Prequisites and Requirements of Salah
By: Dr. Mubarak Ali
19. Pronounce the Sixth Takbir and Stand Again
When the requirements of the second sajdah are completed, pronounce the sixth takbir and move back to the proper standing position. At this stage, one unit or rak'at of prayer is completed.
20. Repeat Steps 8 Through 18 Inclusively
Only as a suggestion, when repeating step 8 for the second rak'at, after Surah Al-Fatihah, recite another Surah from the Quraan. Instead of Surah Al-Kafirun, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas [1], chapter 112 as follows:
Transliteration: Bismil-lah-hir-rahmaan-nir-rahim
Qul huwal-lahu ahad (1), Allahus-samad (2), lam yalid wa lam yulad (3), wa lamya kul-lahu kufuwan ahad (4)
Translation: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Say: He, Allah is One (1). Allah is He on Whom all depend (2). He begets not, nor is he begotten (3); And none is like Him (4)
When repeating step 18 for the second rak'at, instead of standing, assume the delayed sitting position for the tashahud, in order to complete the two rak'at of obligatory Salat in question.
21. Pronounce the Eleventh Takbir and Sit for the Tashahud
22. What to Say While in the Delayed Sitting position of the Tashahud[2]
There are three sequential steps to this position as follows:
- Say the Tashahud as follows:
Transliteration:
At-tahi-yatu lil-laahi was-salawaatu wat-tai-yibatu, as-salaamu 'alaik ai-yuhan-nabi-yu, wa rahmatul-laahi wa barakaatahu. As-salamu 'alainaa wa 'alaa 'ibadil-lahis-salihin. Ashadu al-laa ilaha ill al-lah[3]. Wa ashadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.
Translation:
All homage of the tongue, person or profession is due to Allah. Peace be on you O Prophet and the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings. Peace be on us and the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.
- Say Salat Un-Nabi (Ibrahimiya) as follows:
Transliteration:
Allahum-ma sal-li 'alaa Muhammadin wa 'alaa aali Muhammadin, kamaa saalaita alaa aali Ibrahima, in-naka hamidum-majid. Allahum-ma baarik 'alaa Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammadin kamaa baarakta 'alaa aali Ibraahima, in-naka hamidum-majid.
Translation:
O Allah, bless Muhammad and his followers as You have blessed Ibrahim and his followers. Indeed, You art the Praiseworthy, the Exalted. O Allah, grant favours to Muhammad and his followers as You have granted favours to Abraham and his followers. Indeed, You art the Praiseworthy, the Exalted.
- Make Du'a as Desired. Make whatever supplications[4] you desire. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) clearly instructed:
Then you may chose whatever supplication you desire (Ibn Mas'ud in Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, Muslim, and Ibn Majah).
When one of you prays, begin with the praise and lauding of Allah. Then make prayers upon the Prophet, AND SUPPLICATE WHATEVER YOU WISH OF ALLAH (Fidhalah ibn ;Ubaid in Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and At-Tirmidhi).
It is Sunnah to make supplications before declaring the tasleem. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) did so repeatedly ('Aishah in Al-Bukhari and Muslim; 'Ali in Muslim; Shaddad ibn Aus in An-Nasa'I; and others).
23. Declare the Tasleem (Benediction or Salutation on Terminating the Prayer)
It is an obligatory condition to declare the Tasleem in order to properly complete and exit the Salat[5]. The Tasleem must be performed properly. Starting with the right side[6], the Tasleem is said as follows:
Transliteration:
Assalaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatul-laah wa barakaatuhu.
Translation:
Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah.
It is only obligatory to declare one Tasleem which is made while turning the head o the right shoulder. However, although the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) made one Tasleem sometimes, he nonetheless expressed a clear preference for two: one to the right and other to the left. The following Hadith confirms both positions:
Two salaams (Tasleem) are more loved by me. But 'Aishah, Salamah ibn Al-Aku' and Sahl ibn Sa'd narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) made only one salaam (Cited in As-Sayyid Sabiq, Fiqh us-Sunnah Purification and Prayers).
Turning one's head and neck completely to the right and left is an important requirement when performing the Tasleem. The following Hadith states:
I saw the Prophet making the salaam on his right side and on his left side until I could see the whitness of his cheeks ('Amr ibn Sa'd in Ahmad, Muslim, An-Nasa'I, and Majah).
(Source: The Muslim Handbook by Dr. Mubarak Ali)
(To be continued)
[1] This is just to introduce you to another Surah as there is no compulsion to recite Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second rak;ah of the two obligatory prayer utilized here. Any other recitation from the Quraan is just as valid.
[2] When one is performing three or more rak'at together with one Tasleem, it is only required to say Tashahud or (1) alone in this first delayed sitting position after the second rak'at. Do not say (2) and (3) shown as yet at this stage. Moreover it is Sunnah to make the first Tashahud quickly. The following tradition confirms this: "When the Prophet (pbuh) sat after the first two rak'at, it seemed as if he was (sitting) on hot stones" (Ibn Mas'ud in Ahmad, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'I, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah).
[3] It is Sunnah to raise the right index finger at this point of the Tashahud (Ibn 'Umar in Muslim).
[4] There is a wide selection of both Quraanic supplications and du'a of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) from which to chose.
[5] The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) The key to prayer is purity (Wudu). One enters its inviolable state by the takbir [Takbir ai-Ihram] and leaves it by the salam [Tasleem] ('Ali in Ahmad, Ashaf'I, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and At-Trimidhi).
[6] The same salutation is repeated when turning your head toward the left shoulder.