How to Perform Salaat,
(the Islamic Ritual Prayer)
Content: Section 1: What is Prayer & its Importance Section 2: Important Vocabulary Section 3: What is Adhan? Section 4: What is Qibla? Section 5: How to do Wudu Section 6: A Video Illustration of Wudu Section 7: How to Pray Section 8: Video Illustration on How to Pray Section 9: What consists in the Prayer Section 10: Women in Menstruation and Prayer Section 11: FAQ on Prayer Section 12: Find Timings of prayer Section 13: E-books on Salah
Section 14: Lectures of Salah
Section 1: What is Prayer & its Importance
| Why is prayer important in Islam? |
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Written by Adibudeen
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Wednesday, 20 April 2005 |
Allah says in the Qur'an:
Do you not see that Allah is
He
whom do
glorify all those who are in the heavens and the earth, and the (very)
birds with expanded wings? He knows the prayer of each one and its
glorification, and Allah is cognizant of what they
do. (24:41)
Every creature on earth and in the
heavens worships Allah in its own way. This is the natural way of life:
Deen-al-fitr. Human beings are no exception. Allah has ordained for us
fixed times at which we are to make our obligatory
prayers.
Again Allah says
And unto Allah falls
in prostration whoever is in
the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and so do their
shadows in the mornings and
afternoons. (13:15)
Allah has made prayer an
obligation for us not
because he needs us. Allah is Self-sufficient. He has ordained prayer
for us because it is better for us.
Recite
that which has been revealed to you of the
Book and keep up prayer; surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency
and evil, and certainly the remembrance of Allah is greatest, and Allah
knows what you do (29:45)
Everything
in the universe is consistent. It is the way Allah created it to be. In
order for us to maintain consistency and not go astray during our daily
lives, we must remember, at fixed times, the one who Created us. On
this issue, Allah says
Verily
the
prayers at fixed hours have been prescribed for the
believers (4:103)
We must not
underestimate the importance of this obligation. Prayer is addressed
directly and indirectly in the Qur'an over 100 times. It is the second
pillar of our religion, and it has been agreed upon that one must pray
the obligatory 5 prayers each day in order to be Muslim.
It is
reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) stated that:
"The
covenant (which
distinguished) between us and them is Prayer, so whoever abandoned it
committed an act of disbelief."
It is also reported that a man asked the Prophet (Allah bless him
and grant him peace), "What is the best deed?" The Prophet
replied, "Prayer, when it is time." |
The importance of the prayer in Islam cannot be understated. It is the
first pillar of Islam that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned
after mentioning the testimony of faith, by which one becomes a
Muslim. It was made obligatory upon all the prophets and for all
peoples. Allah has declared its obligatory status under majestic
circumstances. For example, when Allah spoke directly to Moses, He
said,
"And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you.
Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so
worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance." [Taha
13-14]
Similarly, the prayers were made obligatory upon the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his ascension to heaven.
Furthermore, when Allah praises the believers, such as in the
beginning of surah al-Muminoon, one of the first descriptions He
states is their adherence to the prayers.
Once a man asked the Prohpet (peace be upon him) about the most
virtuous deed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that the most
virtuous deed is the prayer. The man asked again and again. The first
three times, the Prophet (peace be upon him) again answered, "The
prayer," then on the fourth occasion he stated, "Jihad in the way of
Allah." [This is form a hadith recorded by Ahmad and ibn Hibban.
According to al-Albani, the hadith is hasan. Muhammad Nasir al-Din
al-Albani, Sahih al-Targheeb wa al-Tarheeb (Beirut: al-Maktab
al-Islami, 1982), vol. 1, p. 150]
The importance of prayer is demonstrated in the many of the
Prophet’s statement. For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him)
said,
"The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the
Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his
deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be
bad." [Recorded by al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani, it is sahih.
Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503.
The importance of the prayers lies in the fact that no matter what
actions one performs in his life, the msot important aspect is one’s
relationship to Allah, that is, one’s faith (imaan), God-consciousness
(taqwa), sincerity (ikhlas) and worship of Allah (`ibaadah). This
relationship with Allah is both demonstrated and put into practice, as
well as improved and increased, by the prayer. Therefore, if the
prayers are sound and proper, the rest of the deeds will be sound and
proper; and if the prayers are not sound and proper, then the rest of
the deeds will not be sound and proper, as the Prophet (peace be
upon him) himself stated.
In reality, the prayer is performed properly – with true remembrance
of Allah and turning to Him for forgiveness – it will have a lasting
effect on the person. After he finishes the prayer, his heart will be
filled with the remembrance of Allah. He will be fearful as well as
hopeful of Allah. After that experience, he will not want to move
from that lofty position to one wherein he disobeys Allah. Allah has
mentioned this aspect of the prayer when He has said,
"Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds"
(al-Ankaboot 45). Nadwi has described this effect in the following
eloquent way,
Its aim is to generate within the subliminal self
of man such spiritual power, light of faith and
awareness of God as can enable him to strive
successfully against all kinds of evils and
temptations and remain steadfast at times of
trial and adversity and protect himself against
the weakness of the flesh and the mischief of
immoderate appetites. [Nadwi, p. 24]
The overall affect that the properly performed prayers should have
upon humans is described in other verses in the Quran:
"Verily, man was created impatient, irritable when evil touches him
and niggardly when good touches him. Except for those devoted to
prayer those who remain constant in their prayers…" (al-Maarij
19-23).
As for the Hereafter, Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure is closely
related to the prayers. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
said,
"Allah has obligated five prayers. Whoever excellently performs their
ablutions, prays them in their proper times, completes their bows,
prostrations and khushu` [Khushu` in the prayer is where the
person’s heart is attuned to the prayer. This feeling in the heart is
then reflected on the body. The person remains still and calm. His
gaze is also lowered. Even his voice is affected by this feeling in the
heart. For more details on this concept (as well as the difference
between it and khudhu`), see Muhammad al-Shaayi, al-Furooq
al-Laughawiyyah wa Atharahaa fi Tafseer al-Quran al-Kareem
(Riyadh: Maktabah al-Ubaikaan, 1993), pp. 249-254.] has a promise
from Allah that He will forgive him. And whoever does not do that
has no promise from Allah. He may either forgive him or punish
him." [Recorded by Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Nasa’I and
others. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami,
vol. 1, p. 616.] ]
The prayers are a type of purification for a human being. He turns
and meets with his Lord five times a day. As alluded to above, this
repeated standing in front of Allah should keep the person from
performing sins during the day. Furthermore, it should also be a time
of remorse and repentance, such that he earnestly asks Allah for
forgiveness for those sins that he committed. In addition, the prayer
in itself is a good deed that wipes away some of the evil deeds that he
performed. These points can be noted in the following hadith of the
Prophet (peace be upon him):
"If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five
times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?" The
people said, "No filth would remain on him whatsoever." The
Prophet (peace be upon him) then said, "That is like the five daily
prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them." (Recorded by
al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
In another hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"The five daily prayers and the Friday Prayer until the Friday prayer
are expiation for what is between them." (Recorded by Muslim.)
Section 2: Important Vocabulary
Adhan [ad-HAAN] = The Muslim call to worship. The adhan is recited aloud in Arabic before each of the five daily prayers. Upon hearing the adhan, Muslims assemble for group prayer, often at a local Masjid. **
Allah [al-Lah] = God; Muslims believe that there is only one God who is all-Powerful and who created everything in the universe. Allah literally means "the God." Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews also use this term as their name for God. **
Angels; mala’ikah [ma-LAA-ik-ah] = according to the Qur’an, angels are a class of God’s creations created from light, who
continually serve and glorify God. The angel named Gabriel (Jibreel) is
considered to be the angel who brought revelation to humankind through
the prophets, and who visited Mary to tell her of Jesus’ birth.
Five Pillars = the five required acts of worship in Islam. Muslims are required to perform these acts to demonstrate their commitment to God. They are: shahadah (declaration of faith), salah (prayer), zakah (required charity), siyam (fasting during Ramadan) and hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah).
Hijab [hee-JAAB] = literally, "a condition of modesty";
represented in public appearance by loose-fitting clothing and a head
covering. Hijab also is a symbol of Muslim identity for many women.
Hijab should not be confused with the veil (face covering), which is a
cultural practice among some Muslims rather than a religious
obligation.**
Imam [ee-MAAM] = This term refers to the person who leads group prayer.
The term also applies to religious leaders in the Muslim community. An
imam may perform religious duties for the Muslim community, but the word
does not mean "clergy," since Islam has no established religious
hierarchy or ordination of clergy.**
Islam [iss-LAAM] = "seeking peace through submission to God"; also means peace, greeting, surrender and commitment. The Qur’an names Islam as the religion first revealed to Adam and then to all of the prophets, ending with Muhammad.**
Khutbah [KHUT-bah] = a public sermon held every Friday in the Masjid before the midday prayer. **
Masjid [MASS-jid] = literally, "place of kneeling down in prayer"; the house of worship where Muslims gather to pray. The French word mosque used in English is a translation of masjid;
it is based on mesquita, a Spanish language corruption of the original
Arabic. There are three sacred masjids in the world = Masjid al-Haram in
Makkah; Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah; and Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.**
Muhammad [moo-HUM-med] = according to Islamic teachings, the last messenger of God to humakind; according to the Qur’an, he is the last of the prophets, who include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus
Muhammad was born in Arabia in about 570 CE at Makkah, and died at
Madinah in 632 CE. A descendent of Abraham through his son Ishmael.**
Muslim [MUSS-lim] = literally, "one who seeks peace through
submission to God"; any person who declares faith in the One God and
his messengers, and accepts the teachings of Islam.**
People of the Book; Ahl al Kitab [AHL al-kee-TAAB] = a term in the Qur’an that refers to Jews and Christians. Ahl al-Kitab
most often describes Jews and Christians, because they received
divinely-revealed scriptures and accepted monotheistic teachings.
Qur’an [kur-AAN] = literally, "the recitation"; according to
Islamic teachings, the Qur’an is the word of God sent to Muhammad
through the Angel Gabriel. For Muslims, it is the source of knowledge about God and His creation, and the source of guidance in life.
Only in Arabic language is the Qur’an considered to be actual
scripture. Translations express only meaning as an aid to understanding,
but are not a substitute or basis for interpretation.**
Salah [sa-LAAH] = the five daily prayers required of Muslims, one of the "Five Pillars" or basic acts of worship in Islam. Muslims pray at five specific times each day, preferably with others. The salah is a means of maintaining God-consciousness, giving thanks for God’s blessings, and seeking His aid and support. **
Shaykh [shay-kh] = an Arabic term meaning "leader" or "chief," a title of respect for scholars. In Sufi groups, the title refers to a spiritual master who guides others in their spiritual growth.
Sunnah [SOON-nah] = the example of Muhammad’s sayings, acts, and habits; the second source of Islamic teachings after the Qur’an. Hadith, the oral and written record of Muhammad’s words and deeds transmitted is the main source of knowledge about the sunnah. Sirah, or biography of Muhammad, is another source of knowledge about the sunnah.**
Wudu [woo-DOO] = ritual washing with water before performing Muslim prayer or recitation of the Qur’an. It symbolizes purification of the body for prayer.**
Section 3: What is Adhan?
The adhān (Arabic: أَذَان Azan/Ezan [ʔæˈðæːn]) is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the muezzin. The root of the word is ʼḏn أَذَن meaning "to permit", and another derivative of this word is uḏun, meaning "ear".
Adhan is called out by the muezzin in the mosque, sometimes from a minaret, five times a day summoning Muslims for mandatory (fard) prayers (salah). There is a second call known as iqama
(set up) that summons Muslims to line up for the beginning of the
prayers. The main purpose behind the loud pronouncement of adhan five
times a day in every mosque is to make available to everyone an easily
intelligible summary of Islamic belief. It is intended to bring to the
mind of every believer and non-believer the substance of Islamic
beliefs, or its spiritual ideology. Loudspeakers are sometimes installed on minarets for the purpose.
The adhan sums up the teachings of Islam: there is no deity but The God; Muhammad is God's Messenger; salvation is found through obedience to the Will of God, of which prayer is an important expression. | Recital |
Arabic |
Transliteration |
Translation |
|---|
| 4x * |
الله أكبر |
Allahu Akbar |
God is the greatest/most great |
| 2x |
أشهد أن لا اله إلا الله |
Ash-had an la ilaha illa llah |
I testify that there is no deity except for God |
| 2x |
أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله |
Ash-hadu anna Muħammadan rasulullah |
I testify that Muhammad is a Messenger of God |
| 2x |
حي على الصلاة |
Hayya 'ala-salatt |
Make haste towards the prayer |
| 2x |
حي على الفلاح |
Hayya 'ala 'l-falah |
Make haste towards success (reward) |
| 2x ** |
الصلاة خير من النوم |
Al-salatu khayru min an-nawm |
Prayer is better than sleep ** |
| 2x |
الله أكبر |
Allāhu akbar |
God is the greatest! |
| 1x |
لا إله إلا الله |
La ilaha illallah |
There is no deity except for God |
* Followers of the Maliki madh'hab say this line twice instead of four times.
** The line "Prayer is better than sleep" is used only for the first prayers of the day at dawn (fajr Prayer; Salat al-fajr).
Section 4: What is Qibla?
Qiblah (Arabic: قبلة, also transliterated as Kiblah or Qiblih) is an Arabic word for the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays during Salah. Most mosques contain a niche in a wall that indicates the Qiblah.
The Qiblah has importance to more than just the salaat and plays an important part in everyday ceremonies. The head of an animal that is slaughtered using Halal methods is aligned with the Qiblah. After death, Muslims are buried with their faces in the direction of the Qiblah. Thus, archaeology can indicate a Muslim necropolis if no other signs are present. Visit http://www.qiblalocator.com/ to find out the direction of the qibla. Or Download Salat Time in order to find out.
Section 5: How to do Wudu
How to Perform Wudu (Islamic Ablution)
There are two forms of
ablution:
the partial ablution (wudu)
and the complete
ablution (ghusl). In addition, there is a symbolic
ablution (tayammum), to be used when no water is available or
a person cannot use water because of reasons of health. One should be in
a state of purity before performing prayer or reading the Qur'an. The
following
actions or conditions nullify this state of purity and require the
partial
ablution:
discharges
from
the body (urine, stools, gas)
the flow of blood or
pus
from the body
vomiting
falling asleep
becoming intoxicated
The following actions
or
conditions require the full ablution:
sexual
intercourse
wet dreams
the expiration of a
women's
menstrual period
after childbirth
Wudu,
the Partial Ablution
-
Declare the intention that
this
act is for the purpose of worship and purity.
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Wash the hands up to the
wrist
three times.
-
Rinse out the mouth with
water
three times.
-
Cleanse the nostrils of the
nose by sniffing water into them three times.
-
Wash the whole face three
times
with both hands—from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin,
from ear to ear.
-
Wash the right arm three
times
up to the top of the elbow, then wash the left arm.
-
Wipe the whole head from
the
forehead to the back of the neck one time with a wet hand.
-
With wet fingers, wipe the
inner
sides of the ears with the forefingers and their outer sides with the
thumbs.
-
Wipe around the neck with
wet
hands.
-
Wipe the two feet up to the
ankles, three times, beginning with the right foot. (If shoes and socks
or stockings are on and and socks or stockings have been on since last
performing the ablution, it is not four hours, the socks or stockings
should
be removed and the feet washed.)
Ghusl,
the Full Ablution
-
Declare the intention that
this
act is for the purpose of worship and purity.
-
Wash the whole
body—including
nostrils, mouth and head.
Tayammum,
the Symbolic Ablution
-
Declare the intention that
this
act is for the purpose of worship and purity.
-
Touch earth, sand, or stone
lightly with both hands and then wipe the face with them once as done in
the partial ablution.
Touch earth, sand, or
stone
lightly with both hands and then wipe the right arm to the elbow with
the
left hand and the left arm with the right hand.
Section 6: A Video Illustration of Wudu
Before Salaat
1. Body, clothes and place
of prayer must be clean.
2. Perform wudu
(ritual ablution) if needed.
3. Women are required to
cover their hair.
4. Face the Qibla,
the direction of Mecca.
5. Stand erect, head down,
hands at sides, feet evenly spaced.
6.
Recite Iqama (private call to prayer):
6a. Here are some sample
audiofiles of the Athan (call to prayer) Quicktime,
they are very similar to Iqama: Real Audio
MP3
Allaahu
Akbar (4x)
Ashhadu Allah ilaaha
illa-Lah (2x)
Ash Hadu anna Muhamadar
rasuulullah (2x)
Hayya' alas Salaah
(2x)
Hayya' ala Falaah
(2x)
[Fajr only]
A-Salaatu
Khayrun Mina-Naum (2x)
Qad qaamitis Salaah
(2x) [Iqama only - not recited in Athan]
Allaahu Akbar
(2x)
Laa ilaaha illa-Lah |
God
is great. (x4)
I bear witness that there
none worthy of worship except God. (x2)
I bear witness that Muhammad
is the Messenger of God. (x2)
Come to prayer. (x2)
Come to felicity. (x2)
[Fajr only] Prayer
is better than sleep. (x2)
[Iqama only] Our
prayers are now ready. Our prayers are now ready. (x2)
God is great. (x2)
There is none worthy
of worship except God. |
7.
Express intent to perform Salaat (niyyat):
I intend to offer _____
rakats
of the ____ prayer, and face the Qibla for the sake of Allah and
Allah alone.
(For example: "I intend
to offer the 4 rakats of the Isha prayer and face the Qibla
for the sake of Allah and Allah alone.")
Begin Salaat
1.
Niyyat: Stand with respect and attention; put the world
behind you.
Bring hands to ears, palms
forward, thumbs behind earlobes and say (The entire prayer must
be recited in Arabic, but for your information we give the English translation
next to the Arabic transliteration) :
| Allahu
Akbar |
God
is great. |
  |
2.
Qiyam: Place right hand over left, men below navel, women at chest
level;
look at the ground in front
of you and recite Opening Supplication (optional):
Subhaana
ala humma wa bihamdika
wa tabaara kasmuka
wa ta'aalaa jadduka
wa laa ilaaha ghairuk
* * *
A'uudhu billaahi minash
shaitaan ar-Rajeem |
Glory
to You, O Allah, and Yours is the praise.
And blessed is Your Name,
and exalted is Your Majesty.
And there is no deity
to be worshipped but You
* * *
I seek refuge in Allah
from Satan, the accursed. |
|
3.
Fatiha: Recite aloud the Fatiha, the first surah of the
Qur'an. MP3 RealAudio
| Bismillaah
ar-Rahman ar-Raheem
Al hamdu lillaahi rabbil
'alameen
Ar-Rahman ar-Raheem
Maaliki yaumid Deen
Iyyaaka na'abudu wa
iy yaaka nasta'een
Ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem
Siraatal ladheena
an 'amta' alaihim
Ghairil maghduubi'
alaihim waladaaleen
Aameen |
In
the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord
of all the worlds.
The Compassionate, the
Merciful.
Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.
You alone do we worship,
and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the straight
path,
the path of those who
have received your grace;
not the path of those
who have brought down wrath, nor of those who wander astray.
Amen. |
|
4.
Ruk'u: Hands drop to sides; bend from waist, palms on knees, back
parallel to ground; look at feet.
| (While
bending:) Allahu Akbar
(While bent:) Subhanna
rabbiyal 'Azeem (3x) |
God
is great.
Holy is my Lord, the Magnificent. |
|
5. Qauma: Rise
from bending to standing, arms at sides.
(While
rising:) Sami' allaahu liman hamidah
(Response from congregation:)
Rabbanaa
wa lakal hamd
(Standing straight, pause:)
Allahu
Akbar |
Allah
listens to him who praises Him.
Our Lord, to You is due
all praise.
God is great. |
|
6. Sudjood:
Prostrate—hands on knees, lower slowly to kneeling position;
touch forehead, nose and
palms to ground (but not elbows);
bend toes so tops of feet
face the Qibla.
7. Qu'ud: Rise
to sitting position, looking at lap. Men turn up heel of right foot,
right toes bent; women keep
both feet, soles up, under body.
| (Pause:)
Allahu
Akbar |
God
is great. |
|
8.
Sudjood: Prostrate again.
9.
Qu'ud: Rise to sitting position;
| pause |
pause |
|
10. To proceed to the second
and fourth rakats:
| (While
rising:) Allahu Akbar |
God
is great. |
Return to standing position
recite al-Fateha |
Then recite the Fatiha,
(if this is the second rakat of any time of prayer, recite another
short portion of the Qur'an); continue the second or fourth rakat
with Ruku....
11. To complete every
second rakat and the last rakat:
Remain
seated and recite At-Tashahhud:1
At
Tahiyyaatu lilaahi was Salawaatu wat tayibaatu
As Salaamu 'alaika
ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatul laahi wa barakaatuh
As Salaamu 'alainaa
wa 'alaa 'ebaadillaahis saaliheen,
(Hands on knees, raise
right forefinger:) Ash hadu allaa ilaah ilallaah
Wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan
'abduhuu wa rasuuluh
|
All
greetings, blessings and good acts are from You, my Lord.
Greetings to you, O Prophet,
and the mercy and blessings of Allah.
Peace be unto us, and
unto the righteous servants of Allah.
I bear witness that there
is none worthy of worship except Allah.
And I bear witness that
Muhammad is His servant and messenger. |
|
To
proceed to the third rakat:
| (While
rising:) Allahu Akbar |
God
is great. |
Return to standing position
recite al-Fatiha |
Recite the Fatiha
and continue third rakat with Ruk'u....
At
the end of any time of prayer (when all rakats have been completed):
Remain seated, recite At-Tashahhud,
and then recite the Salawat:
Allaahumma
salli 'alaa Muhammadin wa 'alaa ali Muhammadin
Kamaa sallaita 'alaa
Ibraaheema wa 'alaa ali Ibraaheema
Innaka hameedun Majeed
Alaahumma baarik 'ala
Muhammadin wa 'alaa ali Muhammadin
Kamaa baarakta 'alaa
Ibraaheema wa 'alaa ali Ibraaheema
Innaka hameedun Majeed |
O
Allah, bless our Muhammad and the people of Muhammad;
As you have blessed Abraham
and the people of Abraham.
Surely you are the Praiseworthy,
the Glorious.
O Allah, be gracious
unto Muhammad and the people of Muhammad;
As you were gracious
unto Abraham and the people of Abraham.
Surely you are the Praiseworthy,
the Glorious. |
|
To
Complete the Prayer: Look over right shoulder (toward the angel
recording your good deeds), then the left (toward the angel recording your
wrongful deeds); say each time:
| As
Salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatulaah |
Peace
and blessings of God be upon you. |
 
|
Say personal prayers with hands
cupped and palms up at chest level.
Wipe face with palms.
If praying in a group, stand
and greet each other individually,
saying: "May God receive
our prayers."
1At-Tashahhud
is a recreation of the conversation held between Allah and the Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessing upon him) during the night of the Heavenly
Ascent (Miraj)
Section 8: Video Illustration on How to Pray
Step-by-Step Guide to Prayer 1/7 (Intro & Wudu)
Step-by-Step Guide to Prayer 2/7 (Reminders)
Step-by-Step Guide to Prayer 3/7 (Fajr)
Step-by-Step Guide to Prayer 5/7 (Asr)
Step-by-Step Guide to Prayer 6/7 (Maghreb)
Step-by-Step Guide to Prayer 7/7 (Isha)-(END)-REUPLOADED
Section 9: What consists in the Prayer
Section 10: Women in Menstruation
As you are
no doubt aware by now, there are certain rules and exceptions for women
in Islam, and one of them pertains to her monthly cycle. Try your
best not to think of it as a limitation, but as a reprieve.
A woman
who is in her monthly cycle cannot:
1. Perform
the five prescribed prayers (Salat al Fard) (prayers missed due to menstruation
do not have to be made up)
2. Touch
the Qur'an,
3. Make
ta'waf around the Kaba,
4. Fast
(Days of fasting missed during Ramadan may be made up within the next lunar
year)
5. Engage
in sexual intercourse with her husband (kissing, hugging, and other intimate
touching outside of the genital area is okay).
6. It
is better for her not to be in the musallah (area where prayers are performed)
in the masjid or Islamic centre.
A woman
who is in her monthly cycle can:
1. Make
du'a,
2. Listen
to a recitation of the Qur'an, or silently recite it to herself
3. Celebrate
the praises of Allah ta'ala,
4. Study
Islamic texts, including hadith,
5. Attend
Eid celebrations.
When your
menses is finished: ghusl
When your cycle
is ended, then you must perform the ritual purification bath, called ghusl.
It includes washing your entire body, including the head. If your
hair is so tightly braided that water would not reach your scalp underneath,
then you are obliged to undo your hair. Otherwise, you do not need
to undo your style, but only run some water over it.
Advice
It is often
difficult for new Muslimas to understand why they are suddenly unable to
make salat for five days or so. Many may feel that it is a limitation
on them due to their gender. Others may misunderstand this, and think
that they can not engage in any Islamic activities for the duration of
their menses. This is simply not so. Many women suffer
from extreme cramps, heavy bleeding, nausea, headaches, and other
maladies during their cycle. It is truly a sign of the Mercy of Allah
ta'ala that we are excused from prayer during this time. I know more
than one sister who would be unable to perform the physical duties of the
prayer during her cycle.
Islam does
not ask you to give up your spirituality or pursuit of Islamic knowledge
during this time either. While it is true that you can't read the
Qur'an physically, you aren't prohibited from listening to tapes of the
Qur'an, or from listening to someone else recite it. You may even
recite the verses to yourself silently. You can still pray, through
Du'a, and you can still celebrate the praises of Allah ta'ala during this
time as well. There is nothing to stop you from reading Islamic texts
outside of the Qur'an, including hadith.
Menstruation and Post-childbirth Bleeding
Menstruation PeriodMenstruation is a natural type of blood
that flows at regular intervals from a woman’s uterus after puberty. God
has laid down certain rules in connection with this, as a concession to
the woman, in consideration of her condition. Menstruation
usually lasts 3 to 10 days and nights, varying from woman to woman. Most
women have a regular number of days for their monthly menstrual period.
The number of days may fluctuate and the period might come a little
early or a little late. So when a woman sees menstrual blood, she should
consider herself to be menstruating. When it stops, she should consider
herself clean. If more blood appears after her menstrual period has
ended, but does not have the same color as menstrual blood, it should
not be considered as menstruation Post-childbirth bleedingPost-childbirth
bleeding is the blood that comes during and after childbirth. It may
begin to come 2 or 3 days before delivery and be accompanied by labor
pains. There is no minimum limit as to how long a woman will bleed, but
generally the upper limit is within 40 days. Women are prohibited from performing certain acts while they are in this condition, such as follows:• She cannot pray (salat) after she begins to bleed and does not have to make up any missed prayers. •
She cannot observe any obligatory (Ramadan) or supererogatory fasts.
She must make up the obligatory fasting days after regaining her ritual
cleanliness. If bleeding begins during a supererogatory fasting day upon
which she had intended to fast, she must make it up. • She can do all pilgrimage rites except circumambulating the Ka‘ba (tawaf). •
She should avoid mosques or places of worship, and cannot touch the
Qur’an, whether the original or in translation. She cannot recite it
from memory, but can read the verses of prayer and supplication with the
intention of praying. (She cannot perform salat but can supplicate and
recite the prayers mentioned in the Qur’an with the intention of saying
prayers or making supplications.) • A man cannot have sexual
intercourse with his wife while she has post-childbirth bleeding, for
she is not allowed to make herself available to him. However, he can
kiss, hug, or touch her anywhere besides the pubic region. It is better
and highly advisable to avoid the area between the navel and the knees. When
a menstruating woman stops bleeding, she must perform a complete ghusl
(major ablution). After this, she must resume praying and fasting, can
enter the mosque, make tawaf, recite the Qur’an, and engage in allowable
sexual intercourse. She must make up the fasting days that she missed
during Ramadan, but not the prayers. The same rules apply to women in
post-childbirth bleeding. Istihadha (Non-menstrual Vaginal Bleeding)In
some women, bleeding never stops; in others, it continues for longer
than normal. This blood is called istihadha. Likewise, any blood coming
before puberty and after menopause is also considered istihadha. A
woman with this condition should calculate when her period would
normally end, and then stop praying during the days of her calculated
period and follow all of the other menstruation-related rules. For the
rest of the days, her bleeding should be treated as istihadha. If she
does not have a regular period or does not remember when it used to
occur, but can distinguish between the two kinds of blood based on
color, thickness, and smell (i.e., menstrual blood is dark, thick, and
has a strong odor, while istihadha is bright red, thin, and less
disagreeable in smell), she must act accordingly. If she does not have a
regular period and cannot distinguish between the two types of blood,
she must consider the blood coming for 3 to 10 days every month as
menstruation and calculate it from the time she first noticed her
vaginal bleeding. There is no difference between a woman beset by
istihadha and one who has a complete cessation of menstrual flow,
except as follows: • If the first woman wants to perform wudu’
(ritual ablution), she should wash the blood from her vaginal area and
then apply a menstrual pad or wrap the area with a clean rag on top of a
wad of cotton to catch the blood. Any blood coming out after that is of
no account. • She must perform wudu’ for every obligatory prayer. for more information please click on QA on the website and Look for Menstruation and Women Folder.
Section 11: FAQ on Prayer
For more Information Visit Islamqa.com
| 1 |
| Can a woman pray in her house wearing perfume and jewellery?. | 21970 |
| 2 |
| Woman praying in a single garment
. | 11073 |
| 3 |
| How should a woman pray in public places?. | 21803 |
| 4 |
| If a man or a woman pray at home, should they say the adhaan and iqaamah for prayer?. | 146921 |
| 5 |
| Can women pray alongside men with a barrier?. | 79122 |
| 6 |
| Is it permissible for a woman to pray outside the mosque where men can see her?. | 95577 |
| 7 |
| A pregnant woman feels nauseous all the time – how should she pray? . | 11878 |
| 8 |
| Is praying in pants invalid?. | 46529 |
| 9 |
| Where should a woman stand when she prays in jamaa’ah with her husband?
. | 13757 |
| 10 |
| Praying in a room at the edge of which is a toilet
. | 14506 |
| 11 |
| Who is the woman who is religiously committed?. | 96584 |
| 12 |
| It is not correct to pray following the imam on the radio or TV
. | 50245 |
| 13 |
| Women praying Jumu’ah: two rak’ahs only. | 2229 |
| 14 |
| Praying in the bedroom. | 95010 |
| 15 |
| Menstruating woman and the two rak’ahs of ihraam. | 36439 |
| 16 |
| Ruling on a woman leading men in prayer. | 39188 |
| 17 |
| A woman asking about the religious commitment of one who comes to propose marriage to her is not making things difficult. | 69964 |
| 18 |
| Can girls pray in pants?. | 32993 |
| 19 |
| How can a woman
determine that her period has ended so that she can pray?. | 5595 |
| 20 |
| Where should a woman stand when leading other women in prayer, and the preference for women to pray in their homes. | 12451 |
| 21 |
| A Christian woman is close to becoming Muslim and is married to a (Muslim) man who does not pray. What is the ruling on her marriage?. | 115985 |
| 22 |
| If a woman makes a mistake about when she becomes pure following menstruation, is she sinning?
. | 45885 |
| 23 |
| The difference between a Jewish or Christian wife and a wife who does not pray. | 72245 |
| 24 |
| She thought that she was in nifaas following a miscarriage so she did not fast or pray. | 81586 |
| 25 |
| Her nifaas ended before forty days but she did not pray; does she have to make up the prayers?. | 82868 |
| 26 |
| Should he marry a woman who got divorced for his sake?. | 84849 |
| 27 |
| If the imam makes a mistake in his recitation, and there is no one praying with him except a woman, what should she do?
. | 9279 |
| 28 |
| Praying behind the row on one's own
. | 11199 |
| 29 |
| If a woman’s nifaas ends before forty days, she should do ghusl and pray and fast
. | 50308 |
| 30 |
| He does not pray and he lives with his girlfriend; he wants to repent and marry her. | 50508 |
| 31 |
| She did not know that if the menstruating woman becomes pure before Fajr she has to pray Maghrib and ‘Isha’. | 117671 |
| 32 |
| Prayer in congregation is not obligatory for women, and a woman's prayer in her house, even on her own, is better. | 127476 |
| 33 |
| A
woman walked in front of our row when we were praying in jamaa’ah. | 3404 |
| 34 |
| If a woman miscarries after two months of pregnancy, is her bleeding regarded as nifaas?
. | 45564 |
| 35 |
| How should a person who has missed Jumu’ah pray?. | 79667 |
| 36 |
| A woman’s prayer in her house is better than her prayer in the mosque. | 90071 |
| 37 |
| Ruling on the sutrah and invalidation of one’s prayer if an adult woman walks in front. | 118153 |
| 38 |
| Does a woman get the reward for praying in congregation if she goes to the mosque?. | 122393 |
| 39 |
| If a woman gives birth and does not bleed, or she bleeds a little then it stops before the end of forty days. | 140621 |
| 40 |
| Response to a request from a kaafir woman for a story of a great Muslim woman. | 5019 |
| 41 |
| The way in which women pray is the same as the way in which men pray. | 9276 |
| 42 |
| She saw some drops of blood during pregnancy – should she stop praying?
. | 23400 |
| 43 |
| Is it permissible for her to pray in front of employees at work?. | 39178 |
| 44 |
| Can the second wife pray against the first wife because she is mistreating her?. | 71152 |
| 45 |
| Is wudoo’ invalidated by touching a woman?. | 76115 |
| 46 |
| His wife does not pray and she disobeys him in a lot of things. What is the ruling concerning her? How should he deal with her?. | 98624 |
| 47 |
| Her father and brothers do not pray; can her younger brother act as her guardian in marriage?. | 101310 |
| 48 |
| A woman who’s period lasts longer than 15 days. | 57 |
| 49 |
| When a pregnant woman feels contractions, should she stop praying, and does she have to makeup the missed prayers?. | 1151 |
| 50 |
| When a pregnant woman feels contractions, should she stop praying, and does she have to makeup the missed prayers?
. | 4527 |
| 51 |
| What can a woman who is menstruating do on Laylat al-Qadr?
. | 26753 |
| 52 |
| She faced social pressures that made her stop praying and take off hijab. | 46455 |
| 53 |
| She was not certain that her period had ended, and she prayed and fasted. | 66062 |
| 54 |
| She miscarried the foetus at two months and stopped praying because she thought it was nifaas. | 126756 |
| 55 |
| Her fiancé does not pray and deals with riba. Should she go ahead with the wedding?
. | 33007 |
| 56 |
| She prayed whilst menstruating because of shyness
. | 33594 |
| 57 |
| Should she pray Taraaweeh or respond to her husband’s requests?
. | 38553 |
| 58 |
| Her period comes twice a month – should she stop praying and fasting each time?
. | 49671 |
| 59 |
| Can a woman who is experiencing non-menstrual vaginal bleeding (istihaadah) fast?. | 66571 |
| 60 |
| Can he pray for a kaafir woman to be guided to Islam so that he can marry her?. | 101385 |
| 61 |
| Ruling on a menstruating woman entering rooms etc. attached to the mosque. | 183 |
| 62 |
| Ruling on praying
in a torn garment. | 3075 |
| 63 |
| Praying at graves and the conditions of intercession. | 13490 |
| 64 |
| Can she sit and eat with a Muslim woman who does not pray?. | 20471 |
| 65 |
| What is the relationship of a woman to the man who has divorced her?. | 36548 |
| 66 |
| She did ‘Umrah and prayed when she was menstruating
. | 36929 |
| 67 |
| If she sees some brownish discharge after her period ends, should she pray and fast?
. | 50059 |
| 68 |
| Can a person who has incontinence pray with the congregation?. | 66074 |
| 69 |
| Should she ask for a divorce from her husband who does not pray regularly and does not give her her rights?. | 67940 |
| 70 |
| Praying in half-sleeves and bare-headed. | 68815 |
| 71 |
| Should he pray behind someone who says that it is not obligatory for women to cover their hair?. | 87735 |
| 72 |
| Marrying a woman from the people of innovation, and are conditions stipulated by the woman’s guardians binding?. | 91983 |
| 73 |
| Can a woman who is observing ‘iddah following the death of her husband go out to pray Taraweeh and go to work?. | 108229 |
| 74 |
| He said that he committed zina with a woman but he was lying
. | 44615 |
| 75 |
| He does not pray and they are afraid that he is working as a pimp. | 103291 |
| 76 |
| A Jewish woman thinking about embracing Islam. | 4319 |
| 77 |
| She found out that the man with whom she did the marriage contract does not pray regularly and he mixes with women
. | 22010 |
| 78 |
| It is too difficult for her to do ghusl from janaabah so she does not pray, then she repents, then she does that again.. | 45716 |
| 79 |
| He insists that his wife go out to pray ‘Isha’ and Taraweeh whilst he stays with his daughter. | 78966 |
| 80 |
| He prays and fasts and prays qiyaam, but he mistreats his wife and neighbours. | 107873 |
| 81 |
| She had a miscarriage after one month, and that coincided with the time of her period - should she pray?. | 145650 |
| 82 |
| Can she withhold herself from her husband who
does not pray?. | 5281 |
| 83 |
| If the doorbell rings whilst I am praying. | 111831 |
| 84 |
| Does a woman who miscarries and discharges blood pray. | 5 |
| 85 |
| Ways to help
oneself pray Qiyaam al-Layl. | 3749 |
| 86 |
| Ruling on a woman covering her face when praying because non-mahram men may pass by
. | 45871 |
| 87 |
| Should he marry a Christian Israeli Arab woman?. | 95572 |
| 88 |
| Praying when a woman's period lasts longer than normal. | 56 |
| 89 |
| A menstruating woman is not naajis (impure). | 1852 |
| 90 |
| Ruling on brownish discharge which comes after a woman’s period has ended
. | 14230 |
| 91 |
| Praying in cars and on planes
. | 21869 |
| 92 |
| If a woman lengthens her garment by a handspan, it will lead to the garment getting dirty, so how can she pray in it?. | 22854 |
| 93 |
| Making friends with a kaafir woman
. | 23325 |
| 94 |
| Ruling on the discharges that come out from the woman’s uterus. | 50404 |
| 95 |
| Is the person who prays Friday prayer only not a kaafir?. | 52923 |
| 96 |
| Menstruating woman entering the mosque to attend a class or a halaqah for memorizing Qur’aan. | 60213 |
| 97 |
| It is difficult for him to pray qiyaam because of his work situation and because he is a heavy sleeper. | 65605 |
| 98 |
| She wants to pray tahajjud at the end of the night – should she pray Witr with the imam in Taraweeh?. | 65702 |
| 99 |
| He was praying a naafil prayer, then some other people prayed behind him, so he changed his intention to make it an obligatory prayer. | 71177 |
| 100 |
| How can a person who is partially paralyzed do wudoo’ and pray?. | 71202 |
Salah Review Chart Below!
Section 12: Find Timings of Prayer
Download Salaat Time for your Computer. http://www.salaattime.com/
|
To find out the timings of your County/City, Please click on Configure below to change it.
|
Section 13: E-Books on Salah (Prayer)
I recommend buying this book for starters: The Muslim Prayer Encyclopedia (A Complete Guide to Prayers as Taught by the Prophet) http://www.onlineislamicstore.com/b3465.html
|
Why do We Pray by Dr. Suhaib Hasan
|
Before you Pray by Captain Anas bin Abdul Hameed Al -Gawz
|
The Book of Salat by Nathif Jama Adam
|
What Every Muslim Must Know about Purification
|
Study on Ablution, Bathing, Dry Ablution, Tayammum
|
|
The Weapon of the Believer: Dua
|
Section 14: Lectures on Salah (Prayer)
|
