Part 8

172It is also permissible to lay the right foot along the ground sometimes. 173He should cover his left knee with his left palm, leaning heavily on it. The obligation of sending prayers upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and of seeking refuge with Allaah from four things 174It is obligatory for him in this Tashahhud to send prayers upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), some versions of which we have quoted above when discussing the first Tashahhud. 175He should also seek refuge with Allaah from four things and say: “Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika min ‘adhaab Jahannam wa min ‘adhaab al-qabri wa min fitnat ilmahyaa wa’l-mamaat, wa min sharri fitnat il-maseeh al-dajjaal (O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from the torment of Hell, from the torment of the grave, from the trials of life and death and from the evil of the tribulation of the Dajjaal).” The trials of life means the temptations of this world and its desires which a person faces in his life. The trials of death means the torment of the grave and the questioning of the two angels. The tribulation of the Dajjaal means the extraordinary feats that will be done at his hands, by which means people will be led astray, and they will follow him and believe his claim to be divine. Du’aa’ before the salaam 176Then he may pray for himself as he sees fit, as narrated in the Qur’aan and Sunnah. There are many such good du’aa’s. If he does not know any such du’aa’s then he can say whatever is easy for him, for things that will benefit him in his religion and in his worldly affairs. Various kinds of tasleem (saying salaams) 177Then he should say salaams to his right, which is an essential part of the prayer, turning his face so that the whiteness of his right cheek may be seen (from behind). 178Then he should say salaams to his left, turning his face so that the whiteness of his left cheek may be seen, even in the funeral prayer 179The imaam should raise his voice when saying salaam, except in the funeral prayer. 180The salaam takes various forms: a. “Al-Salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahu wa barakaatuhu” to the right, and “Alsalaamu ‘alaaykum wa rahmat-Allaah” to the left. b. The same, but without saying “wa barakaatuhu”. c. “Al-Salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahu” to the right, and “Al-salaamu ‘alaaykum” to the left. d. Saying one salaam, tilting the head slightly to the right. O my Muslim brother, this is what I was able to summarize from Sifat Salaat al-Nabi (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) [The Prophet’s Prayer Described], in an attempt to make it more accessible to you, so that it would be clear to you, as if you could see it with your own eyes. If you pray in the manner described to you of how the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), prayed, then I hope that Allaah will accept that from you, because by doing that you will have truly put into practice the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Pray as you have seen me pray.” Moreover you must not forget the importance of presence of mind and humility in prayer, for this is the ultimate purpose of standing before Allaah in prayer. The more you can develop the attitude of humility and submission in prayer as described to you in the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), the more benefits you will reap, as indicated by our Lord when He said (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, As-Salaat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahshaa’ (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse) and Al-Munkar (i.e.