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:

assalamualaikum ,

i have some type doubt about prayers which only can be cleared by questioning this is as follows:

my first request is that i want to know how Prophet (SAWS) used to pray.every single procedure of it because i am confused of some people pray differently saying i follow one of the four imams (hanifi,shafi,maliki,hanbilee).but i would like you to tell me every single procedure of prayer with the translation,transileratin of the duas said in every

single one .2)during the thashadud we raise our finger when we say "ashhadu al la ila ha illal allahu wa ashhadu anna abduhu wa rusulu,"we should tap our finger up and down or just point

just like this i have many doubts i want you even to send every dua even thashahdud

i hope you would answer if so

JAZAK ALLAH KHAIR

ALLAH HAFIZ

(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:

Full prayer of the Prophet (saws)

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever 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.

Your Question: i would like you to tell me every single procedure of prayer with the translation,transileratin of the duas said in every single one

My dear and beloved brother, there are absolutely no differences of opinion on the obligatory acts of prayer in any of the major schools of thought in Islam; the difference of opinion amongst the schools of thought are almost always on the very minor and optional acts in prayer like the holding of the hands or keeping it straight, making intention verbally or silently, or the pointing of the index finger in the tashahud, etc. But all the major schools of thought in Islam are absolutely unanimous on each and every obligatory act in prayer.

My dear and beloved brother, rest assured that the great scholars like Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Shafei, Imam Malik, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, etc. did not invent their own prayer, but they scrupulously strived to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws). Because the Prophet (saws) prayed several different supplications, and because according to the prevalent conditions (like injury, old age when he (saws) at times prayed the prayer in a sitting posture, etc.) the minor differences in the non-obligatory or optional acts arose amongst the scholars only because one of the Imams gave greater weight to one of the Prophet’s traditions over another. But all the scholars of all the major schools of thought are absolutely unanimous regarding all the obligatory acts of prayer. Thus brother, rest assured that regardless of which school of thought one gives preference to, the noble Imams did not invent their own form of prayers…but each and every one of them strove to scrupulously follow the authentic traditions of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Secondly brother, because the Prophet (saws) used to make several different supplications in his prayers, it would be almost impossible to relate each and every hadith with translation and transliteration in this answer for the sake of brevity. What we can do here is outline the basics and the obligatory acts of prayer as prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws) with its transliteration and translation:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. RUKU or bowing

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

4. STANDING UP FROM RUKU

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

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

5. SAJDAH

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

6. SITTING BETWEEN TWO SAJDAHS

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

At times the Prophet (saws) used to make this supplication: ‘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)

7. 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.

8. TASLEEM to signal the end of prayer.

After completion of the ‘tashahud’, the Prophet (saws) would end his prayer by first turning his face towards his right and then left by saying: ‘As Salaam-o-alaykum wa Rahmatullah’ meaning ‘May Peace be upon you and the Mercy of Allah’.

The above is a short and concise description of the prayers as prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws). 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), Insha Allah.

Your Question: during the thashadud we raise our finger when we say "ashhadu al la ila ha illal allahu wa ashhadu anna abduhu wa rusulu,"we should tap our finger up and down or just point
just like this

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.157

Ibn 'Umar reported that when the Prophet (saws) sat for the tashahud, he (saws) would place his left hand on his left knee and his right hand upon his right knee, and he would form a ring like (fifty-three) and point with his index finger. In another narration it is reported, "He would close his hand and point with his index finger." (Related by Muslim.)

Wa'il ibn Hajr reported that the Prophet (saws) would place his left palm on his left thigh and knee. He would place the end of his right elbow upon his right thigh and would then close his right hand, forming a circle. When reciting the ‘shahaadah’, he (saws) would make a circle with his middle finger and thumb and point with his index finger.

(Related by Ahmad.)

Reported az-Zubair, "When the Prophet (saws) sat for tashahud, he would place his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh. He would point with his middle finger, and would not look beyond his pointing."

(Related by Ahmad, Muslim and anNasa'i.)

In light of the above evidence from the authentic traditions of the Messenger of Allah (saws), the strongest evidence is that one should to raise and point one’s index finger when reciting the first part of the ‘Shahaadah’ during the recitation of tashahud in prayer.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan