SALAH – A PILLAR OF ISLAM, PART 1

1. What is the value of Salah in the life of a Muslim?
Salah is the heart of religion and faith. It is recognized as the first and foremost duty of man. It is the mark of a Muslim.

2. Mention the merits of Salah as mentioned in various Hadith, quoted in this lesson?
Some of the merits of Salah as mentioned in various Hadith, are as follows:
      1. “The key to Paradise is Salah”
      2. “Indeed, the five daily prayers remove sins, just as water removes dirt”.

3. What happens when a Muslim offers his Salah perfectly? On whom is the Salah obligatory?
When a Muslim offers his Salah perfectly, his position rises in the sight of Allah and Allah forgives his sins. Salah is obligatory on every Muslim, both male and female.

4. Can an adult Muslim be ever exempted from offering Salah?
No, an adult Muslim can never be exempted from offering Salah. During specific occasions, women are exempted from offering Salah.

5. How does the Qur’an praise those who offer their Salah perfectly and remain constant in their prayers?
Those who offer their Salah perfectly and remain constant in their prayers are never impatient. They neither get irritated when any misfortune touches them nor they become niggardly when any good happens to them.

6. Which of all man’s actions will be first accounted on the Day of Resurrection?
Of all man’s actions, the first to be accounted on the Day of Resurrection will be the Salah.

7. What is a Muslim commanded to do if he is not able to use water because of illness?
If he is not able to use water for Wodhu because of illness, a Muslim is commanded to perform Tayammum.

8. What is the Tayammum? How is it performed?
Tayammum is dry ablution. The Muslim first arouses the Niyyah to perform his Tayammum in order to offer his Salah. He then touches the clean earth, or anything supposed to contain dust, blows off the excess dust from the hands, and passes them lightly over the face, and hands up till the elbows.

9. In what conditions is the Tayammum said to be nullified?
The Tayammum is nullified by the same cases that nullify the ablution. It is also annulled by the discovery of water and by one’s ability to use it for performing wodhu.

10. What do you understand by Salatul Musafir?
Salatul Musafir is a traveller’s Salah. A traveller is permitted to shorten his Salah while on a journey.

11. Describe the Traveller’s Salah in detail.
A traveller is permitted to shorten his Salah while on a journey. Instead of four Rak’ahs in Zuhr, Asr and Isha, a traveler is permitted to offer two Rak’ahs in Zuhr, Asr and Isha respectively. There is no shortening of Salah in Fajr and Maghrib. While in travel, performing Sunnah prayers is not necessary.

12. What should a traveler do if he offers his Salah behind a resident Imam? What is meant by resident Imam?
Resident Imam is a local Imam who is not travelling. If one offers his Salah behind such an Imam, one should offer all the Rakahs following that Imam. In this case, there would be no shortening of prayer.

13. What should one do if one is not able to offer Salah normally because of illness?
If a person is utterly unable to stand up due to weakness of if he feels giddy, he may offer his Salah sitting. If he cannot perform his Rokou and Sujud, he may offer them symbolically.