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TAHAJJUD
Of all the Nafl Salat, the
greatest in rank is the "Tahajjud Salat". The Ahaadeeth speak much
about the great significance of this Salat.
The time of Tahajjud is greatly efficacious for the acceptance
of dua.
Tahajjud Salat is performed
in the latter part of the night. After
having gone to bed one should rise late in the night and engage in this
wonderful lbaadat which has always been the practice of the great and
pious
people. The minimum number of rakats in
Tahajjud is four and the maximum is twelve rakats.
This Salat can also be performed in two rakat
or four raka't units. The niyyat for
this Salat is simply to intend that one is performing Tahajjud
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) said the Tahajjud Salat is a medium (i.e. a very great and
efficacious medium) of gaining nearness to Allah Ta'ala. At the same
time it is
an expiation for sins while it strengthens one's will power in the
fight
against the lowly nafs. Every Muslim
should, therefore, make the greatest of effort, combat the laxity or the
nafs and compel it to
submit to the performance of this Salat.
Tahajjud is the time when the servant is closest to Allah Ta'ala.
There are no specific Surahs to be recited in
this
Salat. Any Surah may be recited in any rakat. The practice of fixing Surah Ikhlaas for the Tahajjud Salat
is contrary to the Sunnah and should not be adhered to.
BEST TIME: ABOUT 3:30 AM (Early Morning)
ISHRAAQ
Ishraaq Salat is performed
about fifteen minutes after sunrise. Regarding this Salat, Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said. "He who performs Fajr Salat with
jamat
and remains seated in the same place engaging in Dhikr until after
sunrise and
thereafter performs two rakats nafl Salat, will obtain the thawaab of
one Hajj
and one umrah."
BEST TIME: 15 MINUTES AFTER SUNRISE
SALATUD
DHUHAA (CHAASHT)
The Hadith
Shareef explains
great significance of Salatud Dhuhaa. The time for this Salat commences
after
one-third of the day has passed its time remains until Zawaal. Salatud Dhuhaa consists of up to twelve
rakats. One may perform two, four, six eight, ten or twelve rakats.
Hadrath
Aisha (radiallaahu anhu) used to perform eight rakats Salatud Dhuhaa. She said that even if her parents arose from
the grave, she would not leave Salatud Dhuhaa to go and meet them. From
this
emphasis the importance of this Salat is evident.
BEST TIME: ABOUT 9:30
A.M.
(MORNING)
SALATUL
AWWAABEEN
The Nafl
Salat performed
after Maghrib Salat is called "Salatul Awwaabeen".
The minimum number of rakats of this Salat is
six rakats and the maximum number is twenty rakats.
This Salat may also be performed in two rakat
or four rakat units although is better to perform it in two rakat units. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said
that whoever performs six rakats after Maghrib will have his/her sins
forgiven
even if such sins are as the foam on the ocean.
BEST TIME: IMMEDIATELY AFTER
MAGRIB
WOMEN – SALAT BETTER IN-HOME
The wife of Hazrat Abu Hamid
SaaidiRad requested the Prophet Sallam
that she wished to offer her prayer with him.
The Prophet Sallam said, "your prayer in the mosque of your
locality is better than that in my mosque and the better prayer than
that in
the mosque of the locality is one which you offer in the courtyard of
your
house and still better is one offered in the verandah of your house and
better
still is that offered in the; inner chamber of your house". Listening to this warning, the wife of Abu
Hamid built a small platform in the inner chamber of her house and
offered her
prayer on it till her death. After
hearing these words of the Prophet, she never went to the Prophet
Sallam's
mosque for prayers. (Ibn Khozaima) It means that women should say their
prayer
in their own house which has greater excellence than the prayer in the
mosque.
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