SALAH
Module 1 – Circle 11
What is Salah?
Salah is the prayer of a Muslim, in which he or she
can communicate directly with Allah swt. Salah is
the second pillar of Islam, and a Muslim is required
to pray Salah five times each day
Module 1 – Circle 11
Why should a Muslim pray
Salah?
Abu Hurairah narrates, ‘I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "If
there was a river at the door of anyone of you, and he took
a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on
him?" They said, "Not a trace of dirt would be left." The
Prophet added, "That is the example of the five prayers with
which Allah blots out evil deeds."’ (Bukhari Volume 1, Book
10, Number 506)
Module 1 – Circle 11
Why should we remember Allah swt?
Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee and
establish Regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from
shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is
the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows
the (deeds) that ye do. 29:45
Those who fear Allah when a thought of evil from satan
assaults them bring Allah to remembrance when lo! they
see (aright)! 7:201
Module 1 – Circle 11
Are Five Prayers a day too
much?
Each prayer takes a very small amount of time. If
we assume that the five prayers take a total of 30
minutes per day, out of the 1440 minutes per day,
Allah swt asks us for just 2% of our time!
When the Prophet pbuh was prescribed the
Prayers for his Ummah, the initial number was 50
per day, which was reduced to 25, and then further
reduced to 5 prayers, as a mercy from Allah swt.
Module 1 – Circle 11
At what age should we start to Pray
Salah?
Children should be taught Salah from a young age, so that
by the age of 7, they are able to pray occasionally. Once
they reach the age of 10, they should be praying more
often. Once a child has reached the age of maturity
(approximately 13), then they should be praying all 5
Salahs daily.
Module 1 – Circle 11
Is Salah optional?
"Verily, I am Allah. There is no god but I: So serve thou Me
(only), and establish regular prayer for My remembrance".
{Sura Tá-há, 14}
"Guard strictly your prayers, especially the Middle Prayer;
and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind)." {Sura
Al-Baqarah, 238}
"Allah has obligated five prayers. Whoever excellently performs
their ablutions, prays them in their proper times, completes their
bows, prostrations and khushu` [Khushu` in the prayer is where
the person’s heart is attuned to the prayer.] has a promise from
Allah that He will forgive him. And whoever does not do that has
no promise from Allah. He may either forgive him or punish him."
[Recorded by Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]
Module 1 – Circle 11
What are the consequences of not
praying Salah?
"O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children
divert you from the remembrance of Allâh. And whosoever
does that, then they are the losers." (Sura Al-Munaafiqoon,
9)
The Noble Messenger pbuh said: "Allah swt will meet a
person (on the Day of Judgement) and ask him: "O person,
Wasn't I generous with you, and made you with a spouse,
and made the horses and camels at your disposal? The
servant will reply "yes"! Allah swt will then ask “Did you
think that you will meet me?” He will reply: "No!" Allah swt
will say: "I will forget you like you forgot me"!
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Are people who do not pray Salah
still Muslims?
Rasulullah (SAW) said "The covenant between us
and them is prayer, so if anyone abandons it he
has become a disbeliever." (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)
The Messenger pbuh also said “What lies between
a man and disbelief is the abandonment of prayer."
(Muslim)
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Will we be questioned about Salah
after we die?
The Prophet pbuh said, "The first thing that the servant will be
called to account for on the Day of Judgment will be Salah. If it is
good, his deeds will have been good. If it is bad, his deeds will
have been bad." (At-Tabarani)
The Prophet pbuh said: “The first thing the people will be
accountable for on the Day of Judgment is prayer, Allah swt will
say to His angels (even though he already knows) : “Look at my
servants prayers. Were they complete or not?” If they were
complete It will be written as complete. If they were not fully
complete Allah swt will say: “See if my servant has voluntary
prayers, If he has them Allah swt will say: Complete his
obligatory prayers shortage with his voluntary prayers.” Then the
rest of his deeds will be dealt with in the same manner.” (Ahmad,
Abu Dawood)
Module 1 – Circle 11
Are we punished if we do not pray
Salah?
And (ask) of the Sinners: "What led you into Hell
Fire?" They will say: "We were not of those who
prayed". (Surah Mudathir 41-43)
"But after them there followed a posterity who
missed prayers and followed after lusts soon, then,
will they face Destruction." (Surah Maryam, 59)
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When should we pray Salah, and are
we punished if we do not pray on
time?
There are 5 daily prayers prescribed to Muslims. Fajr is
performed at dawn, Zuhr is a noon prayer, Asr is performed
in the afternoon, Maghrib is the sunset prayer, and Isha is
the evening prayer.
Allah swt says:
So woe unto those performers of salat
(hypocrites), Those who delay their salat (from their
stated fixed times) Surah Al-Ma’un 107:4-5
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What should we do if we miss our
Salah by accident?
Anas ibn Maalik reported that the Messenger pbuh said:
“Whoever forgets a prayer, let him pray it as soon as he
remembers, for there is no expiation for it except this.”
(Muslim).
We were in the company of the Messenger pbuh during one of his
journeys. He overslept abandoning the morning prayer until the sun had
arisen. The Messenger pbuh awoke and said: Go away from this place.
He then commanded Bilal to call for prayer. He called for prayer. They
(the people) performed ablution and offered two rak'ahs of the morning
prayer (sunnah prayer). He then commanded Bilal (to utter the iqamah).
He announced the prayer (i.e. uttered the iqamah) and he led them in
the morning prayer. (Sunan Abu Dawud 0444)
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Should we pray Salah alone?
Narrated 'Abdullah bin Umar (Radi Allah Anhu): Allah's
Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, "The prayer in
congregation is twenty seven times superior to the prayer
offered by person alone.” (Bukhari)
Module 1 – Circle 11
Where should we pray Salah?
Salah can be offered virtually anywhere, as outlined in the
following Hadith:
Narrated Abu Sa’eed Al-Kudri: The Prophet pbuh said, “The
whole earth is a masjid (to pray on) except a graveyard and
a toilet.” [At-Tirmidhi]
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What is Fard / Sunnah / Nawafil /
Wajib in terms of Salah?
Fard Rakkahs are compulsory, and without them, the prayer is
invalid. It is highly recommended to pray these Rakkahs in
congregation (Jammah).
Sunnah Rakkahs are those which the Prophet pbuh used to offer
before or after the Fard Rakkahs in each Salah. It is highly
recommended to pray these Sunnah Rakkahs, as they can help
to make up for any deficiency in the Fard Salah.
Nawafil Rakkahs are optional, and can help us to earn extra
reward.
The Witr (odd) prayer is neither classed as Fard or Sunnah. It is
known as ‘Wajib’, which means ‘essential’ or ‘necessary’.
Module 1 – Circle 11