Lesson No 50

PERMISSIBLE TIME

(Fifth pre-condition for Salat)

17. What do we mean by constraints on time for Salat?

Ans. An important prerequisite for Salat is that it must be performed on time. No Salat is valid before the commencement of time fixed for it. Salat performed after the permissible time is over will be considered as having been "deferred" (qada) and not "on time" (ada).

17. How many times in a day and night is Salat commanded?

Ans. Salat is commanded to be performed five times in a day and night. Apart from these, one Salat (Witr) is compulsory (Wajib).

17. What do we mean by Fard, Wajib, Masnun and Nafl Salats? How do they differ from one another?

Ans. Fard is a command supported by express injunctions in which there is no room for doubt. Any one refusing to accept it as such is an unbeliever (Kafir) and the one who neglects it is a transgressor (Fasiq) and merits punishment. "Wajib" is anything considered essential on the basis of inference. Anyone disbelieving it is not an unbeliever. Nevertheless, a person who neglects it without proper justification or excuse is a transgressor and merits punishment. "Masnun" or "Sunnah" is an act which the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) or his holy Companions did or ordained to do. 'Nafl' are acts, whose virtues have been established and confirmed by the Shariah. Doing these acts attracts reward from Allah but failure to do them earns no punishment. These acts are also known as Mustahab, Mandub and Tatav-vu.

17. How many types of Commands are there?

Ans. They are of two kinds: Fard 'Ain (command for each individual) and

Fard Kifayah (sufficing command). 

Fard 'Ain is binding on each and every individual of the community Anyone discarding it is a transgressor and a sinner. Fard Kifayah is an act that, if performed even by one individual or two, will absolve all others of the neighborhood of the obligation. If, however, no one performs it, all will be held answerable and quality.

17. How many kinds of Sunnah are there?

Ans. Sunnah is of two kinds:

Emphasized (Mu'ak-kadah), and un-emphasized (Ghair mu'ak-kadah).

The emphasized Sunnah is the act that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) ceaselessly practiced or ordered it to be practiced regularly. In other words it is an act which was never neglected without excuse. Giving up such an act without sufficient excuse is a sin. Cultivating a habit of neglecting such acts is a grave sin. The un-emphasized Sunnah is an act that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did frequently, but at times he gave it up also without excuse. Practicing these Masnun acts earns greater reward than the Mustahab acts, but it is no sin to miss them. These are also known as additional Sunnahs.

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