Requriments of Salaat
- Cleanliness and Purity
The Qur’an states: “O Believers, when you rise to offer Salat, you must
wash your faces and hands and arms up to the elbows and wipe your heads with
wet hands and wash your feet up to the ankles; and if you have become
unclean, cleanse yourselves with a full bath”. (Surah 5: V 6)
- Punctuality
The Qur’an states: “Indeed Salat is a prescribed duty that has to be
performed at the appointed times by the Believers.” (Surah 4: V103)
- Regularity
The Qur’an states about the true Believers are those: “who are regular
in their Prayers”. (70: 23)
- Lining up for Prayers in a congregation
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) stated “ O People!
Keep your rows straight and balanced, otherwise Allah might turn your hearts
on against the other”. (Muslim)
On another occasion he (Peace and blessings be upon him) stated “ Keep
your rows straight in the Prayer, because proper balancing and alighment of
the rows is a necessary condition of establishing the Prayer”.
According to Hadrat Abu Mas’ud, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) used to pass his hand over the shoulders of the people and would
tell them to get aligned lest as a consequence of crooked and irregular rows
their hearts be turnee one against the other. Then he would urge those of
them who possessed knowledge and insight to stand close behind him, then
those who were next to them, then those who were next to them. (Mulslim)
- Peace and Tranquillity
The Qur’an states: “ Pray neither with too loud a voice nor with too
low, but follow a middle way between these two”. (17: 110)
Hadrat Abu Hurairah says that the Holy Prophet was present in the mosque in
a corner when a man entered and offered the Prayer. He then came towards the
Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and greeted him. The Holy
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) responded to him and asked him to
go back once again and repeat his Prayer. The man repeated his prayer once
again and repeated his Prayer. The man repeated his Prayer for the third
time and then requested: “O Messenger of Allah! Teach me the right way of
performing the Prayer”. The Holy Prophet said:
“When you intend to observe the Prayer, first perform Wudu well; then face
the Qiblah and begin the Prayer with Takbir (Allah o Akbar) then recite Al
Fatihah and after it some easy passage; then bend down in Ruku’ and
observe it with perfect peace; then stand up erect; then go down in Sajdah
and observe it with perfect peace; then rise from Sajdah and sit upright,
and then complete your Prayer in the same manner with perfect calmness and
tranquillity”. (Bukhari and Muslim)
- Establishing Congregational Prayer
The Qur’an states: “… and bend down in Ruku with those who bend down
in Ruku”. (2: V43)
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said: “ The person
who hears the Call of the Mu’azzin to congregational Prayer, and there is
no genuine reason to prevent him from rushing to the mosque, and yet he
offers his Prayer alone, his Prayer will not be accepted by Allah. When the
people asked what he meant by ‘genuine reason’ he said: ‘ a danger to
life or property or serious illness”. (Abu Dawud)
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) stated “A person who
attends congregational Prayers for 40 days regulary, right from the first
Takbir to the end, is granted a two fold immunity; immunity from the fire of
Hell and immunity against hypocrisy”. (Tirmidhi)
- Distinctive and Clarity of Recital
The Qur’an says : “ Recite the Qur’an leisurely”. (73: V 4) “The
Book that W have sent down to you is blessed that peole may ponder over its
verses, and the thoughtful ones may learn lessons”. (38: V 29)
- Zeal and Dedication during Prayer
The ideal Prayer is that which one places all one’s whole attention of the
heart and mind and turns towards Allah. Also when one is finished with one
prayer one is keenly looking forward to observing the next Prayer.
The Qur’an states: “…. You should keep aright your direction during
every act of worship and invoke Him alone, dedicating your faith sincerely
and exclusively to Him”. (7: V 29)
“O Believers, when you hear the Call to the Firday Prayer, hasten to the
remembrance of Allah and leave your trading”. (62: V9)
- Humility and Submission
“Take great care of your Prayers, especially of a Prayer that has
excellent qualities of Salat, and stand before Allah like devoted
servants”. (2: v 238)
“And (O Prophet), give good news to those who adopt an attitude of
humility and submission, whose hearts tremble when they hear Allah being
mentioned, and who show fortitude in affliction and establish Prayer”.
(22: V 35)
“O Prophet, remember your Lord morning and evening, deep in your heart
with humility and with fear, and also in a low voice with your tongue: do
not be of those who are heedless”. (7: 205)
- Devotion and Humbleness
- Feeling of Divine Presence
- Remembrance of Allah
- Avoiding Display
- Complete Resignation to the Will of Allah (swt)