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Salat (Prayer)

About Salat
Salat Overview
Timings
Call to Prayer

How to Pray

Beginning Salat
Takbir Tahrimah
Tie Hands
Ruku
Qawmah
Qawmah (contd)
Sajdah
Jalsah
Second Sajdah
Next Rak-at
Tashahud
Tashahud (Contd)
Salutation
Postscript

At a glance

Fajr
Dhuhr
Asr
Maghrib
Isha

Combining/Shortening
Prayers

Other Prayers

Optional prayers
Friday prayer
Eid Prayer
Rain Prayer
Funeral Prayer

 

Nafl (optional) prayers

In addition to the obligatory prayers, there are a number of optional prayers which the Prophet encouraged us to pray on various occasions, especially in association with the obligatory prayers and the month of Ramadan. Even though these are not as specific as that of the obligatory ones they are meant to increase our remembrance of Allah and provide us ample opportunities to earn more in the way of devotion and piety. At the same time it must be kept in mind that one should always give prime attention to the obligatory (fard) prayers.

Prophet Muhammad has said that voluntary prayers will be taken into account on the Day of Judgment to make up for lapses in performing the obligatory prayers.

The Nafl prayers associated with the obligatory prayers are:

Forbidden times for Nafl prayer:

Prophet Muhammad has forbidden nafl prayers during three timings in a day.

1. A quarter of hour after sun rise
2. When it is directly overhead (the shadow length of a body equals itself) at noon until it has passed its zenith
3. From Asr prayer until the sun has set completely.

The reason given for first and third timings is that it is the time Kafirs prostrates to the Sun, while for second is that it is the time the hell fire is ignited.

So note that there are no nafl prayer after Fajr and Asr prayer. However one can pray one missed Fard prayer at this time as per the saying of Prophet Muhammad: "Who has forgotten the prayer he should pray it whenever he remembers it" [Bukhari & Muslim]

Witr prayer

Witr is one prominent occasional prayer highly emphasized by the Prophet. It is a salah which can be performed after the Isha prayer right up to the break of dawn. Normally it is of one Rakat, but other odd numbers of 3, 5, 7 and 9 are also approved. It is done as the last prayer after all the nafl prayers at night.

Reports Abdullah ibn Umar: Prophet Muhammad said "Witr prayer is one rakat at the end of the nafl prayer at night"

Reports Abu Ayub Prophet Muhammad said: "Every Muslim should pray witr. Anyone who likes to pray 5 rakats of witr he should do so, anyone who likes to pray 3 rakats, he should do so, and anyone who likes to pray one rakat, he should do so"
[Abu Dawud, Nisai, Ibn Majah]

How to pray witr?

Normally it is prayed as one Rakat. There are different approaches when it is prayed as 3, 5, 7 or 9 rakats. One approach is to sit in Tashahud only in the last but one rakat, and then get up for the last rakat and complete it. If you are praying 3 rakat, you can also do as follows: first pray two rakats, ending it with salutation , then get up immediately and complete the third rakat.

Tahajjuj (Late-Night prayer)

The late-night prayers are considered highly rewarding compared to day prayers. Prophet Muhammad said: "After half of the night or two-thirds of it have passed, our Lord, the Blessed and Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven"(Muslim)

This prayer is to be performed after waking up after one has slept once in the nigh, preferably during the second half of the nightt. Normally it is prayed two rakats.

Dhuha Prayer

This is a prayer to be performed sometime after the sun has risen a little bit on the horizon until just before high noon. Prophet Muhammad used to pray it only intermittently. It can be prayed as two, four, six or maximum eight rakats.

Prayer for greeting the mosque

This is a two rakat prayer, to be performed while one enters the mosque, before sitting down. "When any of you enters the mosque, he should not sit until he prays two rakats" (Bukhari, Muslim et.al)

Taraweeh Prayer

Taraweeh prayer is a sunnah prayer performed in congregation in mosques during the nights of Ramadan, after the Isha prayer. Normally it is prayed in units of 2 rakats plus witr, totalling to11 rakats (2+2+2+2+3 witr). Some also pray more, totalling to 21 rakats.

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