The second pillar of Islam is Salat (prayer), and it is the obligation of every Muslim to pray five times a day at prescribed times. Salat is the cornerstone of the religion. It is the act of submission to Allah, of intimate conversation and expression of gratitude and humility. It is a daily pattern that includes bodily movements, words, as well as a state of concentration and presence.
Salat has preconditions: the first is that one must be purified, and that without purification the prayer is not valid. This purification includes the place of prayer, the body and the clothing. The place of prayer must be cleansed of all impurities and the garment of the one who prays must be free of any traces of urine, faeces or blood. The purification of the body is the major purification (ghusul), the minor purification (wudu) and the substitute when water is not available or cannot be used, which is purification with sand (tayammum).
THE GHUSUL
Ghusul is the major purification of the whole body with water. It is necessary for a number of reasons: ejaculation, seminal emission during sleep, after sexual intercourse - for both men and women - after the end of menstruation in women, haemorrhage during childbirth, and also - for both men and women - when entering Islam. This purification is necessary both for prayer, and for any other act of worship, such as reciting the Qur'an, entering the mosque, remembering Allah and supplicating to Him etc.
Ghusl (major purification) consists of cleansing the whole body with water, and it is obligatory to rub all parts of the body, either with the hand, sponge or mitten, and the water must penetrate well into the scalp. It is recommended to wash from top to bottom and from right to left.
THE WUDU
Minor purification (wudu) consists of washing specific parts of the body, such as the hands, face, arms, hands over the head, ears and feet. One should start by setting the intention to do wudu as an act of ritual purification, the meaning of which is to wash the limbs and parts with which we act and commit wrong deeds,
Intention comes first, whether it is wudu, ghusl, salat, ... etc. After being aware that you are going to do wudu, you start by washing your hands three times, then you put water in your mouth with your right hand and rinse it out, this is repeated three times. You continue by breathing in water through the nose and expelling it, also three times. Then the face, also three times. Continue washing the arms up to the elbows, including the elbows, three times, washing first the right and then the left. This is followed by the head, and consists of running the wet hands over the head, starting from the hairline to the nape of the neck (not including the nape) and then back, without wetting the hands again, simply back and forth. This is followed by cleaning the ears, which is also done only once, with wet fingers inside and out. Then, finally, comes the wiping of the feet up to and including the ankles three times, and wiping with the left hand. One should start by wiping the right and then the left.
It ends by saying the ShahadaWe are now ready to pray.
THE TAYAMMUM
Tayyammum is the alternative when water for purification is not available or cannot be used. When the one who is going to pray cannot find water to make wudu, or he is sick and fears that making wudu will worsen his condition, in such cases what he has to do is: -tayammum - which is the substitute for wudu.
The tayyammum or purification with the earth (sand, rock or clean earth), which consists (after setting the intention) in passing the hands over the stone, sand or clean earth, and rubbing the whole face, from one earlobe to the other, and from the end of the chin to the growth of the hair, it is important to make sure that nothing is left unrubbed. The hands are then passed over the stone again and the arms are rubbed up to the elbows and the fingers of one hand are rubbed over the fingers of the other. This type of purification is only used for one obligatory prayer, and to pray another one, you have to do it again.
In order to perform salat, one must be purified with one of the purifications listed above.
PRAYER
The prescribed prayer (Salat) is the cornerstone of Din, i.e. the sustenance and foundation of worship practices. It is a daily stop, at set times, to show submission, express gratitude, plead for help and remember Allah. The prescribed prayer (Salat) protects the one who performs it from indecency and evil. Prayer is the dividing line between belief and infidelity or concealment of the truth.
The prescribed prayer is composed of physical and visible acts of the body: standing, bending, prostrating and sitting on the ground; of recitations, some audible (during the night) and others secret or silent; and of invisible acts of the heart, as essential and necessary as the physical acts: intention, humility, recollection and concentration.
The times of the five obligatory Salat (prescribed prayers) are as follows:
1. The first of these is the prayer of Subh, the dawn prayer. Its time begins at the break of dawn and ends with the clear light and the appearance of the sun's disc.
2. The second is the prayer of Duhur, the noon prayer, and its time begins when the sun has passed its zenith and the shadows begin to lengthen.
3. The third prayer is Asr, the mid-afternoon prayer, and its time begins when one stands facing the sun, erect, and if the solar disc enters his field of vision looking straight ahead then he has entered the hour of Asr, and its time ends with the yellowing of the sun, shortly before sunset.
4. The fourth prayer is the sunset prayer, Maghrib, and its time starts when the sun's disc sets on the horizon (in a flat place without mountains). This prayer should not be delayed because its time is very short.
5. The fifth and last prayer of the day is Isha, the night prayer. Its time begins with the disappearance of the last reddish colours of the setting sun in the west, and with the appearance of the first stars in the sky.
HOW TO PERFORM SALAT
Let's see how the prayers are performed.
Each prayer is composed of a certain number of Rakats (which is a cycle of movements). The prayer consists of a series of movements that are performed in a certain order, and in each of the positions certain recitations are pronounced, this will be explained with some diagrams to make it easier and simpler to understand.
The Qur'anic recitations of the Salat are done aloud when the sun is hidden (Maghrib, Isha and Subh) and in a low voice when the sun is in the sky (Duhur and Asr).
- Subh (Dawn) Two Rakats recited aloud.
- Duhur (Noon) Four Rakats recited in silence (2+2)
- Asr (Mid-afternoon) Four Rakats recited in silence (2+2)
- Magrib (Sunset) Three Rakats, the first 2 aloud and the last one in silence (2+1)
- Isha (Night) Four Rakats, the first 2 aloud, and the last 2 silently (2+2).
Silent recitation consists of saying it without uttering a voice, i.e. not simply thinking it with the head, but reciting it: the tongue and the mouth must move. In the case of the woman, in her recitation aloud, she does not have to raise her voice, she has to be heard only by herself, and the silent recitation is the same as that of the man.
SURAT AL FATIHA
In all the Rakats of each and every prayer, while standing upright, always recite the Surat of Fatiha, which is:
Alhamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin, arrahmani rrahim, maliki iaumiddin, iyaka na'budu wa iyaka nastai'n, ihdina ssiratal mustaqim, siratal ladina an'amta 'alaihim, 'gairil mag'dubi alaihim wala ddaalin.
Translation:
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Merciful, the Compassionate. King of the Day of Retribution. You alone do we worship, You alone do we seek help from. Guide us to the straight path, the path of those You have favoured, not the path of those who are the cause of wrath, nor the path of the misguided.
SURAT OF SINCERITY
In the first two Rakats of each prayer after Surat Al Fatiha, one of the other Surats of the Qur'an, or one of the aayahs, should be recited. Below are some of these smaller Surats that are easier to memorise:
Qul huwa Allahu ahad, Allahu ssamad, lam ialid wa lam iulad, wa lam iakun lahu kufuan ahad.
Translation:
Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Lord Absolute. He has neither begotten nor been begotten. And there is none like him.
PROTECTION SURATS
Qula 'audhu birabbil falaqi, minsharri ma jalaqa, wa min sharri 'gasiqin idha waqaba, wa min sharrin-naffazati fil 'uqadi, wa min sharri haasidin idha hasad.
Translation:
Say: I take refuge in the Lord of the dawn. From the evil of what he has created. From the evil of the night when it becomes dark. And from the evil of those who blow in knots. And from the evil of the envious when he envies.
Qula 'audhu birabbi nnasi, maliki nnasi, ilahi nnasi, min sharril waswasil jannasil ldhi iuwaswisu fis- sudurin nasi, minal yinnati wa nnasi.
Translation:
Say: I take refuge in the Lord of men. The King of men. The God of men. From the whispering evil that hides. That whispers in the breasts of men and exists among the jinn and among men.
THE MOVEMENTS OF SALAT
The cycle of movements to be carried out in each of the rakats is as follows:
This position is known as Qiyam, standing. In this position the Surat al Fatiha, and some of the other Surats, must be recited. It is the starting position of the prayer. After having set the intention, one says Allahu Akbar, making a movement that consists of bringing the arms to shoulder height and lowering them, while pronouncing Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest).
After the recitation of Surat Al-Fatiha and a few others, the Muslim bends down in humility before his Creator, a position called Ruku'. As he moves, he also pronounces Allahu Akbar. In this position he says three times (silently) Subhana rabbial adhim, -glory to my Lord, the Immense. Then he joins again, returns to the previous position (Qiyam), pronouncing in the movement: Sami'a Allahu liman hamida, rabbana wa lakal hamd. -Allah hears those who praise Him, our Lord! To You belong the praises.
Then from this position the Muslim prostrates with his forehead on the ground, a position called Sayyda (prostration) and pronouncing while performing the movement: Allahu Akbar. During his prostration the Muslim silently says subhana rabbial 'ala, - I glorify my Lord, the Most High - three times, and after this, saying Allahu Akbar, he sits down, yulus.
In the position of yulus, (sitting) recite silently: Allahumma-gfirli wa-rhamni, -O Allah, forgive me and have mercy on me. After this, one moves back to the position of sayyda, saying Allahu Akbar, and in sayyda one should again say subhana rabbial 'ala. -I glorify my Lord, the Most High.
After the sayyda he returns to the position of bien qiyam (standing) for a second cycle of movements (rakat). In the last cycle after prostration the Muslim sits yulus (sitting) and this is the final position.
For example, if you are praying duhur, in the first rakat after the second saydah you stand up, in the second rakat after the second saydah you remain seated, in the third rakat you stand up and in the fourth rakat you remain seated in the position of yulus. And it is the same in the Duhr, Asr and Isha prayers.
In Subh prayer as there are only two rakats, in the first one you stand up and in the second one you sit down, and in Maghrib prayer, in the first one you stand up, in the second one you sit down, and in the third one you sit down as well, and you do Tashahud.
In the yulus (sitting) position the prayer called the Tashahud, or testimony, is said, which is:
Attahiyatu lillah, assakiyatu lillah, attayibatu salawatu lillah, assalamu alaika ayuha nabiu wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh, assalamu 'alaina wa 'ala ibadi lillahi ssalihin. Ashadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ashadu anna muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh.
Translation:
Salutations are due to Allah, pure things belong to Allah, and the best prayers belong to Allah. Peace be upon you O Prophet! and the mercy of Allah and His blessing. Peace be upon us and upon all the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
And in the last rakat of each prayer, after this, it is then said:
Allahumma salli 'ala muhammad, wa 'ala ali muhammad, war-ham muhammadan wa 'ala ali muhammadin, wa barik 'ala muhammad, wa 'ala ali muhammad, kama sallaita wa rahimta wa barakta 'ala ibrahim wa 'ala ali ibrahim, fil alamina, innaka hamidun mayid.
Translation:
O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and grant mercy to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and give Your baraka to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You showered Your blessing and Your mercy and Your baraka on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim in all the worlds. Verily Thou art worthy of praise, O majestic One.
THE COMPLETE CYCLE OF MOVEMENTS
This is the entire cycle of a complete rakat: There are four positions: standing (qiyam), bending (ruku') back to the upright position (qiyam), prostration (suyud) twice and sitting (yulus) between the two prostrations. The rakats are done in pairs, so after the first rakat one rises back to the standing position to perform the second rakat.
The prayer ends by saying Assalamu Alaykum to the right.
