Book of Namaz by Huseyin Hilmi Isik - HTML preview

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12- Daughters of milk sister

13. Sons of milk brother

13- Daughters of milk

brother

14. Milk paternal uncles

14- Milk paternal aunts and

and milk maternal uncles

milk maternal aunts

Relatives by Marriage

Men:

Women:

15. Father-in-law

15- Mother-in-law

16. Stepson

16- Stepdaughter

17. Stepfather

17- Stepmother

18. Son-in-law

18- Daughter-in-law

Those men and women who go out into the street while their

awrat parts are unveiled or who look at others' awrat parts will

burn in scorching fire of Hell.

4- ISTIQBÂL-I QIBLA

(Turning Towards the Qibla)

Istiqbâl-i Qibla means to perform namâz towards the Kâ'ba.

The direction towards the building of the Kâ'ba, in the city of

Makka-i Mukarrama, is called (the Qibla). Previously, the qibla

was Jerusalem. Seventeen months after the Hegira, on a Tuesday,

in the middle of the month of Sha’bân, Muslims were commanded

to turn towards the Kâ’ba.

The Qibla is not the building of the Kâ’ba; it is its building plot.

– 90 –

That is, that space from the Earth to the ’Arsh is the Qibla. For this

reason, a person who is down in a well, [under the sea], on top of

a high mountain [or on a plane] can perform namâz in that

direction. Namâz will be sahîh if the opening between the

crosswise directions of the optic nerves includes the Ka’ba.

In case one can not perform one's ritual prayers even by uniting

two of them [that is, combining the early afternoon prayer and the

late afternoon prayer, or the evening prayer and the night prayer

by imitating the Mâlikî or the Shâfi'î Madhhabs], due to illness,

danger of theft, danger of predatory animals, danger of being

detected by one's enemy, or in the case of if one dismounts one's

animal and will not to be able to remount it, one performs the

namâz towards the direction one is able to turn. It is a must to turn

towards the Qibla when performing a ritual prayer on a ship or

train.

5- PRAYER TIMES

A hadîth-i sherîf states: “Jabrâîl ‘alaihissalâm’ (and I

performed [the prayer termed] namâz [or salât] together, and

Jabrâîl ‘alaihis-salâm’) conducted the prayer as the imâm for the

two of us, by the side of the door of the Ka’ba, for two successive

days. We two performed the morning prayer as the fajr (morning

twilight) dawned; the early afternoon prayer as the sun departed

from its zenith; the late afternoon prayer when the shadow of an

object equalled its midday shadow increased by the length of the

object; the evening prayer as the sun set [its upper limb

disappeared]; and the night prayer when the evening twilight

darkened. The second day, we performed the morning prayer

when the morning twilight matured; the early afternoon prayer

when the shadow of an object increased again by the length of the

object; the late afternoon prayer immediately thereafter; the

evening prayer at the prescribed time of breaking fast; and the

night prayer at the end of the first third of the night. Then he said

‘O Muhammad, these are the times of prayers for you and the

prophets before you. Let your Ummat perform each of these five

prayers between the two times at which we performed each’.” This

hadîth-i sherîf clarifies that the number of (daily) prayers is five.

The time for morning prayer: It begins when the whiteness

called fajr is seen in the east. It ends with sunrise.

The time of early afternoon prayer: It starts when the shadows

– 91 –

of the objects, having been shortened, begin to elongate again. It

ends when the shadow of an object becomes two-fold or three-fold

the height of the original object. The former is according to the

Two Imâms Abû Yûsuf and Muhammad ash- Shaybânî, and the

latter is according to al-Imâm al-a’zam.

The time of late afternoon prayer: It begins at the end of the

time of early afternoon prayer.

1- According to the Imâmayn, it begins when the shadow of an

object becomes as long as its length and continues until the sun

disappears.

2- According to Imâm-i A’zam, it begins when the shadow of

an object becomes twice as long as its length and continues until

the sun disappears. It is harâm to postpone the prayer until the sun

turns yellow, an event that takes place when the distance between

the sun’s lower limb and the line of apparent horizon is a spear’s

length. It is harâm [prohibited] to postpone the prayer until that

time. However, if you have not performed the late afternoon

prayer until that time, you must perform it by sunset.

The time of evening prayer: It begins when the sun apparently

sets. It continues until the redness on the line of the apparent

horizon in the west disappears. The time of night prayer begins

when the time of evening prayer lapses. It ends with the whiteness

of fajri-sâdiq (true dawn).

The time of night prayer: According to Imâm-al-a’zam, the

time of night prayer begins after the whiteness disappears in the

west. It was explained in the same manner concerning the time of

late afternoon prayer. That is, if one waits at least thirty minutes

more and performs the night prayer then, he will have performed

it in accordance with all imâms. It is makrûh tahrîmî to postpone it

beyond the time of midnight.

To perform the namâz before or after their prescribed times

(Not to perform them in their due periods) is harâm. It is a grave

sin. In the time tables prepared by (Türkiye Newspaper), namâz

and imsâk times have been declared correctly.

There are three times when it is makrûh tahrîmî, that is, harâm,

to perform salât. A salât is not sahîh (valid) if it is fard and is

started at one of these times. These three times are during the

period of sunrise, that of sunset and the period when the sun is at

zawâl [midday, the time at which the sun leaves its highest point

from the horizon and after which the time of early afternoon

– 92 –

prayer begins.] At any of these three times, the salât for a janâza

that was prepared earlier (than the beginning of the makrûh

period) or sajda-i tilâwat or sajda-i sahw are not permissible,

either. The only prayer that a Muslim is allowed to perform during

the period of sunset is the day’s late afternoon (’asr) prayer,

(which they have somehow failed to perform till then).

There are two periods of time during which only

supererogatory salât is makrûh to perform. From the time one has

performed the morning prayer till sunrise. After performing the

late afternoon prayer, it is makrûh to perform any supererogatory

prayer within the period between that time and the fard of evening

prayer.

EXPLANATION (Performing Namâz and Fast at the Poles):

Prayer times of a location vary, depending on its distance from

the equator, i.e., its degree of latitude, as well as on the seasons:

In the cold regions, north of the North Arctic Circle, when the

sun has a steep declination, the fajr begins while the dawn has not

disappeared. Therefore, at the north end of the Baltic Sea, in

summer, there is no night. Thus, the times of the night and

morning prayers do not occur there.

In the Hanafî Madhhab, time is the cause of namâz, not its pre-

condition. When there is no cause, namâz does not become fard.

Therefore, for Muslims present in such countries, those two namâz

are not fard. Since everywhere is sea in the Southern Hemisphere,

there is no land for this to occur.

When the new moon is seen in a city on the thirtieth night of

Sha’bân, it is necessary to begin the fast all over the world. The

new moon seen during the day is the new moon of the following

night. [A Muslim who goes to one of the poles or to the moon must

fast there during the day if he is not safari (travelling). When

daylight time is longer than twenty-four hours, he begins the fast

by time and breaks it by time. He adapts himself to the time

followed by the Muslims in a city where the days are not so long.

If he does not fast, he makes qadâ of it when he goes to a city

where the days are not so long.]

– 93 –

THE AZÂN AND THE IQÂMAT

Azân means ‘public announcement.’ It is sunnat-i muakkada

for men to recite the azân for the five daily prayers, for performing

the omitted [qadâ] prayers that are fard, and towards the khatîb at

Friday prayers. It is makrûh for women to recite the azân or the

iqâmat. The azân is performed at a high place in order to announce

the time to others. While saying azân, it is mustahab to raise the

hands and put the pointing fingers in the ears and the thumbs

touching the ear lobes. Saying the iqâmat is more valuable than

(saying) the azân. The azân and the iqâmat must be said towards

the qibla. One must not talk while saying them, nor acknowledge

any speech or greeting.

When to Say the Azân and the Iqâmat?

1- When performing qadâ prayers, individually or in jamâ’at, in

the countryside or in fields, it is sunnat for men to say the azân and

the iqâmat aloud. People, genies, rocks that hear the voice will

bear witness on the Day of Rising. He who performs more than

one qadâ prayer, one after another, should say the azân and the

iqâmat first. Then, before performing each of the following qadâ

prayers, he should say the iqâmat. It is acceptable if he does not

say the azân for the following prayers of qadâ.

2- He who performs the time’s namâz at home, individually or

in jamâ’at, does not have to say the azân or the iqâmat. For, the

azân and the iqâmat said in mosques are deemed as being said in

homes, too. However, it is better for them to say the azân and the

iqâmat. After the time’s namâz is performed in a local mosque, or

in a mosque whose jamâ’at is known, a person who performs it

individually does not say the azân or the iqâmat. In mosques along

roads or in those mosques which have no imâms or muazzins or in

jamâ’ats that are known, various people who come in at various

times make various jamâ’ats for the namâz of the same prayer

time. They say the azân and the iqâmat for each jamâ’at. Also, he

who performs namâz individually in such a mosque says the azân

and the iqâmat as loudly as he himself hears.

3- Musâfirs, when they perform namâz in jamâ’at, as well as

when they each perform namâz individually, say the azân and the

iqâmat. If a person who is performing namâz individually is where

there are others performing namâz, too, it is permissible for him

not to say the azân. A musâfir says the azân and the iqâmat when

– 94 –

he performs namâz individually in a house, too. For, the azân and

the iqâmat said in the mosque do not include his namâz. If some of

the musâfirs say the azân in a house, those who perform the (same)

namâz later, at the same place, do not say it.

The azân said by an ’âqil (discreet) boy, a blind man, a person

illegitimate in birth, or an ignorant villager who knows how to say

the azân, is permissible without any karâhat (or kerâhat). It is

tahrîmî makrûh for a junub person to say the azân or the iqâmat,

for a person without an ablution to say the azân, for a woman, a

fâsiq or drunk person, a child who is not ’âqil to say the azân, or

(for anyone) to say the azân sitting. In such cases, the performance

of azân must be repeated. The azân’s being sahîh requires the

muazzin’s being an ’âqil Muslim. It is not sahîh to say the azân

through a loudspeaker.

The reason for the azân of a fâsiq person not being sahîh, is

because his word on worships is not dependable. It is not regarded

as being namâz time, when it is proclaimed by a fâsiq person or by

a loudspeaker. The fasting must not be broken upon the azân

being recited or by any sign given by them.

Those who recite the azân by showing due respect (standing at

a high place), by not changing or distorting its letters, by not saying

it melodiously, by saying it compatibly with the sunnat, will reach

high degrees.

But, if the azân is not being said compatibly with the sunnat,

e.g. if some of its words are changed or translated or if it is being

said partly melodiously, – or if the sound of azân is coming from a

loudspeaker –, he who hears it does not repeat any of its words.

[What is produced by the loud speaker is not the imâm’s or the

muazzin’s voice. Their voice turns into electricity and magnetism.

What is heard is the sound produced by electricity and

magnetism.]

EXPLANATION (Is it Permissible to Recite the azân through

a loudspeaker?):

Loud-speakers, put on minarets, have become a cause of sloth

for some muazzins and cause them to say the azân while sitting in

dark rooms, instead of observing the sunnat. Minarets, our

spiritual ornaments that have been embellishing the sky for

centuries, have been made a mast for loud-speakers, due to this

atrocious bid’at. Islamic savants have always approved of scientific

– 95 –

innovation. So it is doubtless that useful broadcasting, via radios

and loudspeakers, is an invention which Islam not only

countenances, but also encourages as a means for teaching

purposes. However, it is harmful to do worships with the annoying

sound of loudspeakers, thus depriving Muslims of the sweet sound

of the azân. It is an unnecessary waste to install loudspeakers in

mosques. When this apparatus, which clatters as if it were a church

bell instead of the voices of pious believers divinely impressing the

hearts with îmân, did not exist, the azâns said on minarets and the

voices of tekbîr in mosques used to move even foreigners to

enthusiasm. The jamâ’ats that filled the mosques upon hearing the

azans, called at every quarter, used to perform their namâz in

khushû’ (deep and humble reverence), as had been in the time of

the Sahâba. This heavenly effect of the azân that would move

believers to raptures, has been fading away in the metallic

ululations of loudspeakers.

Rasûlullah 'alaihis-salâm said “Whoever softly repeats the

words when he hears the adhân, for each letter he will be given one

thousand rewards and his one thousand sins will be pardoned”

It is sunnat for a person who hears the azân to repeat silently

what he hears, even if he is reading (or reciting) the Qur’ân al-

karîm. Upon hearing the parts of “Hayya alâ...,” you do not repeat

them, but say, “Lâ hawla walâ quwwata illâ billâh.” After saying

the azân you say the (prayer termed) salawât and then say the

prescribed prayer of azân. After saying Ash’ hadu anna

Muhammadan Rasûlullah the second time, it is mustahab to kiss

the nails of both thumbs and rub them gently on the eyes. This is

not done while saying the iqâmat.

The Reciting of Azân

Allâhu Akbar (Four times)

Ash’hadu An Lâ Ilâha Il-Lal-Lah (Two Times)

Ash’hadu Anna Muhammadan Rasûlullah (Two Times)

Hayya ’Alassalâh (Two Times)

Hayya ’Alalfalâh (Two Times)

Allahu Akbar (Two Times)

Lâ Ilâha Il-Lal-Lah (Two times)

Only in the azân for the morning prayer, after Hayya 'alal-

falâh, you say (Es-salâtu hayrun minan-nawm) two times.

– 96 –

As for the iqâmat, you say (Qad qâma tis-salâtu) two times

after (Hayya ’alal-falâh).

Azân Supplications:

Rasûlullah “sallallahu alaihi wa sallam” said:

(While the azân is being recited, say the prayer:

“We ene eshedu en lâ ilâhe illallahu wahdehû lâ sherîkeleh we

eshhedu enne Muhammeden abduhu we resûluh wa radîtu billâhi

rabben we bil-islâmi dînen we bi Muhammedin sallallahu aleyhi

we selleme resûlen nebiyyâ”

Rasûlullah 'alahis-salâm said in one of his hadîth-i sherîfs, “O

my community! When the azân ends, say this prayer too:

(Allahumme rabbe hâzihid-da’wetit-tâmmeti wes-salâtil-

qâimeti âti Muhammedenil-wesîlete wel-fadîlete wed-derejeter-

refîate web’ashu meqâmen mahmûdenil-lezî we’adtehu inneke lâ

tukhliful-mîâd”).

The Meanings of the Words in Azân:

ALLÂHU AKBAR: Allâhu ta’âlâ is the greatest. He needs

nothing. He is too great to need the worships of His slaves.

Worships give no benefit to Him. In order to settle this important

meaning well in minds, the word is repeated four times.

ASH’HADU AN LÂ ILÂHA ILLALLAH: Though He does

not need anyone’s worship owing to His greatness, I bear witness

and certainly believe that none besides Him is worthy of being

worshipped. Nothing is like Him.

ASH’HADU ANNA MUHAMMADAN RASÛLULLAH: I

bear witness and believe that Hadrat Muhammad ‘sallallâhu alaihi

wa sallam’ is the Prophet sent by Him, that he is the communicant

of the way of the worships liked by Him, that only worships

communicated and shown by him are suitable.

HAYYA ’ALAS-SALÂH, HAYYA ’ALAL-FALÂH: These

are the two words inviting the Believers to namâz, which causes

happiness and salvation.

ALLÂHU AKBAR: No one can do the worship worthy of

Him. He is so great, so far from anyone’s worship being worthy of

Him or suitable for Him.

LÂ ILÂHA ILLALLAH: He, alone, has the right to be

– 97 –

worshipped, to humiliate oneself before. Along with the fact that

no one can do the worship worthy of Him, no one besides Him is

worthy of being worshipped.

Greatness of the honor in namâz should be understood from

the greatness of these words that were selected to inform

everybody.

6- NIYYAT (INTENTION)

NIYYAT (intention) is made while saying the takbîr of iftitâh

(beginning). To make niyyat for namâz means to pass through the

heart its name, time, qibla, to wish to follow the imâm (when

performing namâz in jamâ’at), to mean to perform namâz.

The niyyat made after the takbîr of iftitâh is not sahîh and

namâz performed thereby is not acceptable. While intending for

fard or wâjib prayers, you must know which fard or wâjib of the

prayer you will perform. It is not necessary to make niyyat for the

number of rak’ats. When performing a sunnat, the niyyat “To

perform namâz” will suffice. The niyyat for the namâz of janâza is

made as “To perform namâz for Allah’s sake and to pray for the

deceased.”

The imâm does not have to make niyyat to be the imâm for

men. But (if he does not) he will not attain the thawâb of namâz in

jamâ’at. If he makes niyyat to be the imâm he will attain this

thawâb, too. The imâm has to make the niyyat as “To become the

imâm for women,” (when he is to conduct the jamâ’at of women).

While performing worships, a verbalized niyyat is not enough.

If it is not done through the heart, the worships will not be

acceptable.

7- TAKBÎR OF TAHRÎMA

TAHRÎMA means to say Allâhu akbar when beginning

namâz, and is fard. No other word to replace it is acceptable. Some

scholars said it is within the namâz. According to them, the

preconditions are seven in number and the rukns of namâz are five

in number.

– 98 –

THE RUKNS OF NAMÂZ

The fards within the namâz are called (Rukn). Their number is

five.

1- QIYÂM: is the first of the five rukns of namâz. Qiyâm means

to stand. When standing, the two feet must be four times a finger’s

width apart from each other. He who is too ill to stand performs

namâz sitting, and if he is too ill to sit he lies down on his back and

performs it with his head (by moving, nodding, etc., his head). A

pillow must be put under his head so that his face will be towards

the qibla, instead of skyward and if lying, he bends his knees, he

does not outstretch his legs towards the Qibla.

A person who is too ill to stand, or who will feel dizzy or have

a headache or toothache or pain on some other part of his body or

cannot control his urination or wind-breaking or bleeding when he

stands, or who fears that his enemy may see (and harm) him or his

belongings may be stolen when he stands, or whose fast will break

or speech will be slurred or awrat parts will be exposed, in the case

that he stands, he performs namâz sitting. For the rukû’ one bends

forward a little. For the sajda they put their head on the ground. If

a person cannot put his head on the ground, while performing

namâz by sitting, he bends a little for the rukû’ and bends even

more for the sajda. If his bending for the sajda is not more than his

bending for the rukû’, his namâz will not be sahîh. If he puts a

stone or a piece of wood on the ground and makes sajda on them,

he will be sinful, even though his namâz will be accepted. That is,

it is makrûh tahrîmî.

2- QIRÂAT: It is fard to recite an âyat of the Qur’ân al-karîm

while standing at every rak’at of the sunnats and of the witr, and at

two rak’ats of the fard when performing namâz individually. It

brings more thawâb to recite a short sûra.

As qirâat, it is wâjib to recite the Fâtiha sûra at these parts of

ritual prayers and to also recite a sûra or three âyats at every rak’ât

of sunnats and of witr prayer and at two rak’ats of the fard. In the

fard, (i.e. Prayers of namâz that are obligatory), it is wâjib or

sunnat to recite the Fâtiha and the (other) sûra at the first two

rak’ats. Additionally, it is wâjib to recite the Fâtiha be