نماز (اسلام)
| فارسی | English | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
نماز از عبادتهای مسلمانان و از ارکان مهم دین اسلام است.[۱] واژهٔ نماز معادل فارسی کلمه عربی صلاة یا صلوة است. نماز در نزد اهل سنت یکی از ارکان خمسه (ستونهای پنجگانهٔ دین) و در نزد شیعیان یکی از فروع دهگانهٔ دین است. نمازهایی که بر هر مسلمان، در هر شبانهروز، واجب است عبارتاند از: نماز صبح، ظهر، عصر، مغرب و عشا. البته غیر از این نمازها، نمازهای واجب دیگری هم وجود دارند[۲]. عدهای از عارفان بر این باورند که تمام موجودات نیز متناسب با وضع خود در حال حمد و تسبیح خداوند هستند و به آیاتی از قرآن نظیر «و گیاه و درخت سجده میکنند» (به عربی: وَالنَّجْمُ وَالشجَرُ یَسجُدَانِ)[۳]، استناد میورزند.
واژهشناسی [ویرایش]واژه «صلاة» در عربی، به معنی «درود و تحیت»، «دعا» و همچنین «انعطاف» است.[۴] با این حال واژهٔ «نماز» واژهای فارسی است که در ایران، افغانستان، بنگلادش، هند، پاکستان و ترکیه برای واژهٔ «صلاة» عربی بهکار برده میشود. این واژه همچنین در زبان بنگالی، آلبانیایی، بوسنیایی و مقدونیایی، برابر صلاة به کار میرود. واژه نماز به معنای خمشدن و سرفرودآوری برای ستایش و احترام است[۵]. برخی منابع ریشهٔ این واژه را از واژه پارسی پهلوی «نماک» میدانند که آن هم از ریشه باستانی «نم» به معنای خم شدن و کرنش است.[۶][۷]. هرچند در برخی منابع ریشهٔ واژهٔ نماز از واژهٔ «ناماسته» در زبان سانسکریت آریاییان دانسته شدهاست[۸][مدرک بیشتر] واجبات و مستحبات نماز [ویرایش]
واجبات نماز [ویرایش]واجبات نماز یعنی کارهایی که باید در نماز انجام شود. واجبات نماز ۱۱ مورد هستند که این واجبات به دو نوع رکن و غیر رکن تقسیم میشوند. واجباتی که رکن هستند، کم یا زیاد کردن آنها چه به عمد و چه سهوا نماز را باطل میکند. واجبات رکن در نماز ۵ مورد بوده و شامل: نیّت، تکبیرة الإحرام، قیام (قیام در هنگام تکبیرة الاحرام و قیام متصل به رکوع)، رکوع و سجود میباشد. واجبات نماز از این قرارند:[۹]
مستحبات نماز [ویرایش]
شرایط نماز و نمازگزار [ویرایش]
موارد فوق شرایط و استثناهای مخصوص به خود را دارند و همچنین در شرایط و موقعیتهای خاص میتوانند تغییر یابند که در مذهب تشیع این موارد توسط مراجع تقلید مشخص میشوند. مبطلات نماز [ویرایش]برخی از مواردی که نماز را باطل میکنند عبارتند از:[۱۶]
نمازهای واجب [ویرایش]نمازهای واجب در ذیل خواهد آمد. البته مسلمانان سنی علاوه بر اینها، شرکت در نماز جمعه و نماز عید را نیز واجب میدانند؛ شیعیان این نمازها را در زمان غیبت کبری، مستحب میدانند. نمازهای یومیّه (روزانه) [ویرایش]بر مسلمانان واجب است که روزی ۵ بار نماز بخوانند؛ کودکان، بیماران روانی و زنان در دوره عادت ماهانه از خواندن این نمازها معاف هستند. این نمازهای پنجگانه عبارتاند از:.[۱۷]
شیعیان معتقدند که بلافاصله پس از خواندن نماز ظهر میتوان نماز عصر و بلافاصله پس از نماز مغرب، میتوان نماز عشا را تا نیمه شب خواند. مسلمانان اعتقاد دارند که چنانچه کسی نتواند نماز را در وقت آن بخواند، باید آن را پس از پایان وقت بخواند. چنین نمازی را نماز قضا میگویند. نماز طواف واجب خانه خدا (در مسجدالحرام) [ویرایش]پس از هفت دور چرخیدن به دور کعبه، یک نماز دورکعتی به نام نماز طواف خوانده میشود. نماز میّت [ویرایش]نماز میت، بر مرده گزارده میشود. این نماز نیاز به وضو و غسل و غیره ندارد و با کفش میتوان آن را انجام داد. معمولاً در مسجدالحرام پس از هر نماز یومیّه از نمازگزاران دعوت میشود که برای مرده یا مردگانی نماز بخوانند. نماز قضای پدر و مادر [ویرایش]کسی که در زندگی خود برخی از نمازهایش را به جا نیاورده، باید پسر بزرگترش آن نمازها را قضا کند که جزئیات آن در کتابهای دینی نوشته شدهاست. نماز نافلهای که به علت نذر یا عهد یا قسم واجب شدهاست [ویرایش]نماز نافله به خودی خود واجب نیست و مستحب است ولی مثلاً اگر کسی نذر کند (تصمیم بگیرد) که اگر بیماریم معالجه شود، نماز نافله خواهم خواند و بیماریش معالجه شود، نماز نافله بر او واجب میشود که جزئیات این موضوع در کتابهای دینی ذکر شدهاست. نمازهای متفاوت در حکم وجوب یا استحباب [ویرایش]این نمازها در شرایطی واجب، و در شرایطی مستحب هستند، یا این که در برخی از مذهبها واجب و در مذاهب دیگر مستحب هستند. نماز آیات [ویرایش]نوشتار اصلی: نماز نشانهها
نماز آیات به واسطه چهارچیز بر مسلمان واجب میشود:
این نماز در نزد شیعیان، واجب و در نزد اهل سنت مستحب است. البته این نماز هر موقعی که اتفاقی بیفتد که مجب نمایش هر چه تمام تر قدرت خداوند شود هم خوانده میشود. نماز جمعه [ویرایش]نوشتار اصلی: نماز جمعه
نماز جمعه، نمازی است که در ظهر روز آدینه در مساجد خوانده میشود. طبق نظر شیعیان این زمان در زمان حضور پیامبر و امام معصوم و نایب خاص او واجب عینی است، اما در زمان غیبت کبری واجب تخییری است یعنی میان نماز جمعه و نماز ظهر مخیر است. در نزد اهل سنت، شرکت در این نماز برای مردان واجب است؛ در حالی که زنان میتوانند در این نماز شرکت کنند یا به جای آن نماز ظهر را بخوانند. مراسم نماز جمعه با دو خطبه آغاز میشود؛ پس از آن، دو رکعت به جای نماز ظهر خوانده میشود. در ایران، هر شهر تنها یک امام جمعه دارد و نماز جمعه در مسجد جامع یا مصلای اصلی همان شهر، برگزار میشود- امام جمعهی شهرهای ایران، همیشه از سوی رهبر انتخاب میشود. نماز عیدین [ویرایش]نوشتار اصلی: نماز عید
نماز عیدین، شامل نماز عید فطر و نماز عید قربان است که به هنگام عید فطر و عید قربان خوانده میشوند. از نظر شیعیان این نماز در زمان حضور امام واجب و در زمان غیبت مستحب است و میتوان آن را به جماعت یا فرادی خواند. طبق نظر اهل سنت این نمازها واجب است.[۱۸][۱۹] نماز جماعت [ویرایش]نوشتار اصلی: نماز جماعت
به طور کلی نمازهای واجب بهتر است به جماعت خوانده شوند یعنی به صورت گروهی. بنابراین نماز جماعت، نماز دیگری به غیر از نمازهای واجب نیست. در نماز جماعت یک نفر پرهیزگار در جلو دیگران میایستد که به او امام جماعت گویند. طبق نظر شیعیان شرکت در نماز جماعت مستحب موکد است. از نظر برخی از مذاهب اهل سنت شرکت در نماز جماعت واجب است که برخی آن را واجب عینی و برخی واجب کفایی میدانند. نمازهای مستحب [ویرایش]نمازهای مستحبی نمازهایی هستند که مسلمانان برای کسب ثواب بیشتر و نزدیک تر شدن به خداوند و دوری از شیطان بجا میآورند. برخی از این نمازها مخصوص شیعیان است. نمازهای مستحبی به صورت دورکعت، دورکعت خوانده میشوند.
نمازهای نافله از نمازهای مستحبی هستند که به آنها نوافل هم گفته میشود. از مهمترین نمازهای مستحبی، نافلههای شبانهروزی هستند که به آنها نوافل یومیه میگویند، نافله صبح (دو رکعت)، نافله ظهر (هشت رکعت)، نافله عصر (هشت رکعت)، نافله مغرب (چهار رکعت)، نافله عشاء (دو رکعت) و نافله شب (یازده رکعت). از آنجایی که دو رکعت نافله عشاء، یک رکعت محسوب میشود در مجموع نافلههای شبانه روزی ۳۴ رکعت میشوند. در روزهای جمعه چهار رکعت به نافلههای ظهر و عصر اضافه میشود و در جمع ۳۸ رکعت میشود. نافلههای شبانه روزی به صورت نمازهای دورکعتی خوانده میشوند. از میان نافلههای شبانه روزی، نافله شب یا نماز شب نزد مسلمانان از اهمیت بیشتری برخوردار است و در روایتها بر انجام آن تاکید شدهاست. از یازده رکعت نافله شب، ۸ رکعت به نیت نافله شب، ۲ رکعت آن به نیت نافله شفع و ۱ رکعت به نیت نافله وتر بجا آورده میشود. نماز جعفر طیار نیز از نمازهای مستحبی است که میتوان آن را از نافلهها ی شب یا روز حساب کرد. بافضیلت ترین زمان برای خواندن این نماز روز جمعه هنگام برآمدن آفتاب ذکر شدهاست. این نماز چهر رکعتی است و دو سلام دارد.[۲۰][۲۱]
نماز غفیله از دیگر نمازهای مستحبی است که بین نماز مغرب و عشاء خوانده میشود. فرصت خواندن این نماز، از نماز مغرب تا زمانی است که سرخی مغرب از بین برود. این نماز دو رکعتی میباشد و دستور مخصوص خود را دارد.[۲۲][۲۳]
تَحیّت به معنای سلام است و نماز تحیت مسجد نمازی دورکعتی است که هنگام ورود به مسجد و به قصد تحیت و احترام مسجد خوانده میشود. اگر یک نماز دورکعتی واجب (مثلا نماز صبح) را هم بخواند کافی است، یعنی در این صورت این نماز هم نماز صبح و هم نماز تحیت مسجد محسوب میشود.
نماز ایام هفته از دیگر نمازهای مستحبی است که بر طبق روایات و بر اساس دستور گفته شده در طول ایام هفته خوانده میشود. در واقع هر روز هفته دو نماز مخصوص به خود دارد که یک نماز برای شب ان روز و یک نماز برای همان روز میباشدو بدین شرح است: دو رکعت در هر رکعت بعد از حمد ایه الکرسی وسوره قدر و نصر یک بار و سوره توحید سه بارخوانده شود ( 'شب شنبه') چهار رکعت در هر رکعت بعد از حمد سوره کافرون سه بار خوانده شود بعد از نماز هم یک بار آیه الکرسی را بخواند (روز شنبه) شش رکعت در هر رکعت سوره حمد یک بار و سوره توحید هفت بار خوانده شود (شب یکشنبه) دو رکعت در رکعت اول بعد از حمد سوره کوثر سه بار و در رکعت دوم بعد از حمد سوره توحید سه بار خوانده شود (روز یکشنبه) دو رکعت در هر رکعت بعد از حمد ایه الکرسی و سوره توحید و معوذتین یک بار خوانده شوند (شب دوشنبه) چهار رکعت بعد از حمد در رکعت اول ایه الکرسی در رکعت دوم سوره توحیدو در رکعت سوم سوره فلق ودر رکعت چهارم سوره ناس خوانده شوند (روز دوشنبه) دو رکعت در رکعت اول بعد از حمد سوره قدر یک بار و دررکعت دوم بعد از حمد سوره توحید هفت بار خوانده شود (شب سه شنبه) دو رکعت در هر رکعت بعد از حمد سوره تین و سوره توحید و معوذتین یک بار خوانده شوند(روز سه شنبه) دو رکعت در هر رکعت بعد از حمد ایه الکرسی و سوره قدر و نصر هر کدام یکبار و توحید ۳ بارخوانده شود (شب چهارشنبه) دو رکعت در هر رکعت بعد از حمد سوره زلزال یک بار و سوره توحید سه بار خوانده شود(روز چهارشنبه) شش رکعت در هر رکعت بعد از حمد ایه الکرسی و کافرون یک بار و توحید سه بارخوانده شود بعد از نماز هم سه بار آیه الکرسی خوانده شود (شب پنج شنبه) دو رکعت در هر رکعت بعد از حمد سوره نصر و کوثر هر یک پنج بار خوانده شوند(روز پنج شنبه) دو رکعت در هر رکعت بعد از سوره حمد سوره توحید هفتاد بارخوانده شود و بعد از اتمام نماز هفتاد بار استغفار کند (شب جمعه) هشت در رکعت بعد ازسوره حمد هرسورهای که بخواهد میتواند بخواند بعد از اتمام نماز هفتاد بار استغفار کند (روز جمعه)[۲۴][۲۵]
نماز عید غدیر یکی دیگر از نمازهای مستحبی است که در روز عید غدیر خوانده میشود. این نماز دو رکعتی است و بهتر است نزدیک ظهر خوانده شود. [۲۶]
نماز وحشت یا نماز شب اول قبر، از نمازهای مستحبی است که دو رکعت دارد و در شب اول قبر برای میت خوانده میشود. [۲۷]
نماز اموات از دیگر نمازهای مستحبی است که برای درگذشتگان خوانده میشود. این نماز دو رکعتی میباشد. [۲۸]
نماز زیارت معصومین، به نمازهای مستحبی گفته میشود که به نیت زیارت معصومین خوانده میشود و هر کدام آداب خاص خود را دارد. [۲۹]
نماز چهارده معصوم از نمازهای مستحبی شیعیان است که هر کدام آداب خاص خود را دارد و برخی دو رکعتی و برخی چهار رکعتی و برخی شش رکعتی هستند. [۳۰]
نماز امام زمان از نمازهای مستحبی شیعیان است. این نماز دو رکعتی است و آداب خاص خود را دارد.[۳۱]
نماز هدیه از نمازهای مستحبی شیعیان است که آن را بجا آورده و ثواب آن را به معصومین هدیه میکنند. [۳۲]
نماز استغاثه از نمازهای مستحبی است که دو رکعتی است و بهتر است قبل از خواب خوانده شود. [۳۳]
نماز آمرزش گناهان از دیگر نمازهای مستحبی است که به نیت بخشیده شدن گناهان خوانده میشود. این نماز دو رکعتی است. [۳۴]
نماز شکر از نمازهای مستحبی است که در هنگام حاصل شدن نعمت یا دفع بلا خوانده میشود. [۳۵]
از دیگر نمازهای مستحبی است که بعضی از آنها در تمام ماهها مشترک هستند و برخی برای هر ماه و همچنین روزهای مشخص آن ماه آداب خاص خود را دارند.[۳۶] سایر نمازها [ویرایش]نماز قضا [ویرایش]اگر نماز واجب در وقت خود خوانده نشود، باید بعداً خوانده شود که به چنین نمازی قضا گویند. نماز استسقا یا نماز باران [ویرایش]نماز استسقا یا نماز طلب باران، در هنگام خشکسالی خوانده میشود. در برخی منابع اولین نماز باران را نمازی ذکر کردهاند که پیامبر در سال پنجم هجری و در نتیجه خشکسالی به جا آورد.[۳۷] نماز استسقا مانند نماز عیدین دو رکعت دارد و بهتر است به جماعت خوانده شود. رکعت اول این نماز پنج قنوت و رکعت دوم آن چهار قنوت دارد. [۳۸] نماز رفع فقر و تنگدستی [ویرایش]نمازی دو رکعتی است که در هنگام فقر و عسرت خوانده میشود.[۳۹] نماز رفع گرفتاری [ویرایش]نمازی است دو رکعتی که خواندن آن در زمان مشکلات و گرفتاریها توصیه شدهاست.[۴۰] نماز استخاره [ویرایش]استخاره در لغت یعنی طلب خیر یا خوبیخواستن، و در حقیقت دعا برای خیر از خداست. نماز استخاره، نمازی است که برای گرفتن تصمیم در مورد انجام دادن یا انجام ندادن فعلی و یا اتخاذ تصمیم مناسب خوانده میشود. این نماز باید پس از به نتیجه نرسیدن تعقل و مشورتها به جا آورده شود. این نماز دو رکعتی بوده و پس از انجام آن باید ذکرهای مخصوص این نماز گفته شود. برای انجام استخاره بعد از نماز نیز آداب مخصوص دارد. [۴۱] دیگر مسائل نماز [ویرایش]
جستارهای وابسته [ویرایش]منابع [ویرایش]
|
For other uses, see Salah (disambiguation) and Salat (disambiguation).
Salah (Arabic: صلاة ṣalāh or ṣalāt; pl. صلوات ) is the practice of formal worship in Islam. Its importance for Muslims is indicated by its status as one of the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam, of the Ten Practices of the Religion of Twelver Shiʿi Islam and of the seven pillars of Mustaʿlī Ismaili Islam, with a few dispensations for those for whom it would be difficult. People who find it physically difficult can perform Salah in a way suitable for them. To perform valid Salah, Muslims must be in a state of ritual purity, which is mainly achieved by ritual ablution, (wuḍūʾ), according to prescribed procedures. Under the Hanbali School of thought, a person who doesn't pray 5 times a day is a disbeliever. The other 3 schools of thought say that the person who doesn't pray 5 times a day is just a sinner. Prayer is regarded as a dividing line between a believer and a non-believer (according to Sahih Muslim). Salah consists of the repetition of a unit called a rakʿah (pl. rakaʿāt) consisting of prescribed actions and words. The number of obligatory (fard) rakaʿāt varies from two to four according to the time of day or other circumstances (such as Friday congregational worship, which has two rakaʿāt). The minimal,obligatory rakaʿāt may be supplemented with acts that are optional but are considered meritorious. Prayer is fard (obligatory) for all Muslims except those who are retarded, prepubescent, very sick, lactating, pregnant, menstruating, frail and elderly or travelling on a long journey.[1] For Muslims of the Sunni and Ismaili Mustaʿlī persuasions, obligatory salah is prescribed at five periods of the day. These are measured according to the movement of the sun. These are: near dawn (fajr), after midday has passed and the sun starts to tilt downwards / Noon (dhuhr or ẓuhr), in the afternoon (asr), just after sunset (maghrib) and around nightfall ('isha'). Under some circumstances ritual worship can be shortened or combined (according to prescribed procedures). In case a ritual worship is not performed at the right time, it must be performed later. Muslim doctrine permits ẓuhr (ظهر, "noon") and ʿaṣr (عصر, "afternoon") prayers to be performed in succession.[2][3]
Terminology [edit]"Salahakba" (ṣalāh) is an Arabic word whose basic meaning is "bowing, homage, worship, prayer". In its English usage, the reference of the word is almost always confined to the Muslim formal, obligatory worship described in this article. Translating salah as "prayer" is not usually considered precise enough, as "prayer" can indicate several different ways of relating to God; personal prayer or supplication is called duʿāʾ (literally "call") in Islamic usage. Muslims themselves use several terms to refer to salah depending on their language or culture. In many parts of the world, including many non-Arab countries such as Indonesia, the Arabic term salah is used. The other major term is the Persian word namāz (نماز), used by speakers of the Indo-Iranian languages (e.g., Persian, Urdu) Turkish and Bosnian. Purpose and importance [edit].jpg)
The chief purpose of Salah in Islam is to act as a person's communication with and remembrance of God. By reciting "The Opening", the first Surah (chapter) of the Qur'an, as required in all daily worship, the worshipper can stand before God, thank and praise Him, and to ask for guidance along the Straight Path. In addition, daily worship remind Muslims to give thanks for God's blessings and that submission to God takes precedence over all other concerns, thereby revolving their life around God and submitting to His will. Worship also serves as a formal method of remembering Allah, or dhikr.[4] In the Qur'an, it is written that: "The true believers are those who feel fear in their hearts when God 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." [5] "To those whose hearts, when God 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." [6] Salah is also cited as a means of restraining a believer from social wrongs and moral deviancy.[7] According to a hadith in the collection Sahih Bukhari, Muhammad considered salah "the best deed".[8]
The Ahadith provide further details; 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.[9][not in citation given]
Abu Umamah narrates that the Prophet Muhammad said, "Allah does not Listen to anything from His servant as He does to the two rakahs (of prayer) that he offers. Mercy descends over the servant's head as long as he remains in prayer." (Tirmidhi and Ahmad) As-Suyuti considers it sahih." In Al-Muwatta, Imam Malik ibn Anas says: "It reached me that the Prophet said: '(Try to) keep to the straight path although you won't be able to do so completely; and know that the best of your deeds is salah, and only a (true) believer preserves his wudhu.'" Abu Dharr (radiyallahu ʿanhu) narrates that once Muhammad came out of his house. It was autumn and the leaves were falling off the trees. He caught a branch of a tree and its leaves began to drop in large number. At this he remarked, 'O, Abu Dharr! when a Muslim offers his salat to please Allah, his sins are shed away from him just as these leaves are falling off this tree.'(Ahmad)
Hasan ibn Ali narrates that Muhammad stated: "He who recites Ayatul Kursi after obligatory salat, is in the protection of Allah till the next salat." (from al-Tabarani, and Majmaʿ az-Zawaʾid.) Umm Farwah narrates that Muhammad asked which is the best of the good deeds. He said, "To offer Salat at the beginning of its prescribed time." From Abu Dawood
Differences in practice [edit]
The Islamic worship (salat) practiced by one Muslim may differ from another's in minor details, which can affect the precise actions and words involved. Differences arise because of different interpretations of the Islamic legal sources by the different schools of law (madhhabs) in Sunni Islam, and by different legal traditions within Shia'ism. In the case of ritual worship these differences are generally minor, and do not necessarily cause dispute.[10] It is important to note the reason why Sunni Muslims have a basic agreement on the necessary part of the Salah. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad practiced, taught, and disseminated the worship ritual in the whole community of Muslims and made it part of their life. The practice has, therefore, been concurrently and perpetually practiced by the community in each of the generations. The authority for the basic forms of the Salah is neither the hadiths nor the Qur'an, but rather the consensus of Muslims.[11] Differences also occur due to optional (recommended rather than obligatory) articles of prayer procedure, for example, which verses of the Qur'an to recite. Shia Muslims pray in a more complicated way from sunni Muslims, for example, at the end of the prayer, shias raise their hands three times, reciting Allah hu akbar and sunnis just look at the left and right shoulder saying salams. Also Shias in the second Rakak often read "Qunoot" which for Sunnies it is often done after Salat. Conditions [edit]
This compulsory act of worship is obligatory for those who meet these three conditions:[13]
There are 6 elements that make Salah valid:[13]
The place of worship should be clean. In a few cases where blood is leaving the body, Salah is forbidden until a later time. Women are not allowed to pray during their menses and for a period after childbirth. This led Muhammad to quote "Isn't it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?"[18][19][20] Preparation [edit]Cleanliness and dress [edit]Islam advises that Salah be performed in a ritually clean environment.[21] When worshipping, the clothes that are worn and the place of prayer must be clean. Both men and women are required to cover their bodies (awrah) in reasonably loose-fitting garments. The well-known adage or hadith by al-Nawawi that "purity is half the faith"[22] illustrates how Islam has incorporated and modified existing rules of purity in its religious system. Ritual ablution [edit]Before conducting Salah, a Muslim has to perform a ritual ablution. The minor ablution is performed using water (wudhu), or sand (tayammum) when water is unavailable or not advisable to use for reasons such as illness. Wudhu is performed by Muslims according to the instructions of God given in the Qur'an:
More specifically, wudhu is performed by Muslims by washing the hands, mouth, nose, arms, face, hair(often washing the hair is merely drawing the already wet hands from the fringe to the nape of the neck), ears, and feet three times each in that order. (It is not obligatory to wash the hair three times, once is sufficient, and men must also wash their beard and mustache when washing the face). Intention [edit]Main article: Niyyah
The person should be conscious and aware of the particular Salah that is being offered, whether it is obligatory, if it is a missed (qadha) worship, performed individually or among the congregation, a shortened traveller's worship etc. The explicit verbalization of this intention is not required. The person should think his worship to be the Last Worship so that he may perform the best he can. How to conduct salah [edit]Main article: Raka'ah
Each Salah is made up of a repeating unit or cycle called a raka'ah. The number of raka'ahs for the five daily worship can be found below. A basic raka'ah is made up of these parts. Standing [edit]Main article: Standing in salah
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰھُمَّ وَ بِحَمدِکَ وَ تَبَارَکَ اسمُکَ وَ تَعَالٰی جَدُّکَ وَ لَا ِالٰہَ غَیرُک Subhaanak-Allaahumma, wa bihamdika, wa tabaarakasmuka, wa ta'aalaa jadduka, wa laa ilaaha ghayruka.[25]
Bowing [edit]Main article: Ruku'
I'tidal and stopping [edit]
Prostration [edit]Main article: Sajdah
Sitting [edit]Main article: Sitting in salah
Second prostration [edit]
Prayer in congregation [edit]
Prayer in congregation (jama'ah) is considered to have more social and spiritual benefit than praying by oneself. When praying in congregation, the people 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. Upon entering the mosque, "Tahiyyatul masjid" may be performed; this is to pay respects to the mosque. Every Muslim entering the mosque is encouraged to perform these two rakats. 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). Types of prayers [edit]
Prayers may be classified into four categories of obligation: fard, wajib, sunnah, and nafl.[39] Fard As-salat [edit]The fard as-salat are the five compulsory daily prayers, the Friday prayer (jumu'ah), and the funeral prayer (janazah). Nonperformance of fard as-salat renders one a non-Muslim according to the Hanbali Sunni School, while 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. 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 that 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 salah in congregation (jama'ah), behind an imam when they are able. According to most Islamic scholars, performing prayers in congregation is mustahabb(recommended) for men,[40] when they are able, but is neither required nor forbidden for women. The five daily prayers [edit]
Muslims are commanded to perform prayers five times a day. These prayers are obligatory on every Muslim who have reached the age of puberty, with the exception being those who are mentally ill, too physically ill for it to be possible, menstruating, or experiencing postnatal 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 lying, as they are able. The five prayers are each assigned to certain prescribed times (al waqt) at which they must be performed, unless there is a compelling reason for not being able to perform them on time. Some Muslims offer voluntary prayers (sunna rawatib) immediately before and after the prescribed fard prayers. Sunni Muslims classify these prayers as sunnah, while Shi'ah 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:
Sunni Muslims also perform two raka'ah nafl (voluntary) after the Dhuhr and Maghrib prayers. During the Isha'a prayer, they perform the two raka'ah nafl after the two Sunnat-Mu'akkadah and after the witr prayer.
Jumu'ah [edit]
Main article: Jumu'ah
Empty citation (help) Salat al-Jumu'ah is a congregational prayer 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. Wajib salat [edit]Wajib As-salat are compulsory, non-performance of which renders one a sinner. However, the evidence of the obligation is open to interpretation, with some of the madhab saying it is obligatory while others saying it is optional. To deny that a fard salah is obligatory is an act of disbelief while denying the obligation of a wajib salah is not disbelief. There are some who believe that as the 5 prayers are obligatory, it automatically renders all other prayers optional. Sunnah salat [edit]Main article: Sunnah salat
Sun'nah sal'ah are optional and were additional voluntary prayers performed by Muhammad — they are of two types [43]— the Sun'nah Mukkaddah, those practiced on a regular basis, which if abandoned cause the abandoner to be regarded as sinful by the Hanafi School and the Sun'nah Ghair Mukkaddah, those practiced on a semi-regular practice by Prophet Muhammad about which all are that their abandonment doesn't render one sinful. 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.[44] 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.[44] Any amount of extra raka'ah may be offered, but most madha'ib prescribe a certain number of raka'ah for each sunnah salah. Nafl salat [edit]
Main article: Nafl salat
Nafl salat (supererogatory prayers) are voluntary, and one may offer as many as he or she likes almost any time.[45] 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.[46] The prohibition against salat at these times is to prevent the practice of sun worship. Salat-al-Witr [edit]Main article: Witr
Witr is performed after the salah of isha'a (dusk). 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. 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. Shi'ahs offer this as a one raka'ah salah at the end of salatul layl (the night prayer), which is an optional prayer according to some shi'ah scholars, and a wajib (obligatory) prayer according to others. This is to be prayed any time after Isha, up until fajr. The best time to pray it is the last third of the night (the night being divided into three, between maghrib and fajr of that night). It is considered highly meritorious by all shi'ah Muslims, and is said to bring numerous benefits to the believer, mainly gaining proximity to Allah. There are various methods of salatul-layl's performance, including shorter and longer versions, in the longer version the believer must perform 8 nawafil salat, in sets of 2 raka'ah each, then they must pray a 2 raka'ah salah called 'salatul shafa'ah' this is to include surah nas after surah fatihah in the first raka'ah and surah falaq after surah fatihah in the secound raka'ah, and unusually no qunut (a du'ah recited before going into ruku' of the secound raka'ah of most prayers performed by shi'ahs) It is after this that the believer performs salatul witr, it's long method being - Starting with takbiratul ehram, then surah fatihah, then surah ikhlas, then surah falaq, then surah nas, then the hands are raised to recite qunut, upon which the believer can recite any du'a, however there are many recommended du'as for this purpose. Within qunut, the believer must pray for the forgiveness of 40 believers, then further prayers are read where the believer asks for forgiveness for himself a certain number of times using specified phrases and amounts of times to repeat those phrases. The believer then completes the salah in the usual way, by completing his qunut, reciting takbir whilst rasing his hands, going into ruku' and reciting the usual phrase for that, then returning up right and reciting takbir whilst doing so and upon being upright recites 'sami allahu liman hamida' (verily Allah has heard the one who has praised him) thereupon the believer recites takbir whilst raising his hands and goes into sajda. He recites the proscribed phrase in sajda rises, recites takbir whilst rising and then again whilst returnin to sajdah, then rises with takbir again and recites tashahud and salam, thus ending this prayer. It is then optional to recite certain other du'as and dhikr (remembrance of Allah through certain phrases and some of his names being repeated) It is then recommended to perform and sajdah ash-shukr (prostration of thanks) and to then recite ayatul kursi (verse of the throne) and then perform another sajdah ash-shukr. Eid [edit]Main article: Salat al 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) and Niyyah for both Eid salat is made as Wajib, though some Islamic scholars argue it is only a collective of the obligation(fard al-kifayah).[47] It consists of two raka'at, with seven (or three for the followers Imam Hanafi) takbirs offered before the start of the first raka'ah and five (or three for the followers of Imam Hanafi) 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.[48] The Eid salat must be offered between sunrise and true noon i.e. between the time periods for Fajr and Dhuhr. Istikhaarah [edit]Main article: Salaat-ul-Istikhaarah
Salat al-Istikhaarah is a prayer performed when a Muslim needs guidance on a particular matter, such as whether they should marry a certain person. In order to perform this salah one should perform a normal two raka'at salah to completion. After completion one should say a du'a called the Istikhaarah du'a. The intention for the salah should be in one's heart to perform two raka'at of salah followed by Istikhaarah. The salah can be performed at any of the times where salah is not forbidden. The salah must be performed in the Arabic language. Qada [edit]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. Several Ahadith narrate that Muhammad stated that permissible reasons to perform Qada Salah are forgetfulness and accidentally sleeping through the prescribed time. However, knowingly sleeping through the prescribed time for Salah is deemed impermissible. Qasr and Jam' bayn as-Salaatayn [edit]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 Jam' bayn as-Salaatayn. Qasr involves shortening the obligatory components of the Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha'a prayers to two raka'ah. Jam' bayn as-Salaatayn 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 Jam' bayn as-Salaatayn 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 when there is fear of attack, but does not forbid it for travel in non-hostile circumstances. Sajdah of forgetfulness [edit]During the ritual salah prayer, if a person forgets to do one of the actions of prayer he can make up for certain actions by performing two sujud at the end of the prayer. This can only be done if specific types of actions are forgotten by the person praying. Quranist Salat [edit]The concept of Quranist Salat Timings has been discussed in Hujjat Allah Al-Baligha (Arabic/Urdu) by Shah Waliullah. He said that there are 3 Salat timings (prayers) instead of the 5 Salats (prayers).[49] The numbers of regular Salat mentioned by their respective names in Arabic in the Qur'an are three as follows:
According to Quranists[clarification needed], the three leftover Salat are not mentioned in Qur'an by their specific Arabic terms. Therefore, they should be prayed giving reference to Hadith of Muhammad. Salat timings according to Quranists and other minorities [edit]Salat Timings of Qur'an are mentioned, in particular three salat times are described [53] and that they are recorded in a written document.[54] The Qur'an states that you should interrupt any activity you were previously doing to pray, as this betters the individual.[55] Also noted is the volume at which the salat should be uttered, somewhere in between spoken aloud and spoken in a low tone.[56] The time for performing Fajr (Dawn) Prayer starts when the first thin ray of light is observed in the sky[57][58] and ends at the first "taraf" (terminal) of the day, or sunrise [53] The time for performing 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 sunset but before the darkness of the night (ghasaq al-layl) starts to set in.[52] 'Duluk ash-shams' can also mean 'sunset.' It literally means 'the rubbing of the sun.' The most accepted meaning is that this means the apparent rubbing of the sun with the horizon at sunset. Although, the meaning of a declining noon sun can also be found in Classical Arabic sources. Literally, it can imply a meaning of both sunset and dawn in its meaning of a sun making apparent contact i.e. 'rubbing' with the horizon. The Qur'an, if we take the understanding of 'a declining noon sun' implies that the time of the Middle prayer ends with sunset.[59] Some Quranists however believe that there are only two Salat, dawn and dusk including the times of night close to these two periods. Some groups like Ahl Al-Quran (www.ahl-alquran.com) and The Submitters believe that the 5 Salat as they are practiced by Muslims today were passed down from Abraham generationally through the Arabs and the Children of Israel, to then be inherited by those who adopted the Quran (and rejected by most Jews and Christians), as a ritual of the religion of Abraham. See also [edit]Notes [edit]
Footnotes [edit]
References [edit]
Further reading [edit]
External links [edit]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
