Women’s Salaah

Every aspect of the religion of Islam relating to women revolves around modesty and shame. It is in this regard that Islam commands women to remain within the confines of their homes, being totally concealed from the gazes of strange men, and not to leave their homes without a valid Shar’ee need.

The manner in which a woman is commanded to perform her Salaah — commencing from her attire for salaah to her postures during Salaah — all clearly point towards the aspect of concealment.

Hence, let alone the various other ibaadaat of Deen, the salaah of a woman alone illustrates the great degree of modesty and shame a woman is required to display. Hence, she is commanded to adopt the very same degree of modesty and shame which she displays in her salaah in other departments of her Deeni and worldly life.

Concealment

It is an undisputed fact that the physical composition of women is different to that of men. Shari’ah has taken this into consideration and thus ordained distinct rulings for men and women in many important aspects of Deen.

The underlying factor in the distinct rulings for women is that they have been commanded to do everything in a manner that is more concealing for them. This difference has also been considered in the various postures of salaah. A woman is commanded to carry out her postures in a way that is least revealing and most concealing.

Imaam Baihaqi V has mentioned:

وجماع ما يفارق المرأة فيه الرجل من أحكام الصلاة راجع إلى الستر وهو أنها مأمورة بكل ما كان أستر لها (السنن الكبرى للبيهقي، الرقم: 3196)

All the various aspects in a woman’s salaah that differ from a man’s salaah (i.e. the manner of fulfilling the various postures of salaah) are all based on satr (concealment). A female is commanded to carry out every posture of her salaah in a manner that conceals her body shape and limbs the most.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar L says that during the era of Hazrat Rasulullah H, when performing salaah, the women were instructed to draw their limbs together as close as possible.^[1]عن نافع عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أنه سئل كيف كن النساء يصلين على عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كن يتربعن ثم … Continue reading

The Four Mazhabs

From the era of Hazrat Rasulullah H, the Sahaabah M, the Taabi’een V and the centuries that followed, women were commanded to perform salaah in a manner that varied from the salaah of men in certain aspects. The four mazhabs (viz. Hanafi, Maaliki, Shaafi’ee and Hambali mazhab) are all unanimous upon the fact that the salaah of women differs from the salaah of men in certain aspects.^[2]المذهب الحنفي: ويجافي بطنه عن فخذيه كذا في الهداية والمرأة لا تجافي في ركوعها وسجودها وتقعد على رجليها وفي … Continue reading

The Desire of Hazrat Rasulullah H regarding Women Performing Salaah in the Confines of their Homes

While it was the burning desire of Hazrat Rasulullah H that the men of his Ummah perform their salaah with jamaat in the musjid, it was his heart’s desire that the women of his Ummah perform their salaah within the confines of their homes.

Hazrat Rasulullah H encouraged women to perform their salaah within their homes and remain concealed from the eyes of men, to such an extent that he said, “The salaah of a woman in her bedroom is more rewarding than her salaah in the enclosed courtyard of her house, and her salaah in the innermost portion of the bedroom (a small room within the bedroom) is more rewarding than her salaah in her bedroom.”^[3]عن عبد الله عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال صلاة المرأة في بيتها أفضل من صلاتها في حجرتها وصلاتها في مخدعها … Continue reading

Once, Hazrat Ummu Humaid J, the wife of Hazrat Abu Humaid As-Saa’idi I, came to Hazrat Rasulullah H and said, “O Rasulullah H, I long to perform salaah behind you.” Hazrat Rasulullah H replied, “I am aware that you long and desire to perform salaah behind me. However, your salaah in your bedroom is more rewarding than your salaah in any other part of your home. The salaah in any other part of your home is more rewarding than the salaah in your enclosed courtyard. The salaah in your enclosed courtyard is more rewarding than the salaah in the musjid of your locality. The salaah in the musjid of your locality is more rewarding than your salaah in my Musjid (Musjid-e-Nabawi).” Hazrat Ummu Humaid J (in compliance and obedience with the mubaarak desire of Hazrat Rasulullah H,) instructed that a small place be reserved for her salaah in the innermost portion of her bedroom, and she would devotedly perform all her salaah at that place until the end of her life.^[4]عن عبد الله بن سويد الأنصاري عن عمته أم حميد امرأة أبي حميد الساعدي أنها جاءت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالت … Continue reading

Statement of Hazrat Imaam Shaafi’ee V

Hazrat Imaam Shaafi’ee V has written in Ikhtilaaful Hadith:

We do not know of any of the respected wives of Hazrat Rasulullah H leaving their homes to attend the Jumuah Salaah or any other salaah in the musjid, even though the respected wives of Hazrat Rasulullah H, on account of their special position and relationship with Hazrat Rasulullah H, would have been more rightful and worthy than any woman to fulfil the faraaidh in the musjid, yet they did not do this.

There were many women who were close to Hazrat Rasulullah H, from the women of his household, his respected wives, his daughters, his slave women and the slave women that belonged to his household, yet I do not have knowledge of even a single woman from them who left the home to attend the Jumuah Salaah behind Hazrat Rasulullah H, despite Jumuah Salaah being compulsory on the men to a greater degree than all the other salaah. Similarly, we do not have knowledge of any of them leaving the home to attend the congregational salaah, neither during the night nor during the day, nor did they even go to the musjid in Qubaa, although Hazrat Rasulullah H would go to Qubaa, sometimes riding his conveyance and sometimes on foot, nor did they go to any of the other masaajid. I have no doubt that on account of their special relationship with Hazrat Rasulullah H, they were eager to acquire virtue and reward and they knew the avenues of earning reward better than other women, yet they did not go to the musjid for salaah.

I do not have knowledge of any of our pious predecessors instructing any one of their womenfolk to attend the Jumuah Salaah nor the congregational salaah, neither during the night nor during the day. If they knew that there was any virtue in the women leaving their homes and attending the congregational salaah, they would have definitely instructed them and permitted them to do so. Rather, it is related that Hazrat Rasulullah H said, “The salaah of a woman in her bedroom is better than her salaah in the communal room of her home, and her salaah in the communal room of her home is better than her salaah in the musjid.”^[5]ولم نعلم من أمهات المؤمنين امرأة خرجت إلى جمعة ولا جماعة في مسجد وأزواج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بمكانهن … Continue reading

Before Salaah

1. Particular care should be taken to dress appropriately for salaah. A woman should wear such clothing that will conceal her entire body and hair. It is disrespectful for her to wear tight-fitting clothing that reveals the shape of her body or to wear such thin, flimsy clothing through which the actual limbs can be seen. If the clothing is such that the limbs are visible through the clothing, the salaah will be invalid.^[6](وكره … صلاته … في ثياب البذلة) وهي ما يلبس في البيت ولا يذهب بها الي الكبراء (شرح الوقاية 1/168 ، رد المحتار … Continue reading

2. Severe warnings have been sounded in the Hadith for those women who do not dress appropriately. Though the warning is general and does not specifically refer to dressing inappropriately during salaah, one would understand that when it is impermissible for a woman to dress in this manner out of salaah, then the impermissibility of her wearing such clothing when standing before Allah  in salaah will be even greater. Apart from this, the Fuqahaa have written that the salaah of a woman who is not clad properly during salaah and whose body limbs are visible through her clothing will not be valid.^[7]عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم صنفان من أهل النار لم أرهما قوم معهم سياط كأذناب … Continue reading

3. Cover the entire body including the hair. Only the face, palms and feet may be exposed.^[8](و) الرابع (ستر عورته) … (وللحرة) ولو خنثى (جميع بدنها) حتى شعرها النازل في الأصح (خلا الوجه والكفين والقدمين) … Continue reading

4. Prepare well in advance for salaah before the time of salaah enters.

5. Apart from the physical preparation (wudhu, etc.), you should also prepare yourself mentally that you are going to present yourself in the court of your Rabb.

6. Ensure that your body, clothes and the place on which the salaah is being performed are paak and clean.^[9]تطهير النجاسة من بدن المصلي وثوبه والمكان الذي يصلي عليه واجب (الفتاوى الهندية 1/58 ، حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي … Continue reading

Qiyaam

1. Face the qiblah.^[10]شروط الصلاة وهي عندنا سبعة … واستقبال القبلة (الفتاوى الهندية 1/58 ، البحر الرائق 1/283)

2. Keep the feet together or as close as possible. Ensure that the feet face towards the qiblah.^[11]أقول أما جزئيّة كيفية وضع النساء أقدامهن فلم نأل جهدا في البحث عنها في الكتب الفقهية الحنفية لكن لم نظفر بها … Continue reading

3. Raise both the hands up to the chest (i.e. the fingers will be in line with the shoulders) without removing the hands from beneath the burqa.^[12]المرأة تخالف الرجل في مسائل … ومنها أنها لا تخرج كفيها من كميها عند التكبير وترفع يديها حذاء منكبيها (حاشية … Continue reading

4. When raising the hands, ensure that the palms are facing the qiblah and the fingers are kept in their natural position, neither spread apart nor tightly closed.^[13]قال الفقيه أبو جعفر يستقبل ببطون كفيه القبلة (الفتاوى الهندية 1/73 ، رد المحتار 1/482) وإذا رفع يديه لا يضم أصابعه … Continue reading

5. Once the hands are raised parallel to the shoulders, recite the takbeer (Allahu Akbar).^[14](ورفع يديه) قبل التكبير وقيل معه قال العلامة ابن عابدين رحمه الله (قبل التكبير وقيل معه) الأول نسبه في المجمع … Continue reading

6. The head should be kept straight without tilting it forward or bending it back when reciting the takbeer.^[15]ولا يطأطأ رأسه عند التكبير (الفتاوى الهندية 1/73)

7. Lower the hands while saying the takbeer and fold them on the chest.^[16]وتضع المرأة والخنثى الكف على الكف تحت ثديها قال العلامة ابن عابدين رحمه الله (قوله تحت ثديها) كذا في بعض نسخ … Continue reading

8. Place the right palm on the back of the left hand with the fingers joined together, without any gap in-between. Do not form a circle with the thumb and small finger of the right hand, nor grasp the left hand (as done by males). ^{See 1 and 16}

9. Fix the gaze on the place of sajdah during the standing posture.^[17]نظر المصلي إلى موضع سجوده قائما (نور الإيضاح صـ 72)

10. Recite the thanaa.^[18]عن عائشة قالت كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا استفتح الصلاة قال سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك وتبارك اسمك وتعالى … Continue reading

سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ وَلَا اِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

Glory be to You O Allah F! Praise be to You, blessed is Your name, very lofty is Your majesty, and there is no deity besides You.

11. Recite ta’awwuz and tasmiyah silently.^[19](ثم يتعوذ) … (سرا للقراءة) … (فيأتي به المسبوق) … (لا المقتدي) لأنه للقراءة ولا يقرأ المقتدي … (ثم يسمي … Continue reading

Ta’awwuz is to recite:

أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْم

I seek protection in Allah F from the accursed Shaitaan.

Tasmiyah is to recite:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah F, the most kind, the most merciful.

13. After reciting thanaa, ta’awwuz and tasmiyah silently, commence the qiraat of Surah Faatihah followed by a surah or any portion of the Quraan Majeed.^[20](ثم قرأ الفاتحة وأمن الإمام والمأموم سرا ثم قرأ سورة أو) قرأ (ثلاث آيات) قصار أو آية طويلة وجوبا (حاشية الطحطاوي … Continue reading

Note: Women should not perform their salaah aloud. They should perform every salaah silently.^[21] المرأة تخالف الرجل في مسائل … ولا تجهر في موضع الجهر (حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح صـ 259)

13. Recite “aameen” after surah Faatihah. ^{See 20}

14. Recite tasmiyah before the surah.^[22](لا) تسن (بين الفاتحة والسورة مطلقا) ولو سرية ولا تكره اتفاقا قال العلامة ابن عابدين رحمه الله قوله (لا تسن) … Continue reading

Note: The tasmiyah will only be recited (after Surah Faatihah) if one is going to recite a surah. If one is not going to commence any surah then tasmiyah should not be recited.^[23]وقال في الإمداد وفي المحيط يقرأ في الخطبة سورة من القرآن أو آية فالأخبار قد تواترت أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم … Continue reading

15. If you are performing a three or four rakaat fardh salaah, then in the third and fourth rakaat you will only recite Surah Faatihah. You should not recite any surah after reciting Surah Faatihah.

In the third and fourth rakaat of the fardh salaah, Surah Faatihah will be recited by the imaam and munfarid (the one performing salaah alone). The muqtadi (one who is performing salaah behind the imam) will remain silent and not recite anything in all the rakaats.^[24]وتجب قراءة الفاتحة وضم السورة أو ما يقوم مقامها من ثلاث آيات قصار أو آية طويلة في الأوليين بعد الفاتحة كذا في … Continue reading

16. If you are performing sunnah or nafl salaah, you will recite qiraat in all the rakaats, regardless of whether you are performing two rakaats or four rakaats. ^{See 24}

Ruku and Qawmah

1. Say the takbeer and go into ruku. ^[25](ثم) كما فرغ (يكبر) مع الإنحطاط (للركوع) للتمكن قال العلامة ابن عابدين رحمه الله (قوله مع الإنحطاط) أفاد أن السنة … Continue reading

Note: The takbeeraat-e-intiqaaliyyah (takbeer which is recited when moving from one posture to another) should be commenced as soon as one begins moving to the next posture and should only be completed when one reaches that posture. ^{See 25}

2. Bend slightly to the extent that the fingers are able to touch the knees.^[26]وتنحني في الركوع قليلا ولا تعقد ولا تفرج فيه أصابعها بل تضمها وتضع يديها على ركبتيها ولا تحني ركبتيها وتنضم … Continue reading

3. Keep the fingers together.^[27]ولا تفرج أصابعها في الركوع وتنحني في الركوع قليلا بحيث تبلغ حد الركوع فلا تزيد على ذلك لأنه أستر لها (حاشية … Continue reading

Note: One will not grasp the knees fully nor spread out the fingers. Similarly, the head and back will not be kept in a straight line (as done by men when making ruku). ^{See 27}

4. Keep the arms close to the sides.^[28]وتلزم مرفقيها بجنبيها فيه (حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح صـ 259) عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أنه سئل عن صلاة … Continue reading

5. The ankles of both the feet should be kept together. ^{See 28}

6. Fix the gaze on the feet in the posture of ruku.^[29](ولها آداب) … (نظره إلى موضع سجوده حال قيامه وإلى ظهر قدميه حال ركوعه …) (الدر المختار 1/477)

7. Recite the following tasbeeh thrice or any odd number of times:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْم

Glorified is my Rabb, the most great.^[30]ويقول في ركوعه سبحان ربي العظيم ثلاثا وذلك أدناه (الفتاوى الهندية 1/74) وصرحوا بأنه يكره أن ينقص عن الثلاث وأن … Continue reading

8. Stand up from ruku while saying the tasmee:

سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهْ

Allah F hears the one who praises Him.

followed by the tahmeed:

اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْد

O Allah F, our Rabb, for You alone is all praise.^[31](ثم يرفع رأسه من ركوعه مسمعا … ويكتفي به الإمام) وقالا يضم التحميد سرا (و) يكتفي (بالتحميد المؤتم) وأفضله اللهم … Continue reading

9. Stand up erect. After standing up from ruku, do not tie your hands. Instead, leave them at your sides. This posture is called qawmah. In qawmah, stand up erect with ta’deel-e-arkaan (the body should be completely at ease) before going into sajdah.^[32](ويقوم مستويا) قال العلامة ابن عابدين رحمه الله (مستويا) هو للتأكيد فإن مطلق القيام إنما يكون باستواء الشقين … Continue reading

Sajdah

1. Say the takbeer and proceed into sajdah. ^[33]ثم إذا استوى قائما كبر وسجد (الفتاوى الهندية 1/75)

2. First place the knees on the ground, then the palms, then the nose and lastly the forehead. ^[34](ويسجد واضعا ركبتيه) أولا لقربهما من الأرض (ثم يديه) إلا لعذر (ثم وجهه) مقدما أنفه لما مر (الدر المختار 1/497)

3. Keep the fingers closed, facing towards the qiblah.^[35]ضاما أصابع يديه لتتوجه للقبلة (الدر المختار 1/498)

4. Place the palms parallel to the ears.^[36]ويضع يديه في السجود حذاء أذنيه ويوجه أصابعه نحو القبلة (الفتاوى الهندية 1/75)

5. Draw the limbs of the body close together and press them firmly without allowing any gap in between. ^[37]وتنضم في ركوعها وسجودها (رد المحتار 1/504) عن يزيد بن أبي حبيب أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مر على امرأتين … Continue reading

6. Keep the stomach joined to both the thighs and the arms to the sides. ^[38](والمرأة تنخفض) فلا تبدي عضديها (وتلصق بطنها بفخذيها) لأنه أستر (الدر المختار 1/504)

7. Keep both the forearms/elbows on the ground. ^[39]وتفترش ذراعيها (رد المحتار 1/504)

8. The feet should not be upright. Instead, they should be placed flat on the ground on the right-hand side.^[40]لا تنصب أصابع القدمين (البحر الرائق 1/339) عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أنه سئل عن صلاة المرأة فقال تجتمع وتحتفز … Continue reading

9. Fix the gaze on the nose in sajdah.^[41]ولها آداب نظره إلى … أرنبة أنفه حال سجوده قال العلامة ابن عابدين رحمه الله (قوله وإلى أرنبة أنفه) أي طرفه … Continue reading

10. Recite the following tasbeeh thrice or any odd number of times:^[42]ويقول في سجوده سبحان ربي الأعلى ثلاثا وذلك أدناه كذا في المحيط ويستحب أن يزيد على الثلاث في الركوع والسجود … Continue reading

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلٰى

Glorified is my Rabb, the most high.

11. Say the takbeer and sit up in the position of jalsah.^[43](ثم يرفع رأسه مكبرا …) … (ويجلس بين السجدتين مطمئنا) (الدر المختار 1/505)

Jalsah

1. Sit on the left buttock and place both the feet on the right side.^[44]وتجلس متوركة في كل قعود بأن تجلس على أليتها اليسرى وتخرج كلتا رجليها من الجانب الأيمن وتضع فخذيها على بعضها … Continue reading

2. The thighs should be joined together. ^{See 44}

3. Place the hands on the thighs with the fingers together and the fingertips at the edge of the knees.^[45]وتتورك في التشهد وتضع فيه يديها تبلغ أصابعها ركبتيها وتضم فيه أصابعها (رد المحتار 1/504)

4. Fix the gaze on the area between the lower chest and lap whilst in jalsah.^[46](ولها آداب) … (نظره إلى … حجره حال قعوده …) قال العلامة ابن عابدين رحمه الله (قوله وإلى حجره) بكسر الحاء … Continue reading

5. Remain in the position of jalsah with the body being completely at ease and calm before going into the second sajdah.^[47](ويجلس بين السجدتين مطمئنا) لما مر (الدر المختار 1/505)

6. Say the takbeer and proceed to the second sajdah as normal.^[48](ويكبر ويسجد) ثانية (مطمئنا ويكبر للنهوض) على صدور قدميه (بلا اعتماد وقعود) استراحة ولو فعل لا بأس ويكره تقديم … Continue reading

Second Rakaat

1. After the second sajdah say the takbeer and stand up for the second rakaat. ^{See 48}

2. When rising from sajdah, first raise the forehead, then the nose, then the hands and lastly the knees. ^[49]قالوا إذا أراد السجود يضع أولا ما كان أقرب إلى الأرض فيضع ركبتيه أولا ثم يديه ثم أنفه ثم جبهته وإذا أراد الرفع … Continue reading

3. When getting up, do not take support from the ground (unless there is a need to do so). ^{See 48}

4. Perform the second rakaat as normal except that thanaa and ta’awwuz will not be recited at the beginning.^[50] (والركعة الثانية كالأولى) فيما مر (غير أنه لا يأتي بثناء ولا تعوذ فيها) إذ لم يشرعا إلا مرة (الدر المختار 1/506)

Qa’dah and Salaam

1. After the second sajdah of the second rakaat, sit in the position of qa’dah in the same manner as explained for jalsah. ^{See 44 and 45}

2. Recite the tashahhud:^[51]عن عبد الله بن مسعود قال علمنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قعدنا في الركعتين أن نقول التحيات لله والصلوات … Continue reading

اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلٰى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ

All verbal ibaadaat, physical ibaadaat and monetary ibaadaat be only for Allah F. May the special peace of Allah F descend upon you, O Nabi H, and Allah’s F choicest mercies and blessings. May peace descend upon us and upon all the pious servants of Allah F. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah F and I bear witness that Hazrat Muhammad H is His servant and messenger.

3. When saying أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ, form a ring with the thumb and middle finger of the right hand, raise the index finger towards the qiblah and close the remaining two fingers (the small finger and finger next to it). When saying إِلَّا الله, lower the index finger. The thumb and middle finger will remain joined like a ring until the end of the qa’dah. As for the left hand, leave the fingers spread out on the edge of the thigh. The fingers will be left in the natural position and will not be joined together.^[52](ويضع يمناه على فخذه اليمنى ويسراه على اليسرى، ويبسط أصابعه) مفرجة قليلا (جاعلا أطرافها عند ركبتيه) ولا يأخذ … Continue reading

4. If you are performing a three or four rakaat salaah then you should not recite anything besides the above tashahhud. After reciting the tashahhud, stand up for the third rakaat.^[53](ولا يزيد) في الفرض (على التشهد في القعدة الأولى) إجماعا قال العلامة ابن عابدين رحمه الله (قوله ولا يزيد في … Continue reading

5. If it is the last qa’dah then recite Durood-e-Ebrahim after the tashahhud followed by a dua from the Quraan Majeed or Hadith.^[54](ويفعل في القعود الثاني) الافتراش (كالأول وتشهد) أيضا (وصلى على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم) … (ودعاء) … (بالأدعية … Continue reading

The Durood-e-Ebrahim is as follows:

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى اِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ
اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى اِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ

O Allah F! Shower Your mercy on Hazrat Muhammad H and his family as You showered Your mercy on Hazrat Ebrahim S and his family. Surely You are praiseworthy and most high.

O Allah F! Bless Hazrat Muhammad H and his family as You have blessed Hazrat Ebrahim S and his family. Surely You are praiseworthy and most high.

One may recite the following dua which is reported in the Hadith:^[55]ومن الأدعية المأثورة ما روي عن أبي بكر رضي الله عنه أنه قال لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم علمني دعاء أدعو به في … Continue reading

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ مَغْفِرَةً مِّنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِيْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم

O Allah F! I have oppressed myself excessively (through committing sins), and no one can forgive sins besides You, so forgive me with special forgiveness from Your side and show mercy to me, for indeed You alone are all-forgiving and all-merciful.

6. After completing your dua, make salaam by saying,

اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهْ

while turning your head to the right side, and then again while turning your head to the left side.^[56]ثم يسلم تسليمتين تسليمة عن يمينه وتسليمة عن يساره (الفتاوى الهندية 1/76) قال الشيخ الكنكوهي في الكوكب 1/289: (كان … Continue reading

7. Do not lower or jerk your head while making salaam.

8. When making salaam on either side, fix your gaze on your shoulders.^[57](ولها آداب) … (نظره إلى … وإلى منكبه الأيمن والأيسر عند التسليمة الأولى والثانية) (الدر المختار 1/477)

9. Turn your face on both sides to the extent that the cheek can be seen from behind.^[58]ويحول في التسليمة الأولى وجهه عن يمينه حتى يرى بياض خده الأيمن وفي التسليمة الثانية عن يساره حتى يرى بياض خده … Continue reading

10. After the salaam, recite أَسْتَغْفِرُ الله thrice.^[59](ويستغفرون الله) العظيم (ثلاثا) لقول ثوبان كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا انصرف من صلاته استغفر الله … Continue reading

11. Engage in dua (as this is a time for the acceptance of duas).^[60](ثم يدعون لأنفسهم وللمسلمين) بالأدعية المأثورة الجامعة لقول أبي أمامة قيل يا رسول الله أي الدعاء أسمع قال جوف … Continue reading

12. Recite Tasbeeh-e-Faatimi after every salaah.^[61]ويسبحون الله ثلاثا وثلاثين ويحمدونه كذلك ويكبرونه كذلك (نور الإيضاح صـ 80) Tasbeeh-e-Faatimi is for one to recite 33 times Subhaanallah, 33 times Alhamdulillah, 33 times Allahu Akbar, and complete the hundred by reciting:

لَا إِلٰهَ إلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْر

There is no deity besides Allah F alone, who has no partner. To Him belongs the kingdom (of the entire universe), and only for Him belongs all praise and He alone has complete power over everything.