About Islam

Conduct of Salaah

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

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

1. Time

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

Fajr - The morning prayer

Zuhr - The early noon prayer

Asr - The late afternoon prayer

Maghrib - The sun-set prayer

Isha - The night prayer

2. Dress

Before offering your Salaah makes 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 Salaah must be clean and free from all filth. During the monthly periods women are free from the obligation of Salaah.  

3. Place

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

Fardh or Naafillah 

Salah is composed of the Fardh(Obligatory) and the Naafilah(Superogatory) prayers.

The Fardh Salah is five in a day. Failure to perform any on of them is a blameable sin. The Naafillah includes the Sunnah, which Prophet(S.A.W) used to perform regularly before or after each Fardh 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 Salat-tul-Qasar.

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

In case the stay at any one place during the journey exceeds a fortnight, complete the Salaah with all the Fardh and Sunnah rakats must be offered.

If you are sick, you may offer your Salaah in a sitting position or lying 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 Salaah jointly. Thus Zhur and Asr can be said together in the last part of the period of Zuhr. Maghrib & Isha may also be offered similarly towards the end of the 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 (Muazzin) stands facing Ka'aba (Qibla), and raising his hands to his ears calls in a loud voice:

In Adhan for Fajr Salah, the following sentences are added after:
 

Dua after Adhan

On completion of the Adhan, Muslims are recommended to recite:

Allahahummaraba Haze Hid Da'wa Tit Tam Mate

O Allah! Lord of this complete call & Prayer of ours, by the blessing of it.

Was Salatil Qa E Mate A'Te Muhammadanil Wasiylata

Give to Muhammad his eternal rights of intercession,

Wal Fadi Lata Wad Daraja Tar Rafi A'ta

Distinction and highest class (in paradise).

Wab As Ho Maqama M Mahmuda Nil Lazee WA Adtahu

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

War Zuq Na Sha Fa Ata Hu Yaum Al Qiyamate

And bestow his intercession on us on the day of Judgement.

In Na Ka La Tukh Leful Mi'aad

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 Salaah. It is similar to Adhan except that it is recited faster but in a lower tone and these sentences are recited after Haya Alal Falah.