Prayer of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم described

[mabdullah]

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Prayer of the Prophet  صلى الله عليه و سلم described

By

Sheikh Muhammad Naasirud-deen al-Albaanee

Contents


Facing the Ka bah
Standing (Qiyaam)
The Intention (An-Niyyah)
The Takbeer
The Recitation (Al-Qiraa'ah)
The Bowing (Rukoo)
The Prostration (Sujood)
The Second Rak'ah
The Tashahhud
The Third and Fourth Rak'ahs
The Qunoot in the Witr Prayer
The Final Tashahhud
Supplicating Before the Salutation.
The Salutation and its Types
Appendix One - Soorah al-Faatihah
Glossary of Terms

..




FACING THE KA'BAH (Istiqbaalul-Ka'bah)

(1) If you stand, O Muslim, to pray - then face the direction of the
Ka'bah, wherever you are, in obligatory Prayers and optional
Prayers. This is one of the pillars of the Prayer, such that the Prayer
is not valid without it.

(2) The obligation to face the direction of the Ka'bah is removed
from a warrior having to pray the Fear Prayer and during severe
fighting. It is also removed from one who is rendered incapable of
it, such as one who is (very) ill, or one who is upon a ship, car or
airplane and who fears that the Prayer time will reach its end. It is
also removed from one who prays optional Prayer or the Witr
Prayer upon a riding beast or vehicle. It is, however, preferable for
him, if he is able, to turn it towards the Qiblah for the initial
takbeer. After that it does not matter in which direction it turns.

(3) It is obligatory upon everyone who can actually see the Ka'bah
to face it directly. As for those who cannot actually see it then they
should face its direction.

THE RULING CONCERNING PRAYING TOWARDS A
DIRECTION OTHER THAN THAT OF THE KA'BAH BY
MISTAKE

(4) If a person prays towards other than the Qiblah due to the sky
being cloudy or for any reason other than that, after having tried to
the best of his knowledge and ability to face the correct direction,
then his Prayer will be correct and he will not have to repeat it.

(5) However if a person whom he holds to be reliable comes to him
whilst he is praying and informs him of the correct direction, then
he must immediately turn to the correct direction, and his Prayer
will be correct.



STANDING (Qiyaam)

(6) It is obligatory that the person prays standing. This is a pillar
(rukn) except for:

(i) The one who is praying the Fear Prayer or during severe
fighting. In these circumstances it is permissible for him to pray
whilst riding.

(ii) Also the one who is ill and the one who is unable to stand, he
should pray sitting if he is able, or if not then whilst lying down.

(iii) Also the person praying Optional (Nafl) Prayer, he may pray
whilst riding or whilst sitting if he wishes, and in this case he
should perform rukoo' (bowing) and sujood (prostration) by
lowering his head and likewise the sick. He should lower his head
further for the prostration than for the bowing.

(7) It is not permissible for the person praying sitting to place
something raised upon the ground to prostrate upon. Rather he
should only make the movement for his prostration lower than that
for his bowing, as we have already mentioned, this is what he does
if he is unable to directly place his head upon the ground.


PRAYER ON A SHIP OR AIRPLANE

(08) It is permissible to pray the Obligatory Prayer upon a ship, and
likewise in an airplane.

(9) A person may pray sitting in either of them if he fears that he
will fall over.

(10) In the case of old age or bodily weakness, it is allowed for him
during the standing to support himself against a pillar or with a
stick.

(11) It is permissible to pray the voluntary Prayer during the night
standing or even sitting without an excuse, and he can combine
both of these. So he may pray and recite whilst sitting, and then
shortly before the rukoo' he may stand and recite the few aayahs
that remain for him whilst standing. Then he bows and prostrates,
and then he does the same in the second rak'ah.

(12) If he prays sitting, he sits with his legs crossed, or in any
manner of sitting that is comfortable for him.


PRAYER WHILST WEARING SHOES

(13) It is allowed for him to stand in Prayer barefooted, just as it is
allowed for him to pray whilst wearing shoes.

(14) What is better is that he sometimes prays barefooted and
sometimes prays wearing shoes, doing what is easy for him. So he
should not force himself to wear them for the Prayer nor force
himself to remove them. Rather if he happens to be barefooted he
should pray barefooted, and if he is wearing shoes he should pray
whilst wearing the shoes, unless a situation requires otherwise.

(15) If he does remove his shoes then he should not place them on
his right-hand side, rather he should place them to his left as long
as there is nobody praying to his left. Otherwise he should place
them between his feet2. This order is authentically reported from
the Prophet !.


PRAYING WHILST STANDING UPON THE PULPIT
(MINBAR)

(16) It is allowed for the Imaam to pray upon an elevated place,
such as the minbar - for the purpose of teaching the people. He
stands upon it and says the takbeer3 and recites and bows upon it.
Then he steps backwards in order to perform the prostrations on
the ground at the foot of the pulpit. Then he can return to it and do
in the second rak'ah the same as that which he did in the first.



Foot note:
2 I say: This contains a subtle indication that he should not place them in front of him.
This is an etiquette that is disregarded by the majority of those who pray, since you see
them praying towards their shoes!

3 i.e., `Allaahu Akbar,' meaning, `Allaah is greater.' [Trans. Note]



THE OBLIGATION OF PRAYING TOWARDS A SUTRAII
(BARRIER) AND OF BEING CLOSE TO IT

(17) It is obligatory that he prays towards a barrier (sutrah). It
makes no difference whether he is praying in a mosque or
elsewhere, nor whether the mosque is large or small. This is
because of the all-embracing statement of the Prophet , “Do not
pray except towards a sutrah, and do not let anyone walk in front o
f you. So if a person insists (on trying to pass) then fight him,
because he has an evil companion along with him,” meaning a
devil.

(18) It is obligatory that he is close to it, since the Prophet !
commanded that.

(19) Between his ! place of prostration and the wall towards which
he prayed there would be a space approximately wide enough for a
sheep to pass through. So if one does likewise then he has carried
out the closeness that is obligatory upon him.4


THE REQUIRED HEIGHT OF THE SUTRAH (BARRIER)

(20) It is obligatory that the height of the sutrah above the ground
be at least a span or two spans, due to his saying, “If one of you
places in front of him the like of the back-part of a camel-saddle5,
then let him pray and not care about what passes beyond that.”

(21) The person praying faces the sutrah directly. This is what is
apparent from the command to pray towards the sutrah. As for the
matter of moving slightly to the right or the left, so that he does not
stand directly in line with it, then this is not authentically
established.

(22) It is permissible to pray towards a staff stuck into the ground
or its like, or towards a tree, or a pillar, or towards his wife who is
lying upon the bed beneath the blanket, or towards his riding beast,
even if it is a camel.


Foot note:

4 I say: We know from this that what the Muslims do in all mosques that I have seen in
Syria and elsewhere with regard to praying in the middle of the mosque, far away from
any wall or pillar, is nothing but negligence of the command and the practice of the
Prophet *

5 Mu'khiratur-Rahl: It is the piece of wood placed at the back of the saddle, so the hadeeth
contains an indication that it is not sufficient to use a line upon the ground. The hadeeth
allowing that is not authentic.



THE FORBIDDANCE OF PASSING IN FRONT OF A PERSON
WHO IS PRAYING9 EVEN IN THE SACRED MOSQUE IN
MAKKAH (AL. MASJIDUL-HARAAM)

(24) It is not allowed to pass directly in front of a person who is
praying if he has a sutrah in front of him. There is no difference in
this between al-Masjidul-Haraam and other mosques. The
forbiddance applies equally to all of them, due to the generality of
his ! saying, “If the one who passes directly in front of a person
knew the (sin) that was upon him, then he would rather stand and
wait for forty than pass in front of him." Meaning, passing in
between him and the place of his sutrah.6



Foot note:

6 As for the hadeeth that he * prayed at the outer edge of the area for tawaaf without any
sutrah and the people were passing in front of him, then this is not authentic.
Furthermore, it does not mention that they were passing between him and his place of
prostration.



THE OBLIGATION OF PREVENTING ANYONE TRYING TO
PASS IN FRONT OF YOU, EVEN IN THE SACRED MOSQUE
IN MAKAAH

(25) It is not allowed for a person praying towards a sutrah to allow
anyone to pass in front of him, due to the previous hadeeth, “... and
do not let anyone walk in front of him ...” and his ! saying, “If one
of you prays towards something that screens him from the people,
and someone wants to pass in front of him, then let him repel him
by pushing him on the chest, and let him repel him as much as he
can ... [and in a narration ... then let him fight him, for he is a
devil].”


MOVING FORWARD TO PREVENT SOMEONE PASSING

(26) And it is allowed for him to take a step or more forwards in
order to prevent an animal or a child from passing in front of him,
so that they pass behind him.

THAT WHICH BREAKS / DISRUPTS THE PRAYER

(27) From the importance of the sutrah in Prayer is that it prevents
the person's Prayer being nullified by the passing of that which will
disrupt it. Contrary to the one who prays without a sutrah, since
his Prayer will be nullified if an adult woman, or likewise a
donkey, or a black dog passes in front of him.




..

[mabdullah]

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

THE INTENTION (an-Niyyah)

(28) The person who is going to pray must have in his heart the
intention to pray that particular Prayer, be it the Obligatory Zuhr or
'Asr Prayer, or the sunnah Prayer's for them, for example. This is a
condition (shart) or a pillar (rukn). As for expressing that upon the
tongue, then it is an innovation (bid'ah), contrary to the sunnah.
This was not upheld by any of the Imaams followed by the blindfollowers.

THE TAKBEER (Saying: `Allaahu Akbar')

(29) He begins the Prayer by saying:
Allaahu Akbar Allaah is Greater.

This is a pillar (rukn), due to his saying, “The key to the Prayer is
Purification. That which makes outside actions forbidden is the
takbeer, and that which causes outside actions to become
permissible is the tasleem7.”

(30) He should not raise his voice in saying the takbeer in any of the
Prayers, unless he is an Imaam (leading others in prayer).
(31) It is allowed for the mu'adhdhin to repeat the takbeer of the
Imaam in a louder voice in order for the people to hear it, as long as
there is a need for that, such as the Imaam's being ill, having a
weak voice, or there being a very large number of people praying
behind him.

(32) The person following an Imaam in Prayer should not say the
takbeer until the Imaam has finished saying it.
RAISING THE HANDS AND HOW IT IS TO BE DONE

(33) He should raise his hands whilst saying the takbeer or before
it, or after it. All of these are established in the sunnah.

7 i.e., the saying of, `As-salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullaah ...' to complete the Prayer

(34) He should raise his hands with the fingers extended.

(35) He should raise his palms up to the level of his shoulders, and
sometimes he should raise them even further, up to the level of his
car lobes.8


PLACING THE HANDS AND HOW IT IS TO BE DONE

(36) Then after the takbeer he should place his right hand upon his
left hand, and this is from the practice (sunnah) of the Prophets,
'alaihimus-salaatu was-salaam, and Allaah's Messenger
commanded his Companions with it. It is therefore not permissible
to leave the hands hanging by one's sides.

(37) He should place his right hand upon his left hand, wrist and
forearm.

(38) Sometimes he should grasp the left hand with the right hand.9



WHERE THE HANDS ARE TO BE PLACED

(39) He should only place his hands upon his chest. This applies
equally to men and women.10

(40) It is not allowed to place the right-hand on the waist.



Foot notes:

8 I say: As for actually touching the earlobes with the thumb then there is no basis for this
in the Sunnah. Rather in my view it is something that incites misgivings.

9 As for the practice of combining both placing and grasping at one and the same time, as
some late-comers hold to he good, then there is no basis for it.


10 I say: The placing of the hands anywhere else but the chesr is either inauthentic
(da’eef). Or has no basis





HUMILITY AND ATTENTIVENESS (al-Khushoo’) AND
LOOKING AT THE PLACE OF PROSTRATION

(41) He must have humility and attentiveness in his Prayer, and
should avoid everything that may divert his attention, whether it
be designs or decoration. Nor should he pray when food that he
desires has been served, nor whilst he is having to withhold urine
or faeces.

(42) Whilst standing he should look towards the place of his
prostration.

(43) He should not turn to the right or the left, since his turning
aside will be something that Satan snatches away and steals from
the person's Prayer.

(44) It is not allowed for him to raise his sight to the sky.


THE OPENING SUPPLICATION (Du'aa al-Istiftaah)

(45) Then he should begin by reciting one of the supplications
established from the Prophet !, and they are many. The most wellknown
is:
Subhaanak-Allaahumma, wa biham-dika, wa tabaarakasmuka, wa ta'aalaa
jadduka, wa laa ilaaha ghayruka
I declare You free and far removed from all imperfections, O
Allaah, and all praise is for You. Blessed is Your Name. Great and
Exalted is Your Kingdom. None has the right to be worshipped
besides You.




THE RECITATION (al-Qiraa'ah)

(46) Then he must seek refuge with Allaah, the Most High, and it is
an obligation, he will be sinful if he leaves it.

(47) The Sunnah is that he should sometimes say:
A'oodhu billaahi min ash-Shaytaan-ir-Rajeem [min hamzihi, wa nafkhihi,
wa nafthihi]
I seek refuge with Allaah from Satan, the Rejected One [from the
insanity he brings about, from his arrogance and from his evil
poetry].

(48) Or that he says:
A'oodhu billaah-is-Samee'-il-'Aleem min ash-Shaytaan-ir-Rajeem min
hamzihi, wa nafkhihi, wa nafthihi

I seek refuge with Allaah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from
Satan, the Rejected One, from the insanity he brings about, from his
arrogance and from his evil poetry.

(49) Then he should say quietly, in both loud and silent Prayers:

11 Whoever wishes to see the rest of the opening supplications then let him refer to
Sifatus-Salaat, pp. 14-19 of the translation




Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower o f Mercy.

RECITING SOORAH AL-FAATIHAH

(50) Then he recites the whole of Soorah al-Faatihah, and
(Bismillaah …) is an aayah from it. This is a pillar (rukn), and the
Prayer will not be correct without it. So it is obligatory upon even
those who do not know Arabic that they memorize it.

(51) But one who is still unable to recite it, then it is sufficient for
him to say:
Subhaan-Allaah, wal-hamdulillaah, wa laa ilaaha illallaah, wallaahu
Akbar, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah
I declare Allaah free and far removed from all imperfections, and
all praise is for Allaah, and Allaah is greater and no power except
by the Will of Allah

(52) The Sunnah, when reciting it, is to read it aayah by aayah. One
should pause after each aayah. So he says:

Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.

Then he pauses ... then he says:
Al-Hamdu lillaahi Rabbil-'Aalameen
All praise is for Allaah, the Lord of all the creation.

Then he pauses ... then he says:
Ar-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem
The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.

Then he pauses ... then he says:
Maaliki Yawmid-Deen
Owner o f the Day of Recompense.

Then he pauses, he does likewise until he completes it.12

The whole of the Prophet's ! recitation would be like this. He
would stop at the end of each aayah, and not join it together with
the aayah after it, even if they were connected in meaning.

12 The whole of Soorah al-Faatihah can be seen in Appendix One


(53) It is permissible to recite either “Maaliki” ... Owner of the Day
of Recompense, or “Maliki” ... King of the Day of Recompense.




THE RECITATION OF SOORAH AL-FAATIHAH BY ONE
WHO IS PRAYING ALONG WITH AN IMAAM

(54) It is obligatory that the one praying behind an imaam also
recites it in quiet Prayers. He should also recite it in loud Prayers if
he cannot hear an imaam reciting, or if it happens that the imaam
remains silent after his own recitation in order to enable the
follower to recite it. However, it is our view that this period of
silence is not established from the Sunnah.13


THE RECITATION AFTER SOORAH AL-FAATIHAH

(55) It is from the Sunnah that after reciting al-Faatihah, he recites
another Soorah - even in the Funeral Prayer, or that he recites some
aayahs, in the first two rak'ahs.

(56) He may sometimes lengthen the recitation after it and shorten
it at other times, due to the needs of travel, having a cough and
cold, being ill or due to the crying of a child.

(57) The length of recitation will vary according to the different
Prayers. So generally, the recitation in the Dawn (Fajr) Prayer is
longer than the recitation in any of the other Prayers. Next comes
the Zuhr, then the 'Asr and the Maghrib, then the 'Ishaa.

(58) The recitation in the (optional) Night Prayer (Salaatul-Layl) is
longer than any of those.



Foot note:
13 I say: I have mentioned the evidence used by those who support it, along with its
rebuttal in Silsilatul-Ahaadeethid-Da'eefah, nos. 546 and 547


(59) The Sunnah is also to make the recitation in the first rak'ah
longer than the recitation in the second rak'ah.

(60) Also that he makes the recitation in the last two rak'ahs shorter
than that in the first two, by about a half.14



RECITING SOORAH AL-FAATIHAH IN EVERY RAK'AH

(61) It is obligatory that he recites al-Faatihah in every rak'ah.

(62) It is from the Sunnah that he sometimes recites something in
addition to it in the last two rak'ahs also.

(63) It is not allowed for the imaam to prolong the recitation more
than what occurs in the Sunnah. By doing so he would cause
difficulty to some of those who may be praying behind him, such
as old people, sick people, nursing mothers and those who have
needs to attend to.


LOUD AND QUIET RECITATION

(64) He should recite aloud in the Dawm (Fujr) Prayer, the Jumu'ah
Prayer, the two 'Eid Prayers, the Prayer for seeking rain, the Eclipse
Prayer and in the first two rak'ahs of the Maghrib and 'Ishaa
Prayers. He should recite quietly in the Zuhr and 'Asr Prayers, in
the third rak'ah of the Maghrib Prayer and the last two rak'ahs of
the 'Ishaa Prayer.

(65) It is permissible for the Imaam sometimes to recite an aayah
loud enough to be heard by the people in the quiet Prayers.


(66) As for the Witr Prayer and the Prayer during the night
(Salaatul-Layl), then he should sometimes recite quietly in it, and
recite loudly at other times. However, his voice should only be
raised moderately.



RECITING THE QUR'AAN SLOWLY (AND BEAUTFIULLY)

(67) The Sunnah is that he recites the Qur'aan slowly. He should
not recite it quickly or hurriedly. Rather, his recitation should be
clear and each letter distinguishable. He should also beatify the
Qur'aan with his voice, and recite it in a beautiful and good
manner, whilst abiding by the rulings that are well-known to
scholars of recitation. He may not recite it in newly innovated
tones, nor in the manner of singing.


CORRECTING THE IMAAM

(68) It is prescribed for the one praying behind an imaam that he
corrects him if he becomes mixed up in his recitation.





Foot note:14 For the details of this chapter, refer, if you wish, to Sifatus-Salaat, (pp. 25-39 of the
translation).


.





THE BOWING (RUKOO')

(69) When he has finished reciting he remains silent for a moment,
long enough to return his breathing to normal.

(70) Then he raises his hands, in the manner described previously
with regard to the initial takbeer (point nos. 33, 34 and 35).

(71) He also says the takbeer (i.e., Allaahu Akbar), and this is
obligatory.

(72) Then he performs the rukoo' (i.e., bows) in such a manner that
all his joints are settled, and each part of the body is at rest. This is a
pillar (rukn).


HOW THE BOWING (RUKOO') IS PERFORMED

(73) He should place his hands firmly upon his knees. He should
spread his fingers, as if he were grasping his knees. All of this is
obligatory.

(74) He should stretch out his back and make it level, such that if
water were to be poured upon it, then it would settle upon it. This
is an obligation.

(75) He should neither cause his head to droop lower than his back,
nor should he raise it above it. Rather he should make it level with
his back.

(76) He should keep his elbows (straight and) apart from his sides.

(77) He should say in his rukoo':
Subhaana Rabbee al-'Azeem

I declare my Lord, the Supreme, free and far removed from all
imperfections.15


Saying it three times, or more.

15 There are other sayings that can be said with this pillar (rukn). Some are long, some are
medium length and some are short. Refer to Sifatus-Salaat, Eng. transl. pp. 44-46

(78) From the Sunnah is that he makes the pillars of equal length.
So he should make his rukoo', his sujood (prostration), and his
sitting between the two prostrations of similar length.

(79) It is not allowed for him to recite the Qur'aan in the rukoo'
(bowing), nor in the sujood (prostration).




STRAIGHTENING UP FROM THE RUKOO'

(80) Then he must raise up and straighten his back from the rukoo'.
This is a pillar.

(81) He must say, while raising his back:
Sami' Allaahu liman hamidah
Allaah listens and responds to the one who praises Him.
This is an obligation.

(82) He should raise his hands when he rises up, in the manner that
has preceded (point nos. 33, 34 and 35).

(83) Then he should stand straight up and remain still, such that
every bone returns to its place. This is a pillar.

(84) He should say while standing:
Rabbanaa wa lakal-hamd
O our Lord! And all praise is for You.16
This is obligatory upon everyone praying, even if he is praying
behind an imaam17, since it is the saying prescribed for this
standing position. As for the saying, then it is the saying prescribed
to be said whilst rising.

(85) He should make this standing about as long as the rukoo'
(bowing), as has preceded.

[mabdullah]

THE SUJOOD (PROSTRATION)

(86) Then he says:

Allaahu Akbar
Allaah is Greater.
and this is an obligation.

(87) And he should raise his hands, sometimes.

PLACING THE HANDS FIRST WHEN PROSTRATING

(88) Then he prostrates, placing his hands upon the ground before
his knees. This is what Allaah's Messenger commanded, and it is
what is established from his practice. He also forbade the people
16 There are other sayings that can be said here. Refer to Sifatus-Salaat, (Eng. transl. pp.
47-50).
17 It is not prescribed to place one hand upon the other during this standing, since that is
not reported. If you wish you may see further discussion of this in Sifatus-Salaat (Eng.
transl. pp. 50-51).
from kneeling down in the manner that the camel kneels, and the
camel places its knees -which are its fore-legs - first.
(89) So when he prostrates, and it is a pillar, he should rest upon his
palms, and extend together.
(90) He should keep his fingers them.
(91) And point them towards the qiblah (direction of Prayer).
(92) And he should place his palms level with his shoulders.
(93) And sometimes he places them level with his ears.
(94) And he must lift his elbows away from the ground. This is
obligatory. He is not allowed to spread them on the ground in the
manner of the dog.
(95) He must place his nose and his forehead firmly upon the
ground, this is a pillar.
(96) He must also place his knees firmly on the ground.
(97) And likewise his toes.
(98) His feet should be placed upright on the ground. All of these
are obligatory.
(99) The tips of his toes should be pointed towards the qiblah
(direction of Prayer).
(100) And his heels should be joined together.


BEING SETTLED IN THE PROSTRATION

(101) It is obligatory that he is settled in his prostration. This comes
about by his resting equally on each of the parts of the body that
touch the ground when prostrating. These are: the forehead and the
nose - together, the two palms, the two knees and the toes of each
foot.
(102) So whoever settles in his prostration in this manner, then he
has certainly attained the stillness necessary. This stillness
(itmi'naan) in the prostration is a pillar also.
(103) He should say in it:
Subhaana Rabbee al-A' laa
I declare my Lord, the Most High, free and far removed from all
imperfections.
three times or more.18
(104) It is recommended to supplicate to Allaah as much as possible
while in prostration, since it is a time most suitable for the
acceptance of supplications.
(105) He should make his prostration about as long as his bowing,
as has preceded.
(106) It is allowed to prostrate upon the earth, or upon something
placed upon the ground such as a garment, a carpet, a mat and the
like.
18 There are other sayings that can be said in it, and you can refer to them in, Sifatus-
Salaat, Eng. Transl., pp. 55-57
(107) It is not allowed to recite the Qur'aan in prostration.



SITTING UPON THE LEFT FOOT LAID FLAT (AL-IFTIRAASH)
AND SITTING UPON THE RAISED HEELS (AL-IQ'AA`) IN
BETWEEN THE TWO PROSTRATIONS


(108) Then he raises up his head, saying the takbeer (i.e., Allaahu
Akbar). This is an obligation.
(109) He raises his hands at this point, sometimes.
(110) Then he sits with calmness, such that every bone settles in its
place. This is a pillar.
(111) He should lay his left foot flat beneath him and sit upon it.
This is an obligation.
(112) He sets his right foot upright upon the ground.
(113) He should make the toes of his right foot point towards the
qiblah (direction of Prayer).
(114) It is also permissible to sit upon the heels (al-Iq'aa`)
sometimes. He does this by sitting upon his heels with both feet
upright.
(115) He says in his sitting:
Allaahumma-ghfirlee, warhamnee, wajburnee, warfa'nee, wa'aafinee,
warzuqnee
O Allaah forgive me, and have mercy upon me, and suffice me, and
raise my rank, and grant me safety and well-being, and grant me
provision.
(116) And if he wishes he may (instead) say:
Rabbi-ghfirlee, Rabbi-ghfirlee
O my Lord, forgive me! O my Lord, forgive me!
(117) And he should prolong this sitting until it becomes of similar
length to his prostration.



THE SECOND PROSTRATION

(118) Then he says:
Allaahu Akbar
Allaah is Greater.
and this is an obligation.
(119) And he raises his hands with this takbeer, sometimes.
(120) And he performs the second prostration, and this is a pillar
also.
(121) He does in the second prostration that which he did in the
first.



SITTING AT REST (JILSATUL-ISTIRAAHAH)

(122) So when he raises his head up from the second prostration,
and he intends to get up to perform the second rak'ah, then he says:
Allaahu Akbar
Allaah is Greater.
and this is an obligation.
(123) And he raises his hands, sometimes.
(124) And he (briefly) sits upright, sitting upon his left foot, such
that every bone returns to its place, before standing.



THE SECOND UNIT OF PRAYER (RAK'AH)

(125) Then he gets up, supporting himself upon the ground with
his fists clenched, like one who clenches his fists when kneading
dough. So he stands up for the second rak'ah, and this is a pillar.
(126) He does in the second rak'ah the same as he did in the first.
(127) Except that he does not recite, “The Opening Supplication,”
(i.e., Du'aa al-Istiftaah) in it.
(128) He should make the second rak'ah shorter than the first
rak'ah.



SITTING FOR THE DECLARATION OF FAITH
(TASHAHHUD)


(129) So when he finishes the second rak'ah he sits to perform the
tashahhud. This is obligatory.
(130) And he sits upon the left foot laid flat, as preceded with
regard to the sitting between the two prostrations.
(131) However it is not allowed to sit upon the two heels for this
sitting.
(134) It it is not allowed for him to sit whilst resting upon his hand,
especially the left hand.



AGITATING THE FOREFINGER AND FIXING ONES S1GHT
UPON IT

(135) He should clench all the fingers of his right hand, placing his
thumb onto his middle finger sometimes.
(136) At other times he may make a circle with his thumb and
middle finger together.
(137) He should point his forefinger towards the qiblah (Direction
of Prayer).
(138) He should fix his gaze upon his forefinger.
(139) And he should agitate it, making supplication with it, from
the start to the end of the tashahhud.
(140) He should not point with his left forefinger.
(141) He does all of this in every tashahhud.



THE WORDING FOR THE TASHAHHUD AND THE
SUPPLICATION AFTER IT

(142) The tashahhud is obligatory. If he forgets it, then he should
perform two extra prostrations for forgetfulness (Sajdatus-Sahw) at
the end of the Prayer.
(143) Its wording is:
At-Tahiyyaatu lillaahi, was-Salwaatu, wat-Tayyibaatu. As-Salaamu
'alan-Nabee', wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. As-Salaamu 'alaynaa wa
'alaa 'ibaad-illaah-is-Saaliheen. Ashhadu an laa ilaaha illAllaah, wa
ashhadu anna Muhammadan ' abduhu wa rasooluh
Words of Praise and glorification are for Allaah alone, and Prayers
and acts of worship, and pure words and attributes. May Allaah
send peace and security upon the Prophet19, and may Allaah's
Mercy and Blessings be upon him. May Allaah send peace and
security upon us, and upon all of Allaah's righteous servants. I bear
19 This is what it is prescribed to say after the death of the Prophet * and this wording is
established in the tashahhud of Ibn Mas'ood, 'Aa'ishah, Ibn az-Zubayr and Ibn 'Abbaas.
So whoever wishes may refer to my book Sifatus-Salaat, (Eng. transl. p. 68).
witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah,
and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.20
(144) After this he should supplicate for blessings upon the Prophet
! saying:
Allaahumma Salli 'alaa Muhammad, wa 'alaa Aali Muhammad,
kamaa sallayta 'alaa Ibraaheem, wa 'alaa Aali Ibraaheem, innaka
Hameedun Majeed. Allaahumma baarik 'alaa Muhammad, wa 'alaa
Aali Muhammad, kamaa baarakta 'alaa Ibraaheem, wa 'alaa Aali
Ibraaheem, innaka Hameedun Majeed.
O Allaah! Extol and honor Muhammad and the true followers of
Muhammad, just as You extolled and honored Ibraaheem and the
righteous offspring of Ibraaheem. Indeed, You are deserving of all
praise, Perfect in Glory and Honor. 0 Allaah! Send continual
blessings upon Muhammad and upon the true followers of
Muhammad, just as You sent blessings upon Ibraaheem and upon
the righteous offspring of Ibraaheem. Indeed, You are deserving of
all praise, Perfect in Glory and Honor.
(145) And if you wish to say it in shorter form, then say:
20 I have mentioned other wordings of the tashahhud in my book (Eng. transl. pp. 67-70),
and that which I have mentioned here is the most authentic
Allaahumma Salli 'alaa Muhammad, wa ‘alaa Aali Muhammed, wa
baarik 'alaa Muhammad, wa 'alaa Aal Muhammad, kamaa sallayta
wa baarakta ' alaa Ibraaheem wa 'alaa Aali lbraaheem, innaka
Hameedun Majeed.
O Allaah! Extol and honor Muhammad and the true followers of
Muhammad, and send continual blessings upon Muhammad and
upon the true followers of Muhammad, just as You extolled and
honored and sent blessings upon Ibraaheem and upon the
righteous offspring of Ibraaheem. Indeed, You are deserving of all
praise, Perfect in Glory and Honor.
(146) Then he may choose, in this tashahhud, any of the reported
supplications that please him, sand supplicate to Allaah with that.




THE THIRD AND FOURTH RAK’AHS

(147) Then he says:
Allaahu Akbar
Allaah is Greater.
and this is an obligation. The Sunnah is that he says it whilst he is
sitting.
(148) And he raises his hands, sometimes.
(149) Then he gets up to pray the third rak'ah, and it, like the rak’ah
coming after it, is a pillar.
(150) He does the same when he wants to get up for the fourth
rak'ah.
(151) However before getting up, he should sit up straight, sitting
upon his left foot, such that every bone returns to its place.
(152) Then he stands by supporting himself upon his hands, just as
he did in getting up for the second rak'ah.
(153) In each of the third and fourth rak'ahs he recites Soorah al-
Faatihah, and this is obligatory.
(154) Sometimes he may also recite an aayah or more in addition to
it.




AL-QUNOOT (SPECIAL INVOCATION) FOR A CALAMITY
AND WHEN IT IS TO BE SAID

(155) It is from the Sunnah that he performs a special invocation,
and supplicates for the Muslims when some calamity strikes them.
(156) It is to be said after the bowing (rukoo'), after he has said:
Rabbanaa wa lakal-hamd
O our Lord! And all praise is for You.
(157) There is no set supplication for this; rather he makes whatever
supplication is suited to the specific calamity.
(158) He should raise his hands whilst making this supplication.
(159) If he is an imaam leading the people in Prayer, he should raise
his voice with his supplication.
(160) Those who are praying behind him should say `Aameen,'
meaning, `O Allaah, respond to it!'
(161) So when he finishes it he should say the takbeer:
Allaahu Akbar
Allaah is Greater.
and perform the prostration.




THE QUNOOT (INVOCATION) IN THE WITR PRAYER21 ITS
PLACE AND WORDING

(162) As for the invocation (qunoot) for the Witr Prayer, then it is
prescribed to say it occasionally.
(163) It should be said before the rukoo', contrary to the invocation
at the time of a calamity.
(164) He should make the following supplication:
21 Witr: the odd-numbered rak'ah(s) said at the end of the (optional) Night Prayer
Allaahum-mahdinee feeman hadayta, wa ' aafinee feeman ' aafayta,
wa tawallanee feeman tawallayta, wa baarik lee feemaa a'tayta, wa
qinee sharra maa qadayta, fa innaka taqdee wa laa yuqdaa 'alayka.
Wa innahu laa yadhillu man waalayta, wa laa ya'izzu man '
aadayta. Tabaaraakta rabbanaa wa ta'aalayta. Laa manjaa minka
illaa ilayka
O Allaah! Continually guide me and make me amongst those
whom You have guided, and make me one of those whom You
save and secure from all evils. And make me one of those whom
You love, and whose affairs You take care of. And grant me
blessing in all that You have given me, and save me from the evil of
what You have decreed, for You alone decree, and none can
contradict Your Decree. None can humiliate those whom You have
befriended, nor will those who are enemies of You ever have
dignity and honor. Blessed are You, O our Lord, and Exalted. There
is no way to flee for safety from You except by fleeing towards You.
(165) Then he should perform the bowing (rukoo') and the two
prostrations (sujood), as has proceeded.




THE FINAL TASHAHHUD AND SITTING WITH ONE'S LEFT
HIP RESTING UPON THE GROUND (AT-TAWARRUK)

(166) Then he should sit for the final tashahhud, and both are
obligatory.
(167) He should do in it what he did in the first tashahhud.
(168) Except that in it he sits with his left hip resting upon the
ground, and with both his feet on his right-side. He places his left
foot beneath his right shin.
(169) His right foot should be placed upright upon the ground.
(170) And it is allowed to lay it down flat, sometimes.
(171) He should lean heavily upon his left knee with his palm,
supporting himself in that manner.
THE OBLIGATION OF SUPPLICATING FOR BLESSINGS
UPON THE PROPHET (AS-SALAATU 'ALAN-NABEE AND OF
SEEKING ALLAAH'S REFUGE FROM FOUR THINGS
(172) It is obligatory that he supplicates for blessings upon the
Prophet ! in this tashahhud, and we have mentioned some
wordings for this in the section on the first tashahhud (point nos.
145 and 146).
(173) He must seek Allaah's refuge from four things, saying:
Allaahumma innee a'oodhu bika min ' adhaabi jahannam, wa min '
adhaabil-qabr, wa min fitnatil-mahyaa wal-mamaat, wa min sharri
fitnatil-maseehid-Dajjaal
O Allaah! I seek refuge with You from the punishment of Hell-Fire,
and from the Punishment of the Grave, and from the Trials of
Living and Dying, and from the Evil Trials of the False Messiah
(Dajjaal).22



SUPPLICATING (DU'AA) BEFORE THE SALUTATION
(SALAAM)

(174) Then he may supplicate for himself with whatever
supplication he wishes from the supplications established in the
Book and the Sunnah. There are very many, so if he has not
memorised anything from them, then he may supplicate with
whatever du'aa is easy for him, from that which will benefit him in
his Religion or his worldly life.


.

[mabdullah]

SUPPLICATING (DU'AA) BEFORE THE SALUTATION
(SALAAM)


(174) Then he may supplicate for himself with whatever
supplication he wishes from the supplications established in the
Book and the Sunnah. There are very many, so if he has not
memorised anything from them, then he may supplicate with
whatever du'aa is easy for him, from that which will benefit him in
his Religion or his worldly life.


THE SALUTATION (AT-TASLEEM) AND ITS TYPES

(175) Then he should give salutations to his right side, and this is a
pillar, turning his face such that the whiteness of his right cheek can
be seen.
(176) He then gives salutations to his left side, turning his face such
that the whiteness of his left cheek can be seen, even if it is the
Funeral Prayer.
22 The ‘Trials of Living …’ are that which a person encounters in life with regard to being
enticed by the worldly life and the desires to which it gives rise. The ‘Trials of dying ...’
are the trials of the grave, and the questioning by the two Angels. And the ‘Trials of the
False Messiah (Dajjaal) ...’ are the supernatural occurrences that will happen at his hands;
things that will lead many people to go astray, to follow him and accept his claim to
divinity
(177) The imaam leading others in Prayer, should raise his voice
with the salutation except when performing the Funeral Prayer.
(178) There are a number of ways of giving the salutations.
(a) To say:
As-Salaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh
May Allaah grant you peace and security, and may His Mercy and
Blessings be upon You.
to his right, and:
As-Salaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullaah
May Allaah grant you peace and security, and may His Mercy be
upon you.
to his left.
(b) To say:
As-Salaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullaah
May Allaah grant you peace and security, and may His Mercy be
upon you.
to his right and left.
(c) To say:
As-Salaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullaah
May Allaah grant you peace and security, and may His Mercy be
upon you.
to his right and:
As-Salaamu 'alaykum
May Allaah grant you peace and security.
to his left.
(d) To give a single salutation facing forwards, and turning slightly
to the right, saying:
As-Salaamu 'alaykum
May Allaah grant you peace and security.



O brother Muslim! This is what I have been able to do with regard
to “The Abridgement of the Prophet's ! Prayer Described.” I have
striven to make it easily understandable, so that it should be clear
to you and so that you may picture it as if you were seeing it with
your (own) eyes. So if you perform the Prayer in the manner that I
have described to you, from the Prayer of the Prophet !, then I
hope that Allaah, the Most High, will accept it from you, because in
that case you will be putting into practice the saying of the Prophet
!, “Pray as you have seen me praying.”
Then along with this it is upon you that you do not forget the
importance to be given to praying with an attentive heart, and to
praying with humility and submissiveness (khushoo'), since this is
the major goal of the servant's standing before Allaah, the Most
High, in Prayer.
So in accordance with the level of your fulfillment of what I have
described to you, concerning humility, attentiveness and adherence
to the manner in which the Prophet ! prayed, will be your
attainment of the desired fruit indicated by our Lord, the Blessed
and Most High, in His Saying:
“Indeed, the Prayer prevents immorality and sin”23
So in conclusion I ask Allaah, the Most High, that He accepts our
prayers, and the rest of our actions, and that He saves the reward of
them for us on that Day when we shall meet Him ...
“The Day when neither wealth nor sons will avail - except one
who meets Allaah with a heart free of associating anything in
worship with Him.”24
And all praise is for Allaah,
the Lord and Sustainer of all creation.
23 Soorah al-Ankaboot (29):45
24 Soorah ash-Shu'araa (26):88-81)

[mabdullah]

Description of Eid prayer

Praise be to Allaah.  

The Eid prayer is one where the imam attends and leads the people in praying two rak’ahs. ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The prayer of al-Fitr is two rak’ahs and the prayer of al-Adha is two rak’ahs, complete and not shortened, on the tongue of your Prophet, and the one who fabricates lies is doomed.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 1420 and Ibn Khuzaymah. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed said: The Messenger of Allaah SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to come out on the day of al-Fitr and al-Adha to the prayer place, and the first thing he would do was to offer the prayer. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 956

In the first rak’ah he should say Takbeerat al-ihraam (say “Allaahu akbar” to start the prayer), after which he should say six or seven more takbeers, because of the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), “The takbeer of al-Fitr and al-Adha is seven takbeers in the first rak’ah and five takbeers in the second, apart from the takbeer of rukoo’.” Narrated by Abu Dawood and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 639.

Then he should recite al-Faatihah, and recite Soorat Qaf in the first rak’ah. In the second rak’ah he should stand up saying takbeer, and when he has stood up completely he should say takbeer five times, and recite Soorat al-Faatihah then Soorat al-Qamr. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite these two soorahs during the two Eids. Or if he wishes he can recite Soorat al-A’la in the first rak’ah and Soorat al-Ghaashiyah in the second, because it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite al-A’la and al-Ghaashiyah in the Eid prayer.

The imam should revive the Sunnah be reciting these soorahs so that the Muslims will become familiar with the Sunnah.

After the prayer, the imam should address the people. Part of the khutbah should be addressed specifically to the women, telling them of the things that they should do and warning them against the things that they should avoid, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do.

See Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam by Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him), p. 398; Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 8/300-316).

The prayer comes before the khutbah
One of the rulings of Eid is that the prayer comes before the khutbah, because of the hadeeth of Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah who said, The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came out on the day of al-Fitr and started with the prayer before the khutbah. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 958; Muslim, 885.

Another indication that the khutbah comes after the prayer is the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to come out to the prayer place on the day of al-Fitr and al-Adha, and the first thing he would start with was the prayer, then he would go and stand facing the people, while the people were sitting in their rows, and he would preach to them and advise them and command them.  If he wanted to send out a military expedition he would do so and if he wanted to tell the people to do something he would do so, then he would leave.

Abu Sa’eed said: The people continued to do that until I went out with Marwaan – who was the governor of Madeenah – on Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr, and when we came to the prayer-place, there was a minbar that had been built by Katheer ibn al-Salt. When Marwaan wanted to ascend it before he prayed, I grabbed his garment and he pushed me away and climbed up and delivered the khutbah before the prayer. I said, “You have changed it by Allaah.”

 He said, “O Abu Sa’eed, what you knew has gone.”

 I said, “What I know, by Allaah, is better than what I do not know.”

 He said, “The people will not sit and listen to us after the prayer, so we did it before the prayer.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 956.

What should be done if Eid coincides with Friday

Praise be to Allaah.

If the day of Eid coincides with Friday, then whoever prays Eid with the imaam does not have to attend Jumu’ah (it is not obligatory on him); in his case it becomes Sunnah. ( and person still acn pray it as Sunnah)

If he does not pray Jumu’ah, he has to pray Zuhr. This is in the case of people other than the imaam. As for the imaam, he has to be present for Jumu’ah and lead those Muslims who attend the prayer. The Jumu’ah prayer should not be forsaken completely on this day.

Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan




Source: Islam Q&A