Book 2: Chapter 6
Can I ask about the five daily prayers? (salāh) [part d]
Once again, important note with respect to Chapters five and six
1. Chapters 5 and 6 are devoted to the actual manner of salāh. The salāh being described here is not based upon the unquestioned following of any particular madhab (school of thought), but rather upon the manner in which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم performed his salāh as witnessed by others and from authentic sources in the Qur’ān and sunnah. The two main works referred to are:
a. The Prophet’s Prayer صلى الله عليه وسلم described, from beginning to end as though you see it, by Sheikh Muhammad Nasruddin Al Albāni
b. Fiqh as Sunnah - Purification and Prayer, by As-Sayyid Sābiq;
2. Both these books are widely available in book form and on the net. You may want to refer to them to understand the reasoning behind their narratives and also to obtain a wealth of alternative adkhār (words of remembrance);
3. This summary description of salāh can be used by both boys and girls, men and women. There does not appear to be any evidence that the salāh as performed by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was any different for women;
4. Here are some important expressions to bear in mind:
i. Rak’ah: one cycle or unit of salāh, from standing to standing again;
ii. Sajdah Sahw: A prostration of forgetfulness. This is an additional prostration, performed at the end of the salāh, if certain parts of the salāh are missed or forgotten. However, there are areas that it does not cover;
iii. Rukn as-salāh: This is a pillar or cornerstone of salāh. These actions or words must be done or read respectively. If they are missed in any rak’ah then that rak’ah must be repeated. It would not be acceptable simply to perform sajdah sahw; Whenever you see this font and this pillar picture, a rukn of salah is being highlighted.
iv. A fard is something obligatory.
v. Wājib is also an obligatory act. According to the majority of the scholars of the jurisprudence, wājib is entirely synonymous with fard. Whenever you see this font and the this triangle image, a wājib of salāh is being highlighted.
vi. sunnat-as-salāh, an action within the salāh that was performed by our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and therefore highly recommended.
The summary description of salāh continues
13. How do I rise from the ruku and what do I say?
i. It is a rukn of the salāh to rise from ruku and also to stand erect until all your bones have settled;
ii. Raise your hands as mentioned earlier, then keep them by your side and say:
سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Sa-me ‘al-lāhu liman hamidah;
Allāh hears the one who praises Him (This is wājib)
iii. In jamā’ah this is said aloud by the imām. It need not be said by the followers. Then say:
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Rabbanā walakal-hamd;
O Our Lord; for you belongs all Praises (Again, this is wājib)
The Evidence: raising hands when rising from ruku and the adhkār of ruku
Narrated Salim bin Abdullāh رضي الله عنه, ‘My father said, Allāh's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم used to raise both his hands up to the level of his shoulders when opening the prayer; and on saying the Takbīr for bowing. And on raising his head from bowing he used to do the same and then say “Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa laka l-hamd.” And he did not do that (ie raising his hands) in prostrations.
Bukhāri
The next position in salāh is sajdāh? In sajdāh, we actually go down and touch our head to the ground in worship. In English this is known as ‘prostrating’
14. How do I go down into the sajdāh position?
i. Say takbīr whilst going into sajdāh;
ii. Place hands on the ground before the knees touch the ground;
Describe sajdāh to me.
Sajdāh upon 7 parts of the body is a rukn of salāh. Those 7 parts are the forehead with the nose, the two palms, the two knees and the two feet. It is performed as follows:
i. Support yourself on your palms;
ii. Your hands should be level with your shoulders or ears (Muslim);
iii. Keep your arms off of the ground and hands and elbows away from your sides;
iv. Bring your fingers together, pointing towards qibla (Abu Da’ud);
v. Your nose and forehead should be firmly on the ground, with equal pressure;
vi. Make sure your knees and toes are firmly on the ground;
vii. The front of your toes should point toward qibla;
viii. Keep your feet upright. They can be kept together or part;
ix. Your palms, knees, feet (toes), forehead and nose should all be touching the ground;
x. Take care. It can be easy for nose not to be touching the ground;
xi. You should acquire complete calmnesss;
a. Do not hurry your sajdāh, like a bird pecking at the ground;
b. Remain in sajdāh with your back straight and until all the bones in your body have relaxed;
c. Remember the utter humility of this position. Whether president or pauper, we are all required to go to the lowest level and touch our heads to the ground before Allāh, سبحانه وتعالىٰ
The Evidence: sajdāh
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said: The Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘when one of you prostrates, let him put his hands down before his knees, and not kneel like a camel.'
An Nisā’i, Abu Da’ud
Abu Hurairah also narrated that, ‘My dear friend forbade me three things: He forbade me from pecking like a rooster (just touching the head in prostration), sitting on the haunches like a dog, and looking around like a fox.’
Salim al-Barrad رضي الله عنه said: We came to Abu Mas'ud Uqbah ibn Amr al-Ansari and said to him: Tell us about the prayer of the Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم.
· He stood up before us in the mosque and said the takbīr.
· When he bowed, he placed his hands upon his knees and put his fingers below, and kept his elbows (arms) away from his sides, so everything returned properly to its place.
· Then he said: "Allāh listens to him who praises Him";
· Then he stood up so that everything returned properly to its place;
· Then he said the takbīr and prostrated and put the palms of his hands on the ground;
· he kept his elbow (arms) away from his sides, so that everything returned to its proper place.
· Then he raised his head and sat so that everything returned to its place; he then repeated it in a similar way. Then he offered four rak'ahs of prayer like this rak'ah and completed his prayer.
Then he said: Thus, we witnessed the Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم offering his prayer.
An-Nisā’i and Abu Da’ud
He would not rest his forearms on the ground (Mentioned by Anas رضي الله عنها in Bukhari)
Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi رضي الله عنها narrated: ‘When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would prostrate, he placed his nose and his forehead on the ground, and he held his forearms away from his sides, and he placed his hands parallel to his shoulders’
Tirmidhi
Maimuna رضي الله عنها, reported that when the Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم prostrated himself, if a lamb wanted to pass between his arms, it could pass.
Muslim
15. What is the adhkār of sajdāh?
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
Sub-hāna rabbiyal ā’la;
How perfect is my Lord, the Most High
i. You should actually utter these words with your lips;
ii. This must be said at least once (wājib), but preferably three or more times.
a. Infact lengthening the repetitions is acceptable. Sajdāh is special. The more you glorify Allāh in it, the better.
b. You may also do so where you are acting as imām, but be considerate of the people behind you, especially if any are elderly or infirm
iii. There are other adhkār that can be said, which can be found in the previously referenced books.
Can I make du’a in sajdāh?
Sajdāh is an action in which we achieve closeness to Allāh. We can therefore, if we wish, make du’a inside it as there is every chance it will be heard. Du’as in sajdāh are particularly precious. If you have some special need, then request it in sajdāh.
The Evidence: sajdāh adkhār
Related in Muslim, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘Verily I have indeed been forbidden from reciting the Qur’ān in ruku or sujūd. In ruku, therefore, Glorify the Supremacy of the Lord, Mighty and Sublime, in it; as for sujūd, exert yourselves in supplications (du’a) for it is most likely that you will be answered.
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ‘the closest that a person can be to his Lord, the Mighty and Sublime, is when he is prostrating, so increase in supplication then.’
Muslim, An-Nisā’i
16. How do I rise from the first sajdāh?
i. Raise your head while saying the takbīr;
ii. Come up until you are sitting straight;
iii. There is no need to immediately return to the second sajdāh. It is preferred to sit for a while between the two sujūd;
iv. The sitting should be as long as the sajdāh, again waiting until all your bones have settled;
v. It is a rukn of the salāh to raise the head in between sujūd and sit upright.
How should I sit here?
vi. Put your left foot down and sit upon it, keeping the right foot upright (Bukhari and Muslim) with the toes pointing to qibla (An-Nisā’i). This position is called iftirāsh
OR
vii. You can rest on both heels, and on all the toes with both knees on the ground;
viii. Do not sit with buttocks on the ground and thighs straight out;
ix. Keep your hands on your thighs;
x. Your fingers should be slightly separated and pointing towards qibla;
xi. Sitting between sujūd is wājib.
What is the adhkār, in between the two sujūd?
Saying a short adhkār of forgiveness is wājib.
You can say,
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَاجْبُرْنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي، وَارْفَعْنِي
Rabbigfirlee, warhamnee, wahdiee, wajburee, wa’āfinee, warzuqnee, warfā’nee,
O My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, support me, protect me, sustain me and raise me in rank
Or say:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbigfirlee, agfirlee
O my Lord, forgive me, forgive me.
Then, say takbīr and go into the second sajdāh. The principles are the same as for the first one.
17. How should I rise up to start the second rak’ah?
i. Actually, it is preferable to remain in a brief sitting position before rising;
ii. This is called Jalsa al Istirahāh (the sitting of rest). Although the subject of dispute amongst the ulema, the stronger view is that it is a sunnah (See Sheikh Al Albāni’s work);
iii. To rise up, you should support yourself on the ground with clenched fists, as if kneading dough;
iv. Say takbīr whilst rising;
v. Between 2nd and 3rd rak’ah, hands are not raised to ears, as done in numbered point 3.
The evidence: Jalsa al Istirahāh
Narrated Aiyub, Abu Qilaba said, "Malik bin Huwairith came to us and led us in the prayer in this mosque of ours and said, 'I lead you in prayer but I do not want to offer the prayer but just to show you how Allah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم performed his prayers." I asked Abu Qilaba, "How was the prayer of Malik bin Huwairith?" He replied, "Like the prayer of this Sheikh of ours-- i.e. `Amr bin Salima." That Sheikh used to pronounce the Takbir perfectly and when he raised his head from the second prostration he would sit for a while and then support himself on the ground and get up.”
The second rak’ah
Start immediately with Sūrah al Fatihah, and therafter follow all the above points from 1-16,
and then we sit for the
first tashahhud
(the first sitting, to bear witness)
18. What is the tashahhud?
i. This is a sitting position in which you mention the shahādah (and hence the name tashahhud);
ii. In the first tashahhud of any salāh, sit the same as between the two sujūd (see numbered points 16)[1];
iii. Make a fist of the right hand except the index finger;
iv. Keep the thumb on the middle finger;
v. Raise the index finger;
vi. Keep moving the index finger as long as you are in the tashahhud position;
vii. Look at the index finger throughout this period (Abu Dawood from Abdullah bin Al Zubayr رضي الله عنه);
viii. The first tashahhud is wājib. If you forget to perform it, you must perform, sajdāh sahw at the end of salāh.
19. What should I say in this first tashahhud?
التَّحِيَّاتُ للهِ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ، وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ
أّشَْدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-tahiyyaatu lillāhi, was-salawātu wat-Tayyibātu,
as-Salāmu alayka ayyu hannabīu, wa rahmatullāhi wa ba rakātuhu,
as-Salāmu alaynā wa ‘alā ’ebādillaah-isSālihīn
Ash-hadu al-lā elāha illAllāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasūluh;
All good wishes, prayers and good words belong to Allāh;
May peace be upon you O, Prophet and Allāh’s Mercy and Blessings
May peace be also upon us and on all O Allāh’s righteous servants
I bear witness that there is no god but Allāh and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.
The Evidence: The first Tashahhud
"I saw the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم raise his hands when he started to pray, and when he bowed, and when he raised his head from bowing. And when he sat, he would lay his left foot on the ground and keep his right foot upright, and he placed his left hand on his left thigh, and his right hand on his right thigh, making a circle with his middle finger and thumb, and pointing. "
"I am going to watch the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and see how he prays. So, I watched him." And he described (his prayer): "Then he sat and lay his left foot on the ground, and placed his left hand on his left thigh and knee. He put his right elbow on his right thigh, then he made a circle with two fingers of his (right) hand, then he raised his finger and I saw him moving it, supplicating with it."
Both the above related by Wa'il bin Hujr رضي الله عنه and recorded in An-Nisā’i
20. What next?
Rise for the third rak’ah in the same way you did for the second. Complete the third and fourth rak’ah as has already been described. In obligatory prayers, additional sūrahs after al Fātihah, are not necessary.
The final tashahhud
(the final sitting position, to bear witness)
How should I sit in the final tashahhud? Same as before?
i. The sitting position is different from the one in the first tashahhud. It is known as Tawarruk and is described in the hadith of Abu Humaid رضي الله عنه mentioned below;
ii. As for the hands and fingers, this is the same as the first tashahhud;
iii. The final tashahhud is a rukn of the salāh.
The Evidence: The final Tashahhud sitting method (tawarruk)
Narrates Abu Humaid, ‘when he (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) sat after two rak’ah, he would sit upon his left leg and keep his right foot upright. When he sat for his last rak’ah, he would pull over his left foot and put his right foot upright (over the left foot) and sit upon his entire posterior.’
Sahih Bukhari
21. What should I say in the final tashahhud?
i. Reciting du’as here is a rukn of the salāh.
ii. Repeat the words of section 19;
iii. Then offer salaams upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his family. You can say:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
كَمَ ا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allāhumma Salli ‘alā Muhammad, wa āla āli Muhammad,
kama sallayta alā Ibrāhīma, wa’āla āli Ibrāhīma,
innaka Hamīdum-majīd;
Allāhumma Bārik ‘alā Muhammad, wa āla āli Muhammad,
kama Bārakta alā Ibrāhīma, wa’āla āli Ibrāhīma
innaka Hamīdum-majīd
O Allāh, send grace and honour upon Muhammad and his family,
as you have sent grace and honour upon Ibrahim and his family;
Verily you are the Most Praised and Glorious;
O Allāh, bless Muhammad and his family,
as you have blessed Ibrahim and his family;
Verily you are the Most Praised and Glorious
Then you should offer a du’a requesting four things:
اَللَّهُـمَّ إِنيِّ أَعوُذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذاَبِ جَهَنَّمَ
وَمِن ْ عَذاَبِ الْقَبْرِ
وَمِنْ فِتْـنَةِ الْمَحْياَ وَالْمَماَتِ
وَمِنْ فِتْـنَةِ الْمَسيِحِ الدَّجاَّلِ
Allāhumma innee a’ūdobika min adhābi jahannam,
wa min adhāb al qabar,
wa min fitnatil mahya wal mamāt
wa min sharri fitnatil maseehid dajjāl;
O Allāh, Verily I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hellfire,
And from the Torment of the grave,
And from the trial of life and death,
and from the trial of the False Messiah (Dajjaal)
These du’as are just two from a selection mentioned by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم (See the previously mentioned works by Al Albāni and As Sābiq);
Thereafter, you can if you wish offer any du’as at all of your choosing in Arabic.
22. How do I end the salāh?
i. With a phrase known as taslīm. It is a phrase you will be familiar with as it is the way all Muslims greet each other daily;
ii. Turn your face to the right over your shoulder and say:
السلام عليكم ورحمت الله
Assalāmu alaikum wa rahmatullāh
Peace be unto you and the Mercy of Allāh
iii. Then turn your face to the left and say the same words again;
iv. You should say the words as you are turning your head;
v. You should turn your head completely sideways to the right and then completely to the left;
vi. There should be no pause in the middle between the right and the left turns;
vii. The two taslīms are a rukn of the salāh.
The Evidence: Takbīr and Taslīm
Narrates Ali رضي الله عنهم , the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘The key to salāh is purification, it is entered by takbir and exited by taslīm.’
Abu Da’ud, Tirmidhi, Al Hākim
'Amir b. Sa'd رضي الله عنهم reported, ‘I saw the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم pronouncing taslīm on his right and on his left till I saw the whiteness of his cheek.’
Muslim, 582Sahih Bukhari
That concludes the summary description of salāh.
The Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم said
Pray as you have seen me pray
(Bukhāri, 631)
The five daily prayers (salāh) [part d]
Questions
1. How do you go down into sajdāh?
2. Describe exactly the posture of sajdāh to me.
3. What is the adkhār of sajdāh?
4. Can you say more than three glorifications in sajdāh?
5. How do you rise from first sajdāh?
6. Do you immediately return to the second sajdāh?
7. How should you sit between sajdāhs?
8. What is the adkhar, in between the sajdāhs?
9. How should you rise up to start the second rak’āh?
10. What is Jalsa al Istirahāh?
11. How should you start the second rak’āh?
12. What should you do in the first tashahhud?
13. What should you say in this first tashahhud?
14. With what and action do you end the salāh?
Islām around the world
Al Hambra Fortress and Palace, Granada, Spain
[1] However, note that this will not be the same sitting posture if there is a second tashahhud;