FIQH - class 6
SALAH
So finally we get to Salah. Brothers & Sisters please in the classes of Salah one might find things that contradict what we have been doing all life. Don’t just close and forget it, do some research and try to find the truth and InShaAllah Allah will guide us all.
SALAH
The Timings Of The Obligatory Prayers
Islam has prescribed specified time limits for each of prayer as can be noted from the following verse of the Qur'an:“Prayer is enjoined on believers at stated times” (Qur'an 4:103).
And in an authentic prophetic saying it is confirmed that someone once asked the prophet ﷺ about the best action in the sight of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) and the prophet ﷺ replied:“ Offering prayer at its prescribed time” (Reported by Imam Bukhari).
Thus, the arrival of the time for prayer is a fundamental condition for performing it and if, therefore, a prayer is intentionally performed before or after its designated time it shall not be acceptable in the sight of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala). However, persons who may forget (without intention) to perform any of the obligatory prayers within its ordained time or who are overtaken by sleep, then such persons should perform the prayer as soon as they remember it and/or as soon as they wake up from their sleep.
We shall now enumerate the different timings of the five obligatory prayers:
FAJR (Dawn) PRAYER: Its time begins at dawn when morning light first appears in the horizon and continues until the sun rises.
DHUHR (Noon) PRAYER: Its time begins when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and continues up to the time of Asr Prayer.
ASR (Afternoon or Middle) PRAYER: Its time begins when the shadow of an object is equal toits own length, plus the length of its noontime shadow and continues until sunset.
MAGHRIB (Sunset) PRAYER: Its time starts from sunset and continues until the end of twilight. Twilight is the redness which remains in the horizon after sunset.
ISHA (Evening) PRAYER: Its time starts when the twilight disappears and continues up to mid-night. Mid-night in this case may not necessarily be interpreted to mean 12:00 o'clock but may be construed as the mid-time between sunset and the appearance of the true dawn.
Performance of The Salaat
After introducing the Salaat and discussing its pre-requisites, we shall now turn to matters pertaining to its actual performance.
Conditions for the Prayer (Shuruud-Salaat)
There are a number of conditions which need to be fulfilled for the prayer to be valid. These are as follows:
Acceptance of Islamic Faith - disbelievers are not required to establish Salaat until they believe in Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) and bear witness that there is no god but Allah and bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Anniyah - this in Arabic means the intention by heart to perform the particular prayer.
Cleanliness - this includes cleanliness of the body, the clothes and the place where the prayer is to be performed.
Purification - this refers to the of Wudhu (or Ghusl where it is required) prior to undertaking the prayer.
Concealing of the Private Parts - for a man, it is essential that he be covered at least from the navel to the knees all round, while, in the case of a woman, her body should be totally covered except for the face and wrists.
Facing the "Qiblah" - this means that a person when praying must face towards the direction of the sacred mosque in "Makkah". Where a person is not able to locate the direction by himself/herself, the person may ask another person who may know the direction of the Qiblah. However, if no one is in sight to guide to the right direction, then, the person should decide for himself/herself and make the best guess of the correct direction of the Qiblah, and accordingly, perform the prayer in that direction even though the guess maybe incorrect. The prayer performed would still be acceptable (inshaa Allah) in view of the following verse of the Qur'an:“ Whichever direction you turn, there is the Presence of Allah” (Qur'an 2: 115).
Timing - prayers are to be observed in their prescribed times.
Sanity and consciousness - prayer is required only from person of sound mind.
Ability to distinguish - prayer is required only where the person (child) is able to distinguish between good and bad, and is able to understand and appreciate fully what is to be recited, performed etc.
Note:
It is preferred for children to begin performing the prayer at the age of seven for it awakens in them the presence of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) and inculcates in them the habit of praying as an act of worship and love for 'Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala). A child at the age of 10 is made to understand that prayer is necessarily a part of the person's daily life and is a solemn duty ordained by Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) on all Muslims, and that failure to perform it is an act of disbelief (Kufr). Therefore, parents are required to guide their children to the right path by punishing any of them who at the age of 10 intentionally misses the prayers.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “ Order your children to pray when they reach the age of seven and punish them for not performing it at the age of ten and separate them (ie. boys and girls) in their beds” (Reported by Imam Bukhari).
Upon attaining the age of 15, a child is deemed to have reached adulthood, whereby, he/she is required to perform the prayer. Here below, are some other signs which may indicate that a child has attained adulthood:
The growing of pubic hairs.
Finding traces of semen on the child's clothes and/or bed.
The start of menstruation, in the case of a girl.
Categories of the Acts of the Salaat
All the acts, readings and supplications undertaken in the course of the Salaat have different legal weights and implications. They are categorized as follows:
1. Pillars of the Salaat - (Arkanu-Salaat).
2. Necessary Duties of the Salaat (Wajibatu-Salaat).
3. Preferred Acts of the Salaat. (Sunnanu-Salaat).
We shall now discuss each of these categories in turn.
Pillars of the Salaat (Arkanu-Salaat)
The prayer has obligatory pillars, which must be fulfilled for it to be valid and these are as follows:
" Al-Qiyaam " - prayer is to be performed in a standing position if a person is physically capable.
" Takbiiratil lhraam" that is saying "ALLAHU AKBAR" at the commencement of the prayer.
" Al-Fatihah " - that is reciting the opening chapter of the Qur'an in every Rakaat.
" Rukuu " - this is bowing posture whereby the head and the back are positioned on the same level and both hands are rested on the knees with the fingers spread apart.
A requirement to raise the head up from the Rukuu position.
A requirement to stand up from the Rukuu position in such a way that the person feels that all his/her backbones are straightened.
" Sujuud " that is prostrating oneself in such a way that the following seven parts of the body are firmly placed on the ground: the forehead together with the tip of the nose, both the palms, both the knees, the bottom surface of the toes of both feet.
A requirement to raise the head from the Sujuud position.
A requirement to sit upright during the pause between the two prostrations.
A requirement to take a sitting position for the recitation of the " At-Tashahucl " (words of witness).
A requirement to recite the final " At-Tashahud ".
A requirement to recite the words of supplication for the Prophet ﷺ.
A requirement to conclude the prayer with the words of peace " Tasleem ", i.e. "Assalamu Aleykum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakatuh".
A requirement that in fulfilling the above pillars the person should be in a state of tranquility.
The above are the pillars of the prayer, wherein, if any of them is missed, it is required to repeat the whole Rakaat (Unit) in which the pillar is omitted, but if, the Takbiirat il - lhraam is omitted, it becomes necessary to repeat the whole Salaat.
In the next class we will discuss the Wajibat & Sunnah of Salaat
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Remember the conditions and pillars of Salah.
Do not have to memorize the Ayahs, just get a good understanding about them.
ATTENDANCE/ASSIGNMENT
The marks for Attendance/Assignment will be given based on the below activities: -
Read and understand the meaning of atleast two Surahs that you remember and recite them in your prayer (Fulfill the Right of Quran by understanding it) - 9 Marks.
Pray for the Ummah (1 Mark)
Please continue to share the notes… JazakAllah Khair
May Allah help us all Learn the Good to apply it in our lives and the Evil to stay away from it InshaAllah!
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As Salam Aliakum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barkaatuhu :)