Forgiveness
Forgiveness
In accordance with the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him), there are
quite a number of private supplications and words of extolling Allah (subhanahu
wa ta'ala) i.e. "Dhikr" which are highly desirable and recommended for recitation
at the end of each prayer. These supplications and extollations (dhikr) are non-
obligatory and constitute separate forms of "IBADAH" (Worship), hence, reciting
them or failure to do so, does not affect the prayer.
5. And says thereafter: "LAA HOWLA WALAA QUWATA ILLA BILLAAH" which
means: "There is no might or power, except from Allah".
6. Also, the person may thereafter say: "LAA ILLAHA ILAL LAAHU
WALA NA'ABUDU ILLA IYAHU, LAHU NIMA TU WALAHUL FADHLU,
WALAHUL THANAA AL-HASSAN" which means: "There is no god but Allah
(subhanahu wa ta'ala) and we worship none but Him, to Him belongs prosperity,
and to Him belongs favors and to Him belongs all good praises".
7. The person may also say: "LAA ILAHA ILLAL LAAHU MUKHLISINA LAHU DIINA
WALAO KARIHAAL KAFIRUUN" which means: "There is no god but Allah,
(and we) offer Him sincere devotion even though the unbelievers may detest it".
Then, at the end of the above three recitations, the worshipper recites the
following supplication:"LAA ILLAHA ILAL LAAHU WAHDAHU LAA SHARIKA
LAHU, LAHUL MUL-KU, WALA-HUL HAMDU, WAHUWA ALAA KULI SHEY'INN
QADIIR" which means, "There is no god but Allah alone, He has no partners, to
Him belongs dominion and to Him belongs praises, and He has power over all
things".
Allah! there is no god but He, the Living the Self-Subsisting, the Eternal. No
slumber can seize Him nor sleep. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on
earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He
knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor
shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne do
extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and
preserving them or He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).
The importance of this verse was confirmed by the Prophet (peace be upon him)
in an authentic saying that: Whoever recites this verse at the end of every prayer,
nothing will prevent him from entering Paradise (Reported by Imam Bukhari).
11. It is also strongly recommended that the person recites the following three
chapters of the Holy Qur'an after each prayer:
Note: It is preferred that each of these three chapters be recited three times at
the end of Fajr (Dawn) and Maghrib (Sunset) prayers; while, each chapter may be
recited only once at the end of the other obligatory prayers namely, Dhuhr
(Noon), Asr (Afternoon) and Isha (Evening) prayers.
There are certain times when voluntary prayers are not allowed to be performed
and these are as follows:
2. In between when the sun is close to its zenith and the Dhuhr Prayer.
The time for the Witr Prayer begins from the end of Isha (Evening) prayer and
continues until the Fajr (Dawn) prayer and is performed as the last prayer of the
night. Preference is given to its performance in the later part of the night as can
be noted from what has been confirmed by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)
that: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to offer Witr prayers in all the later
part of the night such that his Witr prayers used to be finished by about dawn
(Reported by Imam Bukhari).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: Make the Witr prayer your last
prayer of the night (Reported by Imam Bukhari).
It is known as Witr (Odd Number) prayer because of its nature, in that, it is
completed in units (rakaats) of odd numbers, thus, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. The
minimum number of rakaats in the Witr Prayer is one and the maximum which
the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to perform was eleven.
However, Muslims largely performed this prayer in three units (rakaats) which
may be performed in either of the following methods:
The worshipper may perform two rakaats (similar to the Fajr prayer). In doing so,
may go for the short and/or medium passages of the Holy Qur'an preferably
chapter 87
"Sabihisma Rabbikal A'Alaa" - (Glorify the name of the Lord, Most High) which
maybe recited in the first rakaat, while, chapter 109 "Al- Kafiruun" (The non-
believers) maybe recited in the second rakaat as that was the Sunnah. As usual,
the words of witness are recited at the end of the two rakaats followed by the
Tasleem to conclude these first two rakaats. The person then stands up to
perform a third rakaat on its own. Chapter 112 "Al-lklas" of the Holy Qur'an
maybe recited in this unit. It is the practice to recite a supplication of obedience
to Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) known as "Qunuut" in this last rakaat and if a
person wishes to recite this supplication, he may do so upon resuming standing
from the Rukuu position and after saying: "SAMI'A ALLAHU LIMAN HAMIDA"
followed by "RABBANA WA LAKAL HAMD". The QUNUUT goes as
follows: "ALLAHUMMA AHDINII FIMAN HADEYTA, WA'AFINII FIMAN 'AFEYTA,
WATAWALANII FIMAN TAWALEYTA, WABARIKLII FIMA A'DEYTA, WAQINII SHARA
MAA QADHEYTA, FA INNAKA TAQDII WALAA YUQDAA ALEYK, INNAHU LAA
YADDILU MAN WALEYTA WALAA YA'IZU MAN A'ADEYTA, TABARAKTA RABBANA -
WATA'ALEYTA" which means: "O Lord, lead me to true faith with those You have
guided, pardon me with those You have pardoned, protect me with those You
have protected, bless for me what You have given me, keep me safe from evils.
You have ordained. It is You Who decrees and it is not decreed upon You, no one
under Your care is brought down and no one to whom You show enmity can be
exalted, O Lord, You are the Most Praised, Most Sublime". Or, the person may
recite any of other supplications of obedience (Qunuut) which the Prophet (peace
be upon him) used to say in his prayers.
Note:
Reciting Qunoot is not obligatory and the Witr in which Qunoot is not
recited is also correct.
Kindly refer (http://islamqa.info/en/ref/20031) for other authentic Duas.
Can also be found in the Book "Fortress of a Muslim"
It is also permissible to recite any other supplications but not Quranic
Verses as commonly practiced.
Alternatively, the person may perform the Witr prayer by praying all the three
rakaats continuously without break (ie not sitting for Tashahud for the Second
Rakah). After rukuu in the third rakaat, the person would recite the Qunuut
supplication as discussed above and would then proceed to prostration, then
recites At- Tashahud and concludes the prayer with the Tasleem.
Note: We have to differentiate between the Witr & Maghrib Prayers so what is
seen in the Sub-continent and other places of praying Witr like Maghirb is not the
Sunnah way.
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TIPS FOR TEST
1. Do not have to remember the Hadeeths but Memorise the Duas. (Atleast 3 new
Duas)
P.S.- This is a part of TERM 2 of the Main course of LEARN ISLAM, where along
with this we study TAFSIR, TAWHEED, other aspects of FIQH & ETIQUETTES OF
MUSLIM. InshaAllah we will be starting a new TERM after Ramadan'33
corresponding to Sep'12 on LEARN ISLAM...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/LEARN-ISLAM/120849201282962