The Obligatory Prayers Final Hc Checked

The Obligatory Prayers

Presented to you by: ISAT The Islaamic Society of Arlington, Texas

The virtue of prayer

Prayer is the second of the five pillars of Islam. It is the backbone of the religion and one of the greatest rites in Islaam and among its most emphasized obligations. It is one of the best deeds and dearest to Allaah and was ordained from above the seven heavens as fifty daily prayers initially and then reduced to five, yet the reward of these five remains that of fifty - all of which means that it is a magnificent bounty, mercy and favor from Allaah which He has bestowed upon His slaves. There are many texts that address the virtue of prayers, and here are some examples:

1)Praying

prevents one from sin; Allaah says (what means): “Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing.” [Al-‘Ankaboot: 45]

2)It is the best deed after the Two Testimonies of Faith; ‘Abdullaah bin Mas’ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was asked: “Which deed is the dearest to Allaah? [In another narration it was said: 'which deed is the best?']" The first thing he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said was: “Performing prayer at its due time.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

3)Allaah

elevates the person’s rank due to it, and eradicates his sins; Thawbaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam saying: “Perform prayer frequently, for every prostration you perform before Allaah will raise your position one degree and will remit one of your sins.”” [Muslim] Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Shall I not tell you something by which Allaah effaces the sins and elevates ranks [in Paradise]?” The companions may Allaah be pleased with them said: “Certainly, O Messenger of Allaah.” He sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Performing ablution properly (and thoroughly), despite difficulty, frequenting the mosque, and waiting eagerly for the next prayer after a prayer is over; indeed that is (equivalent in reward to) Ar-Ribaat, that is Ar-Ribaat [i.e., guarding the frontiers or battlefront to check the invasion of the enemy].” [Muslim]

4)It

is radiance in both this life and the Hereafter; Buraydah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported: “The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Convey glad tidings to those who walk to the mosque in the darkness [for the Fajr and `Ishaa' prayers], for they will be given full light on the Day of Resurrection.”” [At-Tirmithi & Abu Daawood]

5)It is one of the greatest means that lead one to enter Paradise in the company of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Rabee`ah bin Ka`b Al-Aslami, may Allaah be pleased with him, who was a servant of the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and also one of the people of As-Suffah, said: “I would spend my nights in the company of the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam and would draw the water for his ablutions. One day he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said to me: “Ask something of me.” I said: 'I request your companionship in Paradise.' He sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Then help me in your request by multiplying your prostrations (i.e. optional prayers).” [Muslim]

6) It rescues one from Hell, protects him against danger, and wins him Paradise. The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “The one who prays before sunrise [i.e., the Fajr prayer] and before sunset [i.e., the 'Asr prayer] will not enter the Hellfire.” [Muslim]

7) It is

an indication of Islaam and belief, and preserves and prevents a person’s blood from being shed; Allaah says (what means): “But if they repent, establish prayer and give Zakaah, then they are your brothers in religion; and We detail the verses for a people who know.” [At-Tawbah: 11]

8) It is a sign of sincerity and frees a person from hypocrisy; the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Whosoever prays forty days with the congregation, being present for the initial [Allaahu Akbar] of the prayer, will be free of two things: the Hellfire and hypocrisy.” [Ahmad]

9) It

is the provision for the journey (towards Allaah), light for the heart, purification for the soul, a sign for salvation, and relaxation for the soul; whenever something disturbed the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, he would say: “O Bilaal! Call the Iqaamah in order for our hearts to relax.” [Ahmad & Abu Daawood]

Therefore, a Muslim should be keen to observe his daily prayers, but in order for them to be performed correctly, one needs to learn their rulings and how they were performed by the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, in order to attain the maximum reward for them, because the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Perform your Prayers as you have seen me performing them.” [Al-Bukhaari] The Prayer Described •

When you wish to perform your prayer, perform ablution comprehensively and correctly in response to the order of Allaah in His saying (which means): “O you who have believed! when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles” [Al-Maa’idah: 6], and in response to the saying of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “Prayer without ablution is invalid.” [Muslim] He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said when teaching a man who had improperly performed his prayer: “Perform ablution correctly and completely before you get up to pray.”

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Then, you should turn your face and body towards the Qiblah, (i.e. the direction of the Ka’bah, which is a precondition for the validity of the prayer), regardless of where you are, intending in your heart to perform the prayer which you wish to perform, whether it is an obligatory prayer or an optional one. Regardless of the type of prayer, one should not utter his intention, because this was not practiced by the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, nor was it the practice of his companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, to utter the intention for prayers. One should place in front of himself an object to obstruct people from passing within his praying area during his prayer. This object is to be set whether one is praying alone or as an Imaam leading the prayer because the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam commanded us to do so. After this you should utter the initial "Allaahu Akbar" [Allaah is The Greatest] and look downwards to the place of prostration, raising your hands parallel to your shoulders or earlobes while uttering this. Place your hands on the chest (having your right hand over the left hand and left wrist).

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It is recommended to recite the opening supplication: “Allaahumma baa’id bayni wa bayna khataayaaya kama baa’atta bayna almashriqi wa al-maghrib. Allaahumma naqqini min khataayaaya kama yanaqqaththawbu al-abyadhu minad-danas. Allaahumma ighsilni min khataayaaya bilmaa’i wath-thalji wal-barad.” [O Allaah! Distance me from my sins as You have distanced the east from the west. O Allaah! Cleanse me of my sins as a white garment is cleansed from dirt. O Allaah! Wash off my sins with water, snow and hail]. [Al-Bukhaari &Muslim] It is recommended that you alternate between this and other authentic opening supplications. After that, you should say: “A’oothu billaahi min ash-shaytaanir-rajeem. BismillaahirRahmaanir-Raheem.” [I seek the protection of Allaah against the accursed Satan. In the name of Allaah the Most Merciful the Ever Merciful], then recite the Faatihah, because the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Prayers without reciting the Faatihah are invalid.” One should loudly say 'Aameen' after finishing his recitation of the Faatihah if the prayer is to be said loudly and whisper it in the silent prayers; then he should recite any portion of the Qur'aan.

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Bow in Rukoo' raising your hands parallel to the shoulders or earlobes while saying Allaahu Akbar, levelling your head and back and placing your hands on your knees, with your fingers spread. While bowing in tranquillity and submissiveness, you should say: “Subhaana rabbiyal-‘atheem” [Praise is to our Lord, the All-Mighty] and it is recommended to repeat it an odd number of times, and at least thrice. It is advisable to say in addition while bowing: “Subhaanaka Allaahumma Rabbana wa bihamdika Allaahummaghfir lee.” [Praise is to You O Allaah, Our Lord, and I thank You, forgive me for my sins] You should then rise from the position of bowing while raising your hands parallel to the level of your shoulders or earlobes and say: “Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah.” [Allaah listens to him who thanks Him], and after this you should say: “Rabbana lakalhamd.” [Our Lord! For You is all praise]. When the back is levelled straight, you should say: “Hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feeh, mil’a as-samaawaati wa mil’a al-ardh, wa ma baynahumaa, wa mil’a ma shi’ta min shay’in ba’d.” [An abundant beautiful and blessed praise. The heavens, the earth, and all between them are abundant with Your praise] You may also add: “Ahlaththanaa'i wal-majd; ahaqqu ma qaala-l'abd, wa kulluna laka 'abd, la maani'a lima a'tayt wa la mu'tiya lima mana't wa la yanfa'u thaljaddi minkal-jadd.” [O Possessor of Praise and Majesty! [This is] the truest thing a slave has said [of You] and we are all Your slaves. O Allaah! None can prevent what You have willed to bestow and none can bestow what You willed to prevent, and no wealth or majesty can benefit anyone as from You is all majesty]

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Following this, one should prostrate, saying Allaahu Akbar. During prostration you say: “Subhaana Rabbiyal-A’laa.” [Glorified is my Lord, the Most High]; it is recommended to repeat this thrice. Place your fingers (close together) and they along with your toes should be pointed towards the Qiblah and stretch your hands out without touching the ground with your elbows. In prostration, only the following seven organs should touch the ground: The forehead and nose (which count as one organ), both hands, both knees and the base of the toes of both feet. It is also recommended to exert extra effort in supplication while in prostration, asking Allaah for the good of this life and the Hereafter. One should raise his head from prostration saying Allaahu Akbar and lay the left foot flat on the ground and sit on it, keeping the right foot upright and the hands on the thighs and knees, and say: “Allaahumma ighfirli, warhamni, wahdini, warzuqni, wajburni, wa’aafini.” [O Allaah! Forgive me, have mercy upon me, guide me, grant me sustenance, console me, and grant me good health] Then, prostrate again saying Allaahu Akbar and repeat during the second prostration what you did and said in the first. Then raise your head from prostration while saying Allaahu Akbar taking a pause before standing up similar to the pause between the two prostrations; this is called the 'resting' pause and you should not supplicate during it. Then rise up and stand from prostration to the second Rak’ah while saying Allaahu Akbar. Repeat everything that you did during the first Rak’ah during standing except that you should read a shorter portion of the Qur’aan this time.

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If the prayer consists of two Rak`ahs (e.g. the Fajr or Jumu`ah prayer) you should sit after the second prostration, with your right foot upright, sitting on your left foot laid down, placing your right hand on your right thigh; close all your fingers making a fist except your index finger which you should keep pointing towards the Qiblah, moving rapidly up and down, from the beginning of the Tashahhud until you conclude your prayer. Your left hand is to be placed on the left thigh and knee.

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While sitting, you should read the Tashahhud, saying: “At-tahiyyaatu lillaahi was-salawaatu wattayyibaat, assalaamu ‘alan-nabiyyi wa rahmat-ullaahi wa barakaatuh. Assalaamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibaadillaahi As-Saaliheen; Ash-hadu alla ilaaha illallaahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluh. Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, kama sallayata ‘ala Ibraaheem wa aali Ibraaheem, Innaka Hameedun Majeed. Wa baarik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa aali Ibraaheem. Innaka Hameedun Majeed.” [Glorification is for Allaah, all acts of worship and good deeds are from Him. May Allaah exalt the mention of the Prophet (Muhammad) and have peace upon him and blessings. Peace be upon us and on all righteous slaves of Allaah. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. O Allaah! Exalt the mention of Muhammad and his family just as You exalted the mention of Ibraaheem and his family; Indeed You are full of Praise and Majesty. O Allaah! Send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad just as You sent blessings upon Ibraaheem and upon the family of Ibraaheem; Indeed You are full of Praise and Majesty]

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Then say: “Allaahumma inni a’oothu bika min 'athaabi jahannam wa min ‘athaabil-qabr wa min fitnatil-mahya wal mamaat wa min fitnatil- maseehiddajjaal. Allaahumma aatina fid-dunya hasanah, wa fil aakhirati hasanah, wa Qina ‘Athaaban-Naar.” [O Allaah! I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell, the torment of the grave, the tribulations of life and death, and the evil affliction of the Antichrist. Our Lord! Give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire], and then choose any supplication you wish to invoke Allaah with. Then you terminate the prayers by turning your face to the right and then to the left, saying: “As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaah.” [Salutations, mercy and the blessings of Allaah be upon you] at each turn. If it was a prayer that consisted of three Rak`ahs (Maghrib), or four Rak`ahs (Thuhr, 'Asr or `Ishaa’); you should stand up after reciting the Tashahhud saying "Allaahu Akbar". Perform one more Rak`ah in the case of Maghrib prayer and two more in the case of the four Rak`ah prayers, and recite only the Faatihah (although there is no harm in adding some other portions from the Qur'aan), and do (in the third and fourth Rak’ahs) exactly as you did in the first two Rak’ahs during the positions of bowing and prostration. After finishing the last Rak’ah, you should sit for the Tashahhud and recite it as mentioned before. During the second Tashahhud, you should sit having your right foot upright, sitting on your left thigh, placing your left foot under the right leg. Supplications after the Prayer

After uttering the terminating Salaam, you should seek the forgiveness of Allaah saying the following: “Astaghfirullaah; Astaghfirullaah; Astaghfirullaah.” [O Allaah! Forgive me; O Allaah! Forgive me; O Allaah forgive me]. Then say: “Allaahumma antas-salaamu, wa minkassalaamu, tabaarakta ya thal-jalaali wal-ikraam.” [O Allaah! You are the Grantor of security, and security comes from You. Blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and nobility!] Then you may say: “La ilaaha ill-Allaahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku, wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli shay'in Qadeer. Allaahumma la maani`a lima a'tayta, wa la mu`tiya lima mana`ta, wa la yanfa`u thal-jaddi, minkal-jaddu.” [There is none worthy of worship except Allaah. He is One and He has no partner with Him, His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent. O Allaah! None can deny that which You bestow and none can bestow that which You hold back; and the greatness of the great will be of no avail to them against You] After this, exalt Allaah thirty-three times by saying "Subhaanallaah"; praise Him thirty-three times by saying "Al-Hamdulillaah" and glorify Him by saying "Allaahu Akbar" thirty-three times. Then, complete these supplications to number a hundred by saying once: “La ilaaha illAllaahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku, wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli shay'in Qadeer.” [None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone, without partner. To Him belong sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things omnipotent] After all this, one recites the verse of the Throne (Al-Kursi), and then the chapters AlIkhlaas (112), Al-Falaq (113), and An-Naas (114). These three chapters should be recited thrice after the Fajr and the Maghrib prayer and once for all others.

Optional recommended prayers •

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It is recommended for every Muslim (male or female) to pray a total of twelve Rak`ahs of optional prayers daily: Four Rak`ahs before the Thuhr prayer and two after it; two after the Maghrib prayer; two after the `Ishaa’ prayer and two before the Fajr prayer. These are the optional prayers which the prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam always prayed when he was not travelling. During his travel, he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would only offer the two optional Rak`ahs before the Fajr prayer in addition to the Witr (odd numbered) prayer (after the `Ishaa’ prayer). We have a fine example in him sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam as Allaah says (what means): “There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allaah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allaah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allaah often.” [AlAhzaab: 21] It is best to perform these twelve at home, but there is no harm in performing them in the mosque; the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The best of the prayers are those which are performed in one's home, except for the obligatory prayers [which should, of course, be performed inside the mosque].” [Al-Bukhaari] The fulfilment of these optional prayers is a means for attaining Paradise. Umm Habeebah, may Allaah be pleased with her, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Allaah will build a house in Paradise for any Muslim who prays twelve optional Rak`ahs every day [and night].” [Muslim]

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In addition, it is also recommended to pray four optional Rak`ahs before the 'Asr prayer and two before the Maghrib prayer, because the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “May Allaah be merciful to the one who performs four Rak`ahs before ‘Asr.” [Ahmad. Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi & Ibn Khuzaymah] he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said: “Pray two Rak`ahs before the Maghrib prayer.” after saying this three times, he said: “…for the one who wishes to pray it.” [AlBukhaari] It is also recommended to pray four optional Rak`ahs before and after Thuhr because the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said as narrated by Umm Habeebah, may Allaah be pleased with her: “Allaah will make the Fire forbidden for he who performs four Rak`ahs before and after Thuhr.” [Ahmad]