Tranquillity of Taraweeh The Prophet (Pbuh) used to recite the Qur’an in
slow, mea-sured, rhy-thmic tones as Allah had
instructed him, not rushing or hurrying, rather, his
was “a recitation clearly distinguishing each letter.” In Ramadan, the Qiyaam al-Layl, also known as
Taraweeh is a Sunnah for both men and women. It
is performed after the Isha prayer. There is no specific limit to what a Muslim may offer
of prayer as part of his voluntary night worship. In
the early period of Islam, people in Makkah used to
offer 20 rakahs of Taraweeh prayers. People in
Madinah offered a larger number reaching as many
as 36 rakahs a night. They felt that the people in Makkah could do the Tawaf in addition to their
voluntary prayer. Since Tawaf is similar to prayers,
they added 16 rakahs to offset the particular
privilege the Makkan people enjoined. On the other hand, we have a clear statement from
Hazrath Aisha (RA), wife of the holy Prophet
(Pbuh), that he never offered more than 11 or 13
rakahs of night worship on any night whether in
Ramadan, or in the rest of the year. There is no
maximum number to which you have to limit yourself. If you decide to follow the Prophet’s
(Pbuh) example and stop at 11 rakahs including
three for witr, you may wish to make your prayer
longer by reciting longer passages from the Quran.
On the other hand, if you are praying in a mosque
and the congregation is offering 23 rakahs (including three for witr), you may follow them. The
essence of Taraweeh is completing one Quran in
the whole of the month of Ramadan. Majority of the
scholars in mosques pray 20 rakahs and followed
by three rakahs witr. Praying Taraweeh in Congregation It is allowed to pray Taraweeh in the month of
Ramadan in a congregation just as it is allowed to
pray them on an individual basis (as in the case of
women who can pray at home if mosques do not
make separate arrangements for them). The
majority of scholars, however prefer to pray them in congregation. Wait Eagerly for Laylat-ul-Qadr A person who misses it has indeed missed a great
amount of good. If a believing person is zealous to
obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his
record, he should strive to encounter this night and
to pass it in worship and obedience. If this is
facilitated for him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven. The Night of Power The Quranic statements which relate this great
event radiate with Allah’s clear and shining light: We revealed it (the Quran) on the Night of Power.
Would that you knew what the Night of Power is
like. Better is the Night of Power than a thousand
months. On that night, the angels and the Spirit
descend by their Lord’s permission, with all His
decrees. That night is peace, till the break of dawn. (Surah Al-Qadr). This surah speaks about the promised great night
which the whole universe marked with joy and
prayers. It is the night of perfect communion
between this world and the Highest Society. It is the
night which marked the beginning of the revelation
of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh), an event unparalleled in the history of mankind for its
splendour and the significance it has for the life of
mankind as a whole. Its greatness is far beyond
human realisation. “ We revealed it on the Night of
Power. Would that you knew what the Night of
Power is like. Better is the Night of Power than a thousand months.” “It is established that it is a night in the month of
Ramadan as stated in surah 2 (The Cow): “In the
month of Ramadan, the Quran was revealed, a
book of guidance distinguishing right from
wrong.” This means that the Night of Power
marked the beginning of the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet and his mankind. Abu Tharr (RA) relates: “We fasted with Allah’s Messenger (Pbuh) in
Ramadan. He did not lead us (in qiyaam) at all until
there were seven nights of Ramadan left. Then he
stood with us that night in prayer until one third of
the night had passed. He did not pray with us on
the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of the night had passed. So we said, ‘Allah’s
Messenger! Wouldn’t you pray with us the whole
night?’ He replied: ‘Whoever stands in prayer with the imam until he
(the imam) concludes the prayer, it is recorded for
him that he prayed the whole night.’ Dua on the Night of Laylat-ul-Qadr It is also recommended to make extensive
supplication on this night. Hazrath Aishah (RA)
reported that she asked Allah’s Messenger (Pbuh)
“O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is
Laylat- ul-Qadr, what should I say during it?” And
he instructed her to say: “Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fafu
annee - O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love
forgiveness. So forgive me.” Sunnah of Itikaf
Prophet (Pbuh) used to observe Itikaf during the
last ten days of the month of Ramadan and he
continued this practice till his death. Itikaf- spending the last ten days of Ramadan in the
Masjid is a beautiful tradition of the Prophet (Pbuh).
It is reported by Hazrath Aisha (May Allah be
pleased with her) that the Prophet (Pbuh) used to
observe Itikaf during the last ten days of the month
of Ramadan and he continued this practice till his death. After him, his wives carried on this practice
of observing Itikaf regularly. (Reported in Sahih al
Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). It is recommended that every Muslim make at least
one Itikaf in his/ her life. There must be at least few
people in every community who should do it in
every masjid every year to keep this tradition alive.
Men should do Itikaf in the masjid so that they can
pray in the congregation and also offer the Friday prayers. Women can also do itikaf, but theirs must
be at home for reasons of modesty and for their
own convenience. There is a great blessing in Itikaf
and people who do it, bring blessings upon
themselves, upon their families and upon the
Muslim Ummah at large. The Sunnah of Itikaf is that one makes its intention
and begins the Itikaf on the evening of the 20th of
Ramadan from sunset time and continue until the
sighting of the moon for Id-ul Fitr. During Itikaf,
men should stay in the masjid day and night and
should not leave it except for the use of toilet or shower. (Facilities are provided inside the mosque
premises.) They are allowed to eat also inside the
masjid. During Itikaf, one should spend most of
one’s time in prayer, reading the Quran, zikr and
reflection. Engaging in business and other worldly
conversation and activities is not allowed during Itikaf. Celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr-The Way of the Prophet
(Pbuh) The first day of the month of Shawwal is Eid ul-Fitr-
marking a day of celebration and thanks for Allah,
our Creator and Cherisher. The month of Ramadan
ends here. Here is what the Prophet (Pbuh) used to do on the
day of Eid . • To rise early in the morning • Take a bath. • Clean the teeth. • Wear the best clothes that he had. • Wear perfume. • To eat something sweet like dates before leaving
home. • Go to the Eid prayer location very early. He used to walk upto the place of Eid prayer. He used to recite on the way to the Eid prayer
location the following words:
“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallahu
Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Wa lillahil Hamd.” (Allah is the greatest, He is the greatest. There is no
god except Allah. He is the greatest. All praises and
thanks are for Him) The Prophet used to give
Sadqa-e-Fitr (Zakatul Fitr) before the Eid day. The Eid Prayers • Eid prayer consists of two units of prayer (Rakats)
with six Takbeers (the raising of the hands while
saying Allahu Akbar [God is the Greatest]) in
congregation, followed by the Khutba (sermon) of
Eid. • Follow the Imam by raising both hands up to the
ears, say Allahu Akbar, this is the first Takbeer to
enter in the Salat. • Then fold your hands in the front and recite the
‘Sanaa’, (subhaanakallahumma) till the end and
then say Allahu Akbar thrice, following your imam,
each time raising both hands up to the ears and
dropping them. After each takbeer there is going to
be a slight pause in which Subhanallah may be recited thrice. • After the third Takbeer, the hands should be
folded in front and listen to the imam reciting
Aoozubillah, Bismillah, Surah Fateha and some
other Surah and • Then perform Ruku(bowing) as Imam says
Allahu Akbar and • Then go to Sajdah(prostration) as usual following
your Imam’s Takbeer. • In the second Raka, the Imam will first recite
Surah Fateha and some other Surah. Then he will
say three Takbeers after it. In all of these three
Takbeers, hands will not be folded, but dropped
after each Takbeer. And then go into the Ruku just
after the fourth takbeer. • Listening to the Khutbah after the Eid Salaat is
Waajib (obligatory). • There is neither Azan nor Iqamah for the Eid
Prayers. • Women and the men who cannot offer the Eid
Prayers due to some reason, should not offer any
voluntary prayer before the Eid prayer. • The Ahle-Hadith scholars maintain the view that
women and children have been enjoined to attend
the Eid prayer, because the Eid, like the Friday
Prayer, is a special feature of Islam, and the holy
Prophet (Pbuh) himself has exhorted the women to
go to the Eid ground. • Hadrat Umm’atiyyah has narrated; “The holy
Prophet (Pbuh) commanded us that we should
take unmarried young girls and grown-up women,
even those menstruating, along with us to the Eid
ground. The menstruating women, however, are
not to attend the prayer, but should sit aside and keep on pronouncing the Takbir, and join only in
the supplications. • The recitation in the Eid prayer is to be audible. • The sermon should be delivered after the prayer,
Hadrat Abu Sa’id says; “The holy Prophet (Pbuh)
would first of all offer the Eid prayer, then he would
stand up facing the people who kept on sitting in
their rows and he would instruct them on religion.
After this he would return home”. (Bukhari, Muslim)
source : www.islamicvoice.com