Preliminaries to Prayer 1
According to the Qurʾān, there are ______ prayer times.
three
What is one major condition that should be observed regarding the place of prayer?
I should not be usurped.
Can we pray in outdoor public areas like parks?
Yes, according to Āyatullāh Sistani, we can pray in any non-enclosed land as long as there are no objections.
Are these actions validate or invalidate your prayers or are makrūh (disliked):
• Closing one’s eyes
• Fidgeting and playing with one’s hands
• Biting nails
• Praying when one has the urge to use the toilet
All these actions are makrūh (disliked or better to avoid) to do while praying.
What is one practical way to minimize distractions and prepare our minds and heart before ṣalāh?
Give ourselves some time before ṣalāh to clear our minds and focus our hearts.
We can remind ourselves of the favors that Allah (swt) has granted us and how impossible it would be to live our lives without blessings like our family, health, and security.
We can remind ourselves of the greater purpose of our lives, rather than being consumed by day-to-day tasks.
The best time to pray is the beginning time for each prayer which is about within an hour after the adhān. This is called the:
The faḍīlah time
Redha is getting ready to say his prayers in his room but upon entering, sees his sister praying. He finds some space behind her and starts performing his prayer. Is Redha's prayer valid?
Not valid. Redha should pray in front of his sister.
Can we pray in a way that blocks others in common passageways?
No, we should not obstruct others, such as on a sidewalk or common passage-way, while praying in public.
Does the following action or does not invalidates the salah: Forgetting both sajdahs of the same rakʿah
it will automatically invalidate one’s prayers.
What is khushūʿ in ṣalāh?
Khushūʿ is when a person's heart and thoughts are humble and focused on Allah (swt) during ṣalāh.
According to the narrations: a prayer is best accepted when _________
it is prayed on time.
What if the place is impure but dry?
Praying is permissible if the impurity doesn't touch the person's body or clothes.
Who should lead the congregational prayer and what are his qualities?
The prayer must be led by an imām al-jamāʿah (prayer leader) who is a sane adult, just, knowledgeable about prayer rules, from legitimate birth, and can recite Arabic correctly.
Does the following action or does not invalidates the salah:
Completely turning my face away from the qiblah?
It invalidates the salah
What is one practical way to minimize distractions and prepare our mind and heart before ṣalāh?
Giving ourselves some time before ṣalāh to clear our minds and focus our hearts.
Just before dawn, a vertical column of whiteness rises upwards from the East. This is called _______
the false dawn.
True or False:
The place of prostration must always be pure, regardless of its moisture level.
True
Can a female lead the prayer if some of the followers are female and some are male?
No, only if all the followers are female, a female can be the prayer leader.
1- I enter the masjid and see that the imām is in his first rakʿah, reciting the second sūrah. If I join the prayer, will that be considered my first rakʿah?
2- what if the imām is in rukūʿ. If I join now, would this be considered my first rakʿah?
1- yes
2- yes.
What do you think are some of the benefits of ṣalāh?
Some benefits of ṣalāh can include increased spirituality, a sense of peace and tranquility, improved focus and mindfulness, seeking forgiveness and repentance, strengthening the connection with Allah, and finding guidance and solace in times of difficulty.
True or False:
sunset (the disappearance of the disc of the sun) is the time for Maghrib prayers.
False
What materials should we avoid in the dress of prayer?
The dress of prayer should not be made from the leather/skin of predatory animals and the animals that are haram to eat or animals not slaughtered according to Islamic law.
How should the worshippers maintain their positions in the congregation?
The gaps between worshippers standing side by side or connected to the congregation should not exceed the length of one step.
Does the following action or does not invalidates the salah:
Wearing a shirt that is stolen
It invalidate the salah
What does ṣalāh prevent according to the Qurʾān?
It prevents indecencies and wrongs.
The prime time for praying Ẓuhr is on average about ________ after the adhān time.
90 minutes
With a bad phone/internet connection. What options do you have for finding the Qiblah?
- Using a special compass
- Asking locals for the general direction of the Qiblah in your local area.
- Using the sun since it rises in the East and sets in the West.
Does the following action or Does not invalidates the salah:
Sleeping for only five seconds in sajdah?
It invalidates the salah.
I joined in the 2nd rakʿah of ʿIshāʾ prayer. It is my ʿIshāʾ prayer. The imām is completing the fourth rakʿah with tashahhud and taslīm. Do I need to pray any more rakaʿāt? If so, how many?
If you joined the congregation during the second rakʿah of the ʿIshāʾ prayer, you should perform the remaining rakʿahs to complete your ʿIshāʾprayer. After the imām finishes the prayer and makes the taslīm, you should stay seated and then continue with your own prayer.
In this case, you would need to perform one more rakʿahs to complete the ʿIshāʾ prayer.
According to Imām Jaʿfar aṣ-Ṣādiq, what does ṣalāh do to our sins?
It clears out our sins, except for those that take us out of the faith.
If a person sleeps, forgets, or has another valid excuse for not praying Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ prayer before midnight, the time for these prayers extends to ________.
Fajer
What should we do if there is blood on our clothes from our own bodies?
If the blood is from our own body and the wound or sore has not healed, we can still pray. However, if possible, we should clean the wound and stop the bleeding before praying.
What should the followers do when the imām recites the sūrahs of the Qurʾān?
The followers should listen to the imām's recitation in prayers where the sūrahs are recited out loud (Maghrib, ʿIshāʾ, and Fajr prayers). If they cannot hear, it is recommended to whisper the sūrahs. In prayers where the sūrahs are recited in a whisper (Ẓuhr and ʿAsr prayers), the follower may remain silent or recite dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
Should the actions of the congregation precede those of the imām?
No, the actions of the congregation should be done in unison with or slightly after the actions of the imām.
How did the regular observance of ṣalāh lead to a positive change in the life of a young man during the time of the Prophet (ṣ)?
He repented for his sins and changed his lifestyle.