Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As-salam-u-alikum
Is it possible for you to teach me the proper way to read namaz because I know that some of the verses that are read in the bohra namaz arn't suppose to be there. So is it possible for you to tell me what dua'a to read, when and where and how to read it? JazakAllah-khair for all your help, it will be greatly apprechiated.

Wa-salam-u-alikum
Your sister and well wisher in Islam

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Right way to pray

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The prayers were taught to the believers by the Messenger of Allah (saws); thus if anybody wants to please Allah, they must follow the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 31-32: Prophet, tell the people, “If you sincerely love Allah, follow me. Then Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, for He is All Forgiving, All Merciful.” Also say to them, “Obey Allah and His Messenger.” And if, in spite of this, they do not accept your invitation, warn them that Allah does not love those, who refuse to obey Him and His Messenger.

The truth is brother, there is nothing wrong with most of the arkaans of the prayers conducted by the Bohras. There are few things that the Bohras do extra in their prayers and their duas are much longer than that of the Messenger of Allah (saws), but these arkaans do not actually affect the sanctity of the prayers. All the arkaans that are obligatory are done properly, like intention, takbeer, qiyaam, rukuh, sujood, tashahoods and salaam.

The five ‘fard’ prayers have been made obligatory for every believer by Allah. It should be an honor for us as believers to pray to Allah, for the Prophet (saws) said, that when a believer prays, he is in the actual audience of the Lord of the Worlds. And the state of a believer should be one of two things:

He prays to Allah, as if He is actually seeing Allah.

(if he is not able to bring himself to this condition, let him at least be certain) That Allah is watching him!

Below is the prayers as conducted by the Prophet (saws) and his companions:

INTENTION AND TAKBIR

To make intention in your heart regarding the prayer you are about to make. Then raise your hands to your ears and say “Allah o Akbar” meaning Allah is the Greatest, signaling the start of Prayer.

QIYAM or Standing

Pray the Surah Al Fateha and any other aayahs from the Quran. (minimum 3 aayahs) These meanings can be learnt from the Quran Translation of the Surahs you want to pray.

RUKU or bowing

The Prophet (saws) used to say: “Subhan Allah il Adheem” Glory be to Allah, the Most Great. 3 times or more (but preferably in odd number formations, 3,5,7,9….)

STANDING UP FROM RUKU

The Prophet (saws) used to say: “Sameh Allah ho Leman Hameda” Allah listen to the one who is grateful for the bounties received by Allah.

The nobles companions in the congregation used to say: “Rabbana lakal hamd” O our Lord, we are grateful to you.

SAJDAH

The Prophet (saws) used to pray: “Subhana Rabb eil A’ala” Glory be to Allah, the Most High. (3 times or more in odd number formation 3,5,7,9…)

SITTING BETWEEN TWO SAJDAHS

(This can be used to invoke any prayer to Allah.)

Allah hum mag firli wale waale dayya, wal lil mu’minina, wal mu’minate, wal muslemeena, wal muslemaate, hayy min hum wala hum amwaat.

O Allah, forgive me, my parents, the true believing men, the true believing women, the believing men, the believing women, whether alive from amongst them, or they have died. (We beg You to forgive them all)

TASHAHUD

At tahiya tu lillahe was salawaato, wat tayyebato lillahe.

Every kind of salutes, all kinds of prayers, and all kinds of good and pure words and things, are for Allah Alone.

As Salaam alieka ya ayyo han nabi o, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

(Allah told the Prophet (saws) these words on the Night of Mairaaj in His audience): May Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon you, O Prophet (saws)

As Salaam o alayna wa a’la ibaa dallah hiss saleheen.

(The Prophet (saws) replied, as Allah Himself is the source of All Peace, and the Prophet (saws) could not possibly send Peace upon Allah): May Peace be upon me (saws), and the good, obedient or pious slaves of Allah.

Ash hado ann laa ilaha illahlah, wahdahu, laa sharika lahuu,

(The Prophet (saws) said to Allah in audience): I bear witness that there is no god, except Allah, Alone, He has no partners.

Wa ash hado anna Mohamed dan abdullahi wa Rasul Allah.

(And Allah replied): And I bear witness that (you, O) Mohamed, are the slave and Messenger of Allah

Allah humma salle a’la Mohamed din wa aa’le Mohamed, kama sallayta a’la Ibrahim wa ala aa’le Ibrahim

May Allah’s blessings be upon Mohamed (saws), and his ummah (or family or both), just like the blessing of Allah on Ibrahim and his ummah (or family or both)

Innaka Hameed un Majeed

For you are the All-Praiseworthy, the Glorious One.

Allah humma barik a’la Mohamed din wa aa’le Mohamed, kama barakta a’la Ibrahim wa ala aa’le Ibrahim

May Allah’s baraka be upon Mohamed (saws) and his ummah (or family or both) just like the baraka of Allah on Ibrahim and his ummah (or family or both)

Innaka Hameed un Majeed.

For you are the All-Praiseworthy, the Glorious One.

(Any Invocation to Allah)

Allah hum mag firli wale waaledayya war hum homa kama rabba yani saghira

O Allah, forgive me, and my parents, and have mercy upon them both, just as they had mercy on me when I was an infant.

SALAAMS:

As salaam o Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

May peace be upon you, and Allah’s Mercy and Blessings.

The above is a short and concise description of the prayers. If you have any further questions or need any clarifications whatsoever, you could write to us and we will try to answer them to the best of our abilities, in light of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

May Allah honor us and allow us to be grateful to Him and worship Him Alone.

And Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

May Allah guide you and us to read and understand the simple and plain words of the Glorious Quran. May Allah increase our knowledge from the Holy Quran. May Allah guide us to the Siraat al Mustaqeem.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan