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Recite the Qur'an slowly in the course of prayers and observe other narrations of
the prayer at a slow pace with careful attention and devotion of heart and
mind. The practice of reciting the Qur'an and saying other words of the
prayer with understanding augments your fervour and the prayer then
attains the form of genuine worship.
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Observe prayers
regularly and don't ever miss any prayer. It is the basic attribute of
the believers to be regular and punctual in observing prayers :
Il-lal
muusalinalladhina hum 'ala salatihim da'imun.
" Save worshippers
who are constant at their worship".
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Along with regular
observance of obligatory prayers, you should offer supererogatory
worship and offer praises to God frequently.
The Holy Prophet ( Peace and
blessing of Allah be upon him) observed :
"Any man who offers
twelve Rak'ahs (supererogatory prayers) during a period of day and night
in addition to the five obligatory prayers., God ordains a dwelling to be
built for this man in Paradise." (
Muslim)
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Say your supererogatory prayers (Sunnan
and Nawafil) off and on in your homes also.
The Holy Prophet ( Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) has observed :
"Offer some supererogatory prayers at home after saying obligatory
prayers in the mosque. God shell bestow goodness in your homes as a reward
for these prayers." (Muslim)
The Holy Prophet ( Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him)
himself frequently offered Sunan and Nawafil at home.
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When you set out from
the house for dawn prayers, say this prayer:
Allahummaj'al fi qalbi nuran wa fi basri nuran wa fi sam'i nuran wa 'an
yamini nuran wa'an shimali nuran wamin wamin khalfi nuran wa min amami
nuran waj'al li nuran wa fi asabi nuran wa fi dami nuran wa fi shari
nuran wa fi lisani nuran eaj'al fi nafsi nuran wa a'zim li nuran
waj'alni nuran waj'al min fauqi nuran wa min tahti nuran Allahumma
a'tini nura. (Hisn Haien)
"O God ! Make Light
in mine heart, Light in mine eye, Light in mine ear, Light in my right,
Light in my left , Light above me, Light beneath me, Light before me,
Light behind me, and make thou for me Light. Light in my blood, Light in
sinews, Light in my flesh, Light in my soul and magnify for me Light
! O God bestow upon me Light !
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When you have finished
the performance of dawn and evening prayers, repeat the following prayer
seven times before engaging in conversation.
Allahumma ajirni minan nar.
" O God ! Protect me from the fire".
The Holy Prophet ( Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) has observed :
"After the dawn and evening prayers, repeat the following prayer seven
times before engaging in conversation. If perchance you die in the course
of that day or night, you shall certainly be saved from Hell".
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After each prayer,
repeat
Astaghfir ullah
three times and then say this
prayer :
Allahimma
ant-assalamu wa mink-as-aslamu tabarakta ya dhal-jalai wal-ikram.
(Muslim)
" O God ! Thou art the peace and from Thee is the peace, Blessed art
Thou, O Lord of Majesty and Glory."
Hadrat Thauban (God be
pleased with him) reports:
The Holy Prophet ( Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) used to
repeat
Astaghfir
Ullah
( I seek forgiveness form Allah) three times after finishing each
prayer and after wards said this prayer".
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Observe proper care in
keeping the lines straight for offering the prayer in congregation. Keep
the lines perfectly straight and stand shoulder to shoulder close to
each other, leaving no space in between. Do not form lines in the rear
unless the front lines are filled. On one occasion in a congregation for
prayer, a man was standing in line in such a manner that the position of
his chest was inclined forward. On seeing the man standing in this
fashion.
The Holy Prophet ( Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) warned:
" O people of God !you must stand in straight
lines in a proper manner else God shell cause you to stand in opposite
direction to each other " (
Muslim)
On one occasion, The Holy Prophet ( Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him)
observed :
"Any man who arranged the line in formation, God shall bestow
Grace in him ; and any man who causes disarray in the line, God shell
cause him to suffer chaos ". ( abu Dawud)
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The line of the children
must be formed behind the lines of men. Do not let the children stand wiht their elders. However, in the ' Iedgha, where
certain difficulties might be faced or where the possibility of the loss
of children exists, there is no need to send the children to form
lines in the rear. Make them stand with you. The lines of women should be
formed either at the farthest rear or separately if a separate enclosure
has been built in the mosque for women. Similarly, in the 'Iedgah make
separate arrangements for the congregation of women.
