THE true performance of prayers (Salat) is the true demonstration of our faith in Almighty God. It confirms our true faith as Muslims. It drives us away from sins. It purifies our heart. It purifies our soul. It purifies our body. And it strengthens our spirit to savour the blessings and mercy of Almighty Allah. Almighty declares in the Holy Qur’an, Baqarah 2:277, “Those who believe and do deeds of righteousness and establish regular prayers and regular charity will have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.”
And a Hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) says, “If a man is fond of the mosque, God will be fond of him. This attests to the Qur’an verse that the only ones to frequent God’s mosques shall be those who believe in God and the Last Day.” (Qur’an 9:18).
The actual performance of prayers starts with the declaration of prayer (lqamat). It makes us to formally enter into a prayer either individually or in a congregation. It is important to note that we should strive at all times to establish prayers at the appointed time in the mosque congregationally. As reported by Bukhari and Muslim, in an authentic hadith. The merit of congregational prayers surpasses that of individual prayer by twenty-seven degrees.”
The declaration of prayer (Iqamat) is made while the congregation stands side by side facing the Ka’abah in Makkah. It reads: “Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar, Ash adu anal ilaha illah lah, Ash adu anna Muhammadan Rosulullah, Hayya ‘ala saalat, Hayya ‘alal Falah, Qad qamatis Sala, Qadqamatis- Salah Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah” (God is the greatest, God is the Greatest, I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah; I bear witness that the Holy prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of God; come to prayer: come to Goodness; prayer is ready, prayer is ready. God is the Greatest; God is the Greatest, There is no deity, but Allah).
Iqamat was revealed in a vision to a companion of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Abbdullah bin Zaid bin Abdul- Robbinhi
After the Iqamat, everyone stands for prayer. We then raise our hands at the standing position (Waquf) and say Allahu Akbar. The first Allahu Akbar is compulsory. It is called Taqbiratul-Hiram. Anyone that forgets to say it nullifies his or her prayer.
Then we lower our arms and places the right hand over the left one below the navel with total concentration before Almighty Allah; Who created us from inorganic matter and who shall cause our death to become inorganic again and Who shall raise us as organic matter again to account for our deeds on earth.
We then recite the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an (Fatiha) and then a verse or chapter of Qur’an. The Fatiha must be recited for any prayer to be valid. And every action of the prayer in Islam must be done in Arabic language which is the language of the Holy Qur’an, language in the grave and language on the Day of Resurrection.
The Fatihah and the verse or chapter of the Qur’an will be recited aloud for the Subhi, Maghrib and Ishai; The Zuhr, and Asr prayers will be done inaudible or low voice.
Then we say Allahu Akbar and bow by lowering the head down at a right angle, placing the palms of the hands on the knees and saying in a low voice: “subhana Rabbiyal Azeem” (gory to my Lord, the Great). This is said three times at the Ruku’ (bowing) position.
After that we resume the standing position with the words: “Sami allahu Liman Hamidah; Rabbana Walaka-hamd.” From the standing position, we say, “Allahu Akbar” as we move to the prostrating position (Sujud). Here our toes, both knees, both hands and the forehead, nose, and lips must touch the ground to demonstrate our total submission to the will of Almighty Allah. It is most humble position that moves us closer to God. At the position of prostration (Sujud) we say: “Subhana Rabbiyal Ala” (Glory to my Lord the Most High) three times
Other prayer (Du’a) during the prostration (Sajdah) which the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) reportedly used to say is: “Allahumma Laka Sajadtu; Wabika amantu Walaka; Aslamtu, Sajada Wajhika; Lilllahdi Khalaqahu Wasawwarahu; Fa a ahana Suwarahu, Washaq-qa; Sam’ahu Wabasarahu, Fatabara; Kallahu Ahsanul Khaliqeen” (O God, for you I have prostrated, and in you I have faith, and unto you; I have submitted, my forehead has prostrated in front of one Who created it; and gave shape to it and made it perfectly. Then he gave power of hearing and sight; And Blessed be God’s name Who is the Perfect Creator) (Muslim).
Also, Abu Hurairah (R.A) narrated in another authentic hadith that the holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) used to say in the position of prostration (Sajdah) that: “Allahumma maghfirlee Zanbee Kullahi Diqqahu, Wajillahu Awwallahu, Wa akhirahu, Wa’ala Niyyatahu Wasirrahu” (O God forgive all my sins, minor and major ones. The sins I committed previously and the ones I commit in future the ones I commit openly and the sins I commit secretly” (Muslim, Abu Daud and Hakim).
After the first prostration, we say Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) and sit calmly by bending the left foot and sitting on it while keeping the right foot propped up with its toes pointing towards the Qiblah. The palms of both hands should rest on the thighs and knees, while the back should be in sitting position (Jalsa) between the two prostrations (sajdah) we say: “Allahumma Ighfirlee; Warhamnee Wahdinee Wa’afinee Warfa’nee; War Zuqnee Wajburnee”. Meaning: “O God forgive me and have mercy on me, and keep me on the right path, and keep me healthy, and make my rank high, and provide me with halal sources of living, and complete my shortcomings.”
Then we say, Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) to prostrate second time and say the same prayer said during the first prostration. We then rise to the standing position for the second Rakat by saying” Allahu Akbar” We carry out the same process as did in the first Rakat If it is Salatul Subhi, we sit down after the second rakat and end the prayer with Tashahud: “Attahiyyatulillahi, Attayyibatus-Salawatulillahi, Assalamu alayka ayyuhannabiyyu, Warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu. Assalamu ‘alayna wa’ala ibadillahis-Salihina Ash adu anal ilaha illah Allahu, Wa ashadu anna Muhammadan abduhu, Waraasuluhu.n Second part: “Allahumma Salli ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammad, wa ‘ala ali Sayyidina Muhammad, Kama Sallayta ‘ala Sayyidina Ibraheem. Wa ‘ala ali Sayyidina Ibraheem, Wabarik ‘ala sayyidina Muhammad Wa ‘ala all Sayyidina Muhammad, Kama barakta ‘ala sayyidina Ibraheem Wa ‘ala ali Sayyidina Ibraheem, fil ‘ala Meena Innaka hameedun majeed” (all reverence, all worship, all sanctity are due to Allah, peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of God and His blessings. Peace be upon us all and on the righteous servants of God. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Almighty Allah alone. And I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is His servant and messenger. O God! Exalt our master Muhammad, and the people of our master Muhammad, as thou didst exalt our master Abraham and the people of our master, Abraham. And bless our master Muhammad, and the people of our master, Muhammad, as Thou didst bless our master, Abraham and the people of our master, Abraham, verily Thou art praise-worthy, and glorious). This is the end of a prayer.
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