a beginner's questoins on salat

[NUJUM]

i have learnt how to pray a 4 rakat salat, and for now i am praying it five times a day while learning the correct differences among the five daily prayers; i have some very practical questions i can't ask to anybody cause i don't know any practicant muslim:


1) about ablution: do i have to do ablution before every prayer? i have read in my copy of the Kuran that u have to do it only when u urinate or defecate or other circumstances..but if for example i urinate at 15 and i perform salat at 17, do i need to have ablution before? (i know it might seem a stupid question, sorry)

2) if i commit a mistake during salat, do i have to perform it again or is it still valid? (for example, if i say sobhana rabbi al adheem instead of sobhana rabbi al a'ala) as i am learning, sometimes i make mistakes so i repeat the salat from the beginning. am i right doing so?

3) problems about salat:for example if i have to pray at 15, but in that moment i can't do it properly, for example i can't do ablution, or i can't find a clean rug because i am out of home, is it better to however perform the salat
or to wait for the time when i come home?

4) is it possible to perform the daily salats all in one part of the day if u haven't had the opportunity to pray during the day? foe example before going to sleep?

5) can i pray when i am ill (for example with fever?)

6) is it true that during mestruation period women can't pray and can't touch the Kuran?

7) can i ask things to Allah (SWT) during prayer? like things i would like He forgives me, or His help to realise my desires? and if yes, in which part of the prayer should i do it?

8) any tip to achieve better concentration while praying?

baraka Allahu fik

[Bilal]

1- Your ablution is valid till you urinate ………etc. You can pray more than salat by one ablution. In case you urinate you should do ablution again to do salat.
2- It depends on the mistake, concerning the example you mentioned I do not think you need to repeat the salat . You should repeat the salat, if you forgot to read Fatiha, or decreased one rakah…….etc
3- You have specific period for salat: for example may you be able to pray Asr from 15-18 so you can pray any time within this period. You should do your best to pray before in the time. In urgent cases (especially Muslims who living in West) you can pray two times together as exceptional.
4- If you sleep early and afraid not to wake up, may be you can pray before sleeping, but in case you wake up in within the time of salat you should repeat it.
5- You should pray if you ill. You conditions should take into consideration: for example no need to wash the parts in your body in case it harms you. In case you can not stand up, you can pray while you setting or even lying on your bed.
6- Women should not pray or fast during menstruation period, I do not know about touching or reading the Koran.

7- I do not know

[julaybib]

Assalamu'alaikum,
I hope my reply can help you somehow. Mind you that I'm from Syafi'i madzhab so don't be surprised if someone will refute my suggestions.

Originally posted by NUJUM
1) about ablution: do i have to do ablution before every prayer? i have read in my copy of the Kuran that u have to do it only when u urinate or defecate or other circumstances..but if for example i urinate at 15 and i perform salat at 17, do i need to have ablution before? (i know it might seem a stupid question, sorry)
I don't think there are any explicit orders to do ablution before EVERY prayers. So I think as long as you can keep yourself from things that cancel your first ablution, like 'emiting' anything from the lower part of your body then I think it's OK to do the next prayer without doing another ablution. Some people also say that touching the opposite sex, eating/drinking fatty stuff will also cancel your ablution (but this is debatable). But in your case, if you urinate then you have to do the ablution again before prayer. In general I would recommend that you do ablution before each shalah, just to be sure.

2) if i commit a mistake during salat, do i have to perform it again or is it still valid? (for example, if i say sobhana rabbi al adheem instead of sobhana rabbi al a'ala) as i am learning, sometimes i make mistakes so i repeat the salat from the beginning. am i right doing so?
I think you should not leave your obligatory prayer for whatever reason. So keep going even when the telephone ring, or if you make mistakes. If you make mistake (like missing some raka'at or anything) you should do soojood sahwi, making two more prostration before salaam. This is the concession you have for your mistake. The example you cited does not nullify your salat, because it is not obligatory to read those when you bow or prostrate. I think you should get a Fiqh book to find out which part of shalat is obligatory (and cancel your shalat if you leave it) and which parts are just recommended (missing it won't cancel your prayer).

3) problems about salat:for example if i have to pray at 15, but in that moment i can't do it properly, for example i can't do ablution, or i can't find a clean rug because i am out of home, is it better to however perform the salat
or to wait for the time when i come home?
Basically you have time until the next prayer time arrives (except at dawn). So rush! rush! rush! You can combine your shalat if you are in a long journey (some say more than 90 km makes you eligible). But other than that you really have to do it wherever you are. So always put prayers in when you plan on doing something. If you can't find water, do tayamoom. If you don't have a clean rug, use a clean newspaper, your jacket, or anything clean. Every place on the face of the earth is a masjid (except for those filthy places).

4) is it possible to perform the daily salats all in one part of the day if u haven't had the opportunity to pray during the day? foe example before going to sleep?
No. The only time you can combine your prayers is when you are in a long journey. Even in that condition you can only combine dhuhr with ashr, and maghreeb with isha. So you can squeeze you shalat to just 3 times at the max.

5) can i pray when i am ill (for example with fever?)
As long as you are completely aware of every action that you do, you still have an obligation to pray even if you are sick. But there is a concession, you can reduce the movements to whatever capacity you have. If you can't move any part of your body, you can do it while laying in bed. Just make sure that you assume different positions for every positions in a normal prayer movement (even if it's just a blink of an eye).

6) is it true that during mestruation period women can't pray and can't touch the Kuran?
You can't pray when you have a period. But regarding the Qur'an, I think it is debatable. I'd say that you can still touch and even read the Qur'an.

7) can i ask things to Allah (SWT) during prayer? like things i would like He forgives me, or His help to realise my desires? and if yes, in which part of the prayer should i do it?
Yes! That's one of the reason you do shalat. Some people do it in their final prostration (that's why sometimes you see people that seem to get stuck on the ground before they finish their shalat...). But if this makes you dizzy then praying after shalat should still be good enough.

8) any tip to achieve better concentration while praying?
Prepare yourself, and think like you are in a meeting with your boss..:D You always prepare yourself before meeting your boss or someone important right? Well, honestly, nothing is more important than Allah. So eat first if you are hungry, make sure you have no unfinished business in the toilet, and finish your work as much as you can before prayer times. So you can come to Him with a clear mind. And never forget that He is watching you.

If someone out there knows that my statements are inaccurate, then you have an obligation to correct me. Wallahu a'lam.

[Consider]

Assalamo-alaikum

A comprehensive account of prayers..'the prophets prayer described' [sheikh Al-Albaani]

http://www.quraan.com/Prayer/Default.asp

And www.islamq-a.com for any questions, just put 'prayer' in the search bar...

hope this has helped.

wassalamo-alaikum.

[Consider]

and also
abultion/wudu...

Sifat Wudoo' an-Nabee
by Jam'iat Ihyaa Minhaaj as-Sunnah

http://www.islaam.net/display/display.php?id=47&category=7

[jamila]

Assalam alaykum, Nujum.

Follow Bintemassood's links. They are the best guide. A simpler straight forward guide is The prophet's manner of performing prayer at http://www.iad.org/books/prayer.html

As for duah (requests). The best time for sincere duah, such that Allah promises to respond to, are at dawn, after making 2 nafl rakat, between adhan and iqama. After fajr, dhikr and duah until sunrise will give many returns. The next best is between sunset and dusk, in the interval between adhan and iqama before magreb. After Asr dhikr and duah will give many returns, also. Then between adhan and iqama of the other prayers. Then while in sujood. Then in qunood during your witr prayer. All of these times, Allah is especially near. But at certain times of the day, it is better. In the last third of the night. Immediately before fajr and at immediately before magreb. The first, because Allah comes down to the first heaven to listen to his slaves. The last two, because the angels change their watches at these times, and what better than an act of worship for them to report when they leave you or greet you?

Try this link about dua
http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/scarves/dua.html

This link concerns tayammum and where to pray (in the open)
http://www.al-manhaj.com/Page1.cfm?ArticleID=141

And where not to
http://www.islamiska.org/e/p16.htm

Waassalaam

Jamila

[Yakoub38]

Bismillah

As-salaamu alaykum

The exact procedure for wu'du and salah vary in small details between various law schools, and even between within them, according to different scholars.

My understanding is that this is fine, although I am sure there are some who will claim to be sole guradians of the true method of prayer.

In my view, and may Allah forgive me if I am in error, you would do best to know which school of thinking is the source for your prayer. This will permit you to adopt the procedure that is in keeping with your nearest Sunni Islamic community.

One link specified above describes salah in a way slightly different to the Hanafi method I follow.

I follow: Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq "The Salah of a Believer in the Quran and Sunnah" (Islamic Shariah Institute, Birmingham UK, 1998).

The Shaykh is a graduate from the Hanafi 'Darul Uloom al Islamiyyah' in Bury, UK.

Fee amaanilaah

YAKOUB

[AbuMubarak]

http://www.qss.org/articles/salah/toc.html

[Yakoub38]

Bismillah

As-salaamu alaykum

A perusal of the qss link suggests to me this is a work of good faith, as far as my humble knowledge can inform such a judgement, but I would question some small parts of it.

In discussing the hadith of the Prophet (aws) permitting differences between Muslims, the author of this work actually going so far as to claim this hadith is false on the grounds that the hadith contradicts the Holy Qur'an. In my humble view, the Qur'an forbids disputes, not differences. The Qur'an actually celebrates differences between humanity, in both is general teachings and in specific ayah, for example:

"We have ordained a law and assigned a path to each of you." (5:48)

Diversity is a fact of human nature and also inevitable among a population of Muslims spanning the globe, although of course all Muslims should enjoin upon themselves and others to obey Allah in a way which is true to the Qur'an and Sunnah, in a spirit of kindness and friendship.

Fee amaanilaah

Yakoub

[AbuMubarak]

http://english.islamway.com/sindex.php?section=prayer

[Ayah]

Originally posted by NUJUM
i have learnt how to pray a 4 rakat salat, and for now i am praying it five times a day while learning the correct differences among the five daily prayers; i have some very practical questions i can't ask to anybody cause i don't know any practicant muslim:


1) about ablution: do i have to do ablution before every prayer? i have read in my copy of the Kuran that u have to do it only when u urinate or defecate or other circumstances..but if for example i urinate at 15 and i perform salat at 17, do i need to have ablution before? (i know it might seem a stupid question, sorry)

2) if i commit a mistake during salat, do i have to perform it again or is it still valid? (for example, if i say sobhana rabbi al adheem instead of sobhana rabbi al a'ala) as i am learning, sometimes i make mistakes so i repeat the salat from the beginning. am i right doing so?

3) problems about salat:for example if i have to pray at 15, but in that moment i can't do it properly, for example i can't do ablution, or i can't find a clean rug because i am out of home, is it better to however perform the salat
or to wait for the time when i come home?

4) is it possible to perform the daily salats all in one part of the day if u haven't had the opportunity to pray during the day? foe example before going to sleep?

5) can i pray when i am ill (for example with fever?)

6) is it true that during mestruation period women can't pray and can't touch the Kuran?

7) can i ask things to Allah (SWT) during prayer? like things i would like He forgives me, or His help to realise my desires? and if yes, in which part of the prayer should i do it?

8) any tip to achieve better concentration while praying?

baraka Allahu fik

Answers to questions:

1. Everyone who replied is right as far as I know. For more info on ablution, you can refer to: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/004.sbt.html

4. It's best to attempt to make the prayers at proper times. If you're working during the day, and there's absolutely no place to pray, go on a bathroom break and pray in your car ;) On what julayb said, you can refer to: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/020.sbt.html

5. Of course you should pray when you're ill. That's a time when you need Allah the most to help you get through your illness. If you're so ill and absolutely cannot get out of bed, then you should pray while lying down. Obviously, you cannot prostrate that way. But you can make motions with your head. Subhan Allah, I heard a story, not sure if it was a hadith or not, about someone who prayed with their eyes, moving 'em because he/she was so ill & saying the proper prayers.

6. Yes, during the menstrual period, women cannot pray, fast, or touch the Quran. This doesn't mean they can't read it though. For example, women are permitted to read from a tafsir (translation of the Quran ex: English on one side, arabic on the other & therefore, can touch that since it's not the actual Quran).

7. Sure you can ask things from Allah during your prayers. You can do so while in sujuud, or after the ittahiyaat (at the end of your prayer).

~Ayah

[Ayah]

Question:


I'm living in Australia and I'm working at a fast food restaurant which mainly sell chicken. I work there 3 times a week. Each day I work for 3-4 hours non-stop (without break - anyone who works there for less than 5 hours doesn't get a break). Because of the Daylight savings and the changing prayer time, at one point in time I would have to miss one prayer - Ashar when I work. When that time comes, is it alright if I combine the prayer e.g Ashar and Maghrib together? Right now, I don't miss any prayer because my work doesn't interfere with my praying time. I have been thinking and feeling rather stress out about this. Please help me clear this. Thank you so much.

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

We have already stated in the answer to question no. 21958 that it is not permissible to delay the prayer beyond its time because of work. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Men whom neither trade nor sale (business) diverts from the remembrance of Allaah (with heart and tongue) nor from performing As‑Salaah (Iqaamat‑as‑Salaah) nor from giving the Zakaah. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (out of the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection).

That Allaah may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and add even more for them out of His Grace. And Allaah provides without measure to whom He wills”

[al-Noor 24:37-38]

So you must organize your time at work in a way that will not interfere with your performing the prayers on time and work out an agreement on a suitable solution with the administration, even if that causes you some difficulty, such as working extra hours, for example. Note that the benefits of increased faith in your heart that you will get as a result of praying on time will compensate for any difficulties you encounter, and that hardship will turn to joy – in sha Allaah – because you will be putting up with it for the sake of Allaah and seeking His pleasure.

Secondly:

Something that the questioner deserves to be appreciated for is his regret at having missed prayers and having prayed them at the wrong time. This is how the believer should be, he should feel regret if he misses out on some righteous deed. But this regret should be a motive for him to correct his actions and avoid falling short in them. If he feels regret in his heart yet he still persists in missing prayers and doing bad deeds, then this is not right.

Thirdly:

You say that you join ‘Asr and Maghrib prayers before the start of your shift or afterwards.

You should note that the prayers which are allowed to be joined according to sharee’ah are Zuhr and ‘Asr, or Maghrib and ‘Isha’. These are the combinations mentioned in sharee’ah. As for joining ‘Asr and Maghrib, this is not narrated in sharee’ah and is not valid. This was not suggested by any of the scholars. Based on that, if you have joined ‘Asr and Maghrib after sunset, you have to repent to Allaah for delaying ‘Asr prayer until its time was over, and you have to resolve not to do such a thing again.

If you joined ‘Asr and Maghrib before the time for Maghrib began, which is sunset, then you should note that prayers done before their time begins are not valid, so this Maghrib prayer of yours is not valid. Based on this you have to figure out the number of times that you prayed Maghrib before its time began – if you are uncertain then you should be on the safe side and assume it is the higher number – and repeat those prayers. Hasten to do that as much as you can.

Fourthly:

You must try hard to solve this problem. It will not take you more than ten minutes to do this thing, so you can agree with the boss that you will make up this time before or after your shift. You may not be able to imagine that you can ask permission for ten minutes from work, but if you wanted to go to the bathroom they would never stop you from doing that, even though that may take the same amount of time or more. In your country there may be laws that protect the rights of minorities to practise their religion and which oblige bosses to respect the religion of those who work for them. You may have such laws which will enable you to ask for your rights.

If it is too difficult for you, and you cannot solve this problem with the administration, then you have to look for another job which will not conflict with your establishing regular prayer. If you cannot find any other job and you will be adversely affected by your leaving this job, then there is the hope that this may be regarded as a necessity that will permit your joining your prayers and there will be no sin on you in that case, in sha Allaah.

You can join Zuhr and ‘Asr, at the time of either of them, and you can join Maghrib and ‘Isha’ at the time of either of them, depending on what is easier for you.

We ask Allaah to help us to understand Islam and to do and say good things, and to make things easy for you.

And Allaah knows best.



Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)

[Ayah]

My question is about prayers.I hurt my back and hip in an accident some time ago and am now unable to bow down in rukoo and sujood.How may I say my salat?I feel very guilty and sad about this.However I have been advised not to bow down as it increase my injury.Please advise.
Jazaak allah.

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh:

‘Imraan ibn Husayn said: “I had haemorrhoids and I asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about that. He said, ‘Pray standing; if you cannot do that, then (pray) sitting; if you cannot do that then (pray) on your side.” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, 1066).

If you can stand up, then do not sit, unless that is too difficult for you. If you sit because it is too difficult to stand, you will still have the full reward.

Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If a person gets sick or travels, he will have the same reward as when he was healthy or not travelling.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2834).

With regard to rukoo’ and sujood, you do not have to do them because you are not able to do them, since bowing would cause you harm. You should try to lean forward as much as you can for rukoo’ and sujood, making the sujood lower than the rukoo’ by nodding or gesturing. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Put your forehead on the ground if you can, otherwise use nods or gestures, and make your sujood lower than your rukoo’.” Shaykh al-Albaani said: this was narrated by al-Tabaraani, al-Bazzaar, Ibn al-Sammaak in his hadeeth (67/2) and al-Bayhaqi. Its isnaad is saheeh as I explained in al-Saheehah (323). Sifat Salaat al-Nabi (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), p. 79.

Ibn Qudaamah said in the text of al-‘Umdah: “If a person is unable to do rukoo’ or sujood, he should indicate them by nods or gestures.” (al-‘Umdah Sharh al-‘Iddah, p. 126)

If you cannot even nod or gesture, then pray according to your situation; your rukoo’ and sujood could be by intention only, when you reach them and recite the appropriate adhkaar in them. Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope and He has not laid upon you in religion any hardship. And Allaah knows best.