THE PROPHET’S MANNER OF PERFORMING PRAYERS (SALAALLAHU ALAYHI WA SALAM) - Part 1

By Melody

Part 2

Bismillah 

Salah (prayer) is one of the five pillars of Islam and serves to connect the worshipper with his Lord. It is a reminder, five various times during the day, of the reason for one’s existence (i.e. His worship). A reminder that is especially necessary in this busy day and age, a day and age that can frequently make one deviate from this purpose. It is an opportunity to get away from the dunya that can repeatedly envelope us, and provide a break from stress as we lay down our burdens. It forms a pivotal part of a Muslim’s life and thus one must ensure that it is perfected. I thought to share this, a guide adapted from the original text written by Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Abdullah bin Baz[i], which serves as a useful resource on how to pray in the prophetic way, for the

Prophet Muhammad (salaAllahu alayhi wa salam) had specifically said : 

“Perform your prayers in the same manner you had seen me doing.” 

(as reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Step by step, we will go through the rituals of prayer, inshaAllah. Let us begin with:

1. Wudu (ablution) 

•  One must perform completely the ablution adopting the method commanded by Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) in the Quran:

 “O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles.”(5:6) 

•  The Prophet (salaAllahu alayhi wa salam) said: “Prayer without ablution is invalid.” 

For a step-by-step video on how to perform wudu, have a look at the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1vbhD8kdb8&list=LPHFa-p5i6rnY&index=4&feature=plcp



2. Qibla & intention [ii] 

•  To turn one’s face and whole body towards the Ka’aba, The holy house at Makkah 
•  Intention by heart to perform the prayer which he wants to fulfil, either an obligatory (fard) prayer or a supererogatory prayer. 
• In all cases, one should not pronounce his intention openly, because neither the Prophet nor his companions used to utter the intention for prayer. Thus, pronouncing the intention for prayer in an audible voice is a heresy and an illicit action, whether the individual be an Imam or not. 

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 [ii]

-- To turn one’s face and whole body towards the Ka’aba, The holy house at Makkah

-- Intention by heart to perform the prayer which he wants to fulfil, either an obligatory (fard) prayer or a supererogatory prayer.

In all cases, one should not pronounce his intention openly, because neither the Prophet nor his companions used to utter the intention for prayer. Thus, pronouncing the intention for prayer in an audible voice is a heresy and an illicit action, whether the individual be an Imam or not.

3. Takbir Al-Ihram

•  To pronounce “Takbirat Al Ihram” that is to say “Allahu Akbar,” celebrating by the greatness of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). 
• To raise one’s hands up to the level of the shoulders or near to the lobes of his ears, while pronouncing “Takbirat Al-Ihram.” 
• Meanwhile looking downwards to the place where you will prostrate. 

4. Right hand over the left hand & opening supplication

•  To put one’s right hand over his left hand and left wrist, and put them both over his chest. 
• It is advisable that the worshipper recite this opening supplication saying: 

I. اللهم باعد بيني وبين خطاياي كما باعدت بين المشرق والمغرب، اللهم نقني من خطاياي كما ينقى الثوب الأبيض من الدنس، اللهم اغسلني من خطاياي بالماء والثلج والبرد

“Allaumma baid bayni wa bayna khatayaya kama baadta bayna al-mashriki walmaghribi, Allahumma naqqiniy min khatayaya kama yonaqa al thawbo alabydo min aldans, Allahumma igysilniy min khatayaya bilmai wathalgi wal barad.”

This supplication means:

“O Allah, separate me from my sins as you have separated the east and west. O Allah, cleanse me of my sins as the white robe is cleansed from dirt. O Allah, wash off my sins with water, snow and hail.”

II. Or, one may say instead:

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك وتبارك اسمك وتعالى جدك ولا الله غيرك 

“Sobhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika watabaraka Ismoka wata’la jaddoka walailaha ghayroka.”

This supplication means:

“Praise and glory be to Allah. Blessed be Your Name, exalted be Your Majesty and Glory. There is no God but You.”

III. Or any other supplications which the Prophet (salaAllahu alayhi wa salam) used to say in his prayers. 

It is better to recite these supplications alternately, the first one in the morning prayer “Fajr ,” the second in the noon prayer “Zuhr,” each one by turn, in conformity with what the Prophet (salaAllahu alayhi wa salam) used to do.

5. Surah Fatiha (The Opening Chapter) + one other surah 

•  Say first: 

((أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم))

Aoudhu billahi min al-shatani-r-ragim.

Which means: “I seek protection of Allah against the accursed Satan.”

• Then say: 

((بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم))

“Bism illahi-Rahmani Raheem”

Which means: “In the name of Allah, the All Merciful, the All Compassionate.”

• Then surah Fatiha (The opening Surah of the glorious Quran) is recited. 

 Prophet Muhammad, salaAllahu alayhi wa salam, said: 

“Prayer without reciting the fatiha is invalid.[iii]” 

 The worshipper should say “A’meen” after reciting the Fatiha loudly if the prayer is said loudly and whisper it in inaudible prayers.

• To be in conformity with the traditions of the Prophet (salaAllahu alayhi wa salam), the worshipper is advised to recite in: 

-- Zuhr (noon), Asr (late afternoon), and Isha (night) prayers à verses from medium sized surahs of the Quran.

-- Fajr (morning) prayer à a passage from the long surahs of the Quran.

-- Maghrib (evening prayer) à one has the choice either to recite passages from the long surahs or from the short surahs of the Quran.

6. Ruku (bowing)

•  When moving from the standing to the bowing position, one must raise his hands up to the level of his shoulders or ears whilst saying “Allahu Akbar” = “Allah is Greater” 
• Then one must bend down, making his head and back on one level and putting his hands, with the fingers spread, on his knees. 
• The worshipper should feel serenity and tranquillity while bowing, and should say thrice at least: 

((سبحان ربي العظيم)) 

“Subhana Rabbiayl A’zim” 

Which means: “Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.”

• It is advisable to say while bowing in addition to that: 

((سبحانك اللهم ربنا وبحمدك، اللهم اغفر لي)) 

“Subhanak-Allahumma Rabbana wa bihamdika, Allahumma Ighfir liy” 

Which means: “Glory be to Thee, O Allah, and I praise Thee, forgive me my sins.”



7. Standing position

• This is to raise one’s head up from bowing, then to raise one’s hands to the level of his shoulders or ears, saying (this applies both whilst praying alone or being an imam): 

((سمع الله لمن حمده)) 

“Sami’a Allahu liman hamidah” 

Which means: “Allah listens to him who praises Him.”

• While resuming the standing position, he should say: 

ربنا ولك الحمد حمدا كثيرا طيبا مباركا فيه ملء السموات وملء الأرض وملء ما بينهما وملء ما شئت من شيء بعد

“Rabbana wa laka al hamdu hamdan katheeran tayyiban mobarakan feehiy mil’a ssamawati wa mila alardhi wa mil'a ma baynahoma wa mil’a ma shi’ta min shay’in ba’ad”

“Our Lord, praise before Thee only, praises plentiful and blessed as to fill the heavens, the earth, whatever is in between, and to fill that which will please Thee besides them.”

• It is advisable for the Imam, the follower, or who prays alone to add also: 

ahl ith-thanai wal-majd, ahaqqu ma qalal-‘abd, wa Kulluna laka ‘abd, Allahuma la mani’a lima a’atyat, wala mu’atia lima mana’at, wala yanfa’u dhal-jaddi minka al-jadd.

“You Allah who deserve all praises and all glory, your praising is the best and most true of whatever Your servant can say, we all are Your servants, Our Lord, no one can ever deprive aught of what You have bestowed and no one can ever give aught of what You have deprived.”

• The worshipper is advised to put his hands on his chest, as he had done before he bowed. 

-- Both Wa’il Ibn Haggar and Sahli Ibn Sa’'yd reported that this was the manner of the Prophet when he used to raise his head up after bowing. 

I'd love to hear your views on this topic. Please post in the comments section below! :)

References:
[i] http://alifta.com/Fatawa/fatawaDetails.aspx?View=Tree&NodeID=1582&PageNo=1&BookID=14
[ii] This diagram and subsequent diagrams were adapted from the following website: http://www.muslimliving.org/salat/beginning.htm
[iii] Sahih Al Bukhari in the chapter of “Athaan” no.714, Sahih Muslim in the chapter of “Prayer” no.595

A more detailed document on the rules of prayer:
http://www.al-dawah.dk/boger/engelske/pdf/Ahkam_as_Salah.pdf
THE PROPHET’S MANNER OF PERFORMING PRAYERS  (SALAALLAHU ALAYHI WA SALAM)

Posted in: Melody,Part 1,Prayer,Prophet's manner,qibla,Reflections,Salaah,Salah,Wudu