Salat in perspectives (II)
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- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by M. U. Ndagi
- Hits: 2989
Given the position of salat in the spiritual life of a Muslim, we want to continue with the same subject matter that featured in this column last week. A Muslim who omits at least two or more prophetic (sunnah) acts from salat is required to observe two prostrations (sujud) called qabli in lieu of omission(s), before terminating his prayer with a taslim (saying of ‘Assalamu Alaykum’). But if the complications were additions made by the worshipper in his salat, he is to observe two prostrations called ba’di which is usually done after he would have terminated his prayer with a taslim. If a worshipper adds and at the same time omits integral parts of his salat, he is required in this case to observe qabli.
If a worshipper was required to observe qabli which is usually before the taslim of the salat but forgot to do so until after he had terminated his prayer with a taslim, he would observe ba’di if he was still within the vicinity where he offered the salat. Otherwise, the prayer becomes void particularly if the omissions in the salat were three or more. If the omissions were less, the salat remains valid. If a worshipper forgot to observe ba’di in lieu of additions to his prayer, it is binding on him to observe it when he remembers even if it were a year later. Nonetheless, it is important to state here that prostrations of qabli and ba’di do not expiate for omissions involving obligatory (faraid) acts of salat. Similarly, recommended (mustahabat) acts of salat when omitted do not require any prostrations to be observed and yet the salat remains unharmed. Prostrations of sujud have only been prescribed to expiate for omissions involving two or more sunnah acts of salat. The omission of one sunnah act of salat does not require the observance of any sujud except in the case of reading aloud what ought to have been recited in silence and vice versa; ba’di would be done in the case of the former and qabli in the case of the latter. The preceding details underscore the significance of knowing the obligatory, sunnah and recommended acts of salat. Otherwise, how could a worshipper who does not know these acts realizes when he should observe qabli or ba’di?
Whoever speaks forgetfully while in salat or terminates his salat when he should not, or adds one or two or more raka’ts to his salat, shall perform two prostrations of ba’di in lieu of these complications. However, the salat of a worshipper becomes void if the number of raka’ats added, is as many as the number due to be performed in the salat. Whoever doubts the number of raka’ats he has observed in a salat is advised to build upon the number he is certain about and then observe sujud ba’di at the end of the prayer. If a worshipper doubts whether or not he said the taslim required to terminate his salat, he is advised to say it if he remembered at once and no sujud is required for that. But if it took him a long time before he remembered that he did not say the taslim for terminating his salat, the salat becomes void. If a worshipper has a perpetual problem of forgetfulness in salat, he is required to always build upon his conviction and then observe two prostrations of ba’di in every case of absentmindedness, whether or not it concerns omissions or additions.
No sujud is required to be observed if a worshipper makes the mistake of reading aloud the Qunut supplication, which is usually recited in the subhi obligatory salat. This is according to the Imam Malik school of Islamic Jurisprudence. There are other acts for which no sujud is required when added by a worshipper in salat. They include: reciting a surah after surat ul-fatihah in the last two raka’ats of Zuhr, Asr and Isha’i prayers (including also the last raka’at in Maghrib prayer); invoking peace and blessings of Allah upon the Prophet after hearing the mention of his name while in salat; reciting more than one surah after surat ul-fatihah in one raka’at; leaving one surah to begin another without completing the first within one raka’at; and using the hand or head to give an indication while in salat. A worshipper who forgetfully recites surat ul-fatihah twice in a raka’at shall observe ba’adi. If he forgets to recite a surah (after surat ul-fatihah) until after bending down to ruku’u, he must not return to standing position for the purpose of reciting the surah. Instead, he would continue with his salat and then observe qabli at the end of the prayer.
If a worshipper in salat sees a snake or scorpion or similar dangerous reptiles while in salat, he is permitted to kill the reptile or insect and continue with his salat. But if the killing takes a long time during which his back, instead of the face, was turned towards the direction of the ka’abah (al-Qiblah), he is required to re-start his salat all-over again. Certainly, the discussion about complications arising from human errors in salat cannot be exhausted in a medium such as this. We hope to continue insha Allah another time. May Allah (SWT) over-look our shortcomings and accept our salat and other acts of worship, amin.
Articles
Salat in perspectives (II)
Category: Philosofaith Written by M. U. Ndagi Hits: 2989
Given the position of salat in the spiritual life of a Muslim, we want to continue with the same subject matter that featured in this column last week. A Muslim who omits at least two or more prophetic (sunnah) acts from salat is required to observe two prostrations (sujud) called qabli in lieu of omission(s), before terminating his prayer with a taslim (saying of ‘Assalamu Alaykum’). But if the complications were additions made by the worshipper in his salat, he is to observe two prostrations called ba’di which is usually done after he would have terminated his prayer with a taslim. If a worshipper adds and at the same time omits integral parts of his salat, he is required in this case to observe qabli.
If a worshipper was required to observe qabli which is usually before the taslim of the salat but forgot to do so until after he had terminated his prayer with a taslim, he would observe ba’di if he was still within the vicinity where he offered the salat. Otherwise, the prayer becomes void particularly if the omissions in the salat were three or more. If the omissions were less, the salat remains valid. If a worshipper forgot to observe ba’di in lieu of additions to his prayer, it is binding on him to observe it when he remembers even if it were a year later. Nonetheless, it is important to state here that prostrations of qabli and ba’di do not expiate for omissions involving obligatory (faraid) acts of salat. Similarly, recommended (mustahabat) acts of salat when omitted do not require any prostrations to be observed and yet the salat remains unharmed. Prostrations of sujud have only been prescribed to expiate for omissions involving two or more sunnah acts of salat. The omission of one sunnah act of salat does not require the observance of any sujud except in the case of reading aloud what ought to have been recited in silence and vice versa; ba’di would be done in the case of the former and qabli in the case of the latter. The preceding details underscore the significance of knowing the obligatory, sunnah and recommended acts of salat. Otherwise, how could a worshipper who does not know these acts realizes when he should observe qabli or ba’di?
Whoever speaks forgetfully while in salat or terminates his salat when he should not, or adds one or two or more raka’ts to his salat, shall perform two prostrations of ba’di in lieu of these complications. However, the salat of a worshipper becomes void if the number of raka’ats added, is as many as the number due to be performed in the salat. Whoever doubts the number of raka’ats he has observed in a salat is advised to build upon the number he is certain about and then observe sujud ba’di at the end of the prayer. If a worshipper doubts whether or not he said the taslim required to terminate his salat, he is advised to say it if he remembered at once and no sujud is required for that. But if it took him a long time before he remembered that he did not say the taslim for terminating his salat, the salat becomes void. If a worshipper has a perpetual problem of forgetfulness in salat, he is required to always build upon his conviction and then observe two prostrations of ba’di in every case of absentmindedness, whether or not it concerns omissions or additions.
No sujud is required to be observed if a worshipper makes the mistake of reading aloud the Qunut supplication, which is usually recited in the subhi obligatory salat. This is according to the Imam Malik school of Islamic Jurisprudence. There are other acts for which no sujud is required when added by a worshipper in salat. They include: reciting a surah after surat ul-fatihah in the last two raka’ats of Zuhr, Asr and Isha’i prayers (including also the last raka’at in Maghrib prayer); invoking peace and blessings of Allah upon the Prophet after hearing the mention of his name while in salat; reciting more than one surah after surat ul-fatihah in one raka’at; leaving one surah to begin another without completing the first within one raka’at; and using the hand or head to give an indication while in salat. A worshipper who forgetfully recites surat ul-fatihah twice in a raka’at shall observe ba’adi. If he forgets to recite a surah (after surat ul-fatihah) until after bending down to ruku’u, he must not return to standing position for the purpose of reciting the surah. Instead, he would continue with his salat and then observe qabli at the end of the prayer.
If a worshipper in salat sees a snake or scorpion or similar dangerous reptiles while in salat, he is permitted to kill the reptile or insect and continue with his salat. But if the killing takes a long time during which his back, instead of the face, was turned towards the direction of the ka’abah (al-Qiblah), he is required to re-start his salat all-over again. Certainly, the discussion about complications arising from human errors in salat cannot be exhausted in a medium such as this. We hope to continue insha Allah another time. May Allah (SWT) over-look our shortcomings and accept our salat and other acts of worship, amin.