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Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Hughes, Thomas Patrick
“I testify that there is no deity but God (the Shīʿahs add, “who has no partner”); and I testify that Muḥammad is the servant of God, and the messenger of God!”
(Every two rakʿahs close with the Tashahhud. The Darūd is said whilst in the same posture.)
“O God, have mercy on Muḥammad and on his descendants (the Shīʿahs merely recite: “God have mercy on Muḥammad and his descendants”; and omit the rest), as Thou didst have mercy on Abraham and on his descendants. Thou art to be praised, and Thou art great. O God, bless Muḥammad and his descendants, as Thou didst bless Abraham and his descendants!
“Thou art to be praised, and Thou art great!”
Then the Duʿāʾ:—
“O God our Lord, give us the blessings of this life, and also the blessings of life everlasting. Save us from the torments of fire.”
(The Duʿāʾ is omitted by the Shīʿahs, who recite the following instead: “Peace be on thee, O Prophet, with the mercy of God and His blessing! Peace be upon us, and upon God’s righteous servants!”)
He then closes with the Salām.
THE SALAM.
Turning the head round to the right, he says:—
“The peace and mercy of God be with you.”
THE SALAM.
Turning the head round to the left, he says:—
“The peace and mercy of God be with you.”
At the close of the whole set of prayers, that is of Farẓ, Sunnah, Nafl, or Witr, the worshipper raises his hands and offers up a Munājāt, or “supplication.” This usually consists of prayers selected from the Qurʾān or Ḥadīs̤. They ought to be said in Arabic, although they are frequently offered up in the vernacular.
THE MUNAJAT.
Such supplications were highly commended by Muḥammad, who is related to have said:—
“Supplication is the marrow of worship.”
“There is nothing better before God than supplication.”
“Supplicate God when ye are certain of its approval, and know that God accepts not the supplication of a negligent heart.”
“Verily your Lord is ashamed of his servants when they raise up their hands to Him in supplication to return them empty.”
These daily prayers are either Farẓ, Sunnah, Nafl, or Witr. Farẓ, are those rakʿahs (or forms of prayer), said to be enjoined by God. Sunnah, those founded on the practice of Muḥammad. Nafl, the voluntary performance of two rakʿahs, or more, which may be omitted without sin. Witr, an odd number of rakʿahs, either one, three, five, or seven, said after the night prayer. These divisions of prayer are entirely distinct from each other. They each begin afresh with the Nīyah, and worshippers may rest for a while between them, but not converse on worldly subjects. The Wahhābīs think it correct to say the Sunnah prayers in their houses and only the Farẓ prayers in the mosque.
The five times of prayer are known as Z̤uhr, ʿAṣr, Mag͟hrib, ʿIshāʾ, and Fajr. There are also three voluntary periods called Ishrāq, Ẓuḥā, and Tahajjud.
The following is a table showing the exact number of rakʿahs to be performed at each service:—
No.
Time.
The Names of the Time of Prayer.
The Number of Rakʿahs said.
Arabic.
Persian.
Urdu.
Sunnat-i-g͟hair-i-muʾakkadah.
Sunnat-i-muʾakkadah.
Farz.
Sunnah after Farz.
Nafl.
Witr.
The Five Periods of Prayer.
From dawn to sunrise.