A methodology to the beginners in rearing (Salah) (2)

Here are some recommended matters:

* Eight Rak`ahs at forenoon: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever performs two Rak`ahs at forenoon shall not be recorded with the heedless. And whoever performs four Rak`ahs shall be written with the devotees. And whoever performs six Rak`ah shall be protected all day long. And whoever performs eight Rak`ahs Allah records him with the obedient. And whoever performs twelve Rak`ahs Allah shall build a house for him in Paradise." [Reported by At-Tabarany, Al Haythamy said in Majma` Az-Zawa'id: Reported by At-Tabarany in Al Kabir]. However, most Muslims neglect Salah because it comes in the time of their daily work.

Dear Muslim, be keen to perform the forenoon Salah as it contains much goodness. Imam Muslim and An-Nasa'y reported on the authority of Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "In the morning, charity is due on every joint bone of the body of everyone of you. Every utterance of Allah's Glorification (i.e., saying Subhan Allah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of His Praise (i.e., saying Al-hamdu lillah) is an act of charity and every utterance of declaration of His Greatness (i.e., saying La ilaha illa Allah) is an act of charity; and enjoining Ma`ruf (good) is an act of charity, and forbidding Munkar (evil) is an act of charity, and two Rak`ah Duha (forenoon) prayers which one performs in the forenoon is equal to all this (in reward).''

* Four Rak`ahs before and after Zhuhr: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever observes the practice of performing four Rak`ah before Zhuhr Salah and four after the Zhuhr Salah, Allah will make Hell-Fire prohibited for him." [Reported by At-Tirmidhy and Ibn Majah, and Al Albany graded it as authentic].

I offer this Hadith to those who only perform obligatory Salah and deprive themselves of this great reward and goodness which the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned about these Rak`ahs. If a person keeps performing these Rak`ahs, they will be a cause for admitting him to Paradise and his body shall be prohibited to Hell-Fire. The Most Forgiving (Glory be to Him) said: "And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing)." [Surat Al `Imran: 185].

* Four Rak`ahs before `Asr. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "May Allah have mercy on a man who performs four Rak`ah before the `Asr prayer."  [Reported by At-Tirmidhy and Abu Dawud, and At-Tirmidhy graded it as good].

* Two Rak`ahs before Al Maghrib Salah and two Rak`ahs before `Isha'. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "There is a prayer between the two Adhans (Adhan and Iqama). He said it three times, then he said in the third: (for whomever wants)." [Reported by Muslim].

* Prostration of recitation: Imam Muslim reported in his Sahih that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "When the son of Adam recites an Ayah of prostration and prostrates, Satan withdraws, weeping and saying: Woe unto him, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so Paradise will be his. However, I was commanded to prostrate and I refused, so the Fire is mine."

Let it be known that it is desirable to whoever recites or hears the Ayah of prostration to pronounce Takbir and prostrates, and that is called "the prostration of recitation." This prostration does not contain Tashahhud or Taslim (salam at the end of Salah). The Majority of scholars adopted the view that the prostration of recitation is a Sunnah to both the reciter and the hearer.

The positions of prostration in the Qur'an are fifteen, and whoever prostrates may invoke Allah with whatever he likes, but if he sticks to the reported invocation, it will be better. However, a person should say: "Subhana Rabbiya Al A`la" [Glory be to Allah, the Most High] in his prostration.

* Qiyam: What do you know about Qiyam? Qiyam has many secrets for it is a preparation for men. It makes hearts firm on the truth and increases its power. It is a secret between a person and his Lord. It keeps away a person from sins and faults and increases faith. It promotes a person to the stage of righteous people as it increases his rank to pious devotees by worshipping Allah as if he sees Him, and if a person cannot see Allah, surely Allah sees him. It is enough for you to know that Gabriel (peace be upon him) said to the Prophet (peace be upon him) as was reported at Al Hakim and Al Bayhaqy, and Al Albany graded it as good: "Let it be known that the honor of a believer is his praying at night, and his glory is his  sufficiency from what other people have."

Furthermore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) invoked Allah to bestow mercy on the people who perform Qiyam as was reported at Ahmad and Abu Dawud, and Al Albany graded it as authentic: "May Allah show mercy to a man who gets up during the night and performs Salah, awakens his wife to pray and if she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face (to make her get up). May Allah show mercy to a woman who gets up during the night and performs Salah, awakens her husband for the same purpose; and if he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face."

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said as was reported by Abu Dawud and Al Hakim, and Al Albany graded it as authentic: "When a man himself wakes at night and wakens his wife and they pray two Rak`ahs together, they are recorded among the men and women who make much mention of Allah."

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "In Paradise, there are upper chambers their exterior can be seen from their interior, and their interior from their exterior side. A villager stood up and asked, "For whom are they, O Messenger of Allah!" He said: "For those who speak a good word, feed the food, fast often, and pray by night when people are asleep."

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "You should perform the Late Night Prayer because it is the practice of our righteous predecessors, it draws you nearer to your Lord, it expiates your sins, and protects you against committing of sins." [Reported by At-Tirmidhy and Al Albany graded it as authentic].

It was reported in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The best month for observing Saum (fasting) after Ramadan is Muharram, and the best Salat after the prescribed Salat is Salat at night."

Here is the way of grading in Qiyam:

* At least two Rak`ahs in the middle of the night, and you should recite from memory.

* In the next day, you should not neglect, so make it four, and exert efforts in reflection to feel the sweetness of faith.

* After one week, make it six Rak`ahs then eight besides Witr.

* Start to prolong Rak`ahs even by reciting from a Mushaf.

* Feel your loneliness with Allah (Glory be to Him).

* For avoiding boring, do not make your Salah in one style every day: One night you may offer five Rak`ahs as Witr, another time offer three Rak`ahs, and another night offer seven Rak`ahs. One night you may prolong the Qiyam along with fewer Rak`ahs, another night to prolong prostration, and another night to increase Rak`ahs and lighten Salah, and likewise.

* If you missed Qiyam at night, you may offer it in daytime.