Description & Units
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Meaning of Salah (Prayers)
As-Salah: In the Arabic language it means du’aa’ (Invocation).
As-Salah: Islamically it means to worship Allaah through certain known and prescribed sayings and actions starting with Takbeer (saying Allaahu Akbar Allaah is the Greater), and ending with Tasleem (saying: as-salaamu ‘alaykum wa Rahmatul-lahi wabarakaatuh may Allaah’s Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you).
Read previous pages for more details.
The Merits of As-Salah
1-Prevents from Al-Fahshaa’ (great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al-Munkar (disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.). [see Quran:29/45].
2-The best of deeds after the Testimony of Faith (laa ilaaha illal-laah, Muhammad rasoulul-laah). [hadeeth ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’oud (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) in Bukhari (v.9; 625) & Muslim].
3-Washes out sins. [hadeeth of Jaabir (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) in Muslim (v1;1410)].
4-Expiates sins. [hadeeth of Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) in Muslim (v1;450)].
5-A light for its adherent in this Life and in the Hereafter. [hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar (radiyallaahu ‘anhuma) in Musnad Ahmad (v2;169) with good chain of narration].
6-Raises in rank and removes sins. [hadeeth of Thawbaan (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) in Muslim (v.1; 989)].
7-One of the greatest causes to enter Paradise with the company of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). [hadeeth of Rabee’ah al-Aslami (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) in Muslim (v1; 990)].
8-Between each performance of salaat and the next performance, sins are pardoned [hadeeth ‘Uthmaan (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) in Muslim (v1;438)].
9-The angels will ask Allaah for Blessings and Forgiveness upon the adherent in his place of prayers. [hadeeth Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) in Bukhari (v.3; 330) and in Muslim].
10-Waiting for the next prayer after observing a prayer is Ribaat (keeping oneself adhering and firm on acts of obedience).[hadeeth Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) in Muslim (251)].
11-The one who goes to the Mosque to perform the prayer is in prayer until he returns. [hadeeth Abu Hurairah radiyallaahu ‘anhu) in “saheeh” ibn Khuzaimah; authenticated by Al-Albani].
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The Five Obligatory (Obl.) Prayers+Regular (Reg.)+Optional Prayers (Opt.)
Allah, the Most High, Says:
ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا
“Verily, Salah (Prayers) is enjoined on the believers- to be performed-at fixed times.”
The Prayers are
Prayer
Time
Reg* or Opt** (before the Obligatory) Units
Obligatory Units
Reg* or Opt** (following the Obligatory) Units
Fajr (early morning); 2 Obligatory units
dawn – sunrise
2*
2
–
Thuhr (noonday); 4 obligatory units.
zawaal (sun passing its zenith) – time of next prayer (‘Asr)
2* & 2*
4
2 (2**)
‘Asr (late afternoon), 4 obligatory units.
time when shadow of a vertical stick equals its length – sunset
4**
4
–
Maghrib (sunset); 3 obligatory units.
sunset – disappearance of red twilight (glow) in the sky.
2**
3
2*
Ishaa’ (night); 4 obligatory units
disappearance of the red glow – midnight
2*
4
2*, 2*, 1*
One Unit of Prayer (Rak’ah) constitutes certain actions: standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting, and prostrating.
If one misses an obligatory prayer due to sleep or forgetfulness, then the person must perform it as soon as he/she wakes up or when he/she remembers it.
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