Lesson No 56

Q. What are the constituents of Salat?

Ans. The things commanded in Salat are known as constituents (arakan) of Salat. Arakan is the plural form of rukn. Rukn means a command or obligation.

Q. How many commanded acts are in Salat?

Ans. Six things are commanded in it:

1. saying Takbir tahrima;
2. qiyam (standing)
3. qira?t (reciting the holy Qur-an)
4. ruku, (making a bow)
5. two Sijdahs (falling prostrate)
6. the last Qa’da (sitting) that is, sitting sufficiently long to enable one to say Tashah-hud. But the takbir tahrima is a precondition not a constituent of Salat.

Q. If the takbir tahrima is a precondition, why has it not been mentioned along with the seven preconditions of Salat?

Ans. Since there is no time intervening between the takbir tahrima and Salat and since it marks the beginning of the prayer, it was deemed proper to mention it along with the constituent parts of the Salat itself.

FORMULA OF FORBIDDING

(TAKBIR TAHR IMAH)

Q. What do we mean by Formula of Forbidding or Takbir tahrima?

Ans. We say:

Al-lahu Akbar while starting the Salat. This Takbir marks the beginning of the Salat. This Takbir marks the beginning of the prayer and all things violative of Salat become forbidden. Hence the name Takbir Tahrima.

Q. How is it if one says the takbir tahrima in the bowing position?

Ans. It is not allowed. The reason being that standing erect at the time of takbir tahrima for fard and wajib Salats (when there is no excuse for doing otherwise) is, a pre-condition for Salat.

STANDING (Qiyam)

(The first constituent of Salat)

Q. What does standing (Qiyam) mean?

Ans. Qiyam means to stand. It refers to standing erect in Salat so that the hands of the worshipper do not reach his knees.

Q. What should be the duration of Qiyam and in what prayers is it commanded?

Ans. It is obligatory to stand long enough in Fard and wajib Salats for one to complete the commanded amount of recitation from the Holy Qur-an.

Q. What should one do if he is too weak to stand erect?

Ans. If a person is not able to stand because of disease, wound, fear or some other compelling reason, it is permissible for him to say the fard and wajib Salats in the sitting posture.

Q. What is the status of Qiyam in a Nafl Salat?

Ans. It is not obligatory (fard) to stand erect (do the Qiyam)) in the Nafl prayer. It is permissible to say the Nafl Salat even in the sitting posture, but it halves the reward.

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