How do we perform namâz?

Question: I have recently begun to perform the namâz. Could you explain how to perform namâzes by exemplifying?
ANSWER
The sunnat of the morning prayer is performed as follows:

1- You turn towards the direction of the Qibla. The heels are kept a four-finger-width away from each other. Tips of thumbs touch earlobes, and palms are turned towards the Qibla. After saying “I intend to perform the sunnat of today’s morning prayer for the sake of Allah,” the right hand is put on the left hand under the navel saying Allahu akbar. It is also necessary for you to know that you have turned towards the Qibla at that time.

2- Keeping the eyes fixed on the place of the sajda [prostration], you recite the Subhânaka. After saying the A’ûdhu and the Basmala, you recite the Fâtiha and, without saying the Basmala, an additional sûra [a chapter of the Qur’ân al-karîm].

3- After reciting the additional sûra, you bend for the ruku’ [bowing by putting hands on the knees] saying Allahu akbar. In the ruku’, you open your fingers and put them on your knees (in a grasping manner). You keep your back and head level. You look at the feet and say Subhâna rabbiyal-‘azîm three times.

4- You straighten up from the ruku’ saying Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah. While straightening up, you must not pull up your trousers and must not withdraw your eyes from the place of the sajda. When you stand upright, you say Rabbanâ lakal hamd.

5- You stand for a while and kneel down for the sajda saying Allahu akbar. You say Subhâna rabbiyal-a’lâ three times in the sajda.

6- Afterwards, by saying Allahu akbar, you put your left foot flat on the ground with its toes pointing towards the right. The right foot should be upright with its toes touching the ground and pointing towards the Qibla. You sit on your thighs, place your palms on your knees and let your fingers free.

7- Saying Allahu akbar, you prostrate for the sajda again.

8- After saying Subhâna rabbiyal-a’lâ three times in the sajda, you stand up saying Allahu akbar.

9- While standing, you say the Basmala, the Fâtiha and an additional sûra. Then you bend down for the ruku’ saying Allahu akbar.

10- The second rak’at [units of namâz each of which comprises the actions of standing, bowing, and two times prostration] is completed in the same way as detailed for the first rak’at. However, after the second sajda, when you say Allahu akbar, you do not stand up but sit on your thighs. After reciting the prayers Attahiyyâtu, Allahumma salli, Allahumma bârik and Rabbanâ âtinâ, you make the salâm first to the right and second to the left by saying Assalâmu ‘alaikum wa rahmat-ullah. Following this, you say the certain prayer “Allahumma anta-s-salâm wa minkas-salâm tabârakta yâ dhal jalâli wa-l-ikrâm.”

Then you stand up and perform the fard [obligatory prayer] of the morning prayer without saying anything in between. The fard of the morning prayer is performed in the same way as explained for the sunnat of it.

After completing the namâz, you say the following prayer that reads “Astaghfirullah-al‘azîm alladhî lâ ilâha illâ huw-al-hayy-al-qayyûma wa atûbu ilayh” three times, then you recite the Âyat al-kursî and say Subhânallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar, 33 times each, and the prayer “Lâ ilâha il-l-Allahu wahdahû lâ sharîka lah lah-ul-mulku wa lah-ul-hamdu wa huwa ’alâ kulli shay’in qadîr” once. Afterwards, you make du’â [supplication].

After you perform the first two rak’ats as we have explained above, when you sit following the second rak’at of the sunnat namâzes that contain four rak’ats, you say only the “Attahiyyâtu” and stand up for the third rak’at. During the third and fourth rak’ats of the sunnat namâzes, you say the Fâtiha and an additional sûra. Then you make the ruku’ and sajda, and you sit. After reciting the prayers Attahiyyâtu, Allahumma salli, Allahumma bârik and Rabbanâ âtinâ, you complete the namâz by making the salâm first to the right and second to the left.

When you sit after the second rak’at of the four-rak’at fard namâzes, you only say the Attahiyyâtu and stand up for the third rak’at (you perform the first two rak’ats as we have explained above). However, you say only the Fâtiha during the third and fourth rak’ats, and you sit after making the rukus and sajdas. During the last sitting posture, you say the prayers Attahiyyâtu, Allahumma salli, Allahumma bârik, and Rabbanâ âtinâ and complete the namâz by saying the salâm first to the right and second to the left.

The fard of the evening prayer is as such. That is, the additional sûra is not said during the third rak’at.

In all three rak’ats of the namâz of witr, you say an additional sûra after saying the Fâtiha. After the additional sûra in the third rak’at, you raise your both hands up to your ears by saying the takbîr [Allahu akbar], and (after folding your hands) you say the prayers termed Qunût.

The initial sunnats of the late afternoon and night namâzes are like other four-rak’at sunnat namâzes. But when you sit after their second rak’ats, after reciting the Attahiyyâtu, the prayers Allahumma salli and Allahumma bârik are recited completely.

As for the namâzes of women, they do not raise their hands up to their ears as men do. They raise their both hands up to the level of their shoulders and make niyyat [intention]. Then they fold their hands on their breasts. While making ruku’, they do not keep their backs level. They lay their forearms on the floor in the sajda, and they sit on their buttocks during sitting postures.

Question: What does “making niyyat for namâz” mean?
ANSWER
Making niyyat [intention] for namâz means to pass through the heart its name, time, qibla, to wish to follow the imâm (when performing namâz in jamâ’at), or to become the imâm.

Question: When saying the first takbîr in namâz, are the hands raised up to the ears?
ANSWER
When beginning namâz, men raise both hands. Tips of thumbs touch earlobes. Palms are turned towards the Qibla. Saying Allahu akbar is begun as hands leave ears and finished as they are folded under navel. Though the namâz is not nullified if the hands are folded after saying Allahu akbar, it is better to do as we have explained.

Question: Will we have started a namâz when we say the takbîr or when we fold our hands?
ANSWER
The hands are of no importance; we will have started a namâz when we say the takbîr.

Question: Is it permissible to perform a namâz without a prayer rug?
ANSWER
Namâz can be performed at any clean place; a prayer rug is not a requirement. Namâz can be performed on the soil, on a rush mat, on a rug, or on any clean thing. In the event that one fails to find a place to perform namâz, it can even be performed in rooms which are entered without taking off the shoes but where there is no sign of najâsat.

Question: When does a rak’at commence and finish?
ANSWER
The first rak’at commences with the beginning of the namâz and the other rak’ats begin right after standing up, and each rak’at continues until one stands up again. The final rak’at continues until the salâm [saying “Assalâm-u ‘alaikum wa rahmat-ullah” at the end of a namâz] is said. No namâzes can be less than two rak’ats.

Question: What does the term zamm-i sûra [additional sûra] mean? What should the length of it be?
ANSWER
The additional sûra is a long or short sûra or three âyats [Qur’ânic verses] or one âyat that is equal to three âyats said after the recitation of the Fâtiha. When we consider the length of three âyats in terms of words, it must have ten words but when we consider it in terms of letters, it must have thirty [30] letters. (Radd-ul-Mukhtâr)
The Sûrat-un-Nâs has six âyats. Should the occasion arise, its three âyats can be recited in the first rak’at and the following three âyats can be recited in the second rak’at.

Question: When performing five daily namâzes, how many âyats should be recited in order for them to be in accordance with the sunnat?
ANSWER
It is sunnat to recite a total of 40, maximum fifty âyats at two rak’ats of the morning prayer.

What is sunnat in the early afternoon prayer is to recite less than those which were recited in the morning prayer.

The sunnat in the late afternoon and night prayers is to recite 20 âyats.

The sunnat in the evening prayer is to say a short sûra at each rak’at. Short sûras are the ones coming after the Sûrat-ul-Bayyina.

When conducting fard namâzes, it is makrûh tahrîmî for the imâm to say more âyats than above-mentioned ones. Even if the jamâ’at want him to do so, it is still makrûh. But if the jamâ’at want him to say less than those prescribed by the sunnat, it is permissible for the imâm to say less, but not permissible to say more. For instance, if travelers or people who have difficulty in keeping their ablutions say to the imâm who is to lead the prayer, “Conduct the prayer with the shortest sûra,” and if the imâm conducts so by reciting the sûras of Kawthar and Ikhlâs, it will be permissible, not makrûh. (Hindiyya)

Question: Is it permissible to perform namâz against an electric heater or gas flames?
ANSWER
It is permissible to perform namâz against any kind of stove, flames or light sources. However, it is not permissible to perform it against a fire.

Question: Does a person whose namâz has been nullified leave the namâz by making the salâm?
ANSWER
When a namâz is nullified, there is no need to make the salâm. Should the necessity arises to break the namâz while one is performing, then one breaks it by making the salâm. For example, if other people begin to perform the fard in jamâ’at in the presence of a person who is performing the same fard alone, he makes the salâm immediately and follows the jama’ât.

Question: When performing namâz, if my mobile phone rings melodiously, does it bring harm upon my namâz?
ANSWER
When a mobile rings, it does not nullify the namâz. But according to the statement in Ibni Âbidîn: “it is makrûh to perform namâz against things that distract your heart and prevent your khushû’ [deep and humble reverence], e.g. musical instruments.” Makrûhs lessen the blessings of the namâz. In some mosques, when loudspeakers are on, music may blare out. You must clear away things that prevent the performance of namâz in deep reverence.

Question: When performing namâz, which stance should we take?
ANSWER
You should enter His Presence with proper manners. As you begin namâz, it would be better to think as if the Bridge of Sirât were in front of you, to engrave in your heart that Hadrat Azrâîl [the angel of death] is ready to take away your soul at any moment, and also to bear in mind that maybe this is the last namâz of our lifetime.

Question: When we are making sajda, if our headgears come down to our foreheads, will it be makruh?
ANSWER
Yes. While touching the ground, the forehead must be bare.

Question: As I began namâz, I saw a picture on the table in front of me. Was it appropriate for me to break the namâz in order for the namâz not to become makrûh?
ANSWER
It is not permissible to break the namâz. Instead, one should take precautions against such things before beginning namâz.

Question: When performing namâz, if the lights go off or someone turns them off unknowingly, will our namâz be valid?
ANSWER
The namâz will be valid; it does not become makrûh. Yet it is makrûh to begin a namâz in pitch-dark without an excuse.

Question: Does it nullify a namâz to look at a person by turning our head or to motion to a particular thing with our hand by outstretching our arm in response to a person who has asked the place of it?
ANSWER
Few actions that do not nullify a namâz are termed amal-i qalîl, but actions that are so many as to nullify a namaz are termed amal-i kasîr.
When performing namâz, turning your head (face) around is amal-i qalîl and is thus makrûh. In the same way, to make a motion with your hand or arm in response to a person asking the place of a particular object is makrûh as it is amal-i qalîl. If you turn your chest away from the Qibla [the direction a Muslim turns when performing namâz, the direction pointing to Kâ’ba], your namâz becomes nullified as it is amal-i kasîr. (Marâqil-falâh)

Question: If I say to a friend while he is performing namâz such things: “Put your fallen headgear back with a single hand, it is not an inconvenience,” or “Make a little room to allow me to pass,” if he does what I have wanted him to do, is his namâz nullified?
ANSWER
To put a headgear back or to make room for a newcomer with someone else’s warning nullifies namâz. But your moving of your own will a little some time later does not nullify it.

Question: When performing namâz, the children make a lot of noise. Is it makrûh for me to raise my voice a bit while saying the takbîrs [saying Allahu akbar] to reduce them to silence?
ANSWER
It is not makrûh. However, you should not interfere in their noise as long as it is not so loud as to cause you to get confused during namâz.

Question: If one informs a person performing namâz saying, “You will go to there (for example) after completing the namâz,” will the informant have committed a sin?
ANSWER
The informant will not have committed a sin.

Question: While I was performing a fard namâz, a friend of mine asked me, “Are you performing the fard?” I nodded gently in aggreement. Was my namâz nullified?
ANSWER
It was not nullified.

Question: Is it makrûh for a man to perform namâz against the back of a sitting woman who is his wife or any of his mahram [one of the eighteen women whom Islam has prescribed as a man’s close relatives] relatives?
ANSWER
It is not makrûh.

Question: Is it permissible to perform namâz when there is a wallet made of the leather of a snake or a pig in our pocket?
ANSWER
The skin of a pig or a snake will never become clean even if it is tanned. Namâz cannot be performed with wallets made of such leather.

Question: When saying the salâm in namâz, should we also intend for angels and our Master, the Prophet (‘alaihissalâm)?
ANSWER
One who performs namâz individually should intend for the Angels of Haphaza when saying the salâm. It is also recommended for one to intend for our Prophet. However, he who performs namâz in jamâ’at should additionally intend for the imâm and for people on the right-hand side and left-hand side of him.

Question: In the sitting posture, does it produce thawâb to recite the prayer “Allahumma innî a’ûdhu bika min hamazâtish-shayâtîn” after reciting the “Rabbanâ âtinâ”?
ANSWER
Yes, it produces much thawâb.

Question: If one starts a namâz after searching for the Qibla, and after one has performed one rak’at, if pious a Muslim comes and turns that one to the direction of qibla with his hands by saying, ” You are in the wrong direction,” in this case, will the namâz be valid?
ANSWER
Yes, it will be valid.

Question: When standing in namâz, how much distance should one keep between one’s two feet?
ANSWER
When standing, the Hanafîs keep the heels a four-finger-width away from each other, but the Shâfi’îs keep them apart from each other a hand span wide.

Question: When performing the morning prayer, is it an inconvenince to recite the sûras from “Alam tara” to “Tabbat” in succession in the first rak’at and to recite the sûras coming after the “Tabbat” in the second rak’at?
ANSWER
Though it is permissible to say several successive sûras in one rak’at, it is best to say one sûra.

Question: When making qadâ [make up] of the fards of the late afternoon and night prayers, do we have to recite the prayers “Allahumma salli” and “Allahumma bârik” in the first sitting just as we recite them in the sunnats of those namâzes? Secondly, when making qadâ of the fard of the evening prayer, is it necessary to perform it as two rak’ats like its sunnat?
ANSWER
The qadâ of a fard prayer is made in exactly the same way as the adâ [performing namâz in its appointed time] of it is made. The qadâ of a fard prayer is not different from its adâ. Therefore, the qadâ of the evening prayer is performed as three rak’ats, not as two rak’ats. (Radd-ul mukhtâr)

Question: While I am performing namâz in my store, shoppers may come in at that time. Is it proper for me to break the namâz and deal with them? Or must I complete my namâz?
ANSWER
It is harâm [prohibited] to break a namâz if there is not a darûrat [strong necessity], so you have to complete your namâz. When shoppers see you performing namâz, they either wait or leave. You must not commit a sin to please a shopper.

Question: When performing namâz, is it permissible to make du’â [supplication] in the sajda [prostration]?
ANSWER
In namâz, it is not permissible to make du’â in the sajda. Yet it is permissible to make du’â in the sajda posture of certain supererogatory prayers. Besides, outside namâzes, it is also good to prostrate for the sajda and make du’â. It is stated in hadîth-i sharîfs:
(A born servant is nearest to his Lord when he is prostrating to Him, so make many du’âs in the sajda.) [Muslim]

(Strive for making du’â in the ruku’ and sajda. This du’â is worthy of being answered.) [Muslim]

(He who says “Rabbighfirlî” thrice in the sajda is forgiven before he straightens up from the sajda.) [Daylamî]

Question: When I hear the adhân of morning prayer called, I perform the namâz and then go to bed. But after I have gone to bed, I hear adhâns being called from other mosques. Is it necessary for me to re-perform the morning prayer?
ANSWER
The condition for the namâz to be performed is not the adhân’s being called but the time’s having started. If its due time has started, even if the adhân is not called, we say the adhân and perform the namâz. If we perform the namâz without saying the adhân, it will be valid. But we will be deprived of the thawâb of sunnat given for saying the adhân.

Question: Does it nullify the namâz to scratch any place on our skin by raising one hand three times within one rukn [recitation of an âyat, the ruku’, the two sajdas and sitting in the last rak’at are each a rukn]?
ANSWER
Three separate scratching occasions within one rukn nullify the namâz. Yet, if the hand moves 3-4 times on the same place within one scratching occasion, it does not nullify the namâz. (Radd-ul mukhtâr)

Question: If the phone rings, is it permissible to break a namâz?
ANSWER
It is not permissible; it is harâm.

Question: Is it permissible to give a quiet cough to make it known that one is performing namâz?
ANSWER
No.

Question: After reciting the Fâtiha, if one hangs the hands down along one’s sides by mistake, is it necessary for one to fold the hands when saying the additional sûra?
ANSWER
One must recite without folding the hands, and thereby abstain from extra movements. Anyway, if they are folded, the namâz will not be nullified.

Question: If one recites an additional sûra in the third and fourth rak’ats of a fard prayer, is the namâz nullified? Is it necessary to make qadâ of those namâzes which were performed so?
ANSWER
It is not an inconvenience at all to recite an additional sûra in the third and fourth rak’ats of a fard prayer. Therefore, it is not necessary to make qadâ of those namâzes that were performed so. (Radd-ul mukhtâr)

Question: When we have completed a namâz by making the salâm, is it permissible for us to stand up right away? Is it an inconvenience to recite the prayer “Allahumma anta-s-salâm …” not while one is sitting but while one is standing up?
ANSWER
After making the salâm, Our Master, the Prophet (‘alaihissalâm) would say “Allahumma antas-salâm wa minkas-salâm tabârakta yâ dhal’ jalâli wal’ikrâm” and sit no longer than it took him to say that prayer. (Tirmudhî)

Question: Is it necessary for a person who cannot wake up for the morning prayer to buy an alarm clock?
ANSWER
It is necessary to take an effectual precaution to wake up for the namâz. The easiest of these precautions is to buy an alarm clock.

Question: When making qadâ of the fards of the evening, night and morning prayers in the daytime, does a person perform the recitation loudly?
ANSWER
It is permissible to recite loudly.

Question: If one says the Basmala before the “Attahiyyâtu,” is it necessary to make the sajda-i sahw?
ANSWER
It is not necessary.

Question: I have the debt of fourty years’ qadâ namâzes. In order to finish them as soon as possible, if I do not recite the prayer “Rabbanâ âtinâ …” in the last sitting to save time, and instead, if I reserve that saved time for qadâ namâzes, will it be appropriate?
ANSWER
It is permissible because it is compulsory to pay the debt of qadâ namâzes at once. (Nawâdir-ul-fiqhiyya)

Question: Is the namâz of a person who has performed one more rak’at after reciting the Attahiyyâtu in the last sitting valid when making up for the mistake with sajda-i sahw?
ANSWER
Since one has sat in the last rak’at, the namâz is valid with the sajda-i sahw. Yet, if one had performed one more rak’at after that extra rak’at and had made the salâm, the last two rak’ats would have become supererogatory.

Question: While reciting in namâz, while saying sûras and other prayers in bed, or when making du’â and saying the Kalima-i tawhîd, is it appropriate to recite them through our heart by not opening our mouths?
ANSWER
Qirâat means reading by mouth. Reading as loud as to be heard only by the reader is termed “reading gently.” But reading as loud as to be heard by people who stand on each side of the reader is termed “reading loudly.” It is not makrûh if a person reciting gently is heard by one or two people. Reciting loudly means being heard by many people. (Bazzâziyya)

A namâz performed without reciting as loudly as to be heard by the reciter will not be valid. Likewise, when making du’â, you must recite or say on a level to be heard by yourself.

In order for Kalima-i tahlîl [Lâ ilâha ill-Allah] to bring the thawâb of an act of worship, you should say it with your toungue as loudly as to be heard by yourself. Those who perform khatm-i tahlîl [saying Lâ ilâha ill-Allah seventy thousand times] should say on a level at least to be heard by themselves. However, if the Kalima-i tahlîl is not said as an act of worship but to purify the heart, then you do not move your tongue. (Radd-ul-mukhtâr)

Question: After having performed the early afternoon prayer, I remembered that I had not had an ablution. Is it necessary for me to perform it again?
ANSWER
Yes, it is necessary to perform it again. A namâz performed without an ablution though one thinks one has had an ablution will not be valid. Yet one will be given much thawâb in return for one’s niyyat. If one finds some najs water and yet thinks it is clean and makes an ablution with it and performs namâz, one’s namâz will not be valid because one of its conditions has not been fulfilled; however, one will be given thawâb owing to one’s intention. On the other hand, a namâz that is valid because it has been performed with all its conditions fulfilled will not be given any thawâb if it has been performed for ostentation. (Ashbâh)

Question: What does the term “imsâk” that is written on calendars mean? Can we perform the morning prayer at that time?
ANSWER
Imsâk is the time at which the night ends and prohibition against eating and drinking starts. One must stop eating and drinking at the time of imsâk that is written on the calendar prepared and published by the daily Turkiye. In Turkey, 15 minutes after this imsâk time, one can perform the morning prayer. If people follow incorrect calendars and thereby continue eating and drinking until the adhân is called, then their putting the whole blame on the calendar does not absolve them from the responsibility.

Question: Is it permissible to begin as “Allahumma rabbanâ âtinâ …” instead of “Rabbanâ …”?
ANSWER
Yes, it is permissible, but it is better to begin as “Rabbanâ.”

Question: After reciting the prayers “Allahumma salli …” and “Allahumma barik …”, is it permissible to recite any other prayer?
ANSWER
It is permissible to recite the ones reported in hadîth-i sharîfs. It is permissible to recite such âyat-i karîmas that contain du’â as “Rabbanâ âtinâ …” and “Rabbanaghfir lî …” with an intention to make du’â.