TARAVIH PRAYERS

TARAVIH PRAYERS

Q.   Is Taravih prayer Masnun or Nafl?

  The Taravih prayer is an unemphasized precept of the Prophet (peace be on him) for both men and women. Saying it in congregation is a sufficing precept. This means that there will be no sin upon a person who says the Taravih prayer at home if the locality in which he lives is already having arrangement for congregational Taravih prayer. But if there is no arrangement for such a prayer in congregation the entire locality shall be accountable to Al-lah for the sin.

Q.   What is the time fixed for Taravih prayer?

  The time allowed for Taravih is from ‘Isha till Fajr, Taravih can be said both before and after Witr. But it is better to say it before the Witr prayer. Nevertheless, if a person has missed a few Rak'ahs of Taravih prayer, he can say Witr prayer with the Imam and complete the Taravih after Witr.

Q.   How many Rak'ahs must be said in Taravih and how?

  Saying twenty Rak'ahs in pairs of two each is the Prophet’s precept. After every Taravih (unit of four Rak'ahs) a little breathing time to be availed is desirable.

Q.   Must we recite anything or sit silent during the period for rest (after each four Rak'ahs)?

  We are free to sit silent or recite the Qur-an slowly or to repeat some fourmula or even to say the Nafl Salat individually.

Q.   How is it to recite the whole of Qur-an in the course of Taravih prayers?

  It is Masnun to recite the whole of Qur-an once in this month and even more commendable to do it thrice. It must, however be remembered that reciting the whole of Qur-an twice or thrice during the month is command able only if no inconvenience is caused to the congregation. No, regard should however, be paid to people’s lack of the Qur-an once in the month.

Q.   How is it to say the Taravih in the sitting position?

  It is undesirable to say Taravih in the sitting position while one has the strength to do it in the normal (standing position).

Q.   How is it for people to sit outside the congregation while the Imam recites the Qur-an and join the prayers only at the point when the Imam is about to pass on to bowing?

  It is an undesirable act. Prayer in congregation must be joined from the beginning.

Q.   Is it permissible for a person who has missed the congregational Fard prayer to say the commanded prayer individually before joining the congregational Taravih prayer?

  Yes, it is permissible.

SALAT OF WITR

SALAT OF WITR

Q.   Is Salat of Witr Wajib or Masnun?

  Salat of Witr is Wajib (ordained). It is as much emphasized as a commanded (Fard) Salat. It is compulsory to redeem it at another time if one fails to say it on time. It is a grave sin to cut it without any valid reason.

Q.   How many Rak'ahs are there in the Salat of Witr?

  It is a Salat with three Rak'ahs, the first two are followed by a Qa’dah (sitting). In the Qa’dah the Tashah-hud is recited after which is done the Qiyam (standing). The third Rak'ah is again followed by Qa’dah and Tashah-hud. After which the holy Darud for the Prophet (peace be on him) and invocation to Al-lah are said and the Salat is concluded by turning the face in Salaam first to the right, then to the left.

Q.   How is Salat of Witr different from other Salats?

  The main difference is that in the third Rak'ah of Witr Salat the invocation “Qanut” is recited. The procedure for it is like this:

In the third Rak'ah after the Al-Fatihah and the Surah that shall follow it, raise your hands to your ears saying Al-lahu Akbar. Then fold the hands as is usual is standing for Salat and say the Qanut – invocation. This done, do the bowing and the rest of the ritual as usual.

Q.   Shall we say the Qanut – invocation audibly or inaudibly?

  Everyone, whether the head of prayer or the individual, shall say the Qanut – invocation inaudibly.

Q.   What must one do if he has not memorized the Qanut invocation?

  Any other invocation e.g.

RAB-BANA ATINA FID-DUNYA HASANATA(N)W-WA FIL-KHIRATI HASANTA(N)W-WA-QINA ‘AZABAN-NAR

may be recited.

Q.   What must the follower do if the head of the prayer passes on to bowing before the former has completed the Qanut – invocation?

  He shall cut short the Qanut and follow the Imam in bowing.

MASNUN AND NAFL PRAYERS

MASNUN AND NAFL PRAYERS

Q.   What prayers are the Prophet’s emphasized precept?

  The following are the emphasized precepts of the holy Prophet (peace be on him):

             i.     Two Rak'ahs before the commanded prayer of Fajr;

           ii.     Four Rak'ahs (in one continuation) before the commanded prayers of Dhuhr and Jum’ah;

         iii.     Four Rak'ahs after the commanded prayer of Dhuhr;

          iv.     Four Rak'ahs (in one continuation) after the commanded prayer of Jum’ah;

            v.     Two Rak'ahs after the commanded Maghrib prayer;

          vi.     Two Rak'ahs after the commanded prayer of ‘Isha;

        vii.     Twenty Rak'ahs of Taravih prayer during Ramadhan.

Q.   What prayers are the unemphasized precept of the holy Prophet (peace be on him)?

  The unemphasized precepts are the following:

             i.     Four Rak'ahs before the ‘Asr prayer;

           ii.     Two Rak'ahs after the emphasized prayers in ‘Isha;

         iii.     Six Rak'ahs in Maghrib after the emphasized Masnun prayer of Maghrib;

          iv.     Two Rak'ahs in Jum’ah after the emphasized Masnun prayer:

            v.     Two Rak'ahs by way of Tahiy-yat-ul-Wudu (thanks giving for ablution);

          vi.     Two Rak'ahs by way of Tahiy-yat-ul-Masjid (thanks giving to the Masjid);

        vii.     Four or eight pre-noon Rak'ahs;

      viii.     Two Rak'ahs after the Witr prayer:

          ix.     Four, six or eight Rak'ahs of Tahaj-jud (prayer in the small hours of the morning);

            x.     Salat-ut-Tasbih (Salat with additional formula in praise of Al-lah);

          xi.     Salat-ut-Istikhara (Salat seeking Al-lah’s will or command in a certain matter);

        xii.     Salat-ut-Taubah (prayer of repentance);

      xiii.     Salat-ut-Hajah (prayer to seek fulfillment of some need or desire from       Al-lah);

All the above Salats are unemphasized prayers.

Q.   Where is it better to say the Masnun prayer in the masjid or at home?

  All the Masnun and Nafl prayers excepting a few (such as Taravih, Tahiy-yat-ul-Masjid, Salat on the occasion of solar eclipse) are preferable to be said at home.

Q.   At what hours is it undesirable to say the Nafl Salat?

  Any Nafl Salat in addition to the Masnun Rak'ahs before commanded prayer on Fajr (after the true dawn) is undesirable.

Nafl prayer is also undesirable from after the Salat of Fajr till sunrise.

Similarly, Nafl prayer after the commanded Salat of ‘Asr (and before the change of the sun’s colour) is undesirable.

But in all of these hours a missed prayer if it is commanded can be said as also the Sijdah of Tilawah (Sijdah due for reciting certain portions of the Qur-an) and the funeral prayers without any scruples.

All prayers are however, undesirable from sunrise till the time the sun attains to the height of a soldier’s lance and at exact noon, as also from the time the sun changes colour till sunset.

Nevertheless, if the ‘Asr prayer for the day is still pending, it can be said even while the sun has changed colour or is setting.

Likewise, Masnun and Nafl prayers at the time of the khutbah for Jum’ah (oration before the Jum’ah prayer) are undesirable.

Q.   What do we mean by change in the colour of the sun?

  The sun may be considered to have changed colour when it is transformed into a red circle and human gaze can be fixed on it.