Salat- The complete idiots guide to salat
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Introduction
What is prayer?
- Prayer to the believers becomes a timed schedule that prohibits evil and vice.
- We remember our Mighty God through prayer.
- We instruct our family with prayer.
- Through prayer we praise our mighty God.
The importance of prayer
Prayer is obligatory on every adult submitter to God, and children should be taught how to pray at age 7. They may be encouraged to begin them at even a younger age, and they should be told to observe them at age ten or puberty.The delay of prayer beyond its designated period without a valid or legitimate reason is prohibited.
Any submitter who observes an obligatory prayer after having done their ablution, will have his previous sins canceled.
Denial of prayers as an obligatory act of worship constitutes apostasy from Islam( submission to God ), while neglecting it is an act of infidelity.
On the Day of Resurrection God will ask the criminals ? What has caused you to be in the scorching heat?? They will say ? We were not of those who prayed.?
Not only is prayer obligatory, it must be observed at two prescribed times every day. The following are the two daily prayers
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The Dawn Prayer The period of this prayer is from the crack of dawn to sunrise.
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The Evening ( Sunset ) prayer The evening prayer may be observed soon as the sun sinks below the horizon until dusk has ended.
Does God always answer prayers?
We can be confident that God will respond to our prayer when we submit to His will.Sometimes, we find that God answers prayers by giving us not what we ask for but something even better.
Our prayer must be accompanied by a willingness to obey with our actions.
Conditions for the validity of prayer
- Purity
One must be in the state of purity obtained after an ablution which includes the below conditions
If one rises to observe the prayer, then he must (1) wash his face, (2) wash his hands, (3) wash his arms up to the elbows, (4) wipe his head, and (5) wipe his feet up to the ankles; If he has had intercourse/ejaculated semen then they must bath the whole body. And if one is ill, or traveling, or have excreted feces, or have had sexual contact, and they cannot find any water, then they must select from clean soil and wipe their faces and hands with it.
Besides purity of the body, purity of the place whereon prayer is observed is also necessary. The place or spot on which prayer is observed should be pure and clean.
It is also essential that the clothing donned by the submitter be pure and clean.
The obligatory prayers may be observed alone or in congregation led by a leader.
The times of prayer
The time for morning prayer
Approximately 1 ? hours before sunrise a dim whitish glow appears vertically in the eastern horizon. Soon after this vertical glow, a brightness appears horizontally in the eastern horizon. This horizontal glow spreads instantly along the horizon becoming larger and larger until after a short while it becomes light. The time for Dawn prayer commences with the appearance of this horizontal glow in the eastern horizon. The time for Dawn prayer lasts until sunrise.
(It is preferable to observe the Dawn prayer when it is a bit light)The time for the evening prayer
Immediately after sunset the time for evening prayer commences, and lasts until it has become completely dark.
- The two prayers must be observed after entry of their respective times. These prayers cannot be observed prior to their appointed time.
How to pray
Effective prayer includes elements of adoration, confession, and commitment, as well as requests.
True prayer is the result of an intimate relationship with the Lord and includes a dependency for daily needs, commitment to obedience, and forgiveness of sin.
Prayer is to be consistent and persistent.
When you pray, do not be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward.
When you pray, go into your room and close the door. Pray to your Lord in private. He knows what is done in private, and He will reward you.
When you pray, don?t talk on and on as people do who don?t know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Do not be like them. Your Lord knows what you need before you ask.You should pray like this
?Our Lord in heaven, help us to honor your name. Come and set up your Kingdom. Give us each day the food we need. Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who has done wrong to us. And keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil.?
If you forgive others for the wrong they do to you, your Lord in heaven will forgive you. But if you don?t forgive others, your Lord will not forgive your sins.
Suppose one of you goes to a friend in the middle of the night and says, ? Let me borrow three loaves of bread. A friend of mine has dropped in, and I don?t have a thing for him to eat.? And suppose your friend answers, ? Don?t bother me! The door is bolted, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you something.?
He may not get up and give you the bread, just because you are his friend. But he will get up and give you as much as you need, simply because you are not ashamed to keep on asking.
So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find, and the door will be open for everyone who knocks. Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a snake if the child asked for a fish? Which one of you would give your child a scorpion if the child asked for an egg? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your Lord in heaven is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit and the good things to anyone who asks.God does not forgive that partners be set up with Him, and He forgives what is beside that for whom He wills. Whoever sets-up partners with God has indeed invented a great sin.
So know that there is no god besides God, and ask forgiveness of your sins and also for the believing men and the believing women. And God knows your movements and your place of rest.
And be aware of God whom you ask about, and the relatives. God is watcher over you.
It is not for the prophet and those who believe that they should seek forgiveness for those who have set up partners, even if they are relatives, after it has been made clear to them that they are the dwellers of Hell.
And ask God from His favor, God is Knowledgeable over all things.
The human being often prays for something that may hurt him, thinking that he is praying for something good. The human being is impatient.
And whoever wants the rewards of this world We give him of it, and whoever wants the reward of the Hereafter, We give him of it. And We will reward the thankful.
Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter, We will increase for him his harvest. And whoever seeks the harvest of this world, We will give him there from, and he will have no share in the Hereafter.
From among the people are those who say; ? Our Lord, give us from this world!,? but in the Hereafter he has no part.
And some of them say ? Our Lord, give us good in this world, and good in the Hereafter, and spare us from the retribution of the Fire.?
These will have a benefit for what they have gained; and God is quick in judgment.How to build a prayer service
Ten adult males are required to be present for a public service to proceed. This service consists of four parts
( 1) Reading of the Glorification
(2) Temple prayers
(3) Reading from the Scripture
(4)BenedictionPrayer Method and the reading
Kneeling/bowing and prostration are appropriate postures for worship. Our worship to God should be orderly and beautiful.
- The position of standing erect and Adoration.
Begin your prayer with worship or adoration of God. David did this in the Psalms. Worship is the recognition of who God is and of who we are in relation to Him.
The submitter stands erect, facing the Focal Point, gaze cast down. He forms the intention for his prayer and says
? Glory be to our God!?
As he utters this he raises both hands upward towards his head in such a manner that the palms of both hands face the Focal Point, and the hands should be raised a height where the thumbs are in line with the lobes of the ears. Once the hands reach the required height ( i.e. the ear lobes), the submitter can immediately bring them down and fold them below the navel or over the chest or simply keep his hands raised. When folding the hands the submitter should ensure that
(I) the right hand is on top of the left hand.
Once the hands have been folded as explained above or while raised, the submitter should recite
?Praise be to God who has not taken a son, nor does He have a partner in sovereignty, nor does He have an all out of weakness.?
( N.B. This is an important part of both morning and evening prayer services cause it is the affirmation of the submitters monotheism and Gods providence. And it is the foundation of Submission ( Islam).The posture of standing ends at this point, I.e,after the affirmation.)
At the end of the above, the submitter should utter
? Glory be to our God!?
And go into the kneeling posture.
2.The form of kneeling and confession
Before proceeding further, examine your heart since you last prayed, and ask forgiveness for your sins. If you don?t, it is futile to pray further, for as the psalmist said, ? If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me? ( Psalm 6618 ). Fortunately, we can confess our sin and know that He will forgive us of ? all unrighteousness?.
When sitting in the kneeling, the hands are placed on the thighs with the fingers held together facing the Focal Point very close to the knees or the hands are lifted up in prayer or however God has taught one.
In the posture of kneeling the submitter should say the prayers It is recommended for one to make a prayer list so one doesn?t forget anything. The submitter should pray for their forgiveness, for the forgiveness of the believing men and the believing women, and for God to have mercy or their parents. One may choose a few or all of the prayers below or say their own prayers.
?Our Lord, do not mind us if we forget or make mistakes; our Lord, do not place a burden upon us as You have placed upon those before us; our Lord, do not place upon us what we cannot bear; pardon us, and forgive us, and have mercy on us; You are our patron, so grant us victory over the disbelieving people.?
?Our Lord, we believe, so forgive us our sins, and spare us the retribution of the Fire.?
?My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and you are the best of those who are merciful.?
My Lord, forgive me, and my parents, and all who enters my home as a believer, and to the believing men and the believing women; and do not increase the wicked except in destruction.
After reciting the prayers in kneeling the submitter should recite
? Glory be to our God!?
And then rise up slightly bowing lowly, taking 3 steps back while remaining bending to prepare for prostration. And then go into prostration.
- The posture of prostration and thanksgiving
I cannot exaggerate how important it is to learn to be thankful. It is part of the spirit-filled submitters life and is essential to becoming a happy person, whether in prison or as a free man or woman. Thank God for who He is, and for what He has done for you and what you are learning from His word.
As the submitter goes into prostration, he places on the ground firstly his knees, then he lies down flat , face down, in submission or adoration. His body should be stretched at full length ,with his arms reaching towards the Sacred Temple.
In this posture of prostration the submitter should glorify as desired, one may recite the following
? Glory be to our God!? at least thrice.
0r/and
? Our god, Possessor of Kingship; You grant Kingship to whom you please, and You revoke Kingship from whom You please, and honor whom You please, and humiliate whom You please; in Your hand is goodness. You are capable of all things. You blend the night into the day, and blend the day into the night; and You bring the living out the dead, and bring the dead out the living; and You provide for whom You please with no reckoning.?
?Our god, Initiator of the heavens and the Earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You will judge between Your servants regarding what they disputed in.?
After reciting the above in prostration, the submitter recites
?Glory be to our God!?
And then goes into the kneeling posture.
- The kneeling after prostration and supplication
This is just a fancy word for asking God for the needs of your life and for those of the people He lays on your heart.
During the kneeling the submitter glorifies further as one desires It is recommended for one to make a prayer list so one doesn?t forget anything. The submitter should ask God from His favor. One may choose a few or all of the prayers below or say their own prayers.
?Our Lord in heaven, help us to honor your name. Come and set up your Kingdom. Give us each day the food we need. Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who has done wrong to us. And keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil.?
?Our Lord, give us good in this world, and good in the Hereafter, and spare us from the retribution of the Fire.?
?Be patient with us,?
?Our Lord, do not make our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us from You a mercy; You are the Grantor.? ?Our Lord, You will gather the people for a Day in which there is no doubt; God does not break His appointment.?
?My Lord, increase my knowledge.?
Say ?My Lord, if You show me what they are promised.? ?My Lord, then do not leave me amongst the wicked people.?
?Our Lord, avert from us the retribution of Hell. Its retribution is terrible.? ?It is a miserable abode and dwelling.?
?Our Lord, grant us from our mates and our progeny what will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us role models the righteous.?
Your prayer method has now been complete.
( note And if you are with them and you hold the communion for them, then let a group from amongst them stand with you and let them bring their weapons; and when they have prostrated then let them stand guard from behind; and let a group who has not yet communed come and commune with you, and let them be wary and let them bring their weapons with them. The rejecters hope that you would neglect your weapons and goods so they can come upon you in one blow. There is no sin upon you if you are impeded by rainfall, or if you are ill, that you place down your weapons. And be wary. God has prepared for the rejecters a humiliating retribution.)
The reading
It is even more important to read, memorize, and study the Scripture than to pray, for it is more important for God to talk to us than for us to talk to Him. We certainly aren?t going to tell Him something He does not know, but He has much in His word that He wants us to learn. the prayers is a good deed that cancels our bad deeds. But the remembrance of God is the greatest. God knows everything you do.
The position of standing erect
Immediately after completing the prayers, the submitter says
? Glory be to our God!?
And enters the standing posture, I.e. he once again stands erect to read or recite the Quran.
In the standing posture the submitter should recite the following
? My Lord, admit me an entrance of truth and let me exit a exit of truth, and grant me from Yourself a support to victory.?
? The truth has come, while falsehood has perished. Falsehood is always bound to perish!?
After reciting the above he should say
?My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the whispers of the sneaking devils. And I seek refuge in You my Lord. Lest they should come near.?
After reciting the above he opens the Quran and reads from any chapter/s or verses of the Quran.
( During the dawn prayer one may read all the way up until its expiry (sunrise). And for the evening prayer one may read all the way up until midnight or its expiry.).
After the reading/recital of the Quran he utters
? Glory be to our God!?
And takes a kneel, and utters
? Glory be to our God!? at least thrice
And then goes into prostration, as previously mentioned.
The posture of prostration
In prostration he supplicates as desired
?The truth has come, while falsehood has perished. Falsehood is always bound to perish!?
Then he utters
? Glory be to our God!?
And goes into the kneeling posture
The kneeling posture after prostration
In the kneeling posture he cries out further as desired; as previously mentioned.
The Offering
Worship should be accompanied by giving.
After the prayers and readings there will follow a pause which should not last to long. During this interval, everyone should engage in some form of giving. There will be an offering box were everyone can put in their gifts to the Lord. You may bring money. You may also bring gold, silver, or bronze; blue, purple, or red wool; fine linen; goat hair; tanned ram skin or fine leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the lamp; sweet-smelling spices for the oil of dedication and for the incense; or onyx stones or other gems for the sacred vest and breast piece. The giving during the pause is to be made individually and silently. If one so desires, one may merely remain seated without offering anything or implore.
The communion has now been complete
The Two daily prayers
The observance of prayers two times daily is obligatory upon all submitters of God - male and female. The two compulsory prayers are
- Morning prayer ( Dawn) 2. Evening prayer ( Sunset )
Additional prayers
Outside of the obligatory prayers morning and evening, one can pray at anytime of the day or night. Daniel prayed three times a day in his bedroom. Nehemiah prayed while he was working several times he uttered quick, impromptu prayers under his breath when a crises arose. Jesus also prayed often- from early morning to late at night ( God charged him with the prayer as long as he was alive).Sometimes God tests us just to see if we will implore.
Too much praying?
While one can pray at any time outside of the obligatory morning and evening prayers, even unceasingly, it is to be done reverently and meaningfully. Jesus warned about idly and endlessly repeating empty phrases in prayer (Matt. 67).
Which way do I pray?
One prays facing the Sacred temple in Mecca.
The Temple
The Temple is the place of public prayer and worship. No sacrifices are carried out here; rather, reading of the Scriptures replace this as the central event of Islamic worship. Each Islamic community has its own temple. The temples are to be developed into the educational, civic, and cultural, as well as religious center of the community.
How quickly can I go?
? When a man leaves the temple, he should not march with hasty steps but when he goes to the temple, it is right to run.?Family worship
Fathers are responsible for their whole household in religious matters, including servants. Fathers are the ones who bring the sacrifices. Joshua spoke for everyone in his household when he said that he and his house would serve the Lord ( Joshua 2415 )
Worship
God has told us to worship Him.
God meets with his people in a powerful way when they worship Hi together.
Public corporate worship gives Gods people an important opportunity to hear His word proclaimed and to learn about God and His ways.
Worship is a fitting response to Gods holiness, power, and grace.
Our worship of God is a foretaste of heaven.
A Worship leader can help guide people in worship.
Public prayer is an important part of corporate worship.
Public worship conducted with hypocrisy and unrighteousness is worse than useless.
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Peace be upon you,
What book was that from?
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and peace be upon you.
I took info from a few books/readings on prayer/salat- one of the old muslim prayer books and other readings ( facts ) and the Quran to confirm, to form a prayer book or guidelines for submitters, with the proofs. It isnt complete yet thoe. But this is how I see it, this is how God has taught me to pray/ or salat.
But i do have the verses to proove this is it, but havent inserted them yet.
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Peace be upon you,
I look foward to seeing the verses as well as the proof in real life application. Salaat states that it will do several things, we must see if what you are promoting does that on a consistent basis. Science is what we turn to.
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O.K. im go inert the proofs on my update. later
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and peace be upon you.
I took info from a few books/readings on prayer/salat- one of the old muslim prayer books and other readings ( facts ) and the Quran to confirm, to form a prayer book or guidelines for submitters, with the proofs. It isnt complete yet thoe. But this is how I see it, this is how God has taught me to pray/ or salat.
But i do have the verses to proove this is it, but havent inserted them yet.
I'd like to see the proofs (verses) of these things as well. Some of them appear to be based on hadeeths, not on the actual Message of Al-Qur'aan...
Peace.
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I updated, look at my other post wit the proofs.............Still workin on it thoe.....