Praying while sick

Thursday Halaqa Notes

9/19/13

Sr. Um Iyad

Praying while Sick

First, some reminders on the rewards and importance of Salat:

• The 5 prayers and Jum3ah prayer removes the major sins. Abu Hurraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “The five daily prayers, and from one Jummah to the next, are an expiation for whatever sins come in between, so long as one does not commit any major sin.” (Muslim) 

• On the Day of Judgement, the angels will know the ones who used to pray by a dot on their forehead - because the fire will not touch the point of sujud. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “When Allah intends to have mercy on whomsoever he wishes of the people of the Fire, He will order the angels to bring out whoever used to worship Allah; so they will bring them out, recognizing them from the marks of sujood, for Allah has prohibited the Fire from devouring the marks of sujood. Thus, they will be brought out from the Fire, for the Fire devours all of a son of Adam except the marks of sujood.  (Bukhari and Muslim)

How to pray when you are sick:

• Wudu: 
• If you can’t get up to make wudu, ask someone to bring you water and help you make wudu. 
• If not, bring dry dirt or a stone from outside, and make tayammum. 
• If you can’t make tayammum, then just pray. 

• Prayer: 
• If you can’t stand, sit: - For ruku’ you put your head down a little, for sujud you put your head down lower. When you do this keep your hands on your knees (don’t move your hands up in the air).
• If can’t sit, lie down: put your legs in the direction of the qibla.

• Combining the Prayers:
• Sick people can join Duhr & Asr, Maghrib and Isha. But not qasr shortening. Qasr is only allowed during travel. 

• Making the Iqama:
• For men, they have to say the iqama before each salat. Women don’t have to say the iqama, but can if they want.

Other tips on Salat:

• When to raise the arms during prayer:  before  you go into ruku’, after you come up from ruku’, and when you stand up to start the 3rd rak’ah. 
• The position of the finger during tashahhud: with your middle finger and thumb, make a circle then raise the pointer finger. Keep it raised until you finish the tashahhud. 
• Position of the hands when you stand during qiyam: place your hands on your chest (above the belly button), with your right hand around your left wrist.  
• When it comes to Salat, follow the hadiths on salat - not the math-habs. Because sometimes the Imam hadn’t yet received a hadith, or it reached one but not the other, etc.
  

Sunnah Acts of Salat - Sunnan Al Salat

Thursday Halaqa

9/12/13

Sr. Fatenah 

Sunan Al Salat: The Sunnah Acts of Prayer

These are some additional acts that you can do in the prayer. They are preferred to do, but they are sunnah.

1. Du’a Al Istiftaah- Saying the opening du’a silently after the first takbeer when you first start the prayer. سُبْـحانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمْـدِكَ وَتَبارَكَ اسْمُـكَ وَتَعـالى جَـدُّكَ وَلا إِلهَ غَيْرُك Subhanakal-lahumma wabihamdika watabarakas-muka wataAAala jadduka wala ilaha ghayruk. ‘How perfect You are O Allah, and I praise You. Blessed be Your name, and lofty is Your position and none has the right to be worshipped except You.’ There are other authentic supplications as well that you can use.
2. Al- Isti’atha - Seeking refuge in Allah from the shaytan by saying silently “A’utho billahi minal shaytan alrajeem” أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
3. Basmalah - saying Bismillah silently
4. Say Ameen loudly after reciting Surat Al Faatiha.
5. Recite another Surah after Surat Al Faatiha (in the first 2 rakahs only).
6. Takbir bayn al Sajdataan wa nuzul ila ruku’ - Saying “Allahu Akbar” when going to the next position (ruku’, sujud, between the 2 sujuds...)
7. Raf’ al yaddayn ma’ takbiraat - Raising the hands when you say Allahu Akbar between these positions: When going into Rukoo’, when coming back up from Rukoo’, when standing up from the third Rak’ah. The palm of your hand should face the Qiblah and hands raised to the side of the shoulders. 
8. Tariqat wad’ al yaddayn - The way to place your hands when you are standing in Salat: Place the right hand on the left grasp the left wrist bone with your right hand. And place your hands in between the chest and the naval but not on the waist.
9. Reciting Qur’an in a loud voice in the first two rakaats of Fajr, Maghrib, and Isha.
10. After Ruku’ say “sami’ Allahu liman hamida”. 
11. Du’a qabl al tasleem - saying a du’a before ending the prayer. There are authentic supplications you can use or you can say your own du'a. 

Pillars of Prayer (Arkaan As-Salat)

Thursday Halaqa Notes

9/12/13

Sr. Fatenah Tailakh

Arkaan As-Salat: Pillars of Prayer

There are three categories for the acts of Prayer: the Pillars (Arkaan as-Salat), the Necessary Duties (Wajibat as-Salat), and Preferred Acts (Sunnan as-Salat). Each one has different legal rulings and implications if missed. First let’s talk about the Pillars of Salat. These are the obligatory pillars that must be fulfilled in order for your prayer to be valid.

1. Standing (Al-Qiyaam)

• Obligated on anyone that is able to stand. 
• Anyone that can’t get out of bed can make tayammum - wiping their hands and face. And they can pray by moving their head or their eyes.
• That’s how important Salat is - even if you are sick and can’t get out of bed you still have to pray.
• Can sit in Sunnah prayers in any time.
• “Guard strictly the prayers, especially the middle one. And stand before Allah with full submission.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 238]

2. Saying “Allahu Akbar” (Takbiratil Ihraam ma’ raf’ al yaddayn)

• Saying “Allahu Akbar” to begin the prayer while raising your hands.
• When raising your hands, put your hands up near your shoulders with your thumb near your ear.
• At this point, you have cut yourself off from anything going on around you, just focusing on the prayer. 
• “It’s opening is the Takbeer and it’s closing is the Tasleem.” Reported by Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhee, Ahmad and Al-Bazaar.

3. Reciting Surat Al Fatiha (Qiraa’at al Fatiha)

• Obligatory in every rak’ah.
• When praying behind the Imam, just listen to his reciation. If he paused between Fatiha and second Surah you can recite Surat al Fatiha. 
• It is sunnah to recite another Surah after the Fatiha in the first two Rakahs. 
• “There is no prayer for the one who doesn’t recite the opening (chapter) of the Book.”

4. Bowing (Rukoo’)

• Bow down and put your hands on your knees with your fingers spread. 
• The back and the neck have to be at the same level.
• The back has to be straight.
• If you do it correctly, your back and knees will be relaxed.
• “O you who believe! Bow and prostrate (in prayer).” [Surah Al-Hajj: 77]

5. Standing up from Rukoo’

• All the backbones should become completely straight up again.

6. Prostrating (Sujood)

• Go down and put your hands on the floor first then let your knees go down to the floor. 
• The 7 parts that have to touching the ground: the forehead, the tip of the nose, both palms, both knees, the bottom of the toes of both feet. Ibn ‘Abbaas reported that Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “I have been ordered to prostrate on seven limbs: on the forehead – and he pointed to his nose – the (palms of the) hands, the knees and the toes of the feet.” [Reported by Al Bukhaaree and Muslim]
• The fingers have to be pointing toward the Qibla.
• The toes have to be pointing to the Qibla.
• Arms should be off the floor, relaxed at the side of the body. Not tight against the body but also not spread out far from the body.
• “O you who believe! Bow and prostrate (in prayer).” [Surah Al-Hajj: 77]

7. Sitting up from the Sujood

• When you sit back up, your back has to become upright again before you go into the second Sujood.
• Put your left foot down so that you are sitting on your left heal, and your right foot goes out from under you, to the right, and flat to the floor. This way your toes of both feet will stay pointing to the Qibla.

8. Recite Tashahhud (words of witness) after 2 rak’ahs (Tashahhud al wusta)

• Recite the final Tashah-hud after 4 rak’ahs (Tashah-hud al akheer) while sitting
• Ibn Mas’ood (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) said: “Before the tashahhud was made obligatory on us, we would say: ‘As-Salaamu ‘alaa Allaahi min ‘Ibaadihi. As-Salaamu ‘alaa Jibreel wa Mikaa’eel.’ [Peace be on Allaah from His servants. Peace be on Jibreel and Mikaa’eel]. So the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Do not say: Peace (Salaam) be on Allaah, for indeed Allaah, He is As-Salaam. Instead say: At-Tahiyyaatu Lillaahi was-Salawaatu wat-Tayyibaat. As- Salaamu ‘alayka ayyuhaan-Nabee wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh. As-Salaamu ‘alaynaa wa ‘alaa ‘Ibaadillaahis-Saaliheen. Ash-hadu an Laa Ilaaha IllaaAllaah wa Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluh.’ [“All acts of praise, supplications, and good are for Allaah. Peace be on you O Prophet, and also the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be on us, and on the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that no one has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.”]” Bukhari

9. Sending Salat on the Prophet (peace be upon him) (Salat al-Ibrahimiya)

• “Allaahumma Salli ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa Aali Muhammadin kamaa Salayta ‘alaa Ibraaheema wa ‘alaa Aali
  Ibraaheema Innaka Hameedun Majeed.”

10. Conclude the prayer with the words of peace (Tasleem)

• "Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah, Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah"

11. Do the above acts in order (Tarteeb)

• You can’t do Sujood before Ruku’

12. To do the above pillars in the a state of tranquility (Tama’neena)

• Abu Hurairah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) said: “One day we were sitting with the Prophet when a man entered and prayed. [Then he rose from prayer] and greeted the Prophet with Salaam. So the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told him: ‘Go back and pray for you have not prayed.’ This occurred three times, and finally the man said: ‘I swear by the One who sent you as a prophet in truth, I cannot do better than this, so teach me (the correct way to pray).’ So the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘When you get up to pray, say the Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar). Then recite what is easy for you from the Qur’aan. Then bow until you feel tranquility bowing. Then rise until you feel tranquil standing. Then prostrate until you feel tranquility whilst prostrating. Then rise from it until you feel tranquility sitting.
  Then do this in all of your prayers.’”

Tips on Praying at the Masjid

• You are coming into the prayer hall and the Imam has already started the Prayer: Say “Allahu Akbar” and put your hands on your chest. If the Imam was in another position, you then go into the same position as the Imam. It is sunnah to say a second “Allahu Akbar” when you go into that position.
• If you were praying in the Women’s prayer hall and the speakers stopped working so you couldn’t hear the Imam anymore, leave your Prayer and pray again alone. Because if you tried to look to see what position they are in now, you would be making too many movements in your Salat which invalidates the Prayer.

Shuroot al Salat - Conditions for the Validity of Prayer

Thursday Halaqa Notes
9/12/13
MCA -Santa Clara, CA

Shuroot al Salat: Conditions for the Validity of Prayer

• There are several conditions that must be met before you start your Prayer. If these are not met, the prayer is not acceptable.

• 1. Timing (Dukhool waqt al salat) - the time for that prayer has begun. Prayers must be made in their prescribed times. “Indeed the prayer is upon the mu’mineen, something which is prescribed with a legislated time.” (4:103)

• 2. Intention (Niyyah) - make your intention to pray that particular prayer, whether it’s Fajr or Dhuhr etc., fard or sunnah. “Actions are by intentions…” (Bukhaari/Muslim). But it has to be done in the heart only. Rasullullah (Salla Allahu ‘alaihi wassalam) did not obligate us to recite the intention with our lips. 
• Note: It is possible to combine intentions for sunnah prayers. For example if you are going to pray Dhuhr in the masjid, when you first enter you can pray 2 rak’aat sunnah with the intention of Duha prayer, sunnah prayer, and tahiyyat al masjid (the 2 rak’as you make when you first enter the masjid prayer room).  
• Note: Once you begin praying, you cannot change your intention. If you started to pray with the intention of sunnah, you cannot change your intention to fard.

• 3. Purification (Taharah min al-hadath) - this refers to wudu or ghusl if necessary. ”O you who believe! If you arise to pray then wash your face and your hands to your elbows…” (Surah al-Ma’idah 5:6) 
• Note: In wudu, be careful to make sure water has reached the back of the arms, the area on the face near the ears, and the ankles. These are the common missed areas that the Prophet (SAW) warned us of.
• Note: In wudu, it is allowed to wash beyond the area required, it will increase your light, Noor, on the day of Judgement.

• 4. Cleanliness (Ijtinaaban najasaat) - this includes cleanliness of the body, the clothes, and the place where the prayer is to be performed, from any impure substances (najasaat) like urine, feces, blood, semen, etc. “And purify your clothing.” (74:4)

• 5. Concealing of the Private Parts (Sitril ‘Awrah) - for a man: navel to the knees, for a woman: all her body except for face and hands. “O children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying….” And, “Wear your beautiful clothing at every place of prayer.” (7:31)
• Note: for women, be careful to cover the feet, neck, and wrists during prayer. If it is just for a short time accidentally it’s ok, but try your best to minimize and make sure the entire awrah will stay covered during prayer.  

• 6. Facing the Qiblah (Istiqbaal al Qibleh) - this means that you must pray facing towards the direction of the sacred mosque in Makkah. “If you rose to pray, perform wudu in a good manner and then face the Qibla and make takbeer.” (Bukhaari/Muslim)
• Note: For the Qibleh, if you realized during the prayer that you are standing in the wrong direction, or someone told you while you are praying, you can turn during the prayer to the right direction - you don’t have to stop your prayer and start over.)
• Note: For the Qibleh, if you don’t know the direction of the Qibleh, ask someone. If there is no one to ask, make the best guess and your prayer will be acceptable in sha’ Allah.

• 7. Reached the age of maturity (Baaligh) - the prayer is required only for a person who  has reached the age of puberty or after 15 years of age. For children, it is preferred for them to begin praying at age 7 in order to get them in the habit of praying. After the age of 10, if they intentionally miss a prayer, they should be punished. This is from the hadith of the Prophet (Salla Allahu ‘alaihi wassalam) “Order your children to pray when they reach the age of seven and punish them for not performing it at the age of ten and separate them (ie. boys and girls) in their beds” (Bukhari)

• 8. Sanity & Consciousness - prayer is required only where the person is not mentally ill and is not asleep. This is from the hadith: "The pen is raised for three (meaning: there is no obligation upon three): one who is sleeping until he wakens, the child until he becomes an adult, and one who is insane until he becomes sane." (Bukhari)

Importance of Salat

Thursday Halaqa
MCA Santa Clara, CA

Sr. Fatenah Tailakh

9/5/13

Importance of Salat

• Prayer is the second pillar of Islam.

• Salat is ‘Imad al deen - the pillar of religion. Just like a building needs pillars or else it will fall, your deen needs pillars in order to be standing straight. 

• It was the first thing made obligatory on a Muslim.

• Allah obligated it in the heavens. (The command for salat was given by Allah to Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) during his miraculous journey to Heaven or Mi’raaj.) 

• When you die, the first thing you will be accountable for on the Day of Judgement is your Salat. Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:“ The first thing that a person would be called to account for on the Day of Judgment is the Salat. If it is performed properly, all his deeds become in order, and if it is improper then all his deeds are in vain”. (Bukhari)

• The last knot of Islam to be held onto in the end of days. Salaat is the last thing that will be left of the religion before the Day of Judgement. 

• One of the things that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked us to do in his last sermon before he died. “O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.”

• The last words of Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) before he died - “As-Salat As-Salat - The Prayer The Prayer.” He suffered to say this to us when he was weak and dying. If we could remember this one sentence, we would be able to stop and say ‘It’s ok i’ll take 10 minutes to pray before I go out.’ 

Salat is Obligatory in all Situations

• Salat is obligatory on every adult, sane, awake person. Prayer is important to the degree that we are obligated to pray even in sickness, travel and war.

• In Surat Al-Nisaa, Allah taught the Muslims how to pray Salat al Khawf, prayer in time of fear. "When you are with them, and stand to lead them in salat, Let one party of them stand up (in salat) with you. Taking their arms with them: When they finish their prostrations, let them take their position in the rear, and let the other party come up which has not yet established salat- and let them establish salat with you." (4:102) Groups would take turns praying, guarding the ones who are praying, and fighting.

• Prayer erases sins. "Establish the prayer at the two ends of the day and in the first part of the night. Good actions eradicate bad actions." (11:114) { وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلاَةَ طَرَفَيِ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفاً مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ إِنَّ ٱلْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ ٱلسَّـيِّئَاتِ ذٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ } We need to think about our sins and bring ourselves to account. Just like when we raise our children we have to keep reminding them to brush their teeth. We have to raise ourselves too. We have to keep reminding ourselves. We can do this if we put goals in front of us.

The Importance of Praying On Time

• In Surat Al Maun, Allah gives a warning: “Woe to those who pray, But who are heedless of their prayer. Fawaylun lil musaleen. Allatheena hum ‘an salatihum saahun”. { فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلاَتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ }This is a person who prays but keeps delaying. They say ‘Oh i’ll do some dishes, i’ll clean this thing, etc.’ We are supposed to pray at the beginning of the time. That way we will get the most reward. A man who prays at the masjid has to wait for the salat at the masjid. But if you are a woman at home and you are not going to pray in the masjid - it is most loved to pray in it’s time - Al salat bi waqtiha. 

• In Surat Maryam, Allah says “But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires. Fa khalafa min ba’dihim khalfon adhaa’ol salaata.” (19:59) { فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُواْ ٱلصَّلَٰوةَ وَٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَونَ غَيّاً }This is a person who prayed but either lost his khushoo, did not perform one of the obligatory actions of the Salat, or he kept delaying it until he missed it’s time.

• If you had an appointment at 4am, you would get up and get yourself ready because it is important for you not to miss it. The prayer is the same. You have to feel the importance of it.

• So if you are at the mall and say ‘O I will pray when I go home.’ This is not right. 

• But there are priorities - if your child is crying or you have a pot on the stove - and the athan comes, you can finish a priority thing and then pray in a calm way. Ask yourself ‘If I pray, will I have khushoo?’ If not then finish that thing then pray.

• The best way to pray on time is to arrange your day around the prayers. If you want to go out, pray first - then you won’t have to worry about praying in public or missing a prayer. 

• What is the ruling of leaving the salat?
• First group - people who don’t pray because they are not convinced that it is necessary. They say ‘why should I pray... I don’t need to pray.’ Those who say this are disbelieving in something Allah ordered us to do - Yunkir amr Allah. - This person is considered kaafir.
• Second group - people who believe in prayer and want to pray, but are lazy (Kasl). This person is not considered kaafir, but faasiq - a sinner. He needs to repent. 

Advice on Teaching Kids to Pray

• The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Teach your children to pray when they are seven years old, and smack them (lightly) if they do not pray when they are 10 years old, and separate them in their beds.” (Al-Albaani)

• وَأۡمُرۡ أَهۡلَكَ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱصۡطَبِرۡ عَلَيۡہَا‌ۖ لَا نَسۡـَٔلُكَ رِزۡقً۬ا‌ۖ نَّحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُكَ‌ۗ وَٱلۡعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰ
• Surat Al-Baqarah “And enjoin As-Salât (the prayer) on your family, and be patient in offering them. We ask not of you a provision. We provide for you. And the good end (i.e. Paradise) is for the Muttaqûn (pious and righteous persons).” (2:2)

• When a child turns 7, tell him to pray, then wastabir - and be patient in reminding him. You have to get them used to it slowly. And be patient in that in the beginning they won’t have wudu, won’t pray all the rak’as etc. That's ok. Get them used to the prayer first.

• At the age of 10, hit them - not a real hitting, but in the sense of not giving them a choice to pray anymore. In the age of 7 kids will listen to you. You can encourage them with a new toy etc. But at the age of 10, if he won’t listen, you have to be more serious and forceful.

• If your son wants to lead you in prayer, make the intention that you are praying alone and he is praying alone. But let him pray in front of you. Make him think he is the Imam. (A child can lead the prayer after they hit the age of puberty.)

Advice on Praying Outside the Home

• Sometimes we are outside the home and the time for salat comes and we find ourselves in a situation where we will miss a prayer, so we go to our car and pray sitting. This is not correct. We are only allowed to pray sitting if we are physically unable to stand from illness or pain, or if you are praying a sunnah prayer. In the 5 Fard obligatory prayers, standing up in Salat is required and without it your prayer is not valid. Standing in Salat, Qiyam, is a pillar of Salat.  

• Some ideas: 
• Drive to a nearby masjid. 
• If you are at the mall, pray in a fitting room.
• Drive to a store with a fitting room. 
• Pray at a friend’s house. 
• Pray next to the car or next to a tree. If you are with someone, you could take turns standing and guarding each other. If you feel afraid to do this, remember that people will more likely respect you and admire you for your confidence and spirituality. Perhaps you will inspire someone to learn more about Salat and Islam. And remember that it is only for 2 minutes. So ask Allah to protect you.

• In general, we should try to arrange our day around the prayers so that we don't risk missing a prayer.