Etiquette, Recommendations and Best Time For Tahajjud

While browsing the web I happened to see a very good post on an Islamic discussion board. It was a long one that I’m going to Summarize here:

Etiquette of Prayer:

1- Upon going to sleep, one should make the intention to perform the Prayers. Abu Ad-Darda’ quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying:

“Whoever goes to his bed with the intention of getting up and praying during the night, but, being overcome by sleep, fails to do that, he will have recorded for him what he has intended, and his sleep will be reckoned as a charity (an act of mercy) for him from his Lord.”

(An-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah)

2- On waking up, it is recommended that one wipes the face, use a toothbrush, and look to the sky and make the supplication which has been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Abu Hudhaifa reported:

“Whenever the Prophet intended to go to bed, he would recite: (With Your name, O Allah, I die and I live).” And when he woke up from his sleep, he would say: (All the Praises are for Allah Who has made us alive after He made us die (sleep) and unto Him is the Resurrection.)”

(Al-Bukhari)

3- One should begin with two quick rak`ahs and then one may pray whatever one wishes after that. `A’ishah said:

“When the Prophet prayed during the late-night, he would begin his Prayers with two quick rak`ahs.”

(Muslim)

4- It is recommended that one wakes up one’s family, for Abu Hurairah quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying:

“May Allah bless the man who gets up during the night to pray and wakes up his wife and who, if she refuses to get up, sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah bless the woman who gets up during the night to pray and wakes up her husband and who, if he refuses, sprinkles water on his face.”

(Ahmad)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said:

“If a man wakes his wife and prays during the night or they pray two rak`ahs together, they will be recorded among those (men and women) who (constantly) make remembrance of Allah.”

(Abu Dawud.)

5- If one gets sleepy while performing Tahajjud, one should sleep. This is based on the hadith narrated by `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who quoted Allah’s Messenger as saying:

“When one of you gets up during the night for Prayer and his Qur’anic recital gets mixed up to the extent that he does not know what he says, he should lie down.”

(Muslim.)

Recommended Time for Tahajjud:

Tahajjud may be performed in the early part of the night, the middle part of the night, or the latter part of the night, but after the obligatory `Isha’ Prayer (night Prayer).

While describing the Prophet’s way of performing Prayer, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“If we wanted to see him praying during the night, we could see him praying. If we wanted to see him sleeping during the night, we could see him sleeping. And sometimes he would fast for so many days that we thought he would not leave fasting throughout that month. And sometimes he would not fast (for so many days) that we thought he would not fast during that month.”

(Al-Bukhari, Ahmad and An-Nasa’i.)

Commenting on this subject, Ibn Hajar says:

“There was no specific time in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would perform his late night Prayer; but he used to do whatever was easiest for him.”

Best Time for Tahajjud:

It is best to delay this Prayer to the last third portion of the night. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) quoted the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying:

“Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring: ‘Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?’”

(Al-Bukhari)

`Amr ibn `Absah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:

“The closest that a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latter portion of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allah the Exalted One at that time, then do so.”

(At-Tirmidhi)

Fard, Sunnah, Mustahabbat and Makruhat in Wudu

The compulsory actions or Fard in Wudu (Ablution) are as follows:

1. Washing the face from hair of the forehead to the lower portion of the chin; and across from one ear to the other
2. Washing both hands and arms upto the elbows
3. Performing the Masa’h (wiping with wet hands, one fourth of one’s head)
4. Washing both the feet upto the ankles

There are total 13 Sunnah actions in Ablution. These are:

1. Saying the Intention (Niyyah)
2. Reciting ‘Bismillah’
3. Washing the hands, three times, upto the wrists
4. Brushing teeth with a tooth-stick (Miswak)
5. Rinsing the mouth, thrice
6. Sniffing water into the nostrils, thrice,
7. Combing (doing Khilal) the beard with the fingers
8. Passing fingers of both hands, against each other, and also passing them through the toes (Khilal of fingers and toes)
9. Washing, each limb, three times
10. Performing the Masa’h once over the whole head
11. Performing the Masa’h of the two ear
12. Performing Ablution (Wudu) in proper order
13. Washing each part, one after the other, without pause, to ensure that no part dries up before the next step. (see topics on Mas’ha on Socks)

In addition to Fard and Sunnah there are some other desirable actions (Mustahabbat) in Wudu. These are:

1. To begin Ablution (Wudu) from the right side Some scholars regard this among the Masnun (Sunnah) acts. This is quite likely.
2. Performing ‘Masa’h’ of the nape.
3. Performing Ablution all by himself, without taking other’s help.
4. Facing Qiblah.
5. Performing Ablution while sitting at a clean and elevated place.

Some things that are not considered as desirable in Wudu are known as Makruhat. These are:

1. Performing Ablution at a dirty place
2. Blowing one’s nose with the right hand
3. Talking worldly affairs while performing Ablution
4. Performing Ablution in a manner contrary to Sunnah

Classification of Hadith

I found this image while searching for title and thought it worth sharing. Here it goes!

To see the full size image click here

Anticipating A Happy Weekend

I know it happens to most of the people, but in my case I think I can’t skip. Whenever I plan to have a good weekend, something just happens that I can’t do so. And that’s why I’m quite annoyed as well, as it’s going to be a weekend again. Let’s see if I can have just two holidays in my life, that I can enjoy fully! Well, I was just trying to find what I can enjoy with in order to have a good weekend, and just thought why not to have some fun with Motoracer if I don’t gt chance for outing!

Some people, who know me a little will probably be amazed to see me talking about computer games, but I really do enjoy these, especially racing thing, and m’ really fond of Motoracer, 🙂 I first time played it an year back when there was some problem with my internet connection and I had nothing to do. I then found a set of Motorcycle DVDs my brother brought, and since then I’m a great fane of it!

Well, m’ not sure if I can have a short time free a weekend even but hope to enjoy little things for sure!

The Right Way To Cut Your Nails

I daily receive many forwarded emails and forward some of those as well but some mails leave deep prints. These either contain some serious issue or a good message. Today I received one such that falls in the last discussed category, so just sharing it! Here it goes: