What's Salat? Why? How [video]
Many questions come to us every day on the topic of salat.
So, today when answering one of the new Muslims, we made a copy of their questions and answers for you to have in your files. Hope you like it and will share it with others for the good rewards, inshallah.
Here is my reply back to our new brother in Islam:
Placing the head on the ground is the highest act of worship one can preform in this life.
The devil has refused to ever do this and Allah has ordered the believers to disobey the devil and to obey Him, Alone without partners.
Your letter to me....
I have a few questions regarding the Salat, I have not really been praying my salats because I do not have much knowledge regarding them, I have learnt how to pray and intend to do all my prayers on time but just had a few questions that I need clarifying just to make sure I am praying correctly, If you could answer the following questions regarding prayer please;
Please start your salat immediately as this is the difference between us and the non-believers and whoever leaves the salat has left Islam according to the majority of the scholars based on Quran and hadeeth.
A)
I am not really sure how to use a prayer timetable, could you explain when the prayer times are valid from the following example from my prayer timetable. When does Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha Start and Finish according to the following Prayer timetable;
Fajar Start 3.15; Fajar Jamat 4.00; Sunrise 4.50; Zuhr Start 1.15; Zuhr Jamat 1.30; Asr Start 5.30; Asr Jamat 6.30; Maghrib Start/Jamat 9.30; Isha Start 10.45; Isha Jamat 11.00
These are fixed times in your schedule and this does not work - but I answered this in D) below - OK?
B)
I also wanted to ask that I heard it is not permissable to pray at certain times, and what are these times. Also if someone oversleeps unintentionally they should pray salat as soon as they wake up even if the prayer time has gone, but what if they wake up at one of the times its not permissable to pray, when should they make this prayer up in that case.
The forbidden times are the times when the devil used to pray before being rejected for his arrogance in front of Allah. Those times are exactly when the sun is straight up overhead, and when the sun is on the horizon in the morning or evening.
C)
If someone does not know the direction of the qiblah, can they pray in whatever direction they think is closest?
D)
Is the following rakats and if they are aloud/silent correct or not?
Fajar- 2 Rakats (Aloud)
Zuhr- 4 Rakats (Silent)
Asr- 4 Rakats (Silent)
Maghrib- 3 Rakats (2 Aloud, 1 Silent)
Isha- 4 Rakats (2 Aloud, 2 Silent)
Sunnah is 2 silent and highly stressed if at all possible due to the amazing rewards.
Fardh is 2 rakat and out loud is correct. (before the sun comes up)
Dhuhr is 4 (silent) with option of 2 before or 2 and then another 2 before and 2 after. (after the passing of the sun over the highest point)
Asr is 4 (silent) with nothing specified here for the optional but you can do 2 before if you like. (mid way between noon and sunset - when the shadow of something is the length of the item, until when it is double the length of the item)
Maghrib is 3 (right after sunset) out loud - nothing specified before, but 2 very important if you can after.
Essha is 4 (about 90 minutes or so, when it is totally dark after maghrib) Out loud and nothing before specified.
If you can, do at least 2 after the esha salat.
If you like and very important if you can, to do 2 more and the if you can, 2 more and then 1 by itself if you can and these should be done at home just before sleeping or in the middle of the night and that is best.
(Allahu 'Alim - Allah Knows Best)
E)
If someone has only time to read the Fard, for example because they are at work, and they read only the Fard and not the sunnat or Nafl prayers, are they sinning? But they pray the Sunnat and Nafl in addition to the Fard when they do have time to.
If a person does not have the time to pray in congregation, can they pray alone, but they try to pray in congregation when they have the time?
The meaning is clear and you are correct in your assumption about doing the minimum while at work or in necessary conditions. Even if you never pray one optional prayer (a great loss to you), but you are still a Muslim, with paradise available to you, inshallah (God willing).
F)
I heard it is sunnah to pray with Shoes on, so how clean must your shoes be in prayer?
As far as how clean? - this is no problem as long as there is nothing 'najis' (the filth of excrement, urine or feces)
G)
Some people say the intention to pray aloud before they pray I find this a bit odd, I personally think that intention is made in the heart and Allah knows it anyway. So is my prayer valid if I don't say the intention aloud as some people do?
H)
Some people make duas and their Salats through intercession of saints and the Prophet, I don't personally because I think its only to Allah that a person should make duas or prayers, am I correct or not?
Totally out of Islam and not acceptable to Allah and if they don't repent and re-enter Islam from the start - they will never see paradise.
I)
If somebody can't pray standing due to difficulty, can they pray sitting?
Yes, or even laying down or if they cannot move at all, just use their eyes to motion their positions. This is really between them and Allah, isn't it? So, no problem.
J)
Do you have to wear a hat when praying?
No. But if you do it is ok.
Watch Abduraheem McCarthy and Dr. Zakir Naik on Guide US TV
For VIDEOS on this topic - visit www.TubeIslam.com .
Jazakallah khair was salam alaykum,
Yusuf Estes
Director for Share Islam Project
Washington, D.C. USA
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Editor: Good question. You can find answers for questions like this and others on our website: www.JustAskIslam.com and on www.SearchForIslam.com (just type keywords 'Esha Time') for instance.
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