Salah
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Part of a series on the Islamic creed:
| |
| Five Pillars of Islam | |
|
Shahādah - Profession of faith | |
| Sunni Six articles of belief | |
|
Tawhīd - Oneness | |
| Shi'a Twelvers Principles of the Religion (Usul al-Din) | |
|
Tawhīd - Oneness | |
| Shi'a Twelvers Practices of the Religion (Furu al-Din) | |
|
Salah - Prayer | |
| Shi'a Ismaili 7 pillars | |
|
Walayah - Guardianship | |
| Others | |
|
Kharijite Sixth pillar of Islam. |
Salah (also namāz in Persian & Hindi, (Arabic: صلاة, Qur'anic Arabic: صلوة) is the ritual prayer practiced by Muslims in supplication to Allah. The term is commonly used to refer to the five daily prayers, which are compulsory upon all mature Muslims. Salah (plural salawah) is considered the most important act of worship in Islam and its importance is such that under very few circumstances can it be omitted.
Salah is one of the Five Pillars of Islam in Sunni Islam and one of the ten Practices of the Religion in Shia Islam. In central and South Asian languages such as Persian, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Albanian language, South Slavic languages such as the Bosnian language, Našinski, Macedonian language and Turkic languages it is commonly known by the term namāz (نماز). This is because the term namāz (نماز) is not an Arabic word, but derives from the Indo-European root meaning to bow or prostrate.
The person performing salah is termed a musallee (مصلى), while the traditional prayer mat on which prayer is performed is called a musalla.
[edit] Etymology
The word "solat/solah" (صلاة) is from the root Sodh (ص), Lam (ل), Waw (و) and has the following meanings, taken from classical Arabic lexicons (e.g. E. W. Lane): prayer, supplication, petition, oration, eulogy, benediction, commendation, blessing, honour, magnify, bring forth, follow closely, walk/follow behind closely, to remain attached, to contact or to be in contact. Its core underlying meaning relevant to all its usage in the Al-Qur'an (القرآن) is to go/turn towards, as mentioned in Template:Cite Al-Qur'an. Similar roots appear in Aramaic and Modern Hebrew.ا
[edit] Purpose
The purpose of salah is primarily to act as an individual's communion with Allah. It enables one to stand in front of God, thank and praise Him, and ask for Him to show one the "right path" (as mentioned in surah al-Fatihah which is recited in every prayer). In addition, the daily ritual prayers serve as a constant reminder to Muslims that they should be grateful for God's blessings. It ensures that every Muslim prioritises Islam over all other concerns, thereby revolving their life around God and submitting to His will. Prayer also serves as a formal method of remembering God.
In the Qur'an it is mentioned that:"The true believers are those who feel a fear in their hearts (of the consequences of violating the commands of Allah) when Allah is mentioned. And when His Revelations are recited to them, they find their faith strengthened. They do their best and then put their trust in their Lord." [Qur'an 8:2]and also:
“To those whose hearts when Allah is mentioned, are filled with fear, who show patient perseverance over their afflictions, keep up regular prayer, and spend (in charity) out of what We have bestowed upon them”[Qur'an 22:35]
The solat is also mentioned as a means to restrain the believer from social wrong and moral deviancy [Qur'an 29:45].
[edit] Preparation
[edit] Cleanliness and dress
When praying, the clothes that are worn and the place of prayer must be clean. Men and women each are directed to cover their bodies (aurah) in reasonably loose-fitting garments. When in prayer, women must cover their heads. In accordance with tradition, many men choose to wear a kufi cap or other headcovering for prayer which is used also to secure the hair from covering the forehead. During 'sujud' the forehead should be in contact with the floor and not covered by hair.
[edit] Ritual ablution
Before conducting prayers, a Muslim has to perform a ritual ablution.
The minor ablution is performed using water (wudu) or clean sand or dust (tayammum) when water is not available. In Sunni Islam, wudu' consists of washing the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, forehead and hair, ears and feet three times each in that order. Shia Muslims first wash their faces, then their arms, and then wipe their heads and feet with the moisture on their hands. Tayammum consists of wiping only the hands and face with sand or dust. Wudu is considered to cleanse a Muslim in a permanent fashion, such that he does not have to re-perform it for each solat (unless he commits an act that breaks his wudu). Tayammum however has to be re-performed before each salat.
The major ablution (ghusl) is required when a person has had sexual intercourse, ejected semen, has had menstrual bleeding or is a new convert to the faith. Ghusl may also be performed voluntarily especially before Friday prayers.
[edit] Performance
Salat is performed in "units" of prayer called raka'ah. One raka'ah consists of a series of positions (and movements from one position to the next), along with specific supplications and verses from the Qur'an which are read in each position. A raka'ah begins in a standing position called qiyaam and ends with the musallee in a prostrate position called sujood. Different salat have different numbers of prescribed raka'at.
The salat must be performed with sincere devotion (khushoo), otherwise it is considered invalid. Salat is performed facing the direction of qibla (i.e. towards the Kaaba in Mecca), to the best estimation of the musallee if there is no certain way to determine the correct direction.
The musallee begins the prayer by standing in qiyaam, facing qibla and reciting the niyyah (intention to pray) for the specific salat he is about to make. He then raises his hands and speaks aloud the takbir.
For fard salat, the first raka'ah commences with the recital of the Qur'anic verse "Innee wajjahtu..." followed by the first chapter of the Qur'an, al-Fatihah. For subsequent raka'at and other types of salat, each raka'ah commences with al-Fatihah. During the first two raka'ah, following the recitation of al-Fatihah any other chapter or several verses of the Qur'an are additionally recited (qirat) while in the standing position before the musallee moves into the bowing position (rukoo).
After one raka'ah is complete (and on every subsequent odd raka'ah), the musallee returns from the prostrate position (sujood ) back to the standing position to begin another raka'ah. On every second raka'ah, he first moves from sujood to an upright sitting position (jalsa) and recites the first portion of a supplication known as the tashahhud, before returning to the standing position to begin the next raka'ah.
On the final raka'ah the musallee moves to the jalsa from the sujood position and recites the complete tashahhud. Sunni Muslims then conclude the prayer by turning their face toward the right shoulder and then toward the left shoulder, each time saying a salutation (taslim) to the angels that take note of your good (right shoulder) and evil (left shoulder) deeds.
After the salat is completed it is common (but not compulsory) for Muslims to offer a supplication (du'a) to God. This supplication, which essentially gives Muslims an opportunity to ask God for forgiveness and blessings, can be offered in any language.
[edit] Types of salat
Salat may be classified into four categories of obligation: fard, wajib, sunnah and nafl.
- Fard salat are compulsory, non-performance of which renders one a non-Muslim according to the Hanbali Sunni School, for the other Sunni schools it renders one a sinner. The denial of its compulsory status however is agreed upon by all Sunni schools to render the denier outside the fold of Islam.
- Wajib salat are compulsory, non-performance of which renders one a sinner and the denial of its obligatory nature renders one a 'fasiq' a transgressor whose witness would not be accepted in an Islamic court. There are some who believe that as the 5 prayers are obligatory, it automatically renders all other prayers optional.
- Sunnah salat are optional and were additional voluntary prayers performed by Muhammad—they are of two types—the 'Sunna Muakaddah', those practiced on a regular basis which if abandoned cause the abandoner to be regarded as sinful by the Hanafi School and the 'Sunnah Ghair Muakkadah' those practiced on a semi-regular practice by Muhammad which all are agreed upon that its abandonment doesn't render one sinful.
- Nafl salat are optional and regarded as extra prayers which bring more reward.
[edit] Fard salat
The fard salat are the five compulsory daily prayers, the Friday prayer (Jumu'ah) and the funeral prayer (Janazah). Fard prayers (as with all fard actions) are further classed as fard al-ayn (obligation of the self) and fard al-kifayah (obligation of sufficiency). Fard al-ayn are those actions which are obligatory on each individual; he or she will be held to account if the actions are not performed. Fard al-kifayah are actions obligatory on the Muslim community at large, so that if some people within the community carry it out no Muslim is considered blameworthy, but if no one carries it out all incur a collective punishment.
Men are required to perform the fard salat in congregation (jama'ah), behind an imam when they are able. According to most Islamic scholars, performing salat in congregation is obligatory for men, when they are able, but is neither required nor forbidden for women.
[edit] The five daily prayers
Muslims are commanded to perform salat five times a day. These prayers are obligatory on every Muslim above the age of puberty, with the exception being those who are mentally ill, too physically ill for it to be possible, menstruating, or experiencing post-partum bleeding. Those who are ill or otherwise physically unable to offer their prayers in the traditional form are permitted to offer their prayers while sitting or laying, as they are able. The five prayers are all given certain prescribed times (waqt) in which they must be performed, unless there is a compelling reason for not being able to perform them on time. Additionally, Alawi's pray, too.
Some Muslims offer voluntary prayers immediately before and after the prescribed fard prayers. Sunni Muslims classify these prayers as sunnah, while Shi'a Muslims consider them nafil. The number of raka'ah for each of the five obligatory prayers as well as the voluntary prayers (before and after) are listed below:
| Name | Prescribed time period (waqt) | Voluntary before fard1 | Fard | Voluntary after fard1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunni | Shi'a | Sunni | Shi'a | |||
| Fajr (فجر) | Dawn to sunrise | 2 Raka'ah2 | 2 Raka'ah2 | 2 Raka'ah | - | - |
| Dhuhr (ظهر) | After true noon until Asr | 2-4 Raka'ah2 | 2-4 Raka'ah | 4 Raka'ah4 | 2 Raka'ah2 | - |
| Asr (عصر) | See footnote5 and 6 | 2-4 Raka'ah | 2-4 Raka'ah | 4 Raka'ah | - | - |
| Maghrib (مغرب) | After sunset until dusk | 2-4 Raka'ah | 2-4 Raka'ah | 3 Raka'ah | 2 Raka'ah2 | 2 Raka'ah3 |
| Isha'a (عشاء) | Dusk until dawn6 | 4 Raka'ah | 4 Raka'ah | 4 Raka'ah | 2 Raka'ah 2 + 3 Raka'ah Witr | 2 Raka'ah 3 and 7, 8 raka'ah (4 x 2 Raka'ah) Salat al-Layl3 |
- Sunni often pray 2 Raka'ah Nafl after Dhuhr, Maghrib and Isha'a.
1According to Shia Muslims, these are to be performed in sets of two raka'ah each.
²Prayed daily by Muhammad (Sunnis)
³Mustahab (praiseworthy) to do everyday. (Shias)
4Replaced by Jumu'ah on Fridays, which consists of two raka'ah.
5According to Imam Abu Hanifa, "Asr starts when the shadow of an object becomes twice its height (plus the length of its shadow at the start time of Dhuhr)." For the rest of Imams, "Asr starts when the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length (plus the length of its shadow at the start time of Dhuhr)." Asr ends as the sun begins to set.
6According to Shia Muslims, 'Asr prayer and 'Ishaa prayer have no set times but are performed from mid-day. Zuhr and 'Asr prayers must be performed before sunset, and the time for 'Asr prayer starts after Zuhr has been performed. Maghrib and 'Ishaa prayers must be performed before midnight, and the time for 'Ishaa prayer can start after Maghrib has been performed, as long as no more light remains in the western sky signifying the arrival of the true night.
7According to Shia Muslims, this prayer is termed nawafil.
Salat al-Jumu'ah is a congregational prayer performed on Friday which replaces the dhuhr prayer. It is compulsory upon men to perform it in congregation, while women may perform it so or may perform dhuhr salat instead. Salat al-Jumu'ah consists of a sermon (khutba) given by the speaker (khatib) after which two raka'ah are performed. There is no Salat al-Jumu'ah without a khutba. Giving a khutba is task assigned specifically to men, and women cannot perform this task. This does not imply superiority of men to women, but it is done in compliance with what Muslims have been commanded to do by God.
[edit] Janazah
Salat al-Janazah is a prayer performed at a Muslim funeral. It is classed as fard al-kifayah. It does not follow the pattern of other salat in that there are no raka'ah. Instead it consists of four takbirs performed in the standing position, with various Qur'anic verses and supplications read between each.
[edit] Exceptional circumstances
Dr. Muhammad Hedayetullah, scholar in comparative religion, in his book Dynamics of Islam (2006), stresses that even though salah is compulsory, flexibility in the specifics is allowed depending on the circumstances: For example, in the case of sickness or a lack of space, a worshipper can offer salah while sitting, or even lying down, and the prayer can be shortened when travelling. The salah must be performed in the Arabic language.
[edit] Qada
In certain circumstances one may be unable to perform one's prayer within the prescribed time period (waqt). In this case, the prayer must be performed as soon as one is able to do so. These prayers performed after the prescribed waqt are called qada. It is not permissible to deliberately miss performing the salat within its waqt with the intention of performing it afterwards.
[edit] Qasr and Jamak
When travelling over long distances, one may shorten some prayers, a practice known as qasr. Furthermore, several prayer times may be joined, which is referred to as jamak. Qasr involves shortening the obligatory components of the Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha'a prayers to two raka'ah. Jamak combines the Dhuhr and Asr prayers into one prayer offered between noon and sunset, and the Maghrib and Isha'a prayers into one between sunset and Fajr. Neither Qasr nor Jamak can be applied to the Fajr prayer.
There is no reference to Qasr during travel within the Qur'an itself; the Qur'an allows for Qasr only when there is fear of attack.
[edit] Wajib salat
The wajib salat are considered compulsory and not performing them is considered a sin.
[edit] Witr
Witr is performed after the salah of isha'a. Some Muslims consider Witr wajib while others consider it optional. It may contain any odd number of raka'ah from one to eleven according to the different schools of jurisprudence. However, Witr is most commonly offered with three raka'ah. It is preferable to perform Witr in the latter part of the night, but it is much better to perform it at the beginning of the night than not at all.
To end prayers for the night after Isha'a, the odd numbered raka'ah must have the niyyah of "Wajib-ul-Lail", which is mandatory to "close" one's salat for that day.
[edit] Eid
Eid salat is performed on the morning of Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha. The Eid prayer is most likely an individual obligation (fard al-ayn), though some Islamic scholars argue it is only a collective obligation (fard al-kifayah).[1] It consists of two raka'ah, with seven takbirs offered before the start of the first raka'ah and five before the second. After the salat is completed, a sermon (khutbah) is offered. However, the khutbah is not an integral part of the Eid salat.[2] The Eid salat must be offered between sunrise and true noon i.e. between the time periods for fajr and dhuhr.
[edit] Sunnah salat
Sunnah salat are those prayers that are performed to emulate the practices of Muhammad. Sunni Muslims also perform sunnah prayers for extra reward.
Certain sunnah prayers have prescribed waqts associated with them. Those ordained for before each of the fard prayers must be performed between the first call to prayer (adhan) and the second call (iqama) which signifies the start of the fard prayer. Those sunnah ordained for after the fard prayers can be performed any time between the end of the fard prayers and the end of the current prayer's waqt. Any amount of extra raka'ah may be offered, but most madha'ib prescribe a certain number of raka'ah for each sunnah salah.
[edit] Nafl salat
Nafl salat (supererogatory prayers) are voluntary, and one may offer as many as he or she likes almost any time. There are many specific conditions or situations when one may wish to offer nafl prayers. They cannot be offered at sunrise, true noon, or sunset. The prohibition against salat at these times is to prevent the practice of sun worship.
[edit] Prayer in congregation
Prayer in congregation (jama'ah) is considered to have more social and spiritual benefit than praying by oneself. When praying in congregation, the musallees stand in straight parallel rows behind the chosen imam, facing qibla. The imam, who leads the congregation in salat, is usually chosen to be a scholar or the one who has the best knowledge of the Qur'an, preferably someone who has memorised it (a hafiz) . In the first row behind the imam, if available, would be another hafiz to correct the imam in case a mistake is made during the performance of the salat. The prayer is performed as normal, with the congregation following the actions and movements of the imam as he performs the salat.
When the worshippers consist of men and women combined, a man is chosen as the imam. In this situation, women are typically forbidden from performing this role. This point, though unanimously agreed on by the major schools of Islam, is disputed by some groups, based partly on a hadith whose interpretation is controversial. When the congregation consists entirely of women and pre-pubescent children, one woman is chosen as imam.
When men, women, and children are praying, the children's rows are usually between the men's and women's rows, with the men at the front and women at the back. Another configuration is where the men's and women's rows are side by side, separated by a curtain or other barrier, with the primary intention being for there to be no direct line of sight between male and female worshippers, following a Qur'anic injunction toward men and women each lowering their gazes (Qur'an 24:30-31).
[edit] Other
Devout Muslims sometimes develop a prayer bump, which is caused by the friction of rubbing ones forehead against the ground for a long period of time.
- Rules of Namaz. majalla.org. Retrieved on 2007-01-02.
[edit] Quranic Salat
The numbers of regular daily prayers “Salat” mentioned by their respective names in Arabic as a “term” in the “Quran” are “three” as follows:
1- Salat Fajr (صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ) (Dawn Prayer), (Sura Al-Nur 24:58).
2- Al-Salat Al-Wusta (الصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى) or (الصَّلاَةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ ) (or The Middle Prayer), (Sura Al-Baqarah 2:238) and (Sura Al-Isra 17:78).
3- Salat Isha’a (صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاءِ) (Night Prayer), (Sura Al-Nur 24:58).
Note that (الصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى) in (Sura Al-Baqarah 2:238) and (الصَّلاَةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ ) in (Sura Al-Isra 17:78) are the same “Salat” because these both “Salat” has (ال) common with them indicating that these are the same “Salat” as compared to (صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ) and (صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاءِ) which are without (ال) with word (صَلَاةِِ).
(ال) in Arabic is equivalent to the word “The” in English, indicating the importance of the middle prayer.
The following three “Salat” which are not mentioned in “Quran” by their names as a “term” in Arabic are as:
1- Salat Dhuhr (ظهر).
2- Salat Asr (عصر).
3- Salat Maghrib (مغرب).
Although, the words “Dhuhr (ظهر)”, “Asr (عصر)” and “Maghrib (مغرب)” are used in Quran but not as a “Term” defining “Salat”. In Sura Al-Nur 24: 58, the word “noon” is used but not as a “Salat Time” or as a “Salat Al-Dhuhr” but rather than as a “Time of Privacy/Rest Time”. For references and proof of the fact stated above, read the following verses in the Quran in Arabic & English.
حَافِظُواْ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ والصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُواْ لِلّهِ قَانِتِينَ
(Sura Al-Baqarah 2:238).
Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind). (Sura Al-Baqarah 2:238).
أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
(Sura Al-Isra 17:78).
Establish regular prayers - at the sun’s decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony. (Sura Al-Isra 17:78).
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِيَسْتَأْذِنكُمُ الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا الْحُلُمَ مِنكُمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ مِن قَبْلِ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَحِينَ تَضَعُونَ ثِيَابَكُم مِّنَ الظَّهِيرَةِ وَمِن بَعْدِ صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاءِ ثَلَاثُ عَوْرَاتٍ لَّكُمْ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ جُنَاحٌ بَعْدَهُنَّ طَوَّافُونَ عَلَيْكُم بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
(Sura Al-Nur 24: 58.).
O ye who believe! let those whom your right hand possess, and those of you, who have not reached puberty, ask leave of you at three times before coming into your private apartments -before the Morning Prayer (Salat Al-Fajr), and when you lay aside your clothes at noon (in summer) and after the night Prayer (Salat Al-Esha). These are the three times of privacy for you. At other times there is no blame on you nor on them, for some of you have to attend upon others and to move about freely according to need. Thus does Allah make plain to you the Signs; for Allah is All-Knowing, Wise. (Sura Al-Nur 24: 58.).
[edit] Salat Timings of Quran
Salat Timings of Quran are mentioned in the following verses:
In Quran 11:114, three Salat Times are described at both ends of the day, and at night.
And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night. (Sura Hud (11), 114. Translation by Yusuf Ali).
"You shall observe the contact prayers at both ends of the daylight, that is, during the adjacent hours of the night". (11:114).
وَأَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ذَلِكَ ذِكْرَى لِلذَّاكِرِينَ
(Sura Hud: 11:114).
"You shall observe the Salat (Contact Prayers) at the ends of the day, and zulufann min al-layl." (11:114).
فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا وَمِنْ آنَاءِ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَى
(Sura Taha: 20:130).
Therefore, be patient in the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify your Lord before sunrise and before sunset. And during the night glorify Him, as well as at both ends of the day, that you may be happy. (20:130).
فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ
(Sura Qaf: 50:39).
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَارَ السُّجُودِ
(Sura Qaf: 50:40).
Therefore, be patient in the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify your Lord before sunrise, and before sunset. (50:39). During the night you shall meditate on His name, and after prostrating. (50:40).
أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
(Sura Al-Isra 17:78).
Establish regular prayers - at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony. (Sura Al-Isra 17:78).
Further "Verily, Prayers are enjoined upon the Believers at times assigned in a written document.” (Quran 4:103/4:104 in some translations).
"O you who believe, when the Salat is announced on Friday, you shall hasten to the commemoration of God, and drop all business. This is better for you, if you only knew. Once the prayer is completed, you may spread through the land to seek God's bounties, and continue to remember God frequently, that you may succeed." (62:9-10).
And neither speak thy Prayer aloud nor speak it in a low tone but seek a middle course between. (Sura Al-Isra (17) verse 110 Translation by Yusuf Ali).
For the usage of the word "Esha" (evening) see: 12:16; 79:46.
The times of Dawn & Evening Prayers are defined above. The middle or Salat Al-Wusta can be observed from the moment the sun begins its descend from its highest point in the sky (duluk al shams) until the darkness of the night (ghasaq al-layl) starts to set in, which is at sunset.
"You shall observe the Salat (Contact Prayer) from when the sun declines from its highest point up till the 'ghasaq al-layl' (the darkness of the night)." (17:78).
"You shall observe the contact prayer when the sun goes down until the darkness of the night. You shall also observe the Quran at dawn. Reading the Quran at dawn is witnessed." (17:78).
The Verse 38:32 implies that the time of the Middle prayer ends with sunset.
The Fajr (Dawn) Prayer starts when the first thin ray of light is observed in the sky.
"The white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn." (2:187).
The time for the dawn prayer is also given in the Quran with the words.
" …….. and at dawn as the stars fade away." (52:49).
The Dawn prayer ends at the first “taraf” (terminal) of the day which is sunrise (11:114).
From the above cited verses Quran Alone group says that there are Three Salat Timings in the Quran. Whereas Ahle Hadith group proves from the same cited verses that there are Five Salat Timings.
[edit] Salat Asr (Al-Wusta) and Quran
Al-Salat (Salah) Al-Wusta, or the Middle Prayer, is mentioned in Quran as follows:
حَافِظُواْ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ والصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُواْ لِلّهِ قَانِتِينَ
(2:238)
It is to be noted that the Asr daily prayer is not mentioned by name in the Qur'an at 2:238 as claimed at [1] but the middle prayer (Al-Wusta: الصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى).
The Asr daily prayer is mentioned in the following Hadith along with many others as:
Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam from al-Qaqa ibn Hakim that Abu Yunus, the mawla of A'isha, umm al-muminin said, "Aisha ordered to write out a Qur'an for her. She said to him, 'When you reach this ayat, let me know, 'Guard the prayer carefully and the middle prayer and stand obedient to Allah.' When I reached it I told her, and she dictated to me, 'Guard the prayers carefully and the middle prayer and the asr prayer and stand obedient to Allah.' Aisha said, 'I heard it from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.'" (Al-Muwatta, Hadith No. 8.8.26).
From the above Hadith ('Guard the prayers carefully and the middle prayer and the asr prayer and stand obedient to Allah.) it is clear that middle prayer (Al-Wusta: الصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى) and the Asr are not the same prayer.
The following Ahadith described that The Prophet (s.a.s) did NOT teach his Companions what to recite in Zuhr and 'Asr prayers. [2].
Narrated Abu Ma'mar: We asked Khabbab whether Allah's Apostle used to recite (the Qur'an) in the Zuhr and the 'Asr prayers. He replied in the affirmative. We said, "How did you come to know about it?" He said, "By the movement of his beard." (Sahih Bukhari, Book 12: Characteristics of Prayer, Volume 1, Number 713).
Narrated Abu Ma'mar: I asked Khabbab whether the Prophet used to recite the Qur'an in the Zuhr and the 'Asr prayers. He replied in the affirmative. We said, "How did you come to know that?" He said, "From the movement of his beard." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 12, Number 727).
[edit] Four Salat in One Salat
أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
(Sura Al-Isra 17:78).
Perform AsSalât (Iqamât-as-Salât) from mid-day till the darkness of the night (i.e. the Zuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib, and 'Ishâ' prayers), and recite the Qur'ân in the early dawn (i.e. the morning prayer). Verily, the recitation of the Qur'ân in the early dawn is ever witnessed (attended by the angels in charge of mankind of the day and the night). (Mohsin Khan, Al-Isra 17:78). [1].
Establish regular prayers (that is more than one)- at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony. (Yusuf Ali, Sura Al-Isra 17:78).
Keep up prayer (single salat) from the declining of the sun till the darkness of the night and the morning recitation; surely the morning recitation is witnessed. (M. H. Shakir).
Establish thou the prayer (single salat) from the declination of the sun to the darkening of the night, and the Recitation at the dawn; verily the Recitation at the dawn is ever borne witness to. (Daryabadi).
Establish salat( single salat) from the time the sun declines until the darkening of the night, and also the recitation at dawn. The dawn recitation is certainly witnessed. (Aisha Bewley). [2].
From the above cited verse of the Holy Quran, one group (sunni) says that there are Four Salat Timings in this single Salat
(الصَّلاَةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ )
(along with fifth morning prayer). Whereas Quran Alone group proves from the same cited verses that this
(الصَّلاَةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ ) is one single Salat.
[edit] Salat in Hadith
The Ahadith prevail over the Qur'an; as for example, when the Qur'an refers to three daily prayers (suras 11:114; 17:78-79; 30:17-18 and possibly 24:58), while the five daily prayers stipulated by the later Ahadith have been adopted by Muslims.[3].
[edit] Contact Prayers in Biblical Passages
Contact Prayers in Biblical passages are striking.
"And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded." (1 Samuel 20:41).
"As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." (Psalms 55:16-17) (PS: crying aloud apparently means praying with passion).
"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did afortime." (Daniel 6:10).
[edit] Reading External Links
- [4] The Realities of our Daily Prayers
- [5] Salat of Quran
- [6] Salat Timings of Quran
- [7] Salat Asr
[edit] See also in Urdu
- [8] Balagh Ul Quran
- [9] Aslwat in the Light of Quran
[edit] References
- ^ Ruling on Eid prayers. Islam Question and Answer. Retrieved on 2007-01-02.
- ^ Islam Today. Islam today.
3. ^ Hedayetullah, Muhammad (2006). Dynamics of Islam: An Exposition. Trafford Publishing. ISBN 978-1553698425.
[edit] Further reading
- Learn About Salah
- When to Perform the Daily Prayers. pray-in-time.org. Muslim Prayer Time and Calendar
- Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaani. The Prophet's Prayer Described. University of Southern California Muslim Students' Association. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
- "The Prophet's Prayer"
- Prayer Time (Turkish)
- Various articles related to diffeent rulings on Salaah
- Salah: Step by Step Instructions, According to Quran and Sunnah. interactiveislam.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
- Rules of Namaz. majalla.org. Retrieved on 2007-01-02.
- How to Perform the Daily Prayers. Al-Islam.org. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. How to pray according to Shi'a Ja'fari School of law
- CyberSalat. studyislam.com. A reference for description of how to perform Salat.
[edit] External links
- Islam Quran Sunnah - The Right Path
- Salat presentation in video, including how to perfrom salat in detail.
- Worldwide prayer time calculation.
- Worldwide prayer time calculation.
- Prayer Time calculation for Millions of Cities round the World Provides dynamic location detection and Salah software for mobile phones
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