Learning How to Pray Part 9

How to Make up for Missed Prayer Units

If the prayer has already started, the latecomer should join in the congregation in the very position in which he finds the imaam. For example, if he finds the imaam in the prostrate position, he must recite the takbeer and then prostrate himself. When the imaam concludes the congregational prayer by reciting the tasleem, the latecomer rises, reciting the takbeer, to assume a standing position and complete the rest of the prayer individually, by making up for the units he has missed.

The unit (rak‛ah) that he catches up with the imaam when he first joins the congregation counts as the beginning of his own prayer, and whatever he makes up for after the imaam concludes the congregational prayer counts as the rest of his prayer.

How to Determine that a Complete Rak‛ah Is Offered

The prayer is determined by the number of units offered in it; if a latecomer joins the congregation while the imaam is in the bowing position, he is considered to have offered a complete unit (rak‛ah) even though he has not recited Soorat Al- Faatihah in that particular rak‛ah in the standing position. If, however, he misses the bowing position, then he mus trecite the takbeer and join the congregation. In this case, he is considered to have missed this particular rak‛ah and whatever movements and postures in it do not count.

Examples Illustrating Ways of Making up for Missed Prayer Units

If someone joins the congregation during the Fajr prayer while the imaam is in the second rak‛ah, he must, after the imaam concludes the prayer with the tasleem, rise, reciting the takbeer, to assume a standing position and make up for the other rak‛ah which he has missed. He must not recite the tasleem until he completes the prayer, for the Fajr prayer consists of two units and he has only offered one unit with the imaam.

If he joins the congregation during the Maghrib prayer while the imaam is in the sitting position reciting the final tashahhud, he must, after the imaam concludes the prayer with the tasleem, rise, reciting the takbeer, to assume a standing position and offer three complete units of prayer. The reason for this is that he has joined the congregation only at its end while the imaam is reciting the final tashahhud. A unit (rak‛ah) only counts as complete if one joins the congregation while the imaam is in the bowing posture.

If he joins the congregation during the Dhuhr prayer while the imaam is in the bowing position of the third rak‛ah, then this means that he has offered two complete units of prayer, which count for him as his two first units. As soon as the imaam concludes the prayer with the tasleem, he must then rise, reciting the takbeer, to assume a standing position and offer two more units, namely the third and fourth units, considering that the Dhuhr prayer consists of four units of prayer.

The Call to Prayer (Adhaan)

The adhaan serves the purpose of calling people to prayer and signalling the beginning of the time of an obligatory prayer. Another call, called the iqaamah, serves the purpose of summoning Muslims to line up for the beginning of the obligatory prayers. Muslims used to meet up and seek to know the time of prayer, but no one summoned them. One day they were discussing how to gather everyone for prayer.

Some suggested using a bell as the Christians do, and others recommended using a ram’s horn, following an ancient Jewish practice. Then ‛Umar ibn Al-Khattaab t, one of the Prophet’s companions, suggested appointin gsomeone to call people to prayer. The Prophet agreed, so he turned to Bilal t, and said, “Get up, Bilaal, and call the people to prayer.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree: 579; Saheeh Muslim: 377)

The Manner of Reciting the Adhaan and the Iqaamah

1) Both the adhaan and the iqaamah must be recited in the case of a group of people (congregation) but it is not the case with an individual. If a congregation intentionally leave it out, their prayer will still be valid but they will be considered sinners.

2) The adhaan ought to be recited in a nice and loud voice so people can hear it and come to the mosque and perform the congregational prayer.

3) The adhaan has different formulas, all approved by the Prophet r. The following is the common formula:

The IQAAMAH

Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar
“Allah is the greatest of all, Allah is the greatest of all”

Ash hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah “ I bear witness that there is no God worthy of worship except Allah”

Ash hadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullaah “ I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”

Hayya ‛alassalaah “Come to prayer”

Hayya ‛alal-falaah“Come to success”

Qad qaamat-issalaatu, qad qaamat-issalaah “ The prayer is about to begin, the prayer is about to begin”

Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar “Allah is the greatest of all, Allah is the greatest of all”

laa ilaaha illallaah “There is no God worthy of worship except Allah”

The ADHAAN

Allaahu akbar “Allah is the greatest of all” (four times)

Ash hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah “ I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah” (twice)

Ash hadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullaah “I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” (twice)

Hayya ‛alassalaah “Come to prayer” (twice)

Hayya ‛alal-falaah “Come to success” (twice)

Allaahu akbar “Allah is the greatest of all” (twice)

laa ilaaha illallaah “ There is no god worthy of worship except Allah” (once)