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Sunday, 24 June 2012

Recitation in Salat


Q.   What matter is recited during Salat and what are the names given to its various parts?
*  The names and the text of the matter recited in the Salat are as given below:

TAKBIR (glorification of Al-lah):
AL-LAHU AKBAR
(Al-lah is the Greatest)

THANA (Hymn in praise of Al-lah):
SUBHANA-KA-L-LA-HUM-MA WA BI-HAMDIKA WA TABARAK-ASMUKA WA TAALA-JADDU-KA WA-LA ILAHA GHAI-RUK.
(O Al-lah! Thou Art Sanctified, we praise Thee. Thy name is of great Blessedness, and Thy Greatness is Supreme and none else is worthy except Thee.)

TAAW’WUZ (Seeking Al-lah’s protection):
A’UZU BIL-LAHI MINASH-SHAITANIR-RAJIM.
(I seek the protection of Al-lah from the accursed Satan.)

TASMIYAH (Pronouncing Al-lah’s name):
BISMIL-LAHIR-RAHMANIR-RAHIM.
(In the name of Al-lah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.)

SURAH AL-FATIHA or AL-HAMD:
            AL-HAMDU LIL-LAHI RAB-BIL-‘ALA-MIN. AR-RAHMANIR-RAHIM. MALIKI YAUMID-DIN. IY-YAKA NA’BUDU WA IY-YAKA NASTA’IN.IHDINAS-SIRATAL-MUSTAQIM. SIRATAL-LAZINA AN’AMTA ‘ALAIHIM, GHAIRL-MAGHDUBI ‘ALAI-HIM WALAD-DAL-LIN.
            (All the praises are for Al-lah, the sustainer of all worlds, the Beneficent, the Merciful, Lord of the Day of Judgement. [O Al-lah] Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we ask for help. Lead us along the straight path, the path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed Thy favours, not of those who incurred Thy wrath, nor (of those who went astray.)

SURAH AL-KAUTHAR (Fount of Abundance):
            IN-NA A’TAINAK-AL-KAUTHAT. FA-SAL-LI LI-RAB-BIKA WANHAR. IN-NA SHANI ‘AK-A HUWAL-ABTAR.
            (O Prophet! We bestowed Kauthar (the Fount of Abundance) upon Thee. Therefore, to thy Sustainer turn in prayer and offer sacrifice. Indeed thy foe is to perish.)

SURAH AL-IKHLAS (Purity of Faith):
            QUL HUWAL-LAHU AHAD. AL-LAHUS-SAMAD. LAM YALID WA-LAM YULAD. WA-LAM YAKU(N)L-LAHU KUFUWAN AHAD.
            (O Prophet! Proclaim that He, Al-lah, is One. Al-lah the Unique. He begets not, Nor is He begotten. And there is no compeer unto Him.)

SURAH AL-FALAQ (Daybreak):
            QUL A’UZU BI-RAB-BIL-FALAQI MIN SHAR-RI MA KHALAQA WA MIN SHAR-R GHASIQIN IZA WAQAB. WA MIN SHAR-RIN-NAF-FATHATI FIL-‘UQADI WA MIN SHAR-RI HASIDIN IZA HASAD.
            ((O Prophet!) Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak from the mischief of all the creations and from the mischief of the dusk when it pervades and from the mischief of the women who breathe upon the knots (practice witchcraft) and from the mischief of the jealous when he is being envious.)

SURAH AN NAS (The Mankind):
            QUL A’ZU BIRAB-BIN-NASI, MALIKIN-NASI ILAHIN-NASI MIN SHAR-RIL-WAS-WASIL-KHAN-NAS. AL-LAZI YUWASWISUFI SUDURIN-NASI. MINAL-JIN-NATI WAN-NAS.
            ((O Prophet!) Say: I seek the refuge of the Sustainer of men, the King of men from the mischief of the sneaking whisperer who whispers evil ideas unto man whether he be from amongst men or genies.)

TASBIH for RUKU’ (Bowing):
SUBHANA RAB-BIYAL ‘ADHIM
(Glory be unto my Sustainer the Majestic.)

TASMI’ for QAUMAH  (RISING FROM Ruku'):
SAMI ‘AL-LAHU LI-MAN HAMIDAH
(Al-lah listened to whosoever praised Him.)

TAHMID for QAUMAH:
RAB-BANA LAKAL-HAMD
(O our Sustainer! All the praises are for Thee.)

TASBIH for SIJDAH (placing forehead on the ground):
SUBHANA RABBIYAL-A’LA
(Glory be unto my Sustainer, the Most Exalted.)

TASHAH-HUD or AT-TAHIYAT:
            AT-TAHIY-YATU LIL-LAHI WAS-SALAWATU WAT-TAIY-YIBATU., AS-SALAMU’ALIKA AY-YUHAN-NABIY-YU WA RAHMATUL-LAHI WA BARAKATUHU. AS-SALAMU’ALIN WA ‘ALA ‘IBADIL-LAHIS-SALIHIN. ASH-HADU A(N)L-LA-ILAHA IL-LAL-LAHU WA ASH-HADU AN-NA-MUHAM-MADAN ‘ABDUHU WA RASULUH.
            (All the salutations, prayers and nice things are for Al-lah. Peace be on you O Prophet, and the blessings of Al-lah, and His grace. Peace on us and on all the righteous servants of Al-lah. I bear witness that none but Al-lah is worthy of worship and bear witness that Muham-mad (peace be on him) is the servant and messenger of Al-lah.)

THE HOLY DURUD (Blessings on the Prophet):
            AL-LAHUM-MA SAL-LI’ALA MUHAM-MADI(N)W-WA-‘ALA ALI MUHAM-MADIN KAMA SAL-LAITA ‘ALA IBRAHIMA WA ‘ALA ALI IBRAHIMA IN-NA-KA HAMI-DUM-MAJID. AL-LAHUM-MA BARIK’ALA MUHAM-MADI(N)W-WA-‘ALA ALI MUHAM-MADIN KAMA BARAKTA ‘ALA IBRAHIMA WA ‘ALA ALI IBRAHIMA IN-NA-KA HAMIDU-DUM-MAJID.
            (O Al-lah, bless Muham-mad and the offsprings of Muham-mad as Thou blessedst Ibrahim and the offsprings of Ibrahim. Verily Thou art worthy of praise and art the Most Exalted. O Al-lah, bestow Thy favours on Muham-mad and the offsprings of Muham-mad as Thou bestowedst Thy favours on Ibrahim and the offsprings of Ibrahim. Verily, Thou art worthy of praise and art the Most Exalted.)

SALAM (Salutation):
AS-SALAMU ‘ALAIKUM WA RAHMAT-UL-LAH.
(Al-lah’s peace and blessings be on you.)

INVOCATION AFTER SALAT:
            AL-LAHUM-MA ANTAS-SALAMU WA MINKAS-SALAMU TABARAKTA YA ZAL-JALAI WAL-IKRAM.
            (O Al-lah! Thou art the Bestower of peace, and peace flows from Thee. Thou be praised, the Most Exalted and Glorious.)

THE QUNUT (Obeisance):
            AL-LAHUM-MA IN-NA NASTA’INU-KA WA NASTAGHFIRU-KA WA NU’MINU BI-KA WA NATAWAK-KALU ‘ALAIKA WA NUTHNI ‘ALAIKAL-KHAIRA WA NASH-KURU-KA WA-LA NAKFURU-KA WA NAKHLA’U WA NATRUKU MA(N)Y-YAF-JURUK. AL-LAHUM-MA IY YAKA NA-BUDU WA LA-KA NUSAL-LI WA NASJU-DU WA ILAIKA NAS’A WA NAHFIDU WA NARJU RAHMATA-KA WA NAKHSHA ‘AZABA-KA IN-NA ‘AZABA-KA BIL-KUF-FARI MULHIQ.
            (O Al-lah! We seek Thy help and beg Thy pardon and affirm our faith in Thee and rely on Thee and give good praise to Thee and thank Thee and do not withhold our gratitude from Thee and leave and forsake him who disobeys Thee. Thee alone do we worship and to Thee do we offer Salat, and fall prostate before Thee, and run and rush towards Thee and hope for Thy mercy and feat Thy chastisement. Verily, Thy chastisement is to close in on the unbelievers.)

Masjid


Q.   What are the terms used for the Salat offered in assembly, the man leading the prayers in assembly and the people offering prayers behind him?
*  The Salat in assembly is called the Salat of Jama’ah (congregational prayer). The man who` leads it is the Imam (the head) and the persons offering the Salat in the congregation behind the Imam are known as Muqatadi-s (followers).

Q.   What do we call a person who offers Salat individually?
*  Such a person is known as Munafarid (individual).

Q.   What do we call the enclosure specially built by Muslims for offering Salat in congregation?
*  The enclosure or compound is called the Masjid.

Q.   What should a Muslim do in the masjid?
*  A Muslim should offer Salat, recite from the Qur-an, say Wadhifah (repetition of holy words) or sit quiet with due observance. It is quite undesirable to play games, make a noise or talk undesirable to play games. Make a noise or talk of worldly things in the masjid.

Tuesday, 19 June 2012

Benefits of Salat


Q.   What are the benefits of Salat?
*  Many benefits accrue from Salat. A few of them are mentioned below;
1)   The body and clothes of the worshipper remain neat, clean and trim,
2)   Al-lah is pleased with the worshipper;
3)   The Holy Prophet is pleased with him;
4)   He is considered virtuous by Al-lah;
5)   Virtuous people hold him in high esteem in this world also;
6)   The worshipper escapes from various types of sin;
7)   Al-lah rewards the worshipper worth a comfortable and blissful life after death

Sunday, 10 June 2012

Salat


Q.   How do the Muslims worship Al-lah?
*  The Muslims (i) offer Salat (prayers), (ii) observe fasts, (iii) give Zakat (alms) and (iv) perform Haj (pilgrimage to Makka).

Q.   What is Salat?
*  Salat is a particular way of worship and devotion to Al-lah taught by Him through the Holy Qur-an and by His Prophet Muham-mad (peace be on him) through his Sunnah (precepts).

Q.   What is the way to perform the particular mode of worship called Salat?
*  Muslims stand with folded hands before Al-lah either in a Masjid or in their houses. They recite verses from the Holy Qur-an. They praise Al-lah, affirm His Greatness and pay homage to Him. They bow before Him, place their foreheads on the ground and affirm their servitude and submissiveness to Him.

Q.   Where does a person offering the Salat truly find or present himself before Al-lah? Is it the masjid or in the house?
*  No matter whether one offering the Salat in his house or in the masjid, he is before Al-lah, because Al-lah is everywhere. But far greater reward is given for Salat offered in the masjid.

Q.   The Muslims wash their hands, face and feet before they offer Salat. What is the name given to this act in Islam?
*  This act is called ablution (Wudu). No Salat is valid without ablution.

Q.   Which direction must we face in Salat?
*  We face the west (in countries like India which are to the east of the Holy Ka’bah in Makka).

Q.   Why is it essential to stand with the face turned towards the west (in countries like India)?
*  It is because the House of Al-lah (known as Ka'bah) stands in the Holy city of Makka. It is essential to face it (the Ka'bah) in Salat. It is to the west of our cities (in India). Hence we face the west when we offer Salat.

Q.   What is the name given to the direction which we face in Salat?
*  The direction is called Qiblah.

Q.   How many times in a day and night should we offer Salat?
*  A Muslim is commanded to offer Salat five times in a day and night.

Q.   What are the respective names for the prayers thus offered five times?
*  The first is the Salat of Fajr. It is performed in the morning before sunrise. The second is the Salat of Dhuhr. It is said in the afternoon. The third is the Salat of 'Asr. It is said one-and-a-half or two hours before sunset. The fourth is the Salat of Maghrib. It is offered immediately after sunset. The fifth is the Salat of 'Isha. It is said in the night, one-and-a-half or two hours after sunset.