Fajr Prayer-2

Fajr Prayer Episode 2

There are a couple of things to keep in mind. I would like to remind everyone according to Imam Hanaefi, when we stand during the kira’ah, we bascially bring together our hands like this under our belly button. That’s basically how it needs to be done.

So when we are prostrating, there are couple of things to keep in mind. Actually before prostrating, let me go back to bowing down. Our backs and our legs should form a 90 degree angle. We should push ourselves as much as possible. And when going towards the ruquh, we have to make sure, according to Imam Hanafi, It’s not mandatory, it’s going to harm your prayer, but that is the way to act before the Divine Presence.

Your knees touch the floor first, and then your hands and then your forehead for the prostration. And that part is very important according to Imam Hanaefi. When doing the prostration, when doing the sajdah, that is I want you to please pay attention to here. When doing sajdah, it is very important that you do not take your feet off the ground. It has to be attached to the ground. Otherwise, your prayer is dismissed. You have to redo it again. That is a very important to keep in mind.

So while standing, let me come back to the standing. Some people ask how my legs should be positioned. Some people open their legs a lot some people do not. There is no major difference, as long as you are comfortable and you have to find your comfort zone because your comfort is very important. You need to concentrate. And imagine yourself before Allah (swt). How would you stand before Allah (swt). That should be your position.

While performing the prayer, let me give you another term, ta’deeli erqaan, praying it properly is very important. For example, if you are praying too fast, like for example you bow down and you are doing ruquh an you just went there and get up, and you didn’t even have a chance to say “Subhana Rabbiyal Aziym”. That prayer is not a prayer. And you get up and you did not stay to be able to say “Rabbana wa laka’l hamd” at least this time. “Sam’i Allahu leman hamidaeh, Rabbana wa laka’l hamd”. It is too quick and it is not proper. And you went to the sajdah, again you did not do it properly. When you sit, come back from the sajdah, just right before going to the second sajdah, you need to stay seated for a certain amount of time, that means at least 2 seconds or 3 seconds, otherwise it is not properly completed.

And also when reciting the Quran, you have to recite so that you are able to hear yourself. Reciting in heart is not counted. Reciting in your intention or in your brain is not accepted. That means your lips actually have to move and you should be able to hear yourself in order to be a properly performed prayer.

So those are very important things to keep in our minds. I want you to please make sure that at least when you go to the sajdah, remind yourself again not to take your hands away. And another reminder for men, I mean wearing things properly is very important. I see unfortunately sometimes in mosques, remember for men the body parts that we are allowed to show is known. Like with our belly button and until our knees. Knees are included. So therefore, as long as those parts are closed, we are ok. But when you go to the sajdah, sometimes especially youngsters are wearing some sorts of pants that make for parts of their bodies to be shown. And that really harms their prayer. They have to redo it. They have to redo it.

For example if you have clothing that has pictures or symbols of different things on it, that is not recommended. Your clothing also needs to be proper.

So after the adhan, and after we complete our voluntary sunnah prayer, two cycles, two rakaah of sunnah prayers, if you are praying with the congregation, you will hear something we call iqamah, the call to prayer to be held in congregation. If you are not with the jama’ah, if you are not with the congregation, you should do it by yourself. But it is not mandatory, it is a sunnah to do that. And this is how we do it.

Basically adhan, and just adding “qad qamati salah” in to it. And let me perform it for you. “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, ashadu an la ilaha illallah, ashadu an la ilahae illallah, ashadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah, ashadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah, hayyaa al salaah, hayyaa al salaah, hayyaa al falaah, hayyaa al falaah, qad qamati salah, qad qamati salah, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilahe illallah”. This is called iqamah and it is recited right before the takbeer. That means right before the start of prayer. And if you are praying with the jamaah, someone else is already reciting. You don’t have to worry about it. But if you are praying yourself, reciting iqamah is sunnah. Please keep that in mind as well.