Performance Of The Salaat

After introducing the salaat and discussing its pre-requisites, we shall now turn to matters pertaining to its actual performance.

Conditions For The Prayer 

There are a number of conditions which needs to be fulfilled for the prayer to be valid. These are as follows:

1. Acceptance of Islamic faith- disbelievers are not required who established salaat until they believe in "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" and bear witness that there is no god but Allah and bear witness that Mohammed is His  servant and messenger.

2. Anniyah- this in Arabic means the intention by heart to perform the particular prayer.

3. Cleanliness- this includes cleanliness of the body, the clothes and the place where the prayer is to be performed.

4. Purification-this refers to the performance of the Wudhu (or Ghusl where is required) prior to undertaking the prayer.

5. Concealing of the private parts- for a man, it is essential that he be covered at least from the navel to the knees all round, while, in case of women, her body should be totally covered except for the face and wrists. 

6. Facing of the "Qiblah'- this means that a person when praying must face towards  the direction of the sacred masjid in "Makkah." Where a person is not able to locate the direction by himself/ herself the person may ask another person who may know the direction of the Qiblah. However,  if no one is in sight to guide to the right direction, then, the person should decide for himself /herself and make the best guess of the correct direction of the Qiblah, and accordingly perform the prayer in that direction even though the guess maybe incorrect. The prayer performed would still be acceptable (In Shaa Allah) in view of the following verse of the Holy Qur'an.

"Whichever direction ye turn thare is the presence of Allah," ( Qur'an 2:1115) 

7. Timings- prayers are to be observed in the prescribed times.

8. Sanity and consciousness-prayers  is required only from person of sound mind.

 9. Ability to distinguish- prayer is required only where the person (child) is able to distinguish between good and bad, and is able to understand and appreciate fully what is to be recited, performed etc.

Note:

It is preferred for children to begin performing the prayer at the age of seven for it awakens in them the presence of "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" and inculcates in them the habit of praying as an act of worship and love for "Allah
Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala". 

A child at the age of 10 is made to understand that prayer is necessarily a part of the person's daily life and is a solemn duty ordained by "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" on all muslims, and that failure to perform it is an act of disbelief (Kufr). 

Therefore, parents are required to guide their children to the right path by punishing any of them who at the age of 10 intentionally misses the prayers.

The Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:

"Order your children to pray when they reach the age of seven and punish them for not performing it at the age of ten and separate them (i.e. boys and girls) in their beds." (Reported by Imam Bukhari) 

Upon attaining the age of 15, a child is deemed to have reached adulthood, whereby,  he/she is required to perform the prayer.  

Herebelow, are some other signs which may indicate that a child has attained adulthood.

a. The growing of pubic hairs.

b.  Finding the traces of semen on the child's clothes and/or bed.

c.The start of menstruation, in the case of girl.

Categories Of The Acts Of The Salaat 

All the acts, regarding readings and supplications undertaken in the course of the salaat have different legal weights and implications. They are categorised as follows:

A. Pillars of the Salaat
B. Duties of the Salaat

C. Preferred Acts of the Salaat 

We shall now discuss each of these categories in turn.

Pillars of the Salaat

The prayer has obligatory pillars which must be fulfilled for it to be valid and these are as follows:

1. " Al-Qiyam"-  prayer is to be performed in standing position if a person is physically capable.

2. "Takbiiratil Ihraam', that is saying "Allahu Akbar" at the commencement of the prayer.

3. "Al-Fatihah'-  that is reciting the opening chapter of the Holy Qur'an in every rakaat.

4. "Rukku"- this is the bowing posture whereby the head and the back are positioned on the same level and both hands are rested on the knees with the fingers spread apart.

5. A requirement to raise the head up from the Rukuu position .

6.  A requirement to stand up from the Rukuu position in such a way that all his/her backbones are straightened.

7."Sujuud" that is the prostrating oneself in such a way that the following seven parts of the body are firmly placed on the ground: the forehead together with the tip of the nose, both the palms, both the knees, the bottom surface of the toes of both feet.

8. A requirement to raise the head from the Sujuud position.

9. A requirement to sit upright during the pause between two prostrations.

10. A requirement to take a sitting position for the recitation of the "At-Tashahud" (words of witness).

11. A requirement to decide the final At-Tashahud".

12. A requirement to recite the words of supplication for the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

13. A requirement to conclude the prayer with the words of peace "Tasleem", i.e. "Assalamu Aleykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh".

14. A requirement  that in fulfilling the above pillars the person should be in a state of tranquility.

The above are the pillars of the prayer, wherein, if any of them is missed, it is required to repeat the whole rakaat (unit )in  which the pillar is omitted, but if, the Takbiiratil-Ihraam is omitted,  it become necessary to repeat the whole salaat.

Necessary Duties Of The Salaat 

In addition to the above 14 pillars of the prayer, there are also certain necessary duties which need to be fulfilled in the course of the salaat. These are as follows: 

1. Saying "Allahu Akbar" in the course of the prayer where it is necessary, e.g. upon  commencing Rukuu etc.

2. Saying Subhana rabbiyal Azeem" when in Rukuu position.

3.  Saying "Sami Allahu Liman Hamidah'" while resuming standing position from the Rukuu whether the person is an "Imaan" (leader) or is praying alone.

4. Saying "Rabbana Walakal Hamd" when resuming the standing position from the Rukuu after saying the words: "Sami Allahu Liman Hamidah". This is required from the Imaan (leader), from the congregation and even from a person who is praying alone.

5. Saying "Subhana Rabbiyal A' ala" when in sujuud (prostration) position. 

6. Saying "Rabbi Ighfir Lee"  in the sitting pose between the two prostrations of every unit of the prayer.

7. Taking a sitting position for the recitation of At-Tashahud after the first two rakaats (units) of  Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha prayers.

8. Reciting the At-Tashahud (words of witness) after the first two rakaats (units) of Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha prayers.

The above 8 acts constitute the necessary duties of the prayer and if one of them is missed intentionally, then the person is required to amend the mistake by coming up with the two prostrations of forgetfulness at the end of the prayer. However,  if any of these duties is left out deliberately, then the whole prayer is nullified and shall require a repetition.

Preferred Acts Of The Salaat 

In addition to the pillars and necessary duties already discussed, there are also certain preffered acts to be fulfilled in the course of prayer. These are as follows: 

1. Reciting of an opening supplication (Dua-al-Istiftaah) after the "Takbiiratil-Ihraam".

 2. Placing the hands over the chest while the person is in a standing position with the right hand place about the left hand.

3. Raising of both hands up to the level of the shoulders or near to the lobes of the ears then saying "Takbiiratil Ihraam" when heading for the Rukuu; when resuming in standing position from the Rukuu and when resuming standing position from the first Tashahud.

4. Seeking the protection of Allah from the cursed Satan (only at the start of the first rakaat) by saying:

"Authu billahi minas- shaytani-r-rajim." which means 

"I seek Allah's refuge from the cursed Satan." 

5. Starting the prayer with the silent invocation of "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" by saying: "Bismillahi-r-rahmani-r-rahim."

 which means

"In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful." 

6. Saying "Ameen" upon concluding the recitation of "Al-Fatihah." 

7. Reciting some chapters or passages (at least three(3) verses) of the Holy Qur'an after Al-Fatihah in the first two rakaats (units) of each prayer.

8. A preference that the recitation of Al- Fatihah and of any other additional readings from the Holy Qur'an are recited in a loud voice in the first two rakaats of Fajr, Magrib and Isha prayer 

9. A preference that when sitting for the first Tashahud and in between the two prostrations, the person rests on his left foot flattened on the ground while keeping the right foot erect with the bottom of the toes firmed on the ground.

10. A preference to practice At-Tawaruk up when standing for the final At-Tashahud in the Dhuhr, Asr, Magrib and Isha prayers. "At-Tawaruk"  is the mode of sitting, wherein the person protrudes out his left foot, from underneath his right leg,insuch a way that the person does not relax on his left foot.

11. Reciting the following supplication,

when sitting for At-Tashahud,  in between the supplication for the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and the final words of peace:

" Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min adhabi jahanama,aamin adhabil qabr. wamin fitnatil Mahyaa wal- ma-mati, wamin fitnatil masihid-dajjal."

 which means

"O  Lord I seek your protection from the torment of jahannam (the hell fire), and from the torment of the grave, and from the trials of living and dying and from the trials of Masiih Addajjal."

The above points are the preferred acts of the prayer and all muslims are encouraged to preserve these practices because their observance entitles the person great rewards from "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala". However, missing any of them does neither invalidate the salaat nor require the two prostrations of forgetfulness.