May the peace and love of Allah (s.w) be upon our Holy Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) and upon his Holy purified Ahlul-bait (a.s). and upon all believing brothers and sisters in Islam.
Out of all the religious acts, Prayers is of the most paramount importance. If it is accepted by the Almighty Allah other acts of worship will also be accepted.
However, if prayers are not accepted other good acts will also not be accepted.One day, while the holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was present in the Masjid , a man entered the masjid and began offering prayers but did not perform bowing (Ruku) and prostrations (Sajdah) properly.
The holy Prophet said: “ if this man dies and his prayers is offered in the same way, he will not die on my religion”.
Therefore it is very important that when we offer prayers to the Almighty Allah that we do not offer them hurriedly and should remember Allah (s.w) constantly and be humble.
We should never take our prayers lightly and must keep in mind the greatness ofAlmighty Allah with whom we converse while offering prayers and should considerourselves to be very humble and insignificant before his Grandeur and Glory.
And if one maintains these thoughts while performing prayers one would become unmindful and oblivious of one own self. For example, an arrow was pulled out of the foot of thecommander of faithful Imam Ali (peace be upon him) while he was offering prayers but he did not become aware of it.
It is very important for us to perform our prayers accurately and insha-Allah by observing the following obligatory acts and rules for the five obligatory daily prayers we become more knowledgeable and alert of our actions while offering prayers.
Obligatory acts for prayers:
1) Niyyat (intention).
2) Qiyam (standing erect).
3) Takbiratul Ehram (saying Allahu Akbar while commencing the prayers).
4) Sajadatayn (two prostrations).
5) Recitation of Surah al-Hamd and other Surah).
6) Zikr (prescribed recitation while in bowing and prostrating state).
7) Tashahhud (bearing witness after completing the prostration of the second unit).
8) Salam (salutation).9) Tartib (sequence i.e. to recite surah Al Hamd first then other surah, then bow, then prostration. all acts must be performed in their right prescribed order)
10) Muwalat ( to perform the different acts of prayers in regular order without stop).Some of the obligatory acts of prayers are the basic elements (Rukn) and a person who does not offer them, whether intentionally or by mistake, his / her prayers becomes void. Some other obligatory acts of prayers are not the basic elements and if they are left out by mistake the prayers do not become void.
There are five basic elements of prayers:
1. Intention
2. Takbiratul Ehram
3. Qiyam: standing before the bowing.
4. Bowing
5. Two prostrations in every unit
If these above acts are performed in excess of the prescribed limit and if suchexcessiveness is intentional, the prayers becomes automatically void.
However, if it is by mistake, the prayers does not become void except on excessive bowing, and prostration in excess of two, are performed in one and the same unit.A person should offer prayers with the intention of Qurbat i.e complying with the orders of the Almighty Allah.
It is necessary to make an intention, for example: I am offering four units for midday prayers Qurbatan illal lahi, and it is enough for a person to make this intention in the mind and heart without pronouncing the words.
The intention may also be pronounced loud if one wishes to do so. The intention of a person must be renewed and must be consistent with the different daily prayers and other acts of worship that a person must offer.
Takbiratul Ehram
This is to say Allahu Akbar in the beginning of every prayers. This is obligatory andAllahu Akbar must be said consecutively and pronounced in the correct Arabic form.
Therefore , if a person leaves this basic element out unintentionally or intentionally, or pronounces these words in the wrong Arabic form or utters their translation, their prayers will not be in order. However if one starts to recite prayers and then started to doubt as to whether or not they had said Takbiratul Ehram the person should continue with their prayers and their prayers are in order.
Qiyam
This is to stand erect while saying Takiratul Ehram and before the bowing ( which iscalled qiyam muttasil ba ruku).
It is obligatory for a person to stand for some time before and after pronouncing Takbir so as to ensure that he / she had pronounced the takbir while standing. For example, before we bow we say Takbir ( Allahu Akbar) and thenbow (RUKU) while we are on our way towards bowing we should not utter any words we should wait until we reach our full bowing state and then utter the words of Zikr(Invocation) Subhana Rubbiyal Athimi-Wabehamdehe Allahumma Salli AlaMuhammaden Wa Aale Muhammad and once we have finished pronouncing these words we then move to a standing posture and remain at that standing still posture for at least one second before descending to prostrations (Sujude).
(when a person is in a bowing state it is enough that the finger tips of the person are inline with the knees).
The same rule applies for Sujude (prostrations). One must not utter any words until ones body and head is still and in full prostration state. One must then utter ( Subhana Rubbiyal Aala Wabehamdehe Allahumma Salli Ala Muhammaden Wa Aali Muhammad and then rise to a sitting posture and must remain in that sitting still posture for at least one second before descending for the second prostration.
Once the second prostration is performed the person should again maintain a sitting still posture for at least one second before rising. While the person is in the state of rising to a standing posture it is recommended to say Bi hawlil lahi wa quwwati Aqumu wa aqud.
It is obligatory for a person is in a prostration state to ensure that seven parts of thepersons body are in full contact with the ground which are: (Forehead, right hand, left hand (fingers and palms), right knee, Left knee and toes of both right and left feet particularly the large toes).
Things on which prostration is in order
Prostration should be performed on earth and on things which are not edible and which grow from earth ( for example: wood, grass, and leaves of trees).
It is not in order to prostrate on things which are used as food or dress ( for example: wheat, barley and cotton etc.) or on things which are not considered to be parts of the earth ( for example: gold, silver, agate, tar etc.).
Prostration should be performed on a steady surface where the head of the person remains still ( for example, if a person performs prostration on sand there is a chance where sand will slide form beneath the head which makes the head unsteady and thus implicate the orders of prayers.
When a person is in a prostration state the head of the person must not be greater thanfour fingers in height above the body or the Knees and the body of the person must not be greater than four fingers in height above the head ( for example: it is not in order to offer prayers on an incline or a decline of a mountain if the head is going to be greater than four fingers in height above the rest of the persons body or if the Knees and the body is greater than four fingers in height above the head of a person in a prostrating state.
Muwalat ( Maintenance and Continuity)
A person should maintain continuity during prayers. The person should perform the various acts of prayers (for example, bowing, two prostrations and tasahhud) consecutively and continuously and what ever the person recites should be in the usual manner.
And incase the person allows an unusual interval between the different acts that is not in accordance with maintenance and continuity the prayers of that person will be void.
The above described acts are the basic elements which constitute the foundation to offering prayers in the prescribed and correct manner. We must therefore strive toperform these acts of worship correctly so that our prayers are accepted by the Almighty Allah (s.w). For further in depth information one must refer to the jurist they follow.
The next lecture will focus on the correct recitation of surahs and doubts in connection with prayers and their rulings.
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