Islamic prayer namaz

Peace begins with me

A Presentation on Islamic prayer -

Namaz (Salah) by

M. G. Morshad [email protected]

a) Islamic faith rests on five pillars – 1.Kalma ( Faith on oneness of God and his messenger), 2.Namaz ( Prayer for soul searching and self discipline), 3.Roza ( Fasting to train mind to control body), 4.Hajj (Experiencing universal brotherhood) 5.Zakat ( Paying income tax for charity & social development).

b) Islamic prayer (Salah / Namaz) is considered as a complete form of worship since it involves Physical cleanliness & exercise, Meditation, Spiritualism, patriotism , Discipline & Punctuality.

c) Because of its completeness, Allah accept this prayer (with certain pre conditions) and bless the individual with dynamic positive effect on his mind, body & environment .

d) Individual with dynamic positive attitude always have peaceful & logical mind. It helps him to lead a successful life on earth as well as to make direct / indirect contribution to the society that may make him immortal (said to be in paradise as per the Quranic interpretation) even after his physical death .

e) Thus Namaz is a source of peace that can be generated by any individuals within himself. It accelerates the peace, prosperity & progress in family, society, nation & world if it is practiced regularly understanding the real concept & meaning of Namaz by heart .

f) Since the Quranic verse , Darood & Dua which are recited during Namaz, are written in Arabic , most of the individual can not understand the real concept and meaning of these recitation and Namaz becomes a mere mechanical practice for them. It impedes the generation of peace within the individuals.

g) The purpose of this presentations is to interpret the meaning of Namaz in a simplified manner so that the concept “Peace begins with me” is nurtured within every individual who offers Namaz regularly .

Introduction

Namaz - a tool for time management Every day we get 24 Hours to live. This time period can be made productive if it is utilized in proper manner. Modern time management suggest three steps for successful utilization of time – 1. Advance planning ( knowing the schedule of work ) 2. Discipline (adhering to the work commitment) 3. Punctuality (adhering to the time schedule). Namaz contains all three ingredients - 1 Advance planning : Islam pronounces the schedule of work by dividing 24 hours in five slots and the beginning of each slots starts with Azan from Mosque.

Period Time Activities

1. Fazure - Asur Early morning – Noon ( 8 Hrs)

Skill developing and earning for livelihood

2. Asur - Zuhar Noon – Afternoon (2 Hrs) Rest 3. Zuhar – Mugrib

Afternoon – evening (3 Hrs)

Social gathering , sports, Physical activities

4. Mugrib - Aysha

Evening – Night ( 3 Hrs) Family gathering , Entertainment.

5. Aysha – Fazure

Night – Early morning (8 Hrs)

Sleeping 2. Discipline : Due to positive effect of Namaz, sense of discipline & self control are developed automatically within the individual who offer Namaz regularly. 3. Punctuality : Also the sense of punctuality is developed automatically within the individual who offer Namaz regularly.

Namaz - a tool for self judgment / introspection

life is combination of action & response to the incidents that we are facing in every seconds in our life.

Some incidents are natural and some are unnatural For natural incidents we give our action & response according to our past experience & traditions.

( Example : When we feel hungry we take food by right hand) For unnatural incidents , we often confuse to give our action & response. ( Example : should I kill

my enemy) Islam gives us guideline on this issue by demarcating our action & response as –

1. HALAL (Lawful)– The action or response which will not have any harmful physical & mental impact on Self , family , Society and Nation

2. HARAM (Unlawful) – The action or response which will have harmful physical & mental impact on Self , family , Society and Nation

3. FARZ ( Compulsory) – The action or response which is critical or essential for the survival of self, family , society & nation .

4. SUNNA ( Optional) – The action or response which are followed from tradition or culture and not considered as critical or essential for the survival of self, family, society & nation but the action or responses are preferred.

Namaz help us to develop these action & response within our self by nurturing the capability of determination, confession, discipline (Self control & Time management)

Namaz - a path to control state of mind through spiritualism

Allah is the creator of this universe and has created everything in the universe Earth is the Garden of Allah where He sends His creation with a define period of time for

keeping his garden immortal & beautiful. His creations are two types – non living and living and Allah has bestowed His rules (Rule of

nature) to all His creations for their survival. Non living things are bestowed with conservation of mass rules ( self creation and destruction)

for their survival. Living things are bestowed with basic instinct (reproduction, self protection & growth) for their

survival. Among His creations, human is the most sophisticated one, because He blessed human with

extraordinary memory power which makes them capable to remember very precisely the past experience (Fear) and to imagine the future events (Happiness). Allah has done this only to utilize human as the care taker of His garden .

But, when basic instinct (Sex, Hunger & self protection) combines with fear (past experience) & happiness (future imagination) – it generates three types of mental states – madness, sadness & gladness.

Extreme condition of these three states of mind always causes disharmony in individual / family / society / nation which may threat to the survival of the entire creation of Allah

These three state of minds needs to be maintained at moderate level focusing towards positive direction which is required for the protection of Gods garden remembering that Allah bless those who protects His creation and punish those who destroys His creation.

Hence Namaz is path to bring harmony by controlling the sate of mind through spiritualism i.e. acceptance of existence of Allah and his creation.

Namaz - for paying respect to the prophets Allah being invisible & omnipresent, can not directly spell out His divine verdict to the humane

race

Thus Allah chooses some individuals among us to spell out His divine verdict to the humane race so that His creation can be protected. They are known as the messenger of GOD or prophets .

Prophets are those who - a) Receives the divine verdicts from Allah, b) Explore, experiment and exercise the verdict of Allah, c) And spread the verdict of Allah in order to enhance the surviving skill of individual, family, society & nation through harmony, equality and protecting the creation of Allah.

Since the existence of human race, thousands of Prophets in various fields (Mathematics & science, Politics , Religions , Social science, Law & Justice Economics, etc) have come to the earth and empowered the human race with the knowledge of surviving skill through harmony, equality and protecting the creation of Allah.

Among those, Prophet Muhammad is considered as the best , since He is first and last prophet on the earth who had spread the verdict of Allah in complete form (Politics , Religions , Social science, Law & Justice, Economics etc)

Therefore we must owe to those prophets who have empowered us with knowledge of surviving skill. But Prophet Muhammad is always at the top of the list. During Namaz, we recite Darood to pay our respect to the prophets by paying respect to the best Prophet Muhammad.

Namaz - An act of patriotism Most of the Muslim beliefs that Arabia is their Home land and Arabic culture & customs are the

Islamic faith . But it is not true

Islam is a faith – a spiritualistic view on life. Five fundamentals of Islam ( Kalma, Namaz, Roza, Zakat & Hajj) can be practice anywhere on the earth irrespective of geographical location, cultural diversity and different customs. That’s why Islam is a universal religion.

Whereas Arabic culture & customs are the living style which depends on geographical conditions and tradition of the society and therefore it may not be applicable universally.

Since Prophet was born in Arabia and Islam was spread by the Arab rulers, they used to project Arabic culture & custom as Islam in order to achieve their political goal and further extending of their kingdom. As a result of this propaganda over 1000 years, Islam has become synonymous to Arabic culture & custom.

But as per the Islamic history , earlier Muslim were migratory and there was no particular homeland for them. Wherever they settled , it became their Home land irrespective their geographic location, culture & custom.

Since the place of settlement used to provide them land for shelter, place of worship, cultivation, job opportunity etc, it was the order of Allah to pays respect to their homeland by touching forehead on the ground (SAJDHA position) while offering Namaz.

Thus Namaz makes every Muslim patriot – wherever they lived, because they have to pay respect to their Home land five times per day while offering Namaz and also as per the Islamic law, every Muslim have to donate their body after death to their Home land for making it fertile. ( Is their any religion on the earth which practices patriotism like Islam?)

Namaz - a conversation with Allah During Namaz we recite Dua Tashahhud. This Dua is a conversation between prophet

Muhammad & Allah.

When we recite this Dua, we feel as if we are engaging our self in conversation with Allah – the creator , protector & destroyer of this universe.

This feeling enlighten our mind , soul and body with positive effects.

Enlightenment with positive effects five times per day , prevents us from the influence of SATAN who always try to distract from the rightful path.

Namaz – for seeking forgiveness After finishing prayer, we sit down and raise our hand ( Monazat position) for seeking forgiveness

by reciting Dua and appeal to Allah for accepting the prayer (Namaz).

At Monazat position, we spread our palm before our eyes only to remember that like our fingers, all our day to days activates are not equally good. Some are good & some are bad. We ask forgiveness for our bad deeds and appeal Allah to accept our Namaz.

Allah shall accept the Namaz if certain conditions are full filled.

Preconditions for the acceptance of Namaz

Allah shall not accept Namaz if it is performed under the following conditions.

1. Impatience : If Namaz is perform in hasty without any peace of mind (Mind full with fear, anger, revenge etc.)

2. Negative mindset about Allah : If Namaz is performed thinking that Allah shall never response to his / her Duas

3. Sinful or haraam ( unlawful) Acts : If Namaz is performed after committing sinful act, consuming prohibited food and wearing unethical dress.

4. Asking for something sinful : If Namaz it is performed to seek blessing of Allah for carrying out any sinful acts.

5. Cutting ties of kinship: If Namz is performed after breaking the family ties (Between brothers & sisters, Parents & children, Husband & wife, In-laws etc)

6. Making conditional : If Namaz is performed in lieu of fulfilling certain personal desire .

Farz (Compulsory) The Farz means compulsory, if any position ,action and recitation which are Farz in Namaz is missed, Namaz has to be performed again.

Wajibaat (Essential)The Wajibaat means essential. if any position ,action and recitation which are Wajib in namaz is missed , two extra sajdahs (Sajdah Sahw) have to be performed. If it is also missed or forgotten, Namaz has to be repeated .

Sunnah (Preferred)The Sunnah means not compulsory but better if it is performed. if any position ,action and recitation which are Sunnah in Namaz is missed, Namaz is still valid.

Positions & action of Namaz

Positions & action of Namaz

1. Namaz is an appeal to Allah for seeking His forgiveness .

2. In real life , if we want to put forward any appeal to the sanctioning authority – it has to be written ( using pen and paper) in a particular format that consist of - Address of the sanctioning authority , Subject , Intention and request .

3. Similarly , Namaz being an appeal to Allah (The sanctioning authority ) it is also presented in a particulate format.

4. This format has to be filled up at the beginning of the Namaz - This is known as NEEYAT .

5. Similar to the use of pen & paper for real life appeal – Physical cleanliness , wuzu , Dress code, Namaz mat are essential for Namaz ,

6. The intension is made in the following manner :

I intend to pray <2 or 3 or 4> rakat <Farz or Witr wajib or Sunnat or Nafl or juma> namaz-e-<fajr or zohar or asr or maghrib or isha> for Allah, facing towards the Ka’abah Add the phrase “behind the imam” if you are praying in a congregation (collective prayer behind the imam)

Starting of Namaz - NEEYAT (Intension )

Position : Takbeer-e-Tahreema ( Wajib)

Recitation (Wajib) “Allaho Akbar"

(Allah is the greatest)Action ( Sunnah)

Raise both hands and touch your ear lobes from behind with your thumbs.

Position : Qiyaam ( Farz)

Recitation 1. Sana ( Sunnah)2. Surah Fateha

(Wajib)3. Sura Ikhlas (Farz)

Action ( Farz) After Takbeer-e-Tahreema place your left hand on the navel, then hold the wrist of the left arm with the thumb & little finger of the right hand. Keep the remaining three fingers of the right hand straight on the left arm. Keep looking at the place of Sajdah

To whom I am offering this prayer – is he a human being or deity ? This sura says – No , Namaz is being offered neither to any human being nor deity but only to Allah because He is the supreme power and therefore no God & Goddess are worthy of worship except Allah.

“Subhána-kalláh-hum-ma wa bi-hamdika, watabárakas-muka wata'álá jadduka, wa-láa iláha ghaíruk”Meaning : O Allah, Glorified, praise-worthy. and blessed is Thy Name and exalted Thy Majesty. and there is no deity worthy of worship except You.

*******The negative mind - know as Satan in the Quranic parlance, exists within me always instigate negative thoughts (Sadness, Introvert, Negative approach) unethical desires (Perverted sex, Addiction, Cheating ) and destructive attitudes (Anger , Revenge, Lies) which are bound to destroy my health and social reputation in long run. I urge Allah through this sura to take me under His fold so that I can defeat the Satan existing within me.

“A’ú-dhu-bil-lá-hi minashaitánir rajím. Bismiláhir rahmánir rahím”Meaning : I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected Satan. In the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful

SANA

There are two paths before me – right path & wrong Path. The path which bring the prosperity , unity & progress in social and spiritual life is the right path and the path which destroy the prosperity , unity & progress in social and spiritual life is the wrong path. Through this sura I ask almighty Allah to guide me always to the direction of right path. “Alhamdu lil-láhi rab-bil 'álamín. Ar-rahmá-nir rahím. Máliki yau-mid-dín. iyyá-ka n'abudu wa-iyyáka nasta'ín. Ihdi-nas-sirá-tal mustaqím. Sirá tal-ladhína an-'amta 'alaíhim. Ghair-il maghdubi 'alaíhim. Walad-dál-lin (amin)”Meaning : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Beneficent, the Merciful Master of the Day of Judgment Thee alone we worship and to thee alone we turn for help.Guide us in the straight path. The path of those whom You favored. Not of those who have earned Your anger nor of those who have gone astray.

Surah Fateha

Who is Allah – is he a human beings ( God man / Prophet Having offsprings) , Deity ( God & Goddess created by somebody) or natural object (Sun, moon, stone etc created by nature) ? This sura says Allah is neither human being, nor deity or natural object. He is one and present everywhere in the universe . None is equal to him.

“Qul huwallahu Ahad , Allahus Samad , Lam yalid walam yulad Walam yakullahu kufuwan ahad”.Meaning : Proclaim (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), “He is Allah, He is One.” “Allah is the Un-wanting.” (Perfect, does not require anything) “He has no offspring, nor is He born from anything.” “And there is none equal to Him.”

Surah Ikhlas

Position : Rukoo ( Farz)

Recitation In rukoo position :

Subhana Rabbiyal-Azim : Holy is my Creator, the

magnanimous . (Sunnah )

Recitation Before rukoo position : Allahu Akbar ( Sunnah)

Action ( Farz) After qiyaam bend down at the waist, place palms of the hands on the knees. Spread the fingers and hold the knees firmly. Back should be parallel to the ground, such that if a glass of water were on the back, it would not spill. Eyes looking down, between the big toes of the feet.

Position : Qaumah (Sunnah)

Recitation (Sunnah)When standing up straight in qaumah “Rabana wa lakal hamd “ (Our Lord, praise be to You)

Recitation (Sunnah)While getting up from rukoo “Sami-Allaho liman hamidah” (Allah hears those who praise Him)

Action (Sunnah) After the rukoo return to standing position (qaumah) arms at side, looking at the place of sajdah.

Position : Sajdah (Farz)

Action First, knees should touch the ground, then hands, then nose and then forehead. The abdomen should not touch the thighs and the arms not touch the armpits. The fingers of the hand and toes should be pointing to the Qibla.

Recitation (Sunnah)When Go down to Sajdah ” Allahu Akbar”,

Recitation (Sunnah)In sajdah position “Subhana Rabbiyal- Ala” (Glory be to my Creator, The Highest)

Position : Jalsa (Wajib)

Action (Sunnah) rise from Sajdah, and assume the sitting posture

Recitation (Sunnah)When rising up from Sajdah : Allahu Akbar”,



Recitation (Sunnah)When Go down to Sajdah : Allahu Akbar”,

Recitation (Sunnah)In sajdah position : Subhana Rabbiyal- Ala (Glory be to my Creator, The Highest)

End of first rakat

Position : Qiyaam ( Farz)

Recitation 1. Sana ( Sunnah)2. Surah Fateha (Wajib)3. Sura Ikhlas (Farz)

Action ( Farz) After Takbeer-e-Tahreema place your left hand on the navel, then hold the wrist of the left arm with the thumb & little finger of the right hand. Keep the remaining three fingers of the right hand straight on the left arm. Keep looking at the place of Sajdah

Position : Rukoo ( Farz)

Recitation In rukoo position :

Subhana Rabbiyal-Azim : Holy is my Creator, the

magnanimous . (Sunnah )

Recitation Before rukoo position : Allahu Akbar ( Sunnah)

Action ( Farz) After qiyaam bend down at the waist, place palms of the hands on the knees. Spread the fingers and hold the knees firmly. Back should be parallel to the ground, such that if a glass of water were on the back, it would not spill. Eyes looking down, between the big toes of the feet.

Position : Qaumah (Sunnah)

Recitation (Sunnah)When standing up straight in qaumah : Rabana wa lakal hamd (Our Lord, praise be to You)

Recitation (Sunnah)While getting up from rukoo : Sami-Allaho liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him)

Action (Sunnah) After the rukoo return to standing position (qaumah) arms at side, looking at the place of sajdah.















Position : Qa’adah Akhira (Farz)

Recitation (Wajib) 1. Tashahhud (Wajib) 2. Darood-e-Ebrahim (Sunnah)3. Dua-e-Masurah (Sunnah)

“At-tahiyyatu Lillahi was-Salawatu wat-Tayyibaatu As-salaamu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu Wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu Was-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala ibadillahis-Saliheen As-shadu an la ilaha illallhu Wa as-shadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasooluhu”

Tashahhud

Tashahhud is not a quanic verse. It is dua in the form of conversation between the prophet & Allah that had taken place during the Mi‘raj in the company of the angel Jibreel .

On their journey to Sidrat al-Muntaha (the most remote lote tree), Jibreel stopped at some place and requested prophet to go forward alone . Prophet Muhammad went on to Sidrat al-Muntaha and drew close to it, then he said addressing to Allah : “At-tahiyyatu Lillahi wa’s-salawatu wa’t-tayyibat” (All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah).

In response of prophet, Allah replied: “Al-salamu ‘alayka ayyuha’n-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Allahi wa barakatuhu” (Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings).”

Then Prophet again replied addressing to Allah : “As-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibad-Illah is-saliheen”.(Peace be upon us, and on the righteous slaves of Allah).”

On observing the dialog between prophet & Allah , the angels Jibreel who are close to Allah - said: “Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasoo-Allah” (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).”

History behind the duaTashahhud

What is Darood or Darood shariff It is a special prayer which we make to Allah the Almighty to Bless his Prophets. It is known in various name such as Darood / Darood Shariff” - in Persian , “Salawat” - in Arabic and “Salawat-o-Salaam” - in Urdu . It is mentioned in HADITH as well as in the QURAN and recited in the form of Wazifa.

Darood-e-Ebrahim”Allahumma salli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin Kama Sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima Innaka Hamidun majid Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin Kama Barkata 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima Innaka Hamidun Majid “Meaning : 0 Allah! send mercy on Muhammad(pbuh) and his family as You sent mercy on Ebrahim and his family Truly You are the Praise worthy and Glorious 0 Allah, bless Muhammad and his family as You blessed Ebrahim and his family Truly You are the Praise worthy and Glorious

Position : Salaam (Wajib)Recitation

As-salaam alaikum wa rahmatullah

(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon you)

Action : Bend the head down towards the chest, and turnslowly to the full right. The eyes should glanceback over the right shoulder,:

Recitation As-salaam alaikum wa

rahmatullah(Peace and Blessings of

Allah be upon you)

What is Dua It is the recitations to call on Allah for seeking His forgiveness and forwarding this Namaz for His acceptance, guidance & blessings. In Arabic Dua means Invocation - is an act of supplication. The term is derived from an Arabic word meaning to 'call out' or to 'summon‘ and Muslim regard this as a profound act of worship. The prophet is reported to have said "Dua is the very essence of worship.

Allah shall not accept Namaz if it is performed under the following conditions. 1. Impatience : Namaz is is perform in hasty without any peace of mind (Mind full with fear, anger,

revenge etc.)2. If worshipper thinks Dua will not be answered: Namaz is performed thinking that Allah shall

never response to his / her Duas 3. Sinful or haraam ( unlawful) Acts : Namaz is performed after committing sinful act, consuming

prohibited food and wearing unethical dress. 4. Asking for something sinful : Namaz it is performed to seek blessing of Allah for carrying out any

sinful acts. 5. Cutting ties of kinship: Namz is performed after breaking the family ties (Between brothers &

sisters, Parents & children, Husband & wife, In-laws etc) 6. Making conditional : Namaz is performed in lieu of fulfilling certain personal desire .

Preconditions for the acceptance of Namaz

Dua-e-Masurah“Allahuma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kaseer-an wala yaghfiruz-zunooba illa anta faghfirli maghfiratam min 'indika warhamni, innaka antal ghafoor-ur rahim”.Meaning : ‘O Allah I have been extremely unjust to myself and none grants forgiveness against sins but You, forgive me, with the forgiveness that comes from You and have Mercy, upon me. Verily You are the Forgiver, the Merciful.’

Ending of Namaz - Dua

Rabbij'alnee muqeemas salaati wa mindhurriy yatee rab-banaa watha qab-bal du'a, rab-ba nagh-firlee wali waaliday-ya wa lil mu-mineena yawma yaqumul hisaab.Oh Lord, make me and my children keep up prayers, Our Lord, accept our prayer, Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and all the Believers on the Day of Judgment.

Rabbana Aatina Fid Duniya Hasanataw Wafil Aakhirati Hasanataw Wa Qina Adhaaban Naar "Our Lord, grant us the good of this world and that of the Hereafter and save us from the torture of hell.”

Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran wa la ya'ghfirudh dhunuuba illa anta fa'ghfir li ma'ghfiratan min ‘indika warhamni innaka antal ‘ghafurur rahim. "O Allah, I have greatly wronged myself and You alone can forgive sins, so grant me forgiveness from you and have mercy on me. You are the forgiving and Merciful One.

Other Dua

Dua Qunoot (to be recited in the last rakat of the Witr Prayer)

“Allah humma inna nast'eenuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu'minu bika wa nathawak-kalu 'alayka wa nuthne 'alayk-al khayr. Wa nashkuruka wa laaa nakfuruka wa nakhla'u wa nathruku mayy yafjuruka. Allah humma iyyaka na'budu wa laka nusal-lee wa nasjudu wa ilayka nas'aa wa nahfidu wa narju rahmataka wa nakhsha 'adhaabaka inna 'adhaabaka bil kuf-faari mulhiq”

Meaning : Oh Allah, we ask you for help and seek your forgiveness, and we believe in You and have trust in You, and we praise you in the best way and we thank You and we are not ungrateful to you, and we forsake and turn away from the one who disobeys you. O Allah, we worship You only and pray to You and prostrate ourselves before You, and we run towards You and serve You, and we hope to receive your mercy, and we fear your punishment. Surely, the disbelievers will receive your punishment.

Thank YouKindly share this presentation with Muslim brothers & sisters and give

feed back to [email protected]