18 Benefits of Prayer - by Ibn Qayyim al-Jaqziyyah

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As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh! I hope this finds you close to Allah & in the best of health and Iman, Ameen.



1) Prayer is something that causes one to receive sustenance.
2) It is something that safeguards one's physical health.
3) It keeps away harmful things.
4) It casts away illnesses.
5) It strengthens the heart.
6) It brightens one's countenance.
7) It delights the soul.
8) It gets rid of laziness.
9) It makes the limbs active.
10) It increases one's physical strength.
11) It expands the chest (making one at ease & giving strength).
12) It is nourishment for the soul.
13) It illuminates the heart.
14) It safeguards one's blessings.
15) It repels catastrophes.
16) It brings on blessings.
17) It keeps away the Shaitan (devil).
18) It draws one close to Ar-Rahmaan (Allah, the Most Merciful).

How To Move Your Finger In The Prayer During ''Tashahudd''

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As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh! I hope this finds you close to Allah & in the best of health and Iman, Ameen.

I came across this video & wanted to share.  Masha Allah I have seen so many ways of how sisters use the finger and most of them are wrong according to Scholars.  May Allah help us all correct & perfect our Salats, Ameen.  This video shows how Sheikh Al-Albani says is the correct way of using/moving the finger.

Punishments of Not Praying- Making Salah

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As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh! I hope this finds you close to Allah & in the best of health and Iman, Ameen.

I found this to be very beneficial, Alhamdulillah!  I wanted to share with you immediately.

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The one who disdains prayers (Salat) will receive Fifteen punishments

FROM SAYINGS (HADITH) OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam)

from Allah..

Six punishments in this lifetime

Three while dying

Three in the grave &

Three on the Day of Judgment.



THE SIX PUNISHMENTS OF LIFE :

1. Allah takes away blessings from his age (makes his life misfortunate)

2. Allah does not accept his plea (Dua's)

3. Allah erases the features of good people from his face.

4. He will be detested by all creatures on earth.

5. Allah does not reward him for his good deeds. (No thawab)

6. He will not be included in the Dua's of good people.



THE THREE PUNISHMENTS WHILE DYING :

1. He dies humiliated.

2. He dies hungry.

3. He dies thirsty. Even if he drinks the water of all seas he will still be thirsty.



THE THREE PUNISHMENTS IN THE GRAVE :

1. Allah tightens his grave until his chest ribs come over each other.

2. Allah pours on him fire with embers.

3. Allah sets on him a snake called 'the brave', 'the bold' which hits him from morning until afternoon for leaving Fajr prayer, from the afternoon until Asr for leaving Dhuhr prayer and so on. With each strike he sinks 70 yards under the ground.



THE THREE PUNISHMENTS ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT :

1. Allah sends who would accompany him to hell pulling him on the face.

2. Allah gives him an angry look that makes the flesh of his face fall down.

3. Allah judges him strictly and orders him to be thrown in hell.


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THOSE WHO DO NOT SAY THEIR PRAYERS OF:

FAJR : the glow of their face is taken away.

DHUHR : the blessing of their income is taken away.

ASR : the strength of their body is taken away.

MAGHRIB : they are not benefited by their children.

ISHA : the peace of their sleep is taken away.

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THE HOLY QUR'AN:

'Say Your Prayers Before Prayers For You Are Said'.

Connection between Salah & Sadaqah (video)

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As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh! I hope this finds you close to Allah & in the best of health and Iman, Ameen.

This was a really good and short video, beneficial indeed!

The Conditions & Pillars of the Prayer (Salat) - PDF Ebook

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http://www.kalamullah.com/Books/The%20Conditions%20and%20Pillars%20of%20Salat.pdf

Pray as you have Seen me Pray - Documentary Educational Video

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Pray as you have Seen me Pray - video at top of page

Excerpt from my Interview with a Muslim College student about Prayer

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As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh! I hope this finds you close to Allah & in the best of health and Iman.


THIS INTERVIEW WAS DONE IN MARCH 2011.

Sister Marwa: Describe to me the experience of praying Jama’a, together, with the rest of the sisters, standing in line, all of us standing in line, doing the same thing at the same time, listening to the same voice. How does it feel like? The experience of praying with sisters, shoulder to shoulder.

Sister @pril: It has a different feeling than when you’re praying by yourself. It’s like we’re all coming together for the same thing. We’re all coming together for the same prize. It’s like if you really believe in a charity― let’s say you organize a breast cancer walk―you might get a few friends together, but once you organize a large group, it has a larger impact. It has a much stronger fleeing. You feel very unified. We’re all Muslims. We all believe the same thing. We’re all doing the same thing. It has a very strong feeling. It also creates a bond because after we get done, sometimes we hug each other. It’s not like how Christians pray at church. We’re touching each other. You know? We’re touching each others’ feet. Our shoulders, our elbows are touching. You’re very close to somebody.  We’re all standing. We’re all doing the exact same thing. It’s a very good feeling inside that we’re all sharing in the same thing, at the exact same time because you never know when you’re going to pray with these sisters again.  We all die. We’re all going to die. You just never knew when someone won’t be there the next week.  Even ourselves, we might not even be here tonight. You really have to appreciate what’s going on right now. Focus on right now.  And it’s just a really good feeling being with everyone doing the same thing at the same time. It just has a louder voice, to have everyone do the exact same thing.

Obligation to Seek Refuge from 4 Things before the Salam ending the Prayer

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As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh! Insha Allah this finds you close to Allah & in the best of health and Iman.

He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to say, "When one of you has finished the [last] tashahhud, he should seek refuge with Allaah from four things; [saying:

O Allaah! I truly seek refuge with You] from the punishment of Hellfire, and from the punishment of the grave, and from the trials of living and dying, and from the evil [trials] of the False Christ. [Then he should supplicate for himself with what occurs to him.]"²⁵⁷ - "He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would supplicate with it in his own tashahhud."²⁵⁸
Also, "he used to teach the Companions (radi Allaahu 'anhum) this the way he taught them Soorahs of the Qur'aan."²⁵⁹

There Is No Difference Between The Prayer Of The Man & The Woman

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As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh! Insha Allah this finds you close to Allah & in the best of health and Iman.

Question: The Messenger sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said:   "Pray as you have seen me praying" And that which  is understood from this Hadeeth is that there is no  difference between the prayer of the man and the  prayer of the woman, not in the standing, the sitting  and nor in the prostration. So I have been acting in  accordance with that since reaching the age of  at-Takleef (burdened/obligated to abide by the Sharee'ah).  But we have women in Kenya who quarrel with me  and they say that your prayer is not correct because  it resembles the man's prayer. And the examples they  mention where the man's prayer differs from the  woman's prayer are holding the two hands upon the  chest and when releasing them both and the keeping  of the back level in the bowing position (Rukoo') and  other than that from the issues about which I have  conviction. So I would like you to clarify to me is  there a difference between the performance of the  prayer of the man and the woman?

Answer: O questioner, my sister for the sake of Allaah, indeed that  which is correct is that there is no difference between the  man's prayer and the woman's prayer. As for what some  of the jurists mention from the difference [in the prayer of the  man and the woman] then there is no evidence for it. And the  hadeeth that you mentioned in the question being the statement  of the prophet may the peace and blessings be upon him: "Pray as you have seen me praying"1 [This Hadeeth]is a fundamental principle which generally  includes everybody and the legislations are in generality for  men and women except for when there is established proof  making it specific. So the Sunnah for the woman is that she  prays as the men pray in the rukoo' (bowing), the prostration  (sujood), the recitation, putting the hands upon the chest and  other than that. This is what is best, this is how to put them  (hands) upon the knees in the rukoo', this is how to put them  upon the ground in prostration either in level with shoulders or  in level with the ears, this how you make your back level in the rukoo' and this what is said in the rukoo' and the prostration  and after the rising from the rukoo' and rising up from the  prostration and between the two prostrations. All of it is just  the same as the men acting in accordance to his  (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) statement: "Pray as you have seen me praying" [Reported by  al-Bukhaaree in as-Saheeh.] ___________________________________________ 1 Reported by al-Bukhaaree in [the book of] al-Adhaan  no.595, & ad-Daarimee in [the book of]  as-Salaat no.1225.

Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz

Noorun 'alaa ad-Darb - Majmoo' Fataawa wa  Maqaalaat al-Mutanawwi'ah Vol.11.

Translated by Abu 'Abdillaah al-Kashmiree

http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/877

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10 common mistakes in prayer (salah, nimaz, salat) a photo by coolfundam3ntalist on Flickr.

10 common mistakes in prayer (salah, nimaz, salat)

10 common mistakes in Prayer (Salah, Salat or Namaz):
Prostration, Sujood in Namaz (Prayer, Salah, Salat)
Salat (Salah, Namaz) or Prayer is the most important pillar of Islam which will be questioned on the day of Resurrection. Performing Prayers is obligatory for every adult Muslim. Salah is a ritual prayer having prescribed conditions and one must perform Salaah while fulfilling those conditions. Many times we perform Prayers or Salah as a practice or a part of habit only but tend to forget the basic essence of Namaz and make many mistakes during Prayers. 10 common mistakes and errors in Prayers or Salah are discussed:

1. DELAYING IN THE SALAH INTENTIONALLY :
While being busy in worldly affairs we often delay the Salah from its preferred time. This is the most common mistake in Prayer made by most of us. We think that Praying is last thing to do and we must attend to other matters first. Many workers delay Zuhr and Asr Prayer till night-time. Quran speaks strictly on guarding our Salat:
“Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e. Asr Prayers)” [2:238]
Here to safeguard the Salat means to perform it at its prescribed time and to be steadfast upon it.
Narrated Ibn Umar (R.A): Allah’s Messenger (P.B.U.H) said: “Whoever misses the Asr prayers (intentionally), then it is as if he lost his family and property.” [Al-Bukhari]
Another Hadith explains the importance of praying on time:
Narrated Abu Al-Malih (R.A): “We were with Buraidah in a battle on a cloudy day and he said, “Offer the Asr prayer early as the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said, “Whoever omits the Asr prayer, all his (good) deeds will be lost.” [Al-Bukhari]

2. RECITING THE HOLY QURAN FAST IN THE PRAYERS :
We must pause and take breaks while reciting Holy Quran during Salat. We should not recite the Surah’s so fast that that the verse get intermingled. One of the Hadith emphasizes this issue:
“The Prophet (P.B.U.H) used to pause after each verse of Surah al-Fatiha. [Abu Dawood]

3. MOVING BEFORE THE IMAM IN CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS:
One should not race with the imam i.e. try to move before the Imam or with the Imam because the correct ruling is when Imam says Allahu Akbar, then the person who’s following the Imam in Prayers should say Allahu Akbar. Not before Imam or with Imam. Like this Hadith of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) states:
“Surely the imam is there to be followed” [Muslim]
Another Hadith states:
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “Does not the one who raises his head before the Imam does fear that Allah would transform his head into a donkey’s head” [Muslim]

4. PERFORMING THE SALAH HASTILY :
Salat should be performed slowly and calmly. Rukoo or Sujood must be performed unhurriedly. In order to complete the Rukoo one must stay in Rukoo posture long enough to recite “Subhan Rabbi yal Adtheem” at least three times. In the same manner, for the Sujood the person should say “Subhan-na Rabbi yal-ala” three times slowly. This Hadith commands to complete the Rukoo and Sujood in proper manner:
The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) said: “The worst thief is the one who steals from his own prayer.” People asked: ‘Messenger of Allah! How could one steal from his own prayer?’ He said: “By not completing its rukoo and sujood” [at-Tabarani]
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “He who does not complete his rukoo and sujood, his prayer is void” [Abu Dawood]

5. GAZING RIGHT, LEFT OR UPWARD DURING SALAT :
While performing Salah, one should concentrate on looking to the point where the head is placed during Sujood rather than looking upwards. Because this may lose concentration. In the Hadith recorded by Sahih Muslim the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:
“Let those who raise their gaze up during prayer stop doing so, or else their sights would not return to them” (i.e. they will lose their eyesight) [Muslim]

6. PERFORMING SUJOOD IMPROPERLY :
most common mistake observed in Prayers is to perform Sujood by resting only the tip of head on floor.
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “I am commanded to prostrate on seven bones the forehead and the nose, the two hands [palms], the two knees, and the two feet” [Muslim]

7. NOT PERFORMING PRAYERS DURING ILLNESS OR TRAVELLING :
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) always used to perform Prayers even during His last days before death. He (P.B.U.H) never neglected it even during combats. Prayer is obligatory and must be performed in any condition. If a person cannot perform ablution due to his illness then he may perform tayammum (dry ablution). If he cannot stand in prayer, he may perform Salah while sitting or even laying down. Same is the case while traveling. The person can combine 2 Salah while traveling i.e. Zuhr Prayer and Asr Prayer. or Maghrib Prayer and Isha Prayer.

8. CROSSING IN FRONT OF A PERSON WHO IS PERFORMING SALAH :
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “Were the one who crosses in front of a praying person to know the consequences of doing so, he would have waited for forty years better than to cross in front of him” [Bukhari]

9. GOING TO MOSQUE FOR PERFORMING SALAH WITH RAPID WALK :
when the time of Prayer has approached and some person has fear that he might miss his Salah; for the fear of that most of us try to walk quickly or run for the fear of missing some part of the prayer. This is not allowed according to Hadith:
The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) said: “When prayer has already started, do not walk quickly to join in. Proceed calmly and reposefully; then join in whichever part you catch up, and complete whichever part you missed” [Bukhari and Muslim]

10. EATING FOOD WHICH WILL CREATE BEFORE BAD BREATH BEFORE PERFORMING SALAH:
Consuming foods that have bad smell like the garlic or onion etc. should not be taken before the Salah because the bad smell may irritate the angels and the praying people.
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “He who eats from the smelly plant [garlic or onion], let him come not near our mosque; the angels are bothered by that which bothers men” [Muslim]


May Allah guide us to perform our Salah perfectly and help us to guard our Salat so when on the Day of Judgment we are questioned about our prayers, we may succeed. Ameen.

Straightening the Rows: From the Perfection of Salah

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Insha Allah this finds you in the best of health and Iman.



 

Straightening the Rows: From the Perfection of Salaah

Thursday, 18 February 2010

Compiled and Translated by Moosaa RichardsonThe following addresses some of the conclusions reached in the book "Laa Jadeed fee Ahkaam as-Salaat" of Shaykh Bakr Aboo Zayd (may Allaah have Mercy on him) in regards to perfecting the straightness of the rows.   The obvious meaning of the prohibition: 'do not leave gaps for the shaytaan' is to not leave any space, or to stand next to each other, connected   The following addresses some of the conclusions reached in the book "Laa Jadeed fee Ahkaam as-Salaat" of Shaykh Bakr Aboo Zayd (may Allaah have Mercy on him): In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful... May His Salaat and Salaam be upon the Final Messenger... 1. The obvious meaning of the order: "fill the gaps" is to not leave any space between people when praying.  When two people stand side by side and connect to each other - their shoulders and feet connect.  If they were to move even closer; their hips, (sides of) knees, and (sides of) calves touch.  (Try it) Oddly shaped people (obese or otherwise) may not be able. 2. The obvious meaning of the prohibition: "do not leave gaps for the shaytaan" is to not leave any space, or to stand next to each other: connected. 3. The obvious understanding of the Companions when addressed with this speech was to not leave any space, to the point that they joined their ankles, knees, and shoulders, as narrated explicitly by the likes of Anas and Nu'maan (may Allaah be pleased with them both). 4. Their understanding and application was witnessed by the Prophet (sallallahau 'alayhe wa sallam) who did not rebuke them for extremism or harshness.  This is something called "taqreer" and thus becomes legislation, and can be easily identified as the correct understanding. 5. It is possible to join knees when standing, so to claim that this is impossible and necessitates ta'weel (leaving the obvious understanding) of the action of the Companions is false.  (Again - try it)  Of course the whole knee is not intended (that would be impossible), rather it is a case of "itlaaq al-kull wa iraadatul-ba'dh".  The intended meaning is the sides of the knees, as is obvious. 6. al-Khattaabee's words in al-Ma'aalam (1/184) "wa laa yahaak-ku bimankibihi mankiba saahibhi" do not in any way imply that one should leave spaces in the row.  It means that they should not "grind" their shoulders together in a way that causes friction, and thus a distraction for one's prayers.  Joining shoulders does not necessitate any friction between them.  Actually the hadeeth, "The best of you are the softest (or easiest) with their shoulders in prayer." is a proof that the shoulders are indeed supposed to be connected in the row, since how could a person be described as being "soft-shouldered" while he is not touching anything?! 7. Ibn Hajr's words in Fat-hul-Baaree (2/211) are clear in conveying how important it is to not leave gaps.  Nothing he said could be interpreted as an indication that we are to leave gaps.  His reference to the actions of the Comapanions (joining their shoulders and feet) as a "mubaalaghah" does not in any way mean a negative mubaalaghah (extremism, excessiveness, etc.)  Rather it is a praiseworthy mubaalaghah (devout fulfillment of an order), like in the hadeeth "Baalighoo fil-istinshaaq..."  (Sniff in a lot of water when performing wudhoo...)  Had they engaged in a blameworthy mubaalaghah, how could the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) remain silent about it?! 8. al-Bukhaaree called the chapter he collected this hadeeth in: "The chapter of joining the shoulders and feet together in the row".  This is the obvious meaning understood from the reports of the Companions actions, as mentioned. 9. Joining the feet and shoulders does not necessitate being "overly obsessed" with it, nor being distracted from one's devotion to the prayer.  People who claim this are often used to praying without anyone touching them, so a simple touch disturbs them. 10. Swaying in the prayer line has become common, both front to back swaying, and side to side.  Joining the shoulders in the row is the prophetic solution for this modern day innovation that comes from the Jews and their manner of prayer.  This swaying is a kind of heedlessness that desperately needs a solution, as pointed out by the scholars, including Shaykh Bakr Aboo Zayd (may Allaah have Mercy on him) himself in his book Tas-heeh ad-Du'aa'. 11. Joining the feet and shoulders does not mean hurting people.  There are people who hurt the Muslims by literally "jamming" their ankle bone to their brother's ankle bone and maybe even grinding it, perhaps excessively.  This is a clear contradiction to the sense of ease and tranquility we are to establish in the prayer. 12. Many people are confused about how to line up for prayer.  Some people draw a line and ask the people to put their toes on it.  Others say we should put our heels on it.  This is a practice that was not done in the time of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), one that has arisen as a solution to a problem that exists because we left the original guidance of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) and do not join our shoulders and ankles together in the row.  A row with people's ankles and shoulders connected is a straight and connected row and usually only needs a few minor adjustments before starting the prayer. 13. Anas' statement about the manner of lining up that "If I would do this with any of them today, they would flee like wild mules!" proves that he was describing the actual physical joining of the feet and shoulders, not an allegorical one.   Two more benefits related to the topic: 1. Stand naturally, feet shoudler width apart.The distance between a person's two shoulders is not something he can control or stretch out.  Thus, the correct amount of space for a person to take in the row is what he needs to place his shoulder to his neighbor's shoulder on both sides.  Some people may stretch their feet wider thinking to be filling a gap, while in fact they are not!  When a person widens his stance (wider than shoulder width), he will likely not connect his shoulder to anyone's shoulder.  So it can be known from this that a person should stand naturally, feet about shoulder width apart.  The idea of the shoulder being the most important thing to connect is indicated in the hadeeth "Align yourselves by your shoulders and fill the gaps."   2. Another harm from not implementing the Sunnah, and another invention to replace itPeople who wear things that limit their vision in prayer, like some styles of Arab headwear, like the shimaagh or ghutrah, those who also insist on not connecting themselves to the row, may stand at or near the end of a row, and be left heedless that someone has left the row (to renew wudhoo', etc.) and there is a need to move over.  Since he can not see sideways becsause of the headwear, and his shoulder is not connected to the row, he may only notice when moving into rukoo' that the row has actually abandoned him and he is off by himself on the side of the row totally disconnected!  While the one who is connected knows of this issue because he can feel the absence the one standing next to him.  In fact, the people who demand that gaps be left in the row have invented a custom to help solve this issue: they actually tug on the clothes of a person to tell him he needs to move over, and they take it as a kind of duty to notify the one next him!  This is an additional action in the prayer that is not necessary when people pray together in the way done by the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) and his companions. And Allaah knows best.        Original Source: http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=10&Topic=8324