LESSON 1: The Pillars of Islam
Our 5th Imam-asws says: Islam was built on five pillars: the Salat, the Zakat, the Pilgrimage, the Soam (Fasting) and the Wilayah. Zrara asked: What is the most important among these five pillars? Imam-asws responded: Wilayah is the most important, because it is the soul and Allah-azwj’s ‘Wali’ (the Imams-asws) are the evidence of Wilayah on the people.[1]
Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws quoted the following Verse from the Quran in reply to a question about those who were following false imams, the ones which were not selected by Allah-azwj.
اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ (2:257)
Allah is the guardian and Wali of those who believe in Him and will bring them to the Light from the darkness. And those who disbelieve, their wali are Tagoot (Shiateen) who bring them out of Noor (Light) into darkness. These are inmates of the hell fire and therein shall they abide.
The narrator asked: Does Allah-azwj not refer to ‘Kafirs’ by Saying ‘Wallazina Kafaru’? Imam-asws replied, a kafir will not have any Noor while in the state of ‘Kufr’, which Allah-azwj will take away and shepherd him to darkness. On the contrary, Allah-azwj is addressing those who were believers and had the Noor of ‘Emaan’ but became ‘Kafir’ after following those who were Not His Divine representatives and, therefore, were cruel and usurpers (of the Haq of Masomeem-asws). And those who submit to Wilayah of these imams (non-Divine) will loose ‘Emaan’ and stay in hell forever.[2]
Imam Mohammed Baqir-asws and Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws talked about a person who belonged to one of the other Muslim sects but then repented and recognised the ‘True’ (Haq) Path and corrected his belief. Someone asked what would happen to his Salat, Soam, Zakaat and Hajj, which he had performed as per his previous beliefs. Does he need to repeat all those acts of worship? The Imams-asws replied: He will have to repay his Zakaat but there is no need to repeat the other acts of worship. This is due to the fact that he has paid his Zakaat to non-deserving ones whereas the real recipients of the Zakaat will be those who believe in our-asws Wilayah.[3]
LESSON 2: The Importance of Salat
When performing salat it is important to make sure the place of Salat is clean, that one has the permission to offer Salat there and is with Wuzu (Ablution).
It is narrated from Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws that Salat consist of three parts, one part is in cleanliness, one is in bowing down (Rakku) and one is in prostrations (Sajadah). [4]
The Rewards of Offering Salat:
(Amir-ul-Momaneen-asws says): If the performers of Salat were aware of Allah-azwj’s Mercy that covers them, they would never come to the end of Salat and would never raise their heads after going into prostration.[5]
Imam Abu Abd Allah-asws said: ‘When a person praying stands up for Salat , mercy from the horizons of the sky descend upon him as well as from the horizons of earth, angels surround him and one angel says, “Had this person known what Salat is he would not stop performing Salat.[6]
Do not Consider Salat insignificant:
Imam Abu Jafar-asws has said: ‘you must not consider your Salat insignificant; the Holy Prophet-saww said when he was about to leave this World, “Those who consider their Salat insignificant are not of my people, they will not be able to come to me at the pond of Al-Kawthar, certainly not.[7]
The Obligatory Salat:
A person once asked Imam Abu Ja’far-asws (5th Imam-asws) about how much of Salat Allah-azwj, has made obligatory. The Imam-asws said, ‘During one day and night five Salat (prayers) are made obligatory.[8]
LESSON 3: Wuzu
The Rewards for Wuzu (Ablution)
The Messenger of Allah-saww said: ‘When a servant washes his face during ablution, the sins of his face fall away. And when he washes his hands to the elbows, the sins of his hands fall away. And when he wipes his head, the sins of his head fall away. And when he wipes his feet, the sins of his feet fall away.
And, if he says at the beginning of the ablution, “In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful”, all his body parts get purified from sins’. And if he says at the end of the ablution “Glory be to You-azwj, our Lord-azwj and Praise be to You-azwj. I bear witness that there is no god except for You-azwj, I seek forgiveness from You-azwj and repent to You-azwj. And I bear witness that Prophet Mohammed-saww is Your-azwj Servant and Your-azwj Messenger-saww. And I bear witness that Imam Ali-asws is a Guardian from You-azwj, and Your-azwj Caliph after Your-azwj Prophet-saww to Your-azwj Caliphate. And their-asws friends and Trustees are Your-azwj Caliphs”, all his sins shed off like the shedding of the leaves from a tree, and Allah-azwj Creates from every drop of the water used by him in his ablution and his washing, Angels who glorify Allah-azwj and extol His-azwj Holiness and Greatness, and send salutations on Prophet Mohammed-saww and his-saww goodly Progeny-asws, and the rewards of that are for this performer of the ablution.[9]
How to Perform Wuzu:
Once Imam Abu Jafar-asws (Imam Mohammed Baqir-asws) asked his companions, Shall I show you how Prophet Mohammed-saww used to Perform Ablutions? Upon their request (which was yes, please), a big bowl containing little water was brought and presented to the Imam-asws. The Imam-asws then folded his-asws sleeves and took a handful of water in his-asws right hand and said: ‘remember! Only take water like this if your hands are clean (‘Tahir’)’. Then Imam-asws poured it onto his-asws forehead while reciting ‘Bismillah’ and spread that water around his-asws beard and wiped his-asws hand in the open area between the face and the forehead. Then Imam-asws took water in his-asws left hand and poured water onto his-asws right elbow and wiped it down with his-asws hand so that water dropped out around the fingers of the Imam-asws. The Imam-asws then took out some water using his right hand and poured onto his left elbow and wiped it with his-asws right hand so that water dropped out around his-asws fingers. This was followed by wiping the front of his-asws head (from top to the end of hair line, upto forehead) with his-asws right hand and then used both hands to wipe the surfaces of both feet using right hand for his-asws right foot and left land for the left foot. [10]
Use Very Little Water in Wuzu:
It is referred from Imam Abul Hassan Musa bin Jafar-asws (our 7th Imam) that one ‘mud’ (which is 750ml) of water is sufficient for performing ablutions. And Rasool Allah-saww , in another Hadith, said, ‘there will be people among my followers, soon after me, who will consider this quantity of water too small and will act against my practices but those, who will follow to my practices, will be with me in the Paradise.’[11]
It is also narrated from the Imam-asws that the method of Ablutions is also tested by Allah-azwj, in order to see who obeys and who chooses not to. And nothing will impure (make Najis) a true believer (Momin), that’s why he or she just needs little bit of water (for Ablutions).[12]
LESSON 4: Performing Salat
The Recitation in Salat
The narrator of the Hadith says:
“Abu’ Abd Allah-asws (our 6th Imam-asws) one day said: O Hammad. Stand up and perform Salat.’ The narrator has said, ‘I then stood up in his-asws presence, facing the direction of Qiblah (Makkah). I began performing Salat, with Ruku’ and Sajdah.’ Imam-asws then said, “O Hammad, you do not know how to perform Salat properly. It is a shame for a man of your people who at the age of sixty or seventy cannot even perform one Salat according to its complete rules and manners.’
Hammad has said, ‘I thought little of myself very much at this point. I then asked the Imam-asws saying, “I pray to Allah-azwj to keep my soul in service for your cause teach me how to perform Salat properly.’
Abu ‘Abd Allah-asws stood up straight facing the direction of Qiblah. The Imam-asws allowed his hands to rest on his thighs, with his fingers close side by side, kept his feet near each other, only leaving between them a distance of three fingers opened up, with his toes facing the direction of Qiblah without allowing them to move away from this direction and with humbleness the Imam said, ‘اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ’ (Allah ho Akbar – Allah-azwj is Great beyond description).’
The Imam-asws then recited Al-Hamd (the first Chapter of the Holy Quran) with clarity and fluency and Chapter 112 of the Holy Quran. The Imam-asws then paused for a breath while still standing and raised his hands up to the sides of his face and said, ‘Allah is Great,’ while still.
He-asws then bent down for Ruku’, which is when the Imam-asws placed his palms over his knees allowing them to be filled up with his knees that were separate from each other, and pressed them backward until his back became so straight level that even had there been a drop of water or oil it would not flow to any side. He stretched his neck forward, lowered his eyes and then said with clarity and fluency three times, ‘سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ’’ ‘I praise my Allah, the Great, Who is free of all imperfections.’ The Imam-asws then stood up straight. While standing straight the Imam-asws said, ‘سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ’’ ‘Allah hears all those who praise Him.’ He-asws then while standing raised his hands up to the sides of his face and said, ‘اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ’.’
Then the Imam-asws bowed down for sajdah. He-asws opened his palms with his fingers close side by side, placing them near his knees on the sides next to his face and said,
‘سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى وَ بِحَمْدِهِ’ ‘I praise my Allah, the most High who is free of all imperfections,’ three times. He performed sajdah on eight parts of his-asws bones: his palms (2), knees (2), big toes of his feet (2), his forehead (1) and his nose (1). The Imam-asws said, ‘Placing seven parts of these bones on the ground is obligatory during sajdah but one of them (the nose) is not obligatory. This is what Allah-azwj has spoken of in the Quran, “The parts of the body to be placed on the ground during sajdah belong to Allah, you then must not worship anyone other than Allah” (72: 17). Such parts are the forehead, palms, knees and big toes of the feet. Placing one’s nose on the ground is optional.’
The Imam-asws then raised his head from sajdah. When he sat up straight, the Imam-asws then said, اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ.’ He-asws then sat on his left thigh placing the back of his right foot over the sole of his left foot and then said, ‘أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ’’ ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah-azwj, my Allah-azwj and turn to Him in repentance.’ He-asws then said, اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ.’ Then he bowed down for the second sajdah, saying exactly what he-asws said in the first sajdah.
The Imam-asws did not place any other part of his body on any other part during Ruku’ or sajdah. He-asws spread his elbows and did not place his-asws arms on the ground. In this way, the Imam-asws performed two Rak’ats of Salat. He-asws kept the fingers of his hands close side by side when reciting Tashud[13] in a sitting position. When the Imam-asws finished saying the Tashud, he-asws then read Salam and said, ‘O Hammad, you must perform Salat like this.’
Quran Recitation in Salat
Someone once wrote to Imam Abu Ja’far-asws and asked: ‘I pray to Allah-azwj to keep my soul in service for your cause, what do you say about a man who says “In the name of Allah, most Beneficent, most Merciful” in the beginning of ‘Umm al-Kitab, (Al-hammd) when performing Salat alone? He replied that after completing ‘Umm al-Kitab with “In the name of Allah, most Beneficent, most Merciful”, he does not say it again before the next chapter he recites (another surah from the Quran)[14]
Do Not Say ‘Amen’ in Congregational Salat at the End of Al-Hamd
‘Abu ‘Abd Allah-asws has said, ‘If you are behind an Imam when he completes reading al-Hamd you say, ‘all praise belongs to Allah, Cherisher of the worlds,’ and do not say ‘Amen.’
The Best Verses of the Quran to be Recited in Salat
(The narrator of the Hadith says) ‘I said to Imam Abu AI-Hassan-asws ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, you have written to Mohammed ibn al-Faraj telling him that the most excellent recitation in compulsory Salat are Inna Anzanna and Qul ho Walla ho Ahhad (chapters 97 and 112 of the Holy Quran). I feel uneasy reciting them in the morning Salat.’ The Imam-asws said, ‘You should not feel uneasy in reciting them, by Allah-azwj, excellence is in reciting these two chapters.’[15]
Reciting Bismillah Loudly in Salat when Sura is Recited Quietly
A person performed Salat for many days in congregation led by Imam Abu ‘Abd Allah-asws and in Salat which is not recited loudly, he would read Bismillah, (in the name of Allah, most Beneficent, most Merciful) aloud in both Surah (chapters).[16]’
They once asked the Imam-asws about one who does not read al-Fatihah in his Salat. The Imam-asws replied, ‘His Salat is not valid.[17]
Ruku and Recitation
“Imam Abu Ja’far-asws has said, ‘When you want to kneel for Ruku’ say, اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ‘Allah is Great’, then assume Ruku’ position and say three times, سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ ‘ ‘My Allah-azwj, the Great, is free of all imperfections and I praise Him-azwj,’ with clarity and fluency. In Ruku’ position you should level up your feet with a distance of one shibr (6-8 inches) between them, place your palms over your knees, first your right palm on the right knee, and then the left palm over your left knee. Open your fingers and make them hold the sides of your knees, keep your back straight, stretch your neck forward and keep your eyes to look between your feet.
Then, while standing straight, say, ‘سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ’ …..’Allah Hears all who Praise Him-azwj. All Praise Belongs to Allah-azwj, God of the worlds, the owner of Might and Majesty. Greatness belongs to Allah-azwj, God of the worlds,’ raise your voice when saying this, then raise your hands for saying ‘Allah is Great’ and then bow down for sajdah.’[18]
The back should be straight during Ruku:
Imam ‘Abu ‘Abd Allah-asws has said ‘ the Amir al-Mu’minin-asws has said, ‘One who does not straighten his back during Salat, his Salat is not valid.’[19]
Sajdah and Recitation
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِذَا سَجَدْتَ فَكَبِّرْ وَ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ وَ بِكَ آمَنْتُ وَ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَ عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَ أَنْتَ رَبِّي سَجَدَ وَجْهِي لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَ شَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَ بَصَرَهُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ ثُمَّ قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى وَ بِحَمْدِهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَإِذَا رَفَعْتَ رَأْسَكَ فَقُلْ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ ارْحَمْنِي وَ أَجِرْنِي وَ ادْفَعْ عَنِّي إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ .
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, who from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from al-Halabiy who has said the following:
‘Abu’ Abd Allah-asws has said that when you bow down for sajdah say, ‘Allah is Great,’ then say, ‘O Allah, I have bowed down to prostrate before You, I believe in You-azwj, submitted myself to You-azwj, have appealed to You-azwj to be my attorney and You-azwj are my Allah. My face has prostrated before the One-azwj who has created it, who has cut out for it a hearing means and a seeing means (the ears and eyes). All praise belongs to Allah-azwj, the God of the worlds. Allah-azwj is most Blessed and the best Creator.’ Then say, سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى وَ بِحَمْدِهِ (‘My Allah, the most High, is free of all imperfections,)’ three times. (Then raise your head and) while sitting straight between the two prostrations, say,
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ ارْحَمْنِي وَ أَجِرْنِي وَ ادْفَعْ عَنِّي إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
‘O Allah, Forgive me, Grant me mercy, Grant me protection, and Defend me against my enemies. I am in great need of the good that You-azwj have sent to me. Blessed is Allah-azwj, God of the worlds.’[20]
Sajdah of Thanksgiving
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْقَاسَانِيِّ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ حَفْصٍ الْمَرْوَزِيِّ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) فِي سَجْدَةِ الشُّكْرِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ شُكْراً شُكْراً وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ عَفْواً عَفْواً .
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ali ibn Mohammed al-Qasaniy from Sulay¬man ibn llafs al-Marwaziy who has said the following:
A person wrote to abu aI-Hassan Imam Musa ibn Ja’far-asws about prostration for thanksgiving. The Imam-asws wrote back to them. ‘It is one hundred times شُكْراً شُكْراً ‘Shukran’ (O Allah, I thank You-azwj), or if you like, say عَفْواً عَفْواً ‘Afwan’ (O Allah, I beg forgiveness from You-azwj) one hundred times.[21]
The place of Sajdah
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) لَا تَسْجُدْ إِلَّا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ أَوْ مَا أَنْبَتَتِ الْأَرْضُ إِلَّا الْقُطْنَ وَ الْكَتَّانَ .
Mohammed ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Mohammed ibn ‘lsa from Mohammed ibn Khalid and al-Hussain ibn Sa’id from al-Qasim ibn ‘Urwah from abu al-‘Abbas al-Fadl ibn “Abd al-Malik who has said the following:
‘Abu ‘Abd Allah-asws has said, ‘You must not perform Sajdah on anything except for earth or on what grows from earth except for cotton and linen.’[22]
Placing the Forehead on the Ground
Imam Abu Jafar-asws said: ‘The entire forehead, from the hairline to the eyebrows is for Sajdah, even if the part of this area that goes on the ground is the size of a dirham or is the size of a finger’s tip, then that area is sufficient.’[23]
[1] الكافي ج : 2 ص : 19, H. 5
)علي بن ابراهيم، عن أبيه وعبد الله بن الصلت جميعا، عن حماد بن عيسى، عن حريز بن عبد الله، عن زرارة، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام) قال: بني الاسلام على خمسة أشياء: على الصلاة والزكاة والحج والصوم والولاية، قال زرارة: فقلت: وأي شئ من ذلك أفضل؟ فقال: الولاية أفضل، لانها مفتاحهن والوالي هو الدليل عليهن.(
[2] Al-Qatara, vol. 2, pp. 78, Alkafi, vol. 1, tradition 3, Bihar vol 23, page 323, tradition 8.
[3] عللالشرائع ج : 2 ص : 374
[4] Mulayahzarulfaqih,vol 1-66
[5] http://hubeali.com/images/newimg/Mola-Ali-asws-400-Ahadith.pdf الخصال ج : 2 ص : 611
[6] الكافي ج : 3 ص : 265, H. 4.
[7] Ibid
[8] Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Chapt. On Salat.
[9] Tafseer Imam Hassan Askariasws, H. 319
[10] Mulayahzarulfaqih,vol 1-74[10]
[11] Mulayahzarulfaqih,vol 1-69,70
[12] Mulayahzarulfaqih,vol 1-78
[13] Giving Testimonies.
[14] Skipping Bismillah before reciting 2nd Verse from Quran.
[15] Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Chapt. On Salat, H. 4971 (h. 19)
[16] Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Chapt. On Salat, H. 20
[17] Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Chapt. On Salat, H. 28
[18] Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Chapt. On Salat, H. 1
[19] Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Chapt. On Salat, H. 4992 (h, 4)
[20] Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Chapt. On Salat, H. 4998 (h, 1)
[21] Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Chapt. On Salat, H. 5015 (h, 18)
[22] Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Chapt. On Salat, H. 5029 (h, 1)
[23] Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Chapt. On Salat, H. 5043 (h, 1)