Sunnah Actions
Lesson Eight
SUNNAH ACTIONS OF SALAAH
If any of these are missed unknowingly, neither does it invalidate the Namaz nor does Sajda Sahw become necessary. If these are left knowingly, the Namaaz is valid and there is no need for Sajda Sahw.
However, such a person is condemned, and it is very disliked to do so, and one should in an attempt to make his prayer more perfect, repeat the Prayer with the Sunnah.
1) Rasing the hands upto the ears for the Takbeer-e-tahreema.
2) The muqtadee (follower) to match his takbeer-e-tahreema with that of the imam.
3) Not to spread or close the fingers but to leave them in their natural position, except in the state of ruku as you have to hold the knees.
4) To put the right hand over the left hand under the navel.
5) To read the thana.
6) To read the ta’awwuz.
7) To read the tasmiya (Bismillah), in the beginning of every rakat before surah Fatiha.
8) To say ameen (for the individual, follower and the imam), after the recitation of Fatiha, ameen means ‘(Oh Allah) accept our prayer’.
9) The saying of tahmeed for the follower and the individual, the Beloved Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon Him) said: “when the imam says ‘Sami Allahuliman hamidah’, you should say ‘Rabbana lakal hamd’.
10) To read the thana, ta’awwuz, ameen and tahmeed all silently.
11) To be standing straight at the time of takbeer-e-tahreema till its completion and not to be bowing the head.
12) The imams takbeer-e-tahreema, tasmee’ (Sami Allahuliman hamidah) and salaam should be audible for the followers. As for the followers and an individual it is enough to say it silently, in such a way that one hears it himself
13) The feet should be about four fingers apart whilst standing.
14) To pray tasbeeh during the ruku’ and sajdah three times.
15) To put the hands on the knees and to spread out the fingers whilst in ruku.
16) The back should be flat during Ruku.
17) The head should be straight and level to the back.
18) To sit up between 2 sajdahs.
19) To put the knees first, then hands, then the nose, then the forehead on the ground when prostrating. The opposite applies when rising from the prostration.
20) To have the face between the 2 hands whilst prostrating.
21) For men: the abdomen should not touch the thighs, and the elbows should not touch the sides, and the arms should be raised from the ground.
22) To put the hands on the thighs whilst sitting (jalsa) between prostrations, and for tashahud (qaidah).
23) To keep the right foot upright, such that the toes face towards the ka’baa and to sit on the left foot during the jalsa and qaidah
24) To raise the right hands index finger during the tashahud, to raise it upon reciting “ laa ilaaha”, and to lower it when reciting “ illallah”.
25) To read the surah fatiha in the third and fourth fardh rakats
26) To pray durood-e-ibraheem in the last qaidah
27) To read the dua-e-masoora after durood ibraheem
28) To turn the head to the right and then to the left, whilst doing the 2 salaams to finish off the namaz
29) The imam should intend his salam to those who are behind him in congregation, the angels and the righteous amongst the jinn. The follower should intend his salam to the imam when he faces to the imams side, however if he is immediately behind the imam he should intend the 2 salams to the imam, the people, the guardian angels and the righteous jinn. The individual should intend his salam to the angels alone
30) The imam should lower the voice for the second salam
31) The masbooq (late comer) should wait for the imam to finish the second salam before he gets up, to ensure that the imam doesn’t perform sajdah-sahw
32) Making dua in Arabic after the namaz, starting and finishing the dua with Durood Shareef
33) After the fardh of zohr, maghrib and esha, dua is to be made short so one can stand up faster to perform the sunnah prayers.