The presence of all Muslims, women and children included, is strongly recommended.

FUNERAL PRAYERS

It is a prayer to Allah for a deceased Muslim, and is a common obligation on all Muslims of the locality. The funeral Salah is offered in congregation but unlike other formal prayers, it has neither any Ruku' (bowing) nor any Sajdah (prostration). Here it is the complete sequence of he funeral prayer.

Saying Takbir (Allahu Akbar) with the rest of the congregation raise your hands to your ears, then bring them down on, above or below the navel as in formal , prayers with the right hand on the left. Then recite the following praise or Thana silently:

SUBHANAKAL-LA HUM-MA WABIH-AMDIKA

Glory to Allah, and praise be to You

WATABARA-KASMUKA WATA'ALA JADDUKA

and blessed is Your name and Exalted is your Majesty

WAJJAL-LA THANA'OKA WALA ILAHA GHAIRUK

and Glorious is Your praise and there is none worthy of worship besides You.

After Thana again raise hands to your ears saying Allahu Akbar. Now silently recite the Darud:

ALLAHUM-MA SALLE 'ALA MUHAMMADIW

O Allah, exalt Muhammad

WA 'ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN

and the followers of Muhammad

KAMA SALLAITA 'ALA IBRAHIMA

as Thou has exalted Ibrahtim

WA 'ALA ALI IBRAHIMA

and the followers of Ibrahim

IN-NAKA HAMIDUM MAJEED

Thou surely art praised Magnified.

ALLAHUM-MA Bi4RIK 'ALA MUHAMMADIW

O Allah. bless Muhammad

WA ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN

and the followers of Muhammad

KAMA BARAKTA 'ALA IBRAHIMA

as Thou has blessed Ibrahrim

WA 'ALA ALI IBRAHIMA

and the followers of Ibrahim

IN-NAKA HAMIDUM-MAJEED

Surely Thou art the praised and Magnified.

(a) Now in case the deceased Muslim is an adult, recite this Dua:

ALLAHUM-MAGHFIRLI-HAYYINA WAMAYYITINA

O Allah pardon our living and our dead

WASHAHIDINA WAGHA'IBINA

the present and the absent.

WASAGHIRINA WAKABIRINA

our young and the old,

WADHAKARINA WAUNTHANA

and the males and females.

ALLAHUM-MA MAN-AHYAYTAHU MIN-NA FA-AHYIHI 'ALAL ISLAM

O Allah, be to whom You accord life among us cause him to live in the observance of Islam.

WAMAN TAWAF-FAITAHU MIN-NA FATAWAF-FAHU 'ALAL-IMAN

and be to whom You give death, cause him to die in the state of Iman (faith).

(b) If the deceased is an adult woman substitute the last two lines with the following:

ALLAHUM-MA MAN AHYAITAHA MIN-NA FA AHYIHA 'ALAL ISLAM

O Allah, she to whom You accord life among us, cause her to live in the observation of Islam,

WAMANTAWAF-FAITAHA MIN-NA FATAWAF-FA HA 'ALAL IMAN

and she to whom you give death, cause her to die in the state of Aman (faith).

(c) If the deceased is a minor and a boy then recite this Du'a:

ALLAHUM-MA J'ALHU LANA FARATAW

O Allah, Make him our fore-runner,

WAJ`JALHULANA ARJAW-WADHUKHRAW

and make him for us a reward and a treasuer,

WAJ`ALHULANA SHAFI`AW MUSHF-FAA

andmake him for us a pleader, and accept his pleading.

(d) If the deceased is a minor and a girl, then recite this Du`a

ALLAHUM-MA-J`ALHALANA FARTAW

O Allah, make her our fore-runner,

WAJ`JALHALANA AJRAW WADHUKHRAW

and make for us reward and a treasure

WAJ`JALHALANA SHAFI'ATAW WA-MUSHAF-FA'AH

and make her for us a pleader, and except her pleading.

After this the Imam gain says aloud "Allahu Akbar". The congregation repeats these words silently. Then the Imama and the Muslims turn their faces first to the right and then to the left side saying As-salamu-Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullah on either side