Wudu

Purpose & Importance of Wudu (The Spiritual Purity)

Wudu/Ablution All Muslims are required to do the ritual cleansing (wudu) before performing their prayers. We want to make sure that we are in a physical sense, as well as a spiritual sense, �purified� before we face Allah. Prayer is not accepted if you do not perform wudu.

The act of wudu consists of washing the face and the fore-arms, and wiping the head and the feet. These six parts of human body -face, both fore-arms, head and both feet are known as �the organs of wudu�.

Wudu by itself is always a recommendable act in Islamic rituals, but it becomes obligatory in certain cir�cumstances. One of such circumstances is the daily ritual prayers; and therefore it is important for every Muslim to know the method of wudu and its rules.

The following is a summary of the wudu

1. Making the intention (niyyat) in one's mind.

2. (Bismillah), Washing the hands and arms 

3. Gargling three times

4. Rinsing the nose three times

5. Washing the face three times

6. Washing the right fore-arm three times

7. Washing the left fore-arm three times

8. Wiping the head and clean the ears 

9. Wiping the right foot 

10. Wiping the left foot

Importance of Wudu for Muslims

Quran says: �O you who believe! When you stand up for ritual prayer (sala), wash your face and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe a part of your head and your feet up to ankles.� (5:6)

 And All�h loves those who make themselves clean and pure and water from urine and stools, after answering the call of nature].  Qur'an - At-Tauba 9:108

 "Surely Allah loves those who turn to Him and those who care for cleanliness" (2:22).

 For touching the writings of the Qur' an: Allah says,

�None shall touch it except the purified ones.� (56:79)

Hadith

 Narrated Nu`am Al-Mujmir: Once I went up the roof of the mosque, along with Abu Huraira. He perform ablution and said, "I heard the Prophet saying, "On the Day of Resurrection, my followers will be called "Al-Ghurr-ul- Muhajjalun" from the trace of ablution and whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so (i.e. by performing ablution regularly).' "

 The Prophet (SAW) said, "Allah does not accept prayer without purification " (Sahih - Muslim and others)

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)

Wudu

WUDU (Ablution) BEFORE DOING WUDU: If someone needs to go to the toilet ,he should use the toilet and do Istinja before doing wudu.

SIWAK(TOOTH-STICK): It is a good practice to clean the teeth with a tooth-stick,or a toothbrush before performing Wudu.In this way you can avoid many diseases which are caused by unclean teeth.

As mentioned in the Hadith:Aisha r.a reported Allah's Messenger pbuh as saying:"The use of a tooth-stick is a means of purifying the mouth and is pleasing to the Lord as well."(Ahmed, Darmi and Nasai)

Prophet Muhammad pbuh also said:"If I wouldn't have felt that it is difficult for my people I would have ordered them to use a tooth-stick with ever prayer,that is before doing each wudu.

So Muslims should always try to fulfil this wish of our Prophet pbuh.
MAKING INTENTION(NIYAH) FOR WUDU:

Before starting the actions o wudu it is necesary to make niyat.
Make Niyat that the act of performing  wudu is for the purpose  of
purity only. Niyat should be made in the heart because  it is an action
of the heart  and not of the tongue.

Niyat by words is not approved by Prophet  Muhammad  (S.A.W)
Then start the wudu by saying:- Bismillah  hir-rahma  nir-raheem
(ln the name of Allah, most gracious,  most merciful)

ACTIONS FOR PERFORMING WUDU: 

1.Wash the hands up to the wrist making sure that no part of the hands is left dry.

2.Rinse the mouth taking up water with the right hand.

3.Clean the nose :sniff water up from the right palm and then eject water with the left hand.

4.Wash the face ,from ear to ear,and forehead to chin making sure that no part of the face is left dry.

5.Then wash the forearms(right forearm first) upto the elbows making sure that no part of them is left dry.

6.Rub the head as follows: Wet your fingers and wipe the head with your fingers,starting from the forehead,taking\ them to the nape of the neck,then bring them back to the forehead.

7.Clean the ears by inserting the tips of the index fingers wetted with water into the ears,twist them around the folds of the ears then pass the thumb behind the ears from the bottom,upwards.

8.Wash the feet(right foot first) up to the anklesmaking surethat no part of the feet are left dry, especially between the toes.

SPECIAL FACILITIES IN WUDU: Rubbing the socks with wet hands instead of washing the feet is allowed provided that the socks have been put on after performing an ablution including washing the feet.This is allowed for 24 hours from the time of ablution,and for 3 days if the person is on journey.After this time the feet must be washed .Similarly if there is a wound in any parts of the body which has to be washed in ablution,and if washing that particular part is likely to cause harm, it is permissible to wipe the dressing of the wound with a wet hand.

Hadith:Mughira bin Shu'bah said:"Prophet pbuh performed ablution and wiped over his socks and his sandals."(Ahmad,Tirmidhi,Abu Dawud)
Each detail of ablution has been performed by Prophet Muhammad pbuh once,twice or three times (except rubbing of head and cleaning of ears i.e. action 6 and 7 should only be done once).Since all the above methods meet Prophet pbuh's approval, we can perform ablution by doing the actions once ,twice or three times,provided that no part has been left dry.

Amr bin Shu'aib, quoting his father on the authority of his grand father narrated that prophet Muhammad said:"If anyone performs actions of ablution more than 3 times ,he has done wrong,transgressed , and done wickedly."(Ibn Majah, Nasai)

DUA AT THE END OF WUDU: Ashadu an la ilaha illal lahu wah duhu la shareeka lahu wa ash hadu an-na Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasuluhu.
"I testify that there is no deity except Allah Alone. And I testify that Muhammad pbuh is His servant and Messenger."(Muslim)

Allahum maj 'alnee minat taw-wabeena waj'alnee minal muta tahhireen.
"O Allah make me among those who are penitent and make me among those who are purified."(Tirmidhi)

TAYAMMUM: In circumstances when water cannot be found ,or just enough is available for drinking ,or it is injurious to health:in such situations Tayammum (dry ablution) can be performed.

The procedure below is given according to Qur'an and hadith. "..And if you don't find any water,then take clean earth (or sand ) and rub it on your face,and hands .Allah does not wish to put you in a difficulty ,but He wants to make you clean, and to complete His favour unto you,so you should be grateful to Him."(surah 5:verse 6)

Procedure:

1.Make Niyat in the heart.

2.Begin with the name of Allah.

3.Strike palms of both hands on clean sand,dust or anything containing these e.g wall or stone etc.then blow into the palm of both hands over the face once and then rub your right hand with the left palm and left hand with the right palm.(Bukhari)

4.Finish with the same dua as given at the end of ablution.

TIME-PLACE-DRESS AND TYPES OF PRAYER

TIME OF SALAT: Each Salat must be offered at or during its proper time .No salat can be offered before its time .There are five obligatory Salat in a day:

Fajar Prayer: The time for the Fajar or morning prayer starts at dawn and ends at sunrise.

Zuhr Prayer: The time of Zuhr prayer starts when the sun begins to decline from its zenith and ends when the size of an object's shadow is equal to the size of object.

Jabir bin Abullah ra narrated:"The angel Jibrael came to Prophet Muhammad pbuh and said to him:'Stand up and pray Zuhr' so Allah's Messenger prayed zuhr when the sun had declined from its zenith.Then the angel Jibrael came again at the time of Asr and said:'Stand up and pray Asr'.The Prophet Muhammad pbuh prayed Asr when the shadow of everything was equal to itself.Then Jibrael came the next day to the Prophet pbuh and said:'Stand up and pray zuhur.'Then the Prophet Muhammad pbuh prayed the zuhur when the shadow of everything was equal to itself.Then Jibrael came again at Asr time and said:'Satnd up and pray Asr".Then He prayed Asr when the shadow of everything was twice its length...Then Jibrael said,(after praying 10 Salat with Prophet Muhammd pbuh in two consecutive days) that the time of Salat is in between these two times." Ahmad,Nasai, Tirmidhi and Bukhari remarked that this is the most authentic Hadith giving the times of prayer.

We find that many books on salat state the ending time of Zuhur prayer and the starting time of Asr prayer when the shadow of something is twice itself.But this contradicts the above hadith as on the first day Jibrael asked Prophet Muhammad pbuh to pray Asr when shadow of everything was equal to itself.This means that was the end time of Zuhr prayer.And we already know that all the Ulama of the Muslim Ummah agree unanimously that no Salat can be offered before this time.

Asr Prayer: The time for Asr prayer or late afternoon prayer starts when the shadow of something is equal to itself and ends just before sunset.
It is better to offer Asr prayer before the sun become yellow because even though it is allowed to offer the Salat at this time the Prophet pbuh disliked Muslims to delay Asr prayer up to this time.He remarked that the Munafiq (hypocrite) offered his salat at this time.

Maghrib Prayer: The time for the Maghrib or the sunset starts just after sunset and ends when twilight has disappeared.

Isha Prayer: The time for Isha or night prayer starts from the disappearance of twilight and ends just before midnight.It is preferable to offer this prayer before midnight.

FORBIDDEN TIMES OF PRAYER

Uqbah bin 'Amir said,There are three times at which Allah's Messenger pbuh used to forbid us to pray or bury our dead.

1.When the sun began to riseuntil it was fully up.
2.When the sun was at its height at midday till it pass meridian.
3.When the sun drew near to setting till it had set.(Muslim)
Forbidden times for Nafl Prayer:

1.Abu Sa'eed Al Khudree ra reported Allah's Messenger pbuh as saying:"No Salat is to be said after the Fajar prayer until the sun rises, or after the Asr prayer until the sun sets."(Bukhari and Muslim)

Only Nafl prayer is forbidden at these times but a missed Fard prayer can be offered .Most of the ' ULAMA of the Muslim Ummah allowed the offering of missed Fard prayer after Fajar and 'Asr because of the following Hadith:
 Prophet pbuh said'"Who has forgotten the prayer he should pray it whenever he remembers it."(Bukhari and Muslim)

2.A Nafl cannot be offered once the Iqamat for Fard prayer has been said.Abu Huraira  narrated that Messenger pbuh said:"When the Iqamat  has been said , then there is no Salat valid(Nafl or Sunnat ) exept the Fard prayer for which the iqamat was said."(Ahmad and Muslim)

It is seen in practice that many people continue with the sunnat prayer even though the Iqamat has been said for the Fard prayer especially in the Fajar prayer.They feel that the 2 Rak'at Sunnat of Fajar can only be offered before the Fard. This practice is against congregation philosphy, discipline of Jama'at and a clear violation of Hadith. They should offer 2 Rak'at Sunnat of Fajar immediately after the Fard or after sunrise.

PLACE FOR SALAT

A place or a building which is used for the purpose of worship and Salat is called a MASJID(Mosque) .A Hadith tells us that ,All the earth has been rendered for the Muslims as the Mosque (pure and clean).

This means that whereever a Muslim might be he can offer his Salat but the reward of a Salat offered in a Mosque is far greater than that offered in an ordinary place. The following points should be noted when choosing a place for Salat,

a)The place should be clean and pure. Salat in a dirty, filthy and impure place such as a rubbish tip ,slaughter house ,bathing place and a camel pen is forbidden.

b)The place should be free from danger.The danger could be due to someone or something that may disturb the worshipper.

c)A prayer place where the worshipper might hinder the movement of others should be avoided, e.g. busy pavements, public roadways etc.

d)It is forbidden to pray on the roof of BAITULLAH(Ka'bah)

e)It is forbidden to pray on top of or facing towards a grave.