Tuesday, August 26, 2014

COMPREHENSION OF SALAAT (NAMAAZ)

At numerous places in the Glorious Qur’an, All-Mighty Allah reminds humanity time and again to think and ponder and understand. Islam is a code of life to follow in our practical life. The Pillars of Islam are the Glorious Qur’an and the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.).  The ideal condition would have been that every Muslim learns Arabic language because the Glorious Qur’an is revealed in the Arabic language. If that is not possible or practical then at least we should read the Arabic text and also its translation in our ethnic languages.
With this scenario in mind, I am giving below the English translation of our daily obligatory prayers (Namaz):
Morning Prayers (Salaat-ul-Fajr) is two rakat. After performing Wuzu, I am standing on prayer carpet (Ja’namaz) and recite “Azan” followed by “Intention” (Niyyah) saying “ I am performing two rakat namaz-e-Fajr Qurbatan Ilal-laah (for nearness to Allah). Now I recite Surah Hamd detailed as follows:
                                         In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the Universe, the Beneficent, the Merciful and Master of the Day of Judgment.
(Lord), You alone do we worship and from You alone do we seek assistance.
(Lord), guide us to the right path, the path of those to whom You have granted blessings, who are neither subject to  (Your) anger nor have gone astray.
Then it is recommended to recite Surah al-Qadr (Destiny) as follows:
                                          In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
We have revealed the Qur’an on the Night of Destiny. What does it tell you the Night of Destiny is? (Worship) on the Night of Destiny is better than (worship) for a thousand months.
On this night, the angels and the Spirit descend by the permission of their Lord with His Decree (to determine everyone’s destiny). This night is all peace until the break of dawn.
I say Allah-o-Akbar (Allah is the greatest), then go to Ruku and say “Subhana Rabbi al Azeem-e-wa beHamde” (Glory and praise be to My Lord Cherisher, the Greatest) Then I stand up and say “Same Allah-o-Leman Hamedah”(God hears to those who praise Him) And say “Allah-o-Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest.) Then I go in prostration and say “Subhana Rabbi al A’la wa be Hamde” (Glory and praise be to My Lord Cherisher, the Highest). Say Allah-o-Akbar and rise from Sajdah (prostration) and sit on my heels and say “Astaghfirul-laaha Rabbi wa atoobu Ilayhi” (I seek forgiveness and repentance from Allah) and go back in Sajdah (prostration) and repeat the previous Zikr. Say “Allah-o-Akbar” and slowly stand up saying “Be hawlil-laahe wa quwwate hi Yaqoomu wa aq’ud” (By Permission and Power of Allah I stand and sit). Thus First rakat is complete.
Now I recite Surah Hamd and Surah Ikhlas (The Purity) as follows:
                                          In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
(Muhammad), say, “He is Allah, Who is One (indivisible). Allah is Absolute (Self-sufficient). He did not have any child nor was He a child of others. There was (and is) no one equal (similar, like, alternative, substitutive) to Him (nor will there ever be).
 Raise my hands in Qunoot and say: “Rabbana Aatina Fid-duniya Hasanatan waFil Aaqirate Hasana Wa Qina Azab an- Naar.” (O My Lord, Please give us good in this world and in hereafter and save us from the Hell fire.)
Complete the Ruku and Sajda (prostration) as in the first rakat. After completing second rakat, sit at the heels and proceed; say Alhamdulillah, Ashhadu an Laa Ilaha Illal-lah Wahdahu Laa shareeka lahu Wa Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Abduhu wa Rasooluh. Allahumma Salle Ala Muhammadin wa Ale Muhammad. (I bear witness that there is no God except  Allah, the One Who has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and the Prophet of the Absolute One God. O Allah! Send bountiful blessings on Muhammad and his blessed  Progeny. Then say “As-Salaam-o Alaika aiyyuhan Nabiyyu wa Rahmatul laahe wa Barakaatu, Assalamu Alayna wa alaa Ibadillahis Saleheen As-Salaam u Alaykum wa Rahmatul-laahi Wa Barakaatu” (May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you O’ Prophet. Peace be upon all of us and upon the Righteous Servants of Allah. May peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you all. Then say three times “Allah-o-Akbar” while raising my hands up to my ears and back on my lap. Then recite “Tasbih-e-Fatima” which is 34 times Allah-o-Akbar”, 33 times “Al-Hamdo Lil-laah”, and 33 times “Sub’hanAllah”.
If it is Maghreb Prayer, after “Tashahhud”, stand up and recite3 times either” Tasbiha-tul-Arba’a” which is “Subhanallahi walhamdolillahe wa la Ilaha Ilallahu wallahu Akbar” (Glory be to Allah and praise be to Allah, there is no God except Allah and Allah is the Greatest) or recite Surah Hamd and complete the third rakat as usual, and recite Tashahud and Salaam and complete the namaz. If it is Isha’ prayer, the fourth rakat should be completed as third one.
Pray for other Muslims, your community, for your relatives and lastly for yourself.


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