Why Should We Offer Namaz

The word Islam is generally understood to mean: �Submission to the Will of Allah (SWT)�: The Will of Allah (SWT) is made known to us through the Holy Quran. The Quran, in addition to various facts, contains instructions ordering as to do certain things and not to do certain others. The way one should submit to the Will of Allah (SWT), that is, obey His orders given in the Holy Quran, has been demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad (SAWS).  A Muslim would therefore be defined as a person who obeys the orders of Allah (SWT) in accordance with the instructions given by Prophet Muhammed (SAWS).  

The instructions, saying and deeds of Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) are known as the Hadis. If the order to offer Namaz (Salaat in Arabic) is given in the Holy Quran and Hadis and if we claim ourselves to be Muslims then it becomes our duty to obey the order.  Let us, therefore, search the Holy Quran and Hadis understand them thoroughly and find out, why should we offer Namaz and whether offering Namaz is compulsory or optional?

I am Allah there is no god except Me, so serve Me and establish worship ( Salaat ) for My remembrance.( Ch:20 V:14 )

And establish worship ( Salaat ) and give charity ( Zakat ) and whatever good you send before for yourselves, you will find it with Allah, Allah is certainly the Seer of what you do. ( Ch:2 V:110 )

And enjoin worship ( Salaat ) on your people and be constant therin. We do not ask you for provision, We provide for you.  And the consequences of guarding (against) evil is good. ( Ch:20 Vs:132 )

Read that which is communicated to you of the book and establish worship (Salaat), worship ( Salaat ) certainly keep one away from indecency and things and recognized (as good), and the remembrance of Allah is greatest, and Allah knows the work which you do. ( Ch:29 V:45 )
   
(Be of) those who turn to Him in repentance and fear Him and establish worship (Salaat ) and do not be of the polytheists, ( Ch: 30:Vs:31 )

Say, Allah certainly leaves in error whom He wills and guides to Himself those who turn ( to Him ), those who believe and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of Allah. Beware ! hearts do find peace in the remembrance of Allah ( Ch:13 Vs:27 and 28 )

And those who are custodians of their worship (Salaat). They will be honoured in gardens. ( Ch:70 Vs.35 )

THE HADIS

Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) is reported to have said, �The foundation of Islam rests on five pillars:

To bear witness of the fact that there is no god except Allah (SWT) and Muhammed (SAWS) is His Servant and Messenger.
To offer Namaz regularly.
To pay the poor tax ( Zakat ).
To fast (Roza during the month of Ramadan and
To perform pilgrimage ( Hajj ),� narrated by Hazarath Abdullah bin Omer (RA) and reported by Bukhari and Muslim).

Hazarath Ibni Masood (RA) [a companion of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) once asked the prophet, �which act does Allah (SWT) like the most� He replied, �To offer Namaz in time.� Then he asked �Next to this which (act)� The Prophet replied, �To be good to parents.� �He again asked, �Next to this?� Then Prophet replied, �To fight in the way of Allah (SWT).� Reported by Bukhari and Mulsim).

Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) is reported to have said:

"The only wall that differentiates a Muslim from an unbeliever is Namaz and not offering Namaz wipes off this difference (that is, a Muslim not offering Namaz goes closer to disbelief)" (Narrated by Hazarath Jabir (RA) and reported by Muslim).

Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) once asked his companions, "If a stream is flowing in front of one's door and if he bathes in it five times daily, will any dirt remain on him?" His companions replied " No dirt will remain on him." The Prophet Muhammed, (SAWS) explained "Similar is the case of offering Namaz five times a day, due to it Allah (SWT) wipes off the sins." ( Narrated by Hazarath Abu Hurrairah (RA) and reported by Bukhari and Muslim).

In view of the above passages quoted form Holy Quran and Hadis, offering Namaz is an order of Allah (SWT) and His messenger and in view of the fact that we are Muslims that is those who are required to obey Allah and Prophet Muhammed (SAWS), offering Namaz is our duty that should not be avoided.

1. Namaz is the most important deed after Iman.
2. Due to it we get peace of mind and heart.
3. It keeps us away from evil and shameful deeds.
4. It wipes off sin.
5. If we do not offer Namaz we go nearer to disbelief, the punishment for which is hell.
6. The reward for being regular at Namaz is paradise. Besides offering Namaz or doing anything good is for our own benefit, in no way do we oblige Allah (SWT) because He is free from all wants. In fact we should be thankful to Allah (SWT) to have selected us from amongst millions of human beings to stand before Him offering Namaz and thereby getting reward both in this world and in the life hereafter death.

WHOM SHOULD WE WORSHIP ?

Let us search the Quran and see what should be the object of our worship while offering Namaz. The Holy Quran states :

To Him is due the real prayer (for help), and those to whom they pray (for help) besides Him, do not respond to them in anything . . . . . (Ch:13 Vs:14)

And to Allah bows down whoever (and whatever) is in the skies and the earth willingly and unwillingly and their shadows (too), in the mornings and in the evenings. Say '"Who is the Fosterer of the skies and the earth?" Say, "Allah." Say, "Then do you take guardians besides Him, who do not have the power to benefit or harm (even) their ownselves?" ..... (Ch:13 Vs:14 to 16)

You alone do we serve and (from) you alone do we seek help. (Ch:l Vs:4)

It is clear from the above verses of the Holy Quran that we are required to worship and serve only Allah (SWT) and no one else. Worshipping anything other than Allah (SWT) and considering that Allah has partners are sins known as Kufr and Shirk which will not be forgiven and the punishment of which is hell. It is of utmost importance that we should be very clear and correct in our belief (Iman), that: Allah (SWT) is the Greatest, the Most Powerful, no one is equal to Him in anything, Everything good or bad happens by his command, no one can stop Him from doing anything He wishes, He is the Supreme, the only Master of everything everywhere.

If there were two or more gods then each God would have had his own followers and all the followers of each god would have got their food, water, air, clothing etc. from their respective gods. On the contrary, all human beings, animals and plants get their food, water and all other necessities from common sources which proves that God is ONE, that is Allah (SWT) and besides Him there is no other God. He has created everything and has full control on everything. He brings us to life and causes us to die. He knows everything, is always watching us whether we are busy worshiping Him or doing anything else. He helps every one but does not need any one's help. He has neither parents nor children, He is alone. No one is like Him, He is the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, the Cherisher and Sustainer of everything everywhere.

We should worship only Allah (SWT) and ask only Him for all help, do all that He has ordered us to do and abstain from that which He has forbidden because He rewards the good and punishes the evil. In the known and the unknown universe everything is created by Allah (SWT). We should not worship anything created but worship only the CREATOR, that is, ALLAH (SWT) and serve only Him.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CATEGORIES OF NAMAZ ?

1. Namaz - I - Janazah (For the dead):

Offering Namaz-i-janazah is a Farz -i-Kifayah. If no one is present it can be offered alone but when many people are present it should be offered injamat. The Imam leads the Namaz and those who follow him form odd number of rows. In this Namaz there is no ruku, sajdah or Qaidah, we are required to stand in Qiyam throughout. With the niyyat (intention) of offering Namaz-i-janazah the Imam and followers say Allahu Akbar (the Imam aloud and the followers to themselves) and fold their arms below the navel as in Qiyam of normal Namaz. First Sana (Hanafi) Sura-i-Fatheha (Shafai) is recited, after which the Imam says Allahu Akbar for the second time. This is followed by reciting the Durood - i - Ibrahim (recited in the last rakat of normal Namaz), after which the Imam says Allahu Akbar for the third time finally a Dua for the deceased is recited which depends on whether the deceased is a male, female, an adult or a child. If one does not remember the specific Dua, he can recite:

'ALLAHUMMA-GHFIR LIL MUMININA WAL MUMINATI'.

O Allah forgive the Muslim men and women'.

After the Dua the Imam says Allahu Akbar for the fourth time and ends the Namaz by reciting the salam as in normal Namaz, by turning the face to the right and then to the left.

2. NAMAZ - TARAWIH :

This Namaz is sunnath and is to be offered on all nights during the month of Ramadan after the Namaz-i-isha till dawn but before offering Namaz-i-Vitar. Some authorities put the number of rakats as eight while others as twenty. Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) always offered Namaz-i-tarawih either alone or in jamat. Hazarath Omer (RA) (Second Calif) during his regime, started regular jamat for offering Namaz-i-Tarawih.

Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) was made to revise the Holy Quran in the month of Ramazan to the extent it was revealed. He regularly offered Namaz-i-tarawih. By offering Namaz-i-Tarawih in Jamat in the Mosque we not only fullfill these two sunnaths of Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) but also get the benefit and reward of offering Namaz in jamat and in the Mosque. In view of this advantages Namaz-i-Tarawih should prefearbly be offered in the Mosque. In case we are not able to offer it in the Mosque, we should offer it alone. We should not miss it because Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) never missed it. This Namaz can be offered in installments of two or four rakats Just like any other Sunnath or Nafil Namaz. We can recite the last ten chapters of the Holy Quran or as much Quran as we remember. In the Mosque, normally the Quran is revised once. The person who leads the Namaz is a Hafiz-i-Quran, that is, one who has memorised the Holy Quran by heart.

3. SOME IMPORTANT NAFIL (EXTRA) NAMAZ

a) Ishraq : Two or four rakats to be offered 15 to 20 minutes after the sun rise. The Namaz carries great reward and it is said that Allah (SWT) helps such persons the whole day and forgives their sins.

b) Chast: Two to twelve rakats between 10 to 11 a.m. (in Pakistan). It is said that even two rakats are compensation (sadqa) for all the joints of the body.

c) Awabeen : After two rakats sunnath of Maghrib, six rakats offered in installement of two rakats is said to be equivalent to twelve years worship.

d) Solar & Lunar Eclipse : Two rakat Namaz during the eclipes.

e) Journey : When one undertakes a journey he should offer two rakat Namaz-i-nafil at home before preceding and on return first go to the mosque offer two rakat Namaz and come home.

f) Forgiveness : When any sin is committed two rakat Namaz should be offered and Allah's forgiveness should be asked for.

g) After performing wazu : Offering two rakat Namaz carries great reward.

h) On entering the Mosque : Offering two rakat Namaz before sitting down also carries great reward.

i) Namaz for the Security of Iman : We should occasionally offer two rakat Namaz praying for the safety and security of our Iman {(faith or belief in Allah (SWT)).}

j) Salat-e- tasbih: Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) had taught this Namaz to his uncle Hazarath Abbas (RA) and had said that by offering this Namaz all your previous and future sins will be forgiven. If possible offer it daily, if not weekly, monthly or once in an year, if even this is not possible offer it atleast once in your life time. It is a four rakat Nafil Namaz and the procedure for performing it is as follows:

1. After reciting the sana recite 15 times: SUBHAN ALLAH! WAL HAMDULILLAHI WA LA ILAHA ILLALLAHU WA ALLAHU AKBAR.

2. Before performing the ruku recite the same ten times (25)    

3. In the ruku, after the ruku tasbih, recite it ten times (35)

4. Before performing the sajdah, in the standing position recite it ten times 

    (45)

5. In the sajdah after tasbih of the sajdah, recite it ten times (55)

6. Between the first and second sajdah, recite it ten times (65)

7. In the second sajdah after the sajdah tasbih, recite it ten times (75)

This adds upto 75 times in each rakat. Follow the same procedure in the second, third and fourth rakats, starting each rakat by reciting the tasbih 15 times before Sura-i-Fathea. Thus in the whole Namaz, the tasbih is recited 300 times. Except for reciting the tasbih, the whole Namaz is to be offered as four rakat Nafil Namaz as described above.

K) Namaz-i-Istikhara : This Namaz is for seeking good from Allah (SWT) before one decides to take an important step.

Jabir (R.A) reports that the Messenger (SAWS) of Allah (SWT) used to teach us 'Istikharah' [Namaz and Dua for seeking good from Allah (SWT)] in all affairs as he used to teach us a chapter from the Holy Quran. He used to say. "When anyone of you intends to do some work he should offer two rakats (Nafil) other than Farz, and pray as follows:

'ALLAHUMMA INNI ASTA-KHAIRUKA BI-ILMIKA WA ASTAQDIRUKA BI-QUDRATIKA WA ASALUKA MIN FAZLIKAL AZEEM, FA INNAKA TAQDIRU WA LAA AQDIRU WA TA'ALAMU WA LAA AALAMU WA ANTA ALIAMUL GHUYYUBI. ALLAHUMMA IN KUNTA TALAMU ANNA HAZAL AMRA (here think of the affair under consideration) KHAIRUNLEE FI DEENI WA MA'ASHI WA 'AAQIBATI AMRI FAQDURUH LEE WA YESSIR HU LEE SUMMA BARIK LEE FIHI WA IN KUNTA TATAMU ANNA HAZAL AMRA (here again think of the affair under consideration) SHARRUN-LEE FI DEENI WA MA'ASHI WA 'AAQIBATI AMRI FAS RIFHU 'ANNI WAS RIFNI ANHU WAQDUR LIYAL KHAIRA HAISU KANA SUMMA ARZINI BIHI.�

'O Allah (SWT) ! I seek good through Your knowledge and I seek power (to do) through Your Power and I ask You (to give me) through Your Grace because You are Powerful and I do not have power and You have knowledge and I do not have knowledge and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah ! If in Your knowledge, this work (under consideration) is good for me in my religious and wordly affairs and in the here after, then (please) order it for me and make it easy for me and put in it Your Blessing, and if in Your Knowledge, this work (under consideration) is bad for me in my religious and my wordly affairs and in the here after, then (please) turn it away from me and turn me away from it and order for me good wherever it is and make me happy with it.

1) Namaz-i-Hajat (For Seeking Allah's Help)

This Namaz is for seeking Allah's help when we need or wish to have something. After performing wazu, two rakat Nafil Namaz-i-Hajat is to be offered. First praise Allah (SWT), pray for Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) by reciting a durood and finally pray as follows:

LAA ILAHA ILLALLAHU-L-HALEEMUL KAREEM, SUBHANA ALLAHI RAB BIL ARSHIL AZEEM, WAL HAMDUULLAHI RAB BIL AALAMEEN ASALUKA MUOJIBATI RAHMATIKA, WA AZA AAIMA MAGHFIRATIKA WAL GHANIMATA MIN KULLI BIR RIWN-WAS-SALAMATA MIN KULLI ISMIN LA TADAA LI ZANBAN ILLA GHAFARTAHU WA LA HAMMAN ILLA FAR RAJTAHU WA LA HAJATAN H1A LAKA RIZAN ILLA QAZAITAHA YAA ARHAMAR RAHIMEEN.

'There is no god except Allah Who is Forbearing and Honoured, Glory be to Allah Who is the Lord of the Throne, and (all) Praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds (universe). (O Allah !) 1 ask You for things which make Your Mercy compulsory, which make Your Forgiveness compulsory and (I ask You) for my share in every good and safety from all sins. (O Allah !). Do not leave any sin of mine without forgiving it and any grief without removing it and any necessity which you like without fulfilling it. O You ! The Most Beneficent of all beneficents!

This Namaz is in obedience to Allah's orders given in the Holy Quran :

' O you who believe I seek help through patience and worship (salaat) Allah is certainly with the patient (Ch:2Vs:153)

Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammed (SWAS) have shown us how we are to manage all our through Namaz and dua; To offer two rakat Namaz when we decide to do something, when we need something, when our wish is granted, when commit a sin, when we go and come back from journey etc., to say Bismillah ir Rehman ir Rahim] when we start something, Inshallah when we intend doing something, Alhamdu lillah when we sneeze etc. In short all important acts are to be covered by Namaz or dua. It is said that Namaz is a means of nearness to Allah (SWT). In view of all this, we should make it a habit to start and end all our actions with Namaz or dua, on which many books are available.

May Allah (SWT) help us in becoming Muslims through NAMAZ, WHICH IS ONE many important purposes. (AAMEEN)