1. What is the value of Salah in the life of a Muslim?
Salah is central to Islam. It is the core of all piety. It was the last bequest of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Performing Prayers at their fixed times is obligatory upon the believers. Whoever neglects it, commits the gravest omission of all.
2. Describe the daily obligatory prayers.
Islam has laid down Five daily prayers as obligatory for every adult men and women; between dawn and sunrise (Fajr), shortly after the sun passes its zenith (Zuhr), in the middle of the afternoon (Asr), immediately after the sunset (Maghrib), and after the night has fully set in (Isha).
3. What is the effect of Salah on human life?
Prayers develops humility, an awareness of Allah’s Presence and Mercy, and willingness to submit to His Will. It develops an ability to avoid undue immersion in the affairs of the world. It takes a person away from evil and wickedness.
4. What is the Tahajjud? Why is it so called?
The word ‘Tahajjud’ literally meansd ‘giving up of sleep’. It is so called because it is offered after one has had some sleep, and sleep is then given up for the sake of Salah.
5. What was the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding the Qiyam al-Layl?
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pass half or even two-thirds of the night in prayers. He would go to sleep after the Isha prayer, and then he generally woke up after midnight and passed almost all this latter half of the night in Tahajjud prayers, sometimes taking a short nap just before Fajr prayer.
6. Mention the merits of the Qiyam al-Layl as mentioned in various Hadith, quoted in this lesson.
“The best Salah after the five prescribed, is the Qiyam al-Layl”.
“If a man gets up at night and rouses his wife, and they both perform two Ra’kahs of Salah, they are recorded among the men and women who remember Allah very often”.
“Each night, when the last third of it is yet to pass, our Lord Blessed and Supreme – descends to the lowermost heaven and He says: “who is calling unto Me, that I may answer Him? Who is asking of Me, that I may grant him that which he asks? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?”
7. What is the best time to offer the Tahajjud prayer?
The test time to offer the Tahajjud prayer is the last third of the night.
8. How many Ra’kahs should one offer in Tahajjud prayer?
There are no fixed Ra’kahs for Tahajjud prayer. Its minimum is two Ta’kahs. One may, however, offer more Ra’kahs, in multiples of two, according to one’s convenience and circumstances.
9. Is the Tahajjud Prayers obligatory?
The Tahajjud prayers are not obligatory. They are voluntary in nature.
