2nd Pillar of Islam- Salat

SALAT- PRAYER

PRAYER TO ALLAH

CONDITIONS AND RULES FOR SALAH

Origin of the Pillar:

By: Stephanie A, Danny, Sophia, Shannon and Tony

Pillars

*Salat originated from an order that Muhammed received in Night Ascension.

*The Night Journey was the significant factor in establishing the salat.

*When Muhammed visited heaven, he met Allah where he negotiated on the amount of prayer.

*Muhammed then returned to Allah where salat was cut down to 5 times per day.

*Hence Muslims have 5 prayers a day.

DESCRIPTION OF SALAt

* Requirement of prayer- 5 times a day.

*Specific times that prayers are performed, attire and direction needing to be faced and where prayer is conducted.

*Approximate time between first light and sunrise, after the sun has passed the middle of the sky, between mid afternoon and sunset, between sunset and the last light of the day, and between darkness and midnight.

*PRAYERS: recitation from Qur'an in arabic, accompanied by movements (standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting)

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SIGNIFICANCE

of Salat

-Act of worship

-Second and most important Pillar of Islam

-practical sign of obedience to the commands of Allah. It is the practical proof of our faith in Allah and Islam.

Differences in Variants

SHI"A

*Only recognise parts of Hadith attributed to Muhammad's family and followers of Ali.

* larger prominence on torment of martyrdom that were suffered by the Imams -> commit themselves to pain.

* Articles of prayer procedure, for example, which verses of the Quran are recited.

* Combine the five daily prayers into three or four if the times they need to pray are filled with long work hours or if they are unable to practice at those particular times.

*They will raise their hands three times, reciting “Allah hu akbar,”

*Also, Shi’as in the second Rakak often read “Qunoot” which is often done after Salat for Sunni’s.

*The different translations or interpretations by different schools of law in Sunni Islam, and by different legal traditions within the Shi’a denomination.

SHI'A

SUNNI:

*Consider whole Hadith to be valid.

*Strongly disagree with practices of torment and combination of prayers.

*Strict adherence to orthodox practices

*look over their left and right shoulders saying salams

*"Qunoot' is done after salat

SUNNI

-Salah is the only distinction between a Mo’min and a non-Mo’min.

-Salah reminds you of Allah -throughout the whole day

-the last will of the Prophet ->As his soul departed he said with his last breaths: As-Salah, As-Salah.

-Salah is the first thing that a person is judged by on the Day of Judgement.

-Direct contact or link between the worshiper and Allah with no earthly intermediaries

-builds a strong defense against evils which exist around us.

- wipes out our sins: Prophet Muhammad once asked his companions “Tell me if there was a river at the door step of one of you in which you washed 5 times a day would any of your dirt remain?” When he received the reply that none of it would remain he then said “That is like the 5 times Salah, with which Allah wipes out sin.

BODY AND CLOTHES MUST BE CLEAN

Before Salah, the intention (Niyyah) must be made

Place of Salah must be clean

Salah must be done facing the Ka'bah (Makkah)

Salah must be on time

Salat-ul-Fajr- At dawn

Salat-u-Dhuhr- After mid day

Salat-ul-Asr- Late Afternoon

Salat-ul-Maghrib- Just after sunset

Salat-ul-Ishaa- In the night