(Published
by the Presidency of Islamic Researches IFTA and Propagation, Printing and
Translation Agency Riyadh, KSA, WAKF (Endowment) Gratif 1413 H, 1992.)http://www.wefound.org/ Your website to success through authentic knowledge of Islâm and Da'wah according to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah.
Salât
According to The Manners of Prophet Muhammad r
By His Eminence Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz
(Published
by the Presidency of Islamic Researches IFTA and Propagation, Printing and
Translation Agency Riyadh, KSA, WAKF (Endowment) Gratif 1413 H, 1992.)
All praise is to Allâh Alone, and may His peace and blessings be upon His Messenger and slave, our Prophet Muhammad r, his Family and his Companions.
The objective of this concise
pamphlet is to explain how Prophet Muhammad r
performed his Salât (prayers). I would like to present this
explanation to every male and female Muslim so that they may strive to take up
the Prophet’s manner in performing their Salât (prayers) as a model
for them. It was narrated by Al-Bukhari that Prophet Muhammad r
said: “Perform your Salât (prayers) in the same manner as you have
seen me doing.”
Therefore, here is the explanation for the Prophet’s manner of prayer:
I. To perform completely the Wudu (ablution), adopting the method commanded by Allâh in the Qur’ân : “O you who believe! When you intend to offer prayer, wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles.” (51:6)
The Prophet r said: “Salât (prayer) without purification (ablution) is invalid.”
2. To turn one’s face and the whole body towards the Ka’ba, the Sacred House at Makkah, intending by heart to perform the prayer by which he wants to fulfill, whether it is a Fard (obligatory) prayer or a Sunnah (supererogatory) prayer. The worshipper in all cases, should not pronounce his niya (intention) openly, because neither the Prophet r nor his Companions used to utter the intention for Salât. Thus, pronouncing the intention for Salât in audible voice is a heresy and an illicit action. Whether the individual be an Imam or performs his Salât individually, he should make a sutra (i.e. an elevated object that a praying person puts in front of him to prevent anyone from passing between him and that object.) Directing the face towards the Qiblah (the Ka’ba at Makkah) is an imperative condition for every Salât. However, there are few exceptions for this rule explained in authoritative books for those who wish to refer.
3. To pronounce Takbirat-al-Ihram that is to say, “Allâh u Akbar” (Allâh is Great) proclaiming by that the Greatness of Allâh and looking meanwhile, downwards to the place where he will prostrate.
4. To raise one’s hands up to the
level of the shoulders or near to the lobes of his ears, while pronouncing Takbirat-al-Ihram,
saying: Allâh hu Akbar (Allâh
is Great).
5. To put one’s right hand over his left hand and left wrist, and put them both over his chest, as the Prophet r used to do.
6. It is advisable that the worshipper recite this Du'a-e-Istiftah (opening supplication) saying: “Allâh umma ba’id bayni wa bayna khatayaya kama ba ‘adta baynal mashriqi wal maghribi. Allâh umma naqqini min khatayaya kama yonaqqa ath-thawbu-labyado min addanas. Allâh ummagsilni min khatayaya bilma wath-thalji walbarad.” (“O Allâh , separate me from my sins as You have separated the east and west. O Allâh , cleanse me of my sins as the white garment is cleansed from dirt. O Allâh , wash off my sins with water, snow and hail.”)
Or, he may say instead: “Subhanaka Allâh umma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta’la jadduka wa la ilaha ghayruka.” “Praise and glory be to Allâh . Blessed is Your Name, Exalted is Your Majesty and Glory. There is no god but You.”
Or he may say any other of the
supplications, which the Prophet r
used to say in his prayers. It is better to recite these supplications
alternately, the first one in the Fajr (morning) prayer, the second in
the Dhuhr (noon) prayer, each one by turn, in conformity with what the
Prophet r
used to do. After reciting the opening supplication, the worshipper says: “A‘udhu
billahi min ash-Shaytanir rajim.” (“I seek protection of Allâh against the accursed Satan.”)
Then he says: “Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem” (“In the Name of Allâh , the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.”) and recites the Fatiha (the opening Surah of the Qur’ân ). Prophet Muhammad r said: “Salât without reciting the Fatiha is invalid.”
The worshipper should say, “Ameen” after reciting the Fatiha loudly if the Salât is to be said loudly, and whisper it in inaudible prayers. To be in conformity with the Ahâdîth (traditions) of the Prophet r the worshipper is advised to recite verses from medium size Surah of the Qur’ân in the Dhuhr (noon), ‘Asr (afternoon), and ‘Isha’ (night) prayers. As for the Fajr (morning) prayer, the worshipper is advised to recite a passage from the long Surah of the Qur’ân . He has the choice in Maghrib (evening) prayer either to recite passages from the long Surah or from the short Surah of the Qur’ân .
7. Then, the worshipper bows in Ruku’ raising his hands up to the level of his shoulders or ears while saying, “Allâh u Akbar” (Allâh is Great) then bends down, making his head and back on one level and putting his hands with the fingers spread on his knees. The worshipper should feel serenity and tranquillity while bowing, he should say thrice at least: “Subhana Rabiyal ‘Adhiim” (“Glory is to my Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer), the All-Mighty.”)
It is advisable to say while bowing in addition to that: “Subhanaka Allâh uma Rabbana wa bi hamdika, Allâh ummaghfir li.” “Glory be to You O Allâh , Our Rabb, and I praise You, forgive me my sins.”
8. To raise one’s head up from bowing, raising one’s hands to the level of his shoulders or ears, saying, in case of being Imam or praying alone: “Sami’Allâh u liman hamidah.” (“Allâh listens to him who praises Him.”)
While resuming the standing position, he should say: “Rabbana wa lakal hamd, hamdan katheeran taiyiban mubarakan fihi mil’as-samawaati wa mil-alardi wa mil’a ma baynahuma wa mil’a ma shi’ta min shai’in bad.” (“Our Rabb, praise be to You only, praises and blessings as to fill the heavens, the earth, what is in between, and fill that which will please You besides them.”)
But if the worshipper is a
follower, and led in his Salât by the Imam he should say when
rising up: “Rabbana wa lakal hamd...” etc. It is advisable for the
Imam, the follower, or who prays alone to add also: “Ahla
aththanaa i’ walmajdi ahaqqu maa qalal a’bdo wakollonaa laka
a’bd. Allâh umma laa
maania’ limaa a’ttayta wala mo’ttiya limaa mana’ta wa laa yanfa-o
dhaaljaddi minka aljad.” (“You
Allâh , Who Alone, deserve all praises and all glory, Your praising is the best
and most true of whatever Your slave can say, we all are Your slaves. O Allâh ,
no one can ever deprive of what You have bestowed and no one can ever give of
what You have deprived.”)
The worshipper is advised to put his hands on his chest, as he had done before he bowed. Both Wa’il bin Hujr and Sahl bin Sa’d narrated that this was the manner of the Prophet r when he used to raise his head up after bowing.
9. To prostrate saying, “Allâh
u Akbar” (Allâh is Great).
He should touch the ground with his knees before touching it with his hands, if
that is possible to him. If not, he is permitted to touch the ground by his
hands before his knees. His fingers and toes should be directed towards the Qiblah
at Makkah, and his hands should be stretched, and the fingers close together and
not separated. In sajdah (prostration), the worshipper should use these
seven organs: The forehead, the
nose, both hands, both knees and the internal parts of the toes. These seven
organs should touch the ground. Then
the worshipper should say thrice or more: “Subhana Rabbiyal ‘A ‘la “
(“Glorified is my Rabb, the Exalted.”) It is
advisable to say: “Subhanaka Allâh umma Rabbana wa bi hamdika, Allâh
umaghfirli.” (“Glory be to You O Allâh , Our Rabb, and I praise You. Our
Rabb, forgive me my sins.”) It is recommendable for the worshipper to
exceed more and more in supplications and ask for more from his Rabb,
because the Prophet r
said: “As for Ruku (bowing), you should glorify your Rabb during
performing it. As for Sajdah
(prostration), you should do your best to supplicate and ask for more from Him,
because, your supplications during prostration are more worthy to be
accepted.”
The worshipper should ask Allâh for prosperity both in this worldly life and in the
Hereafter. Whether it is an obligatory prayer or an optional prayer, the
worshipper, while prostrating, should neither bring his hands close to his
sides, nor stick his abdomen to his thighs, or his thighs to his legs. The
worshipper’s arms should be raised up from the ground because the Prophet r
prohibited putting the arms and stretching them on the ground, ordering: “...adjust
your prostration, keep straight in it, and stretch not your hands on the ground
as dogs do.”
10. He should raise his head from prostration saying, “Allâh u Akbar” and lay his left foot flat on the ground and sit upon it, keeping his right foot erected, his hands on his thighs and knees, and say: “Rabbighfirliy warhamniy wahdiniy waarzuqniy wa a’finiy waajborniy.” (“O my Rabb! Forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, provide me with Your blessings and console me.”) The worshipper should feel tranquillity during this pause.
11. To prostrate again saying, “Allâh u Akbar” and repeating during his prostration what he did and said in the first prostration.
12. Then the worshipper raises his head saying, “Allâh u Akbar” taking a pause similar to the pause between the two prostrations; this is called Jalsah-e-Istrahat (the pause for rest). It is recommended for the worshipper to do such a pause, but there is no sin if he desists from it. Then the worshipper rises up and stands supporting on his knees, or on the ground if he cannot support himself on the knees. He reads the Fatiha (the opening Surah of the Qur’ân ) and some other verses of the Qur’ân and do as just as he did in the first Rak’a (unit of prayer). Those who pray behind the Imam should not compete with him in the prayer actions as the Prophet r said: “The Imam is to be followed, if he says, “Allâh u Akbar” (Allâh is Great), then say the same after him. If he bows in Ruku’, bow after him. If he says, “Sami’Allâh u liman hamidah” (Allâh hears him who praises Him), then say, “Rabbana wa lakal-hamd” (Our Rabb! All praises are for You); and if he prostrates, then prostrate after him.” (Agreed upon)
13. If the prayer consists of two Rak’a
(two units of prayer) as the Fajr (moming) prayer, Eid (feast)
prayer, or the Jumu’a (Friday) prayer, the worshipper sits after the
second prostration, with his right foot erect, sitting on his left foot laid
down, putting his right hand on his right thigh, all his fingers close-fisted
except the index finger, which he uses to point out as a sign for his
monotheistic belief; and his left
hand is put on his left thigh. There is nothing in the way, if the worshipper
keeps both the little and ring fingers closed, while rounding his thumb and
middle finger in a ring-shape, and uses his index finger to point out as a sign
for his Monotheistic Belief. It has been related that the Prophet r
had practiced both of these ways, thus, it is advisable for the worshipper to
perform the first way once and the other on the second time. The worshipper
reads the Tashahhud while sitting and says: “At-tahiyatu
lillahi was-salawatu wattaiyibatu assalamu alayka aiyuhannabiyu wa rahmat-ullahi
wa barakatuhu. Assalamu alaina wa
ala ibadillahissalihin. Ashhadu al-la illahaillAllâh u wa ashhadu anna
Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu. Allâh umma salli ala Muhammad wa ala aali
Muhammad kama sallayta ala Ibrahima wa aali Ibrahima. Innaka Hamidun Majid. Wa
barik ala Muhammad wa ala aali Muhammad kama barakta ala Ibrahima wa
aalilbrahima. Innaka Hamidun Majid.” (Greetings, prayers and the good
things of life belong to Allâh . Peace, mercy and blessing of Allâh
be on you, O Prophet r.
May peace be upon us and on the devout slaves of Allâh . I testify that there
is no God but Allâh and I testify
that Muhammad r
is His slave and Messenger. O Allâh , bless Muhammad
r
and his family as You blessed Ibrahim and his family. You are the Most Praised,
the Most Glorious. O Allâh , bestow Your grace on Muhammad
r
and his family as You bestowed it on Ibrahim and his family. You are the Most
Praised, The Most Glorious.)
After reciting the Tashahhud, the worshipper asks Allâh ’s protection from four evils, he should say: Allâh umma inniy a’udho bika min ‘adhaabi jahannama wa min ‘adhaabil qabr. Wa min fitnatilmahyaa walmamaati wa min fitnatil Masih hidDajjaal. (“My Rabb, I ask your protection from torment of the Hell, torment of the grave, the trials in lifetime and after death, and from the impostor Masih Dajjaal (Antichrist)).”
The worshipper may ask Allâh for prosperity in this worldly life and in the Hereafter, supplicate Allâh to bestow His favors on his parents and other Muslims. He could do this in both obligatory and optional prayers. It has been narrated by Ibn Mas’ud that the Prophet r taught him how to recite the Tashahhud and told him that the worshipper should invoke Allâh and ask Him for the more beloved wishes which he likes, or as it has been related in other wordings, the worshipper should ask Allâh for whatever he wishes. In this manner, the slave can ask Allâh for all the blessings of this worldly life and the life to come. The worshipper terminates his Salât by turning his face to the right, saying: “As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah” (“Peace and mercy of Allâh be on you.”)
14. In case of a three Rak’a prayer (prayer consisting of three units) as that of Maghrib (evening) prayer, or a four Rak’a prayer like that of Dhuhr (noon) prayer, Asr (afternoon) prayer, and ‘Isha (night) prayer, the worshipper stands up after reciting the Tashahhud according to the manner stated before. Then, he raises his hands up to the level of his shoulders saying “Allâh u Akbar.” The worshipper puts his hands over his chest as it had been explained before and recites only the Fatiha. There is no objection if he adds to the Fatiha some other verses of the Qur’ân while performing the third or fourth Rak’a (unit of prayer) of Dhuhr (noon) prayer, because this was stated to be one of the manners adopted by the Prophet r according to the Hâdîth (tradition) narrated by Abu Sa’id.
After the third Rak’a of Maghrib (evening) prayer, and the fourth Rak’a of Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon) and ‘Isha (night) prayers, the worshipper recites the Tashahhud and terminates his Salât by saying: “Assalamu-alaikum wa Rahmatullah” while turning first to the right, and second to the left as it has been explained before.
It is not an obligatory duty, but it is a recommendable Prophetic tradition to invoke Allâh after terminating the Salât by asking Him forgiveness thrice and saying before turning one’s face towards his followers if he is the Imam: “Allâh umma anta assalaamo wa minka assalaamo tabaarakta yaadhaaljalaali wal ikraam.” (“O Allâh , You are peace and from You is peace, You are blessed, O Possessor of Glory and Honor.”)
It is advisable for the worshipper to say. “Laa ilaha illa Allâh u wahdaho laa sharika lahu. Lahul mulku wa lahul hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shayiin qadeer. Allâh umma laa maani’a limaa a’ttayta wa laa mo’ttiya lima mana’ta wa laa yanfa-’o dhaaljaddi minkaljddu. La hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billah. Lailaha illaa Allâh u walaa na’bodu illa ilyyaho lahu ilnni’matu wa lahu alfadhlu wa lahu aththana’u alhasano laa ilaha illah Allâh u mokhlissiyna lahu ddiyna wa law kariha alkafiroon.” (“There is no God but Allâh . He is the One. He has no partner. His is the dominion and to Him Alone is the praise. He has power over all things. O Rabb, none may withhold what You have given and none may give what You have withheld and the riches cannot avail a wealthy person with You. There is no might or power except by the support of Allâh . There is no God but Allâh and we do not worship but Him Alone. To Him Alone belong all bounties, to Him Alone belong all grace, and to Him worthy praise is accorded. There is no God but Allâh , to whom we are sincere in devotion, even though the unbelievers may detest it.”)
It is also advisable to the worshipper to: extol Allâh 33 times by saying, “Subhan Allâh ” (“Glory be to Allâh .”); to praise Him by saying “Alhamdulillah” (Praise be to Allâh ) 33 times; and also by saying 33 times, “Allâh u Akbar” (Allâh is Great). Then the worshipper completes his supplications to be one hundred by saying once: “Laa ilaha illa Allâh u wahdahu laashariikalahu, lahulmulku wal lahul hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shaiinqadeer.” (“There is no God but Allâh . He is the One. He has no partner. His is the dominion and to Him Alone is the praise. He has power over all things.”)
The worshipper adds to that the
recitation of the Verse of the Throne (Âyât Al-Kursi), Surat
Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq, and Surat An-Nas. It is recommendable to
recite these Surah thrice after the Fajr (morning) prayer, and the
Maghrib (evening) prayer because this was reported to be one of the Ahâdîth
(traditions) of the Prophet r.
As it had been stated before, all these after prayer supplications are optional
and not obligatory. Every Muslim,
whether be male or female, is recommended to pray 12 Rak’a (units) of Sunnah
(supererogatory) prayers every day: four of these Rak’a (units of
prayers) are before Dhuhr (noon) prayer, two after it, two after Maghrib
(evening) prayer, two after ‘Isha (night) prayer and two before the
Fajr (morning) prayer. These supererogatory prayers are called Rawatib,
which means: “Certain supererogatory exercises of optional prayers.”
The Prophet r
preserved the performance of these optional prayers wherever he settled.
During his travels, he used to practice the two optional Rak’a before
the Fajr (morning) prayer and also the Witr (odd) prayer (after
the ‘Isha prayer). There is no objection to perform these optional
prayers in the mosque. But it is better to perform it at home, because the
Prophet r
said: “The best of the Salât (prayers) are those which are
fulfilled at one’s own home, with exception to obligatory prayers, which
should be performed in congregation at the mosque.”
Observance of fulfilling these optional prayers is a means for gaining admission to Paradise. The Prophet r said: “Whoever prays optionally twelve Rak’at every day and night, Allâh will reward him by an established dwelling in the Paradise.” It is also advisable to the Muslim to pray four optional Rak’a before Asr (afternoon) prayer, two before Maghrib (evening) prayer, and two before ‘Isha’ (night) prayer, because this manner was reported to be one of the Ahâdîth (traditions) of the Prophet r. Allâh says:”Indeed, in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow...” (33:21) And the Prophet r said: “Perform your Salât (prayers) in the same manner as you have seen me doing.”
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