CORRECT SAJDAH
Asalam u alikum,
S A L A T Nabui
Bismillah-ar-Rahman-nir-Raheem, The reason of this brief on salaat is that the most important
ebadah I realise was not performed as it should be by me. And I notice many of my brothers
and sisters making the same mistakes.
Hence I decided to correct myself and pass the information to you, without contradicting any
‘Madhhabs’. The four essential parts of salaat, “Standing, Bowing, Sajjdah and Salam.”
In soorah al-Nahl, 16-44 “ And We have sent down to you the message, that you may explain
clearly to people what is sent for them.
Prophet (SAS) explained to the people, verbally and practically, saying to them, I have done this
so that you may follow me and learn my prayer (Bukhaari & Muslim).
HE obligated us to copy him in his prayer, saying, pray as you have seen me praying (Bukhaare
& Ahmad)
He would also used to say: The key to the prayer is purification, it is entered by “Takbeer and
exited by Tasleem” ( Abu Daawood, Tirmidhi and Hakim......)
Ibn’Abbas (ra) narrated: The Prophet (SAS) was ordered {by ALLAH (swt)} to prostrate on seven
body parts and not to tuck up clothes or hair (while praying) These parts are: the forehead
(along with tip of the nose), both hands, both knees and (the toes of) both feet { Bukhaari,
Adhan, Hadith 809}
Qaiyam or Standing in the prayer
He (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) used to stand in prayer for both obligatory and voluntary
prayers, carrying out the command of Exalted: ‘Baqareh, 2:238
“And Stand before ALLAH devotedly”
“And those who spend the night in worship of their lord- prostrate and standing”. AL-Furquan
25:64
He (SAS) use to stand straight and start the prayer with Takbeer and incline his head during
prayer and fix his sight towards the ground { Baihaqi and Haakim, who declared it saheeh, also
reported by ten of his companions “ Ibn’Asaakir (17/202/2). Irwaa 354}.
He use to forbid looking up at the sky {Bukhaari & bAbu Daawood}
In another hadeeth: so when you pray, do not look here and there{ Tirmidhi & Haakim who
declared saheeh, ‘Targheeb #35}
He (SAS) forbade three things: Pecking like a hen, squatting (iq ‘aa’), like a dog and looking
around like a fox {Ahmad and Abu Ya’laa, also saheeh At-Targheeb#556}
The Rukoo ( Bowing )
The Messenger of ALLAH swt raised his hands opposite his ears at the time of reciting Takbir
(i.e. At the time of beginning the Salah). Once He (SAS) had completed his recitation, he would
pause for a moment {Abu Daawood&Hakim} Then he would raise his hands up to the
shoulders (palm of the hands facing KABAH) and say “ ALLAHU AKBAR” as he bowed, and He
would place the palms of his hands on his knees, as if he were grasping them { Al-Bukhaari and
Abu Daawood} and he would stretch out his arms and hold them away from his sides {Ibn
Khuzaimah and Al-Tirmidhi who declared it to be authentic} and he spread his back and kept it
level and he would be at ease in this position { Al-Bukhaari and Al-Baihaqi}. He would neither
raise his head nor let it drop, but it level with his back.{ Abu Daawood, ‘Juz’ Al-Qirah with an
authentic chain of narrators.} such that if water were poured on it, it ‘water’would stay there
(ie.,not run off),{ Tabarani in Mu’jum al-kabeer and Al-Sagheer Ibn Maajah} then he lifted his
head after bowing and said “Sami ALLAHU liman hamidah (ALLAH listens to him who praises
HIM) and raised his hands up to the ear. {Muslim,As-salat chapter: The desirability of raising the
hand opposite the shoulders” Hadith:391} When He raised his head from rukoo, He would
stand straight until every vertebra returned to its place { Bukhaari & Abu Daawood ( the bones
making up the spine, from the base of the neck to the COCCYX.) “See also Fath-al Baari 2/308”}
Going Down into Sajdah on the Hands
“He would support himself on his palms { and spread them { Abu Daawood & Haakim, who
declared saheeh and Dhahabi agreed)}”, “put his fingers together”{ Ibn Khuzaimah, Baihaqi
&Haakim , who declared saheeh and Dhahabi agreed} “point them towards the qiblah” {Baihaqi
with a saheeh isnaad. Ibn Shaibah ‘1/82/2’ & Siraaj}. Also “ He would put them (his palms)
level with his shoulders” {Abu Daawood , Tirmidhi, Ibn al-Mulaqqin ‘27/2’ : Irwaa 309 }. Some
times “level with his ears”. “He would put his nose and forehead firmly on the ground” { Abu
Daawood, Tirmidhi, Ibn al-Mulaqqin (27/2); Irwaa 309}
He said to “the one who prayed badly”, when you prostrate, then be firm in your prostration, {
Abu Daawood & Ahmad with saheeh isnaad } in one narration: when you prostrate, put your
face and hands down firmly, until all of your bones are relaxed in their proper places { Ibn
Kuzaimah ( 1/10/1) with a hasan isnaad}.
He also used to say, “There is no prayer for one whose does not feel as much of the ground as
the forehead and nose { Daaraqutni, Tabaraani (3/140/1) & Abu Nu’aim in Akhbaar Isbahaan}
He use to put his knees and toes down firmly {Baihaqi with a sheeh isnaad. Ibn shaibah (1/82/2)
& Siraaj}. “ Point with the front of the toes towards the qiblah” { Bukhaari & Abu Daawood }.
“ Put his heels together”{ Tahaawi, Ibn Kuzaimah (no: 654) & Hakim who declared saheeh and
Dhahabi agreed} “ Keep his feet upright” { Baihaqi, with a saheeh isnaad }, and ordered
likewise { Tirmidhi, Siraaj , Haakim declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed.}
Malik bin Huwairith Al-Laithi (RA) narrated: “ I saw the Prophet (SAS) performing salaah and in
odd rakah He used to sit for a moment before getting up. { Bukhaari, Adhan, Hadith 824}
Zaid Bin Wahb (RA) Narrated:
Hudhaifah(RA) saw a person who was not performing the bowing and prostration perfectly. HE
(SAS) said to him “you have not performed Salaat, and if you should die, you would die on a
religion other than that of MUHAMMAD (SAS) {Bukhari, Adhan , Hadith 791, Abu Ya laa in his
Musnad (340/3491/1), Aajuri in al-Arba’een, Baihaqi, Tabaraani (1/192/1), Diyaa in al-
Muntaqaa(276/1), Ibn ‘Asaakir(2/226/2,414/1,8/14/1,76/2) with a hasan isnaad & Ibn
Khuzaimah declared it saheeh(1/82/1)
TASLIM “as-salam ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah”
Amr bin Sa’d (RA) reported from his father: “ I used to see the Messanger of ALLAH (SAS) when
he pronounced taslim on his right and on his left until I could see the white of the whiteness of
his cheek { Muslim, Mosques. Hadith 582 } In another narration in taslim he looked down on
the shoulders.
BENEFITS
Benefits of Salaat both spiritually and physically In addition to fulfil the obligation, we have a lot
of benefits in performance of Salat, both spiritually as well physically.
We pray to fulfil the order of ALLAHswt , with full concentration and attention to
gain the pleasure of ALLAHswt, and not for any physical benefits.
Apart from obeying the order of ALLAH (swt) the physical blessing are unimaginable. Few of
these which I gather from different sources as well my personal experience in performing Salaat
strictly in accordance with Salaat ul Nabi as above..
It protects from mental Disease, Nerve Disease, Heart Disease, Psychological Disease, Joint
pains
{It is We Who created them, and it is We Who endowed their joints with strength (Quran
76:28).},
Stomach Disease, Diabetics, Eye & throat Disease.
STANDING( Qaiyam) : Standing straight with pressure on toes gives energy and strengthen to
Brain and Nerves System.
BOWING (Rukoo): In this posture the back is stretch affecting the shoulder, back bone, hips
and legs muscles. Excellent exercise and cure for Back Pain, Tail Bone swelling etc. Also in the
RUKOO position the blood flow towards brain and eyes, this improves the function of brain and
eyes.
SAJDAH (Prostration): In this position the blood flows faster towards brain, eyes and face,
hence it demagnetise the body from electromagnetic charge which causes fatigue and
tiredness. Further it enhances the function of the body parts. In Sajdah position stretches the
muscles of thigh and the surrounding muscles protecting from prostate and other problems.
SALAAM (Taslim): Ending the salaat we should move our head in both direction slowly and
firmly till the cheeks are visible to the one behind as well focusing the eyes on the shoulder
bone. This protects the heart from disease and strengthens nerves.
Note: RasuALLAH Sallahu alihi wa Salam between “Rukoo & Sajdah and between Sajadah’s”
paused till the backbone settle down.
SUBHANALLAH in Yoga and many other exercises, they have adopted the
postures from SALAAT. In any case, we trust the Almighty ALLAH(swt), and know
that whatever we do for HIM, is the best for us.
We do salaat to obey the Almighty ALLAH(swt), we trust in HIS commands, there
is always a wisdom. Our trust is because HE is the creator, HE knows everything.
However it is essential to show to the people so that they can see whatever
Muslims do is good for them.
JazakALLAH,: Mir S Sultan
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