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Level 9 :: Lesson 2

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Prayers - Advanced (part 2 of 2)

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Description: The second lesson will discuss the obligatory, recommended and disliked acts of salah.

Published on 01 Jul 2015 - Last modified on 25 Jun 2019

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Objectives

·To learn the wajibaat of salah.

·To learn some of the recommended acts of salah.

·To learn seven disliked acts in salah.

Arabic Terms

·Salah - the Arabic word to denote a direct connection between the believer and Allah. More specifically, in Islam it refers to the formal five daily prayers and is the most important form of worship.

·Ruku’- the bowing position in prayer.

·Imam- someone who leads the prayer.

·Tashahhud – the saying “At-tahiy-yatu lil-lahi…. Muhammadan ’abduhu wa rasuluh.” in the sitting position of the prayer.

·Takbir – uttering “Allahu Akbar”.

·Wajib - (plural: wajibaat) obligatory.

·Sunnah- The word Sunnah has several meanings depending on the area of study however the meaning is generally accepted to be, whatever was reported that the Prophet said, did, or approved.

·Rakah- unit of prayer.

·Surah – chapter of the Quran.

Wajibaat (Obligatory acts) of Salah

Prayers_-_Advanced_part_2._001.jpg They are those acts that have to be performed in the prayer. If a wajib act is left intentionally, the prayer is invalidated. However if it is left unintentionally then one must perform the “prostration of forgetfulness” to make up for it. This will be covered in more detail in a later lesson.

The following are the obligations of the prayer:

1. Saying ‘Allahu Akbar’ when moving from one position to another

The Prophet used to say Allahu Akbar every time he went down or rose.[1]

2. Words while bowing (ruku’)

To say: ‘Subha-na Rabbi al-’Adheem’ (Exalted and perfect is my Lord, the Great) once. To say beyond that is a recommended act.

3. Words upon standing up from ruku’

The Prophet said, “When he (the imam) says:

Sami’-Allahu li-man hamidah (Allah hears the one who praises him),

then you all say:

Rabba-na wa lakal-hamd (To our Lord is all praise and thanks).“ (Agreed upon)

Both these are to be said when you are praying by yourself. However when you are praying behind an imam then you only say ‘Rabba-na wa lakal-hamd’.

4. Words while prostrating

To say: ‘Subha-na Rabbi al-A’la’ (Exalted and perfect is my Lord, the All-High) once. To say beyond that is a recommended act.

5. Supplication between two prostrations

To say ‘Rabbig-fir lee’ once. To say beyond that is a recommended act.

6. First Tashahhud

To recite the first tashahhud. This takes place in the first “long sitting” of those prayers which are more than 2 units.

Once, the Prophet forgot the first tashahhud, but he did not repeat the prayer, instead he made up for it with the “prostration of forgetfulness.” This shows that this is a wajib act; if it were an “essential component”, then the “prostration of forgetfulness” would not have been sufficient.

7. Sitting to recite the first Tashahhud

To sit to recite the first tashahhud.

Recommended Acts of Prayer

The following are some of the recommended acts of prayer:

1. Opening Supplication

It is only to be said in the first rakah.

The most common prayer is the following:

“Subhaana-kallaa-humma wa biham-dika, wa tabaa-ra-kasmu-ka, wa ta’aa-laa jad-du-ka, wa laa ilaa-ha ghay-ruk.”

(You are Glorified, O Allah, and Praised; Your Name is blessed; Your Majesty is Exalted, and none has the right to worshipped but You). (Abu Daud).

2. Seeking Refuge in Allah

It is to be said in the first rakah by simply saying,

“Aa’oodhu billahi min ash-Shaitan nir-rajim”

‘I seek refuge with Allah, from the Devil, the Rejected One.’

3. Saying ‘Ameen’

The word ‘Ameen’ is not part of Surah al-Fatihah, but rather a supplication meaning, “O Allah, respond.”

It is to be said after reciting Surah al-Fatihah.

The Prophet said, “When the imam says Ameen, you should say Ameen. If this corresponds with when the angels say it, then he will have all of his previous sins forgiven.”[2]

4. Reciting a portion of the Quran after reciting Surah al-Fatihah in the first two units

You can recite any portion of the Quran. For example you can recite short chapters such as Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq, or Surah an-Naas.

5. Supplicating after sending blessings on the Prophet in the final sitting of the prayer

One can say:

“Allaahumma innee ’a’oothu bika min ’athaabil-qabr, wa min ’athaabi jahannama, wa min fitnatil-mahyaa wal-mamaati, wa min sharri fitna-til-masee-hid-dajjaal.”

(O Allah! I truly seek refuge with You from the punishment of the grave, and from the punishment of the Hellfire, and from the trials of living (meaning the trials of this life and temptations a person faces) and dying (it means either the trial at the time of death or the punishment of the grave), and from the evil [trials] of the Anti-Christ.).[3]

6. Raising one’s hands

To raise one’s hands when saying the opening takbir, when bowing, and rising from the bowing and when standing from the first “long sitting” (where one recites the first tashahhud).

7. Putting the right hand over the left upon the chest

To put the right hand over the left upon the chest.[4]

8. Looking at the place of prostration

To look at the place of prostration.[5]

9. Turning the face to the right and left at the conclusion of prayer

To turn the face to the right while saying ‘As-Salamu ’Alaikum wa-Rahmatullah’ and likewise for the left.

What is Disliked in Salah?

Disliked acts are just that, disliked. They do not invalidate the prayer, but a person should try to avoid them as much as possible so as to not reduce the reward of his prayer.

1. Looking around in salah without any need to do so

Looking around without any reason reduces concentration and focus. If it is for some need then it’s permissible. For example, a woman with a crying baby.