|
Salat Salat (or Salah) (Arabic صلاة,) are the five daily prayers of
Islam, and the noon prayer of Friday, which
replaces the daily noon prayer. These prayers are part of the five pillars of
Islam in
Sunni belief, and part of the tem practices
of the
Shia. The five prayers are
Fajr (Dawn)
Dhuhr (Noon)
Asr,
Maghrib (Evening) and
Isha'a(any time after dusk and before dawn). Fajr, Dhuhr and
Maghrib may have been derived from the three corresponding prayers of the Jews, Sha'harit (Dawn), Min'hah
(noontime) and Ma'ariv (evening). The prayers are
fard (compulsory).
Salat in the Qur'an
Some Muslims insist that all five prayers are mentioned in the
Quran, while others consider that only two or three
are mentioned explicitly.
Fajr and Isha'a are mentioned
in the
Quran Sura (Chapter 24, Aya (verse) 58:
O believers! Let your servants and those
children who have not yet attained puberty ask your permission before coming in to see you on three occasions: before
Fajr Salah (dawn prayer), at noon when you put off your clothes, and after the Isha Salah (night prayer).
Sura 11:114 states:
Establish Salah ( prayers) at the two ends of the day and in the early part of the night. Indeed virtues
remove evils. This is a reminder for the mindful.[114]
Apparently, it is a reference to Fajr, Maghrib and Isha'a, but does not
give their names.
17:78-79 states:
78: Establish Salah from the decline of the sun till the darkness of the night (perhaps - Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and
Isha) and read at Fajr (dawn); for the reading at Fajr is witnessed.
79: During a part of the night, pray Tahajjud, an additional prayer for you, very soon your Lord may exalt you
to ‘Maqam-e-Mahmood’.
30:17-18 state:
17: Therefore, glorify Allah in the evening and in the morning
18 - all praise is due to Him in the heavens and the earth - in the late afternoon and when the day begins to
decline.
2:238 states:
Guard your Salah (obligatory regular prayers) especially the middle Salah and stand up with true devotion to
Allah .
The Salat Prayer Ritual
The prayers are complex rituals which include bowing and other body movements. Before each prayer one must wash hands
and feet.
Key parts of each prayer are the same,
and they must be said in Arabic.
BISMILLA AHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM.
(In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful)
AL HAMDUL ILLAHI RABB IL `AALAMEEN.
(Praise be to GOD, Lord of the universe)
AR RAHMAAN IR RAHEEM.
(Most Gracious, Most Merciful)
4. MAALIKI YAWM ID DEEN.
(King of the Day of Judgment)
5. EYYAAKA NA`BUDU, WA EYYAAKA NASTA`EEN
(You alone we worship; You alone we ask for help)
6. EH'DENAS SIRAATAL MUSTAQEEM.
(Guide us in the correctt path)
7. SIRAATAL LAZINA AN`AMTA `ALAYHIM; GHAYRIL
MAGHDOOBI `ALAYHIM WALADDAALEEN.
(the path of those whom You blessed; not of those worthy of wrath, or of the strayers)
After reciting the above while standing, the Muslim bows down from the waist, keep the knees straight, hands on
knees, and in so doing says Allahu Akbar (God is great).
And then, when bowing, one says, Subhaana Rabbi al Azeem, "Praise to the Lord, the Great"
When returning to standing position one says, "Sami Allahu Liman," Allah hears those who praise him. Then when
falls prostrate and says "Allahu Akbar." Stand Up:
One then bows in the Sujoud positions, forehead to the flood and says "Subhaana Rabbiyal A`laa,"
"Praised be the Lord on High." The suppliant than rises to sitting position, crouching on knees and says, "Allah hu Akbar"
(God be Great) in doing so, and then prostrates themselves again and says "Allah hu Akbar" again and
"Subhaana Rabbiyal A`laa," That completes one Rakah (unit of prayer.
Each daily prayer is made up of different numbers of such units.
Synonyms and alternate spellings:
Further Information:
|
