Salah

Method of Congregational Prayer

After fulfilling the conditions for the prayer, the worshipper stands straight with his face towards Ka’ba
and hands hanging down the sides of the body, he makes the Niyat for prayer, to be offered. He then
raises his hands to his ears and recites Taqbeer-e-Tahrima. The hands are brought down and folded on
the navel. In this position Sana is recited followed by Taawwuz:

“I BETAKE MYSELF TO ALLAH FOR REFUGE FROM ACCURSED SATAN.”

After this, Tasmiyah is recited. Surah Fatiha is recited followed by Tasmiyah. It means:

“IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL.”

After the recitation of Surah Fatiha, any short or lengthy surah is recited. The worshipper then bows
down in forwarding direction, while standing and placing both his hands on his knees. In this position, he
recites Tasbih Ruku at least three times:

“GLORY TO MY LORD, THE GREAT.”

After saying this, he stands straight and recites:

“ALLAH LISTENS TO HIM WHO GIVES PRAISE.”

Then Tahmid is recited:

“O OUR LORD! ALL PRAISE IS DUE TO YOU ALONE.”

After Tahimd, the worshipper stands erect for a while and then goes to ground for prostration while
reciting Taqbeer. In the position of Sajda, the toes of both feet, both knees, both hands and the
forehead touch the ground. In this posture, worshipper recites:

“GLORY TO MY LORD, THE MOST HIGH”

is recited thrice. After the Tasbih Sajda, the worshipper says Takbir and sites for a short while reciting
Takbir. This is known as Jalsa after which second Sajda is performed in the same way as first. He then
recites Takbir while rising. The worshipper then stands to perform the second Rakat in the same way as
the first except that Sana in the position of Qiyam is not to be recited. After the performance of the
second Rakat, the worshipper assumes sitting position known a Qaadah.Following Qaadah he recites
Tahiyya:

“ALL PRAYERS AND WORSHIPS RENDERED THROUGH WORDS, ACTIONS AND WEALTH ARE DUE TO
ALLAH ALONE. PEACE BE ON YOU, O PROPHET AND THE MERCY OF ALLAH AND HIS BLESSINGS. PEACE
BE ON US AND THE RIGHTEOUS SERVANTS OF ALLAH.”
Then worshipper recites the Tashuud:

“I BEAR WITNESS THAT NONE DESERVES TO BE WORSHIPPED EXCEPT ALLAH AND I BEAR WITNESS
THAT MUHAMMAD IS HIS SERVANT AND APOSTLE.”

Followed by this, Durud is recited which mentions the blessing on Holy Prophet (PBUH). After the
recitation of Durud, he recites:

“O MY LORD! MAKE ME ONE WHO ESTABLISHES REGULAR PRAYERS AND ALSO AMONG MY
OFFSPRING. O OUR LORD! ACCEPT MY PRAYERS. O ONE LORD! COVER ME WITH YOUR FORGIVENESS-
ME, MY PARENTS AND BELIEVERS TO THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.”

Consequently, the worshipper ends the prayer with Taslim in which he turns his face to right, looking
over the right shoulder says:

“PEACE BE UPON YOU AND MERCY OF ALLAH”

Then turning his face to left and looking over the next shoulder, the repeats the same words.

Conditions to be fulfilled before Salah

As prayer (Salah) is the second pillar of Islam. It begins with the purification of the body and ends with
the purification of the soul. The prayers (Salah) performed five times a day and the night which are Fajr
(at dawn), Zuhr (afternoon), Asr (midafternoon), Maghrib (sunset) and Isha (nightfall). Prayer may be
considered as an energizing charge man needs to stand in the remembrance of his Rabb. In order to
renew the contact with his Rabb, the first think the men starts off his day with his prayer. As the Holy
Quran says:

“WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED AS-SALAT (THE PRAYER – CONGREGATIONAL), REMEMBER ALLAH
STANDING, SITTING DOWN, AND LYING DOWN ON YOUR SIDES, BUT WHEN YOU ARE FREE FROM
DANGER, PERFORM AS-SALAT. VERILY, THE PRAYER IS ENJOINED ON THE BELIEVERS AT FIXED
HOURS.”

Allah also says in the Holy Quran:

“AND SEEK HELP THROUGH PATIENCE AND PRAYERS”

To perform prayer there are certain conditions that a person needs to fulfill before offering the prayers.
These conditions are that person should wear clean clothes and body must be clean from all impurities.
They have to cover the Satar as well as the women: All Muslims that is male is required to cover what is
between the navel and the knee at Salah. But women should cover the whole body except their faces
and hands. Tight (not transparent) clothes are accepted but loose ones are preferable. A person must
perform ablution with the intentions of Salah for which he or she are performing the Wuzu. The place
where he or she is going to pray must be clean as Allah says in the Holy Quran:

“O YOU WHO BELIEVE! WHEN YOU INTEND TO OFFER AS-SALAT (THE 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. IF YOU ARE IN A STATE OF JANABA (I.E. HAD A
SEXUAL DISCHARGE), PURIFY YOURSELF (BATH YOUR WHOLE BODY)..”
After performing Wuzu and standing at clean place for prayer, a Muslim should orientate himself or
herself towards the point of adoration that is the Holy Kaabah in the city of Makkah:

“SO TURN YOUR FACE IN THE DIRECTION OF AL-MASJID- AL-HARAM (AT MAKKAH). AND
WHERESOEVER’S YOU PEOPLE ARE, TURN YOUR FACES (IN PRAYER) IN THAT DIRECTION.”

After this, the worshipper makes intention for prayer and starts his Salah. As the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
said:

“INTENTION IS COMPULSORY FOR ALL DEEDS”

Congregational prayers
The Friday prayer carries special importance for Muslim and Quran relates it as:

“O YE WHO BELIEVE! WHEN THE CALL IS PROCLAIMED ON FRIDAY (THE DAY OF ASSEMBLY) HASTEN
EARNESTLY TO THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH AND LEAVE OFF BUSINESS, THAT IS THE BEST FOR YOU
IF YE BUT KNEW.”

Friday prayer according to Holy Prophet PBUH is obligatory for every adult male. The preparations for
Jumma prayer are similar to that of daily prayers but Muslims are advised to take bath, put on fresh
clothes and apply some fragrance, which is also a Sunnah of Prophet PBUH. Muslims are required to
leave their business and go to the mosque as soon as they hear the Azaan for the Friday prayer. Mainly,
males offer congregational prayer but in some communities, women are also encouraged to attend and
pray in congregation.

After the first Azaan is called, one has to offer for pre-farz Sunnats. Then the second Azaan is called
before the Khutbah. After the call to prayers, the Imam delivers the sermon, which is an essential part of
Friday prayer. The Khutbah is obligatory (Farz) part of Friday prayer and listening to it is a Wajib act.
While the Khutbah is being delivered, no conversation is allowed. Reading Holy Quran, reciting Durood
or even praying is forbidden. Prophet(PBUH) said:

”WHEN YOU TELL YOUR COMPANION ON FRIDAY TO BE SILENT WHILE THE IMAM IS PREACHING, YOU
ARE GUILTY OF IDLE TALK.”

Everyone must listen to the sermon quietly till the end. The use of mobile phones must be prevented.
The sermon consists of advice based on the Quran and Hadith about living a lifestyle according to Islam.
The Imam upon delivering the first sermon sits down for a short while and starts to deliver the second
sermon. In this, the Imam recites portions of Holy Quran.

After the second sermon, people arrange themselves in rows while the Iqamat is being called. Two Farz
raakats are offered under the leadership of Imam. As soon as the Farz are offered, the Friday prayer is
completed and the Imam makes dua. Following this, the Muslims offer 4 raakats of Sunnats, followed by
2 more Sunnats and 2 Nawafil individually. Furthermore, the Friday prayer cannot be prayed as Kaza,
instead, the believer has to offer the Zuhr prayer. Moreover, there are some people exempted from the
Friday congregational prayers. They include Travelers, Sick, women, minors, slaves, and children.