The performance of salat, i.e., the five daily prayers, has been prescribed on all believers in the unity and indivisibility of Allah in order to demonstrate our faith.
It was during the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that the five daily prayers (Salat) were institutionalised. And the prayers have been enjoined on the believers at appointed hours (Qur’an 4:103).
The sacredness of Salat was demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during the miraculous Night Journey to Heaven (Lailatul-Mi’raj). (Qur’an Isra’a 17:1). ”Glory to (God) Who did take His Servant For a Journey by night From the Sacred Mosque To the Farthest Mosque, Whose precincts We did Bless,—in order that We Might show him some Of Our Signs : for He Is the One Who heareth And seeth (all things)”.
The details of the mystic journeys of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to: Jerusalem (Lailatul Isra’a) and to Heaven (Lailatul- Miraj) reveal that the five daily prayers were reduced from 50 to five through the intervention of Prophet Musa (AS) and the plea of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) (Bukhari and Muslim). Some scholars refer to the date of the Night Journeys as Rabiul-Awwal 17, in the year before Hijrah. But most scholars agree to the date of Rajab 27, in the year before Hijrah i.e., 609 A.D.
It is important to note that the second part of the Salatu Zuhr, Magrib and Ishai will be observed with the recitation of only Suratul Fatiha in low voice without any other verse or chapter of the Holy Qur’an.
A person observing prayer will be violating the law of Salat if he or she recites a verse or chapter of the Holy Quran after Suratul Fatiha in the second part of the prayers, after the first Tashahud. This is called Ba’adiya, i.e., adding to a prayer. Also, if we reduce the prayer by observing one rakat instead of two or we sit down instead of standing, we are regarded to have violated the law of Salat reduction. This is called Qabliya. We can atone for the two major mistakes of Ba’adiya and Qabliya in prayers through the prostration of forgetfulness (Sajdah Sahwi).
A hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as narrated by Abdullah bin Bujainah (RA) says that when he had completed the prayer and the people were waiting for his salutation he said, “Allahu Akbar,” while he was sitting and did two sajdah before the salutation.
Another hadith on the prostration of forgetfulness as narrated by Abu Saeed al Khud (RA) says that when one of you becomes confused during his prayer and he doesn’t know how many rakats he offered (three or four) he should ignore what is doubtful and base his prayer on what he believes is certain. Then he should do two extra sajdah before the station (Deblya) if he had prayed five rakats, then this two sajdah (prostrations) will make his prayer six rakats (two of which will be Naflat, optional) and if he has prayed the correct number of rakats then this two sajdah will be humility for the devil (Muslim). But in a situation where we add to a prayer (Ba’diya), the two prostrations of forgetfulness (Sajdah Sahwi) will be made after the salutation.
However, we should ensure that we observe our prayer (Salat) with total concentration at all times and not be unmindful of our prayers or be violating the rules of the prayers.
Almighty declares about those who are forgetful during prayer session thus: “So, woe to the worshippers Who are forgetful or neglectful of their prayers” (Qur’an: Ma’un 107:4-5).
Meanwhile, as Almighty Allah does not place burden on us over His worship, He gives us the concession to shorten our prayers while on a journey (Qasr). (Qur’an 2: 286). So, when we are on a journey of over 48 miles or 80 kilometers, we are permitted to shorten the obligatory prayers of four units to two each, i.e., Zuhr, Asr and Isha. The three units (rakat) of Maghrib remain unchanged. We are also permitted to shorten our prayers at the war front for fear of being attacked by the enemies. The Holy Qur’an Nisa’a, 4: 101 says, “When ye travel through the earth there is no blame on you if ye shorten your prayers for fear the unbelievers may attack you: for the unbelievers are unto you open enemies.”
It is important to note that supererogatory prayers (Naflat) are forbidden at certain times and periods for the believers. The prayers are forbidden when the sun is rising; when the sun is at its zenith and when the sun is setting, when women are in state of impurity of monthly period and childbirth, and when we are in a state of partial or complete impurity. Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an, Al-A’raf, 7:31, “O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel At every time and place of Prayer: eat and drink but waste not by excess, for God loveth not the wasters.”
It is important to emphasise that we should observe our prayers in congregation because it has 27 rewards as against prayers observed individually. And the prayers should be observed at the appointed times. But if we are delayed by a cogent reason, we must make up for the prayers missed before we sleep. However, prayers are invalidated by the following: (1) to anticipate the Imam leading the prayer in any act or movement of prayer, (2) to eat or drink during the prayer; (3) to talk or say something out of the prescribed course of prayers, the directions of the Qiblah. Other forms of invalidation of Salat are (5) to do any noticeable act or move outside the acts and movements of prayer; (6) to do anything that nullifies the ablution, i.e., discharge of urine, stool, gas, blood and other calls of nature, (7) to fail in observing any of the essentials acts prayer like standing, saying the first “Allahu Akbar” (Takbira-tul-Hiram), reciting the Fatiha, ruku, sujud, Tashahud, etc. And (8) to uncover the body between the navel and the knees during the prayer in the case of men, or any part of the body except the face, hands and feet for the females.
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