Part 7

I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the slave and Messenger of Allaah).” [Other versions are mentioned in Sifat Salaat al-Nabi/The Prophet’s Prayer Described, but what is mentioned here is the most sound]. Sending salaams upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): this is what was prescribed after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and is narrated in the Tashahhud of Ibn Mas’ood, ‘Aa’ishah and Ibn alZubayr (may Allah be pleased with them). For more details see Sifat Salaat al-Nabi, p. 161, Maktabat al-Ma’aarif, Riyadh, edition/ The Prophet’s Prayer Described, p. 67). 145After that, he should send prayers upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), by saying: “Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama salayta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed. Allaahumma baarik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innak hameedun majeed (O Allaah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibraaheem and upon the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. O Allaah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibraaheem and upon the family of Ibraaheem); You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory).” 146If you wish you may shorten it and say: “Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, wa baarik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, kama salayta wa baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka haamedun majeed (O Allaah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers and blessings upon Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory).” 147Then in this Tashahhud he may choose any of the du’aa’s that he likes of those that have been narrated, and call upon Allaah using these words. The third and fourth rak’ahs 148Then he says takbeer – which is obligatory. The Sunnah is to say takbeer whilst still sitting. 149He should raise his hands sometimes. 150Then he should stand up for the third rak’ah, which is an essential part of prayer, as is the following rak’ah. 151He should do likewise if he wants to get up for the fourth rak’ah. 152But before he gets up, he should sit up straight, by adjusting his left leg, until every bone returns to its place. 153Then he should get up, supporting himself on his hands, as he did when getting up for the second rak’ah. 154Then in the third and fourth rak’ahs, he should recite al-Faatihah. This is obligatory. 155He may add an aayah or more to that occasionally. Reciting Al-Qunoot when calamity strikes 156It is Sunnah to recite Qunoot and pray for the Muslims when any disaster befalls them. 157Qunoot should be recited after standing up from rukoo’ and saying “Rabbunaa wa laka’l-hamd(Our Lord, to You be praise).” 158There is no specific du’aa’ to be recited regularly in Qunoot, rather one should recite whatever is appropriate when disaster strikes. 159He should raise his hands when reciting this du’aa’ 160He should recite it aloud if he is acting an imaam. 161Those who are praying behind him should say “Ameen” to this du’aa’. 162When he has finished, he should say takbeer and prostrate. Qunoot al-Wit – when it is to be recited, and what wording it should have 163Qunoot in Witr is prescribed occasionally. 164It should be recited before rukoo’, unlike qunoot recited at times of calamity. 165He should recite the following words: “Allaahumma ihdini feeman hadayta, wa ‘aafini feeman ‘aafayta, wa tawallani feeman tawallayta, wa baarik li feema a’tayta, wa qini sharra ma qadayta, fa innaka taqdi wa laa yuqdaa ‘alayk, wa innahu laa yadhillu man walayta, wa laa ya’izzu man ‘aadayta, tabaarakta rabbana wa ta’aalayta, wa laa manjaa minka illa ilayk (O Allaah, guide me amongst those whom You have guided; pardon me amongst those whom You have pardoned; turn to me in friendship amongst those to whom You have turned in friendship; bless me in what You have bestowed; save me from the evil of what You have decreed; for indeed You decree, and none can influence You; and he is not humiliated whom You have befriended; nor is he honoured whom You take as Your enemy. Blessed are You, O Lord, and exalted. There is no place of safety from You except towards You).” 166This du’aa’ was taught by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), so it is permissible, because it was narrated from the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them). 167Then he should do rukoo’, and the two prostrations, as before. The final Tashahhud and placing the left foot under the right leg 168Then he should sit for the final Tashahhud. This is obligatory. 169He should do the same as in the first Tashahhud. 170But he should sit mutawarikan, which means placing the left foot under his right leg. 171He should put his right foot upright.