In the Muslim tradition, great importance is attached to daily prayer, which should be performed at a certain time with strict observance of the rules. Much has been said about this in the scriptures that were left by the believing prophets of antiquity. In the end, a fairly clear rule was compiled, which is recommended for all true Muslims to follow. And in this article we will talk about one day prayer - asr namaz.
What is prayer asr?
Translated from Arabic asr is an afternoon obligatory prayer. Also called the time that falls on it. Asr prayer is the third such prayer in a row, which is performed without fail during the day. And there are five in all. All of them belong to the second pillar of Islam.
There is a certain rule for the fulfillment of this prayer, which is recorded in the one hundred and third Sura of the Quran. Also, references to it can be read in the ninth ayah of the Surah Al-Manafikun. The importance of this particular time in the Qur'an is mentioned in the Surah al-Asr of the same name.
Prayer time
We should talk more specifically about time. Asr namaz should be performed at exactly the hours allotted for it. The time of its beginning is somewhat different for different movements of Islam, but not dramatically.
In general, the majority is of the opinion that the third prayer can be started even when the shadows on the street become twice as long as the object itself. Other schools believe that you can start a little earlier - when the shadows become equal to the object.
The time when the afternoon prayer can no longer begin to be performed begins immediately after sunset, as the time comes for another prayer - maghrib (sunset). Many believers perform asr before the sun begins to turn reddish, setting over the horizon, thus observing the covenants of the Messenger of Allah.
That is why everyone agrees that the best time for prayer is right at the beginning of the time interval allotted for prayer. This suggests that the believer really broke away from his worldly affairs and turned to Allah. At the very end of the allotted time it is allowed to read a prayer only if there was a good reason not to carry it out earlier.
Rakatas of which namaz consists
Now let us consider in more detail the prayer of asr, how many rakas are made during its execution. Rakat is a complete cycle of all prayer readings and the movements made at the same time. It can be repeated from one or more times (depending on the type of prayer).
It includes pronouncing takbir, then reading Al-Fatih, bowing and straightening, bowing and straightening (the pose remains kneeling), bowing again and returning to the starting position. Of course, this is only a general guide, because depending on what kind of racquet it is, the process may differ, and it also has differences (albeit insignificant) depending on the prayer itself.
In the afternoon prayer asr four rak'ahs. They are read in a whisper, but so that in silence you can hear it. Those. you can’t just move your lips, you need to pronounce all the words in such a sound as if you were whispering in someone’s ear. The same number of rak'ahs in the namaz of zuhr and isha, but in the namaz of the maghrib there are three rak'ahs, in fajr - only two. They are read in different ways.
How is namaz performed: actions
Let us consider in more detail how to read the prayer asr correctly , and what actions are performed in this case. As mentioned above, the words in the afternoon prayer should be pronounced in a quiet whisper, pronouncing all the words not only in the heart, but also in the voice.
Actions, in principle, are very similar to the traditional execution of rak'ahs. In the beginning, you should commit niyat (intention), clearly fixing out loud what you are going to do. Next, you need to raise your hands with your palms in the direction of Qibla and raise them to the level of the ears. Say takbir.
Then clasp your hands and lower them to the navel, read du'a Sana'a, the Surah of Al-Fatiha and any other of your choice. Lower your hands and bow down. Then, pronouncing certain words, it is necessary to make an earthly bow, to touch the place of the sage low.
At the end, say “Allahu Akbar”, return to a sitting position, after two or three seconds, repeat the bow again. The first racket is over. Start the second, standing on your feet. Complete all the rak'ahs by reading the appropriate words and performing the necessary actions. After the fourth rak'ah, namaz can be considered completed.
Differences in actions for men and women
Asr namaz for women is somewhat different only in the implementation of actions. For example, while turning the palms towards Qibla, women should raise their hands to the level of the chest, not higher. Then the men raise them to their ears, touching their lobes with their thumbs.
Also, women do not lower their hands to the navel while reading Du'an San, but keep them at chest level. During the waist bow, they cannot fully straighten their legs and back, fingers should be gathered together.
During the bow of the earth, men and women sit the same way (the feet are parallel to each other, and the fingers are pointing towards Qibla), but the elbows are pressed to the sides of the women. While rising from the bow of the earth, women sit on their left thigh, picking up their legs and toes directing to Qibla.
It should also be noted that women do not perform namaz in the event that menstruation begins at that moment. By all rules, it is necessary to start it only when the cleansing has occurred.
What the sacred texts say about the importance of this prayer
Namaz al asr in all sacred texts is considered the most important in fulfillment. This is based on the fact that at the time of its implementation, many Muslims should break away from worldly affairs in order to perform prayers. It is precisely in this that his plus is the opposition of worldly pleasures, of which there are so many around, and appeal to Allah.
Thus, a Muslim can resist sin, the influence of shaitan and follow the commandments of Allah, observing his spiritual duties. No prayer has such an attitude as in the afternoon, therefore it is recommended to plan your day so that it fits harmoniously into it.
Other prayers
It should be noted other daily prayers in Islam. There are only five of them, and they are mandatory.
- Farge. This is a morning prayer, which is performed before sunrise. If a Muslim manages to fulfill at least one prayer, then he has time. If not, then she goes into debt prayers.
- Zuhr. This is the second prayer that is called midday. It takes place after the sun passes through the zenith, but before the shadows of the objects become larger than themselves. Therefore, prayer can begin to be performed after the sun has overcome the highest point in the sky.
- Asr. Afternoon namaz, the fulfillment of which was this article.
- Maghrib. This prayer after Asra is performed immediately, as the daylight drops beyond the horizon. And you need to finish doing it before the evening dawn disappears. This prayer has the shortest time, so you need to be very careful not to miss it. The preference for implementation is given to the first minutes when permission comes.
- Isha. This prayer can be performed immediately after the evening glow has disappeared. The time period when it can be done is the largest, since the end of the prayer period is the first signs of the morning dawn. However, it is still recommended to perform it until the first half or even a third of the night expires.
Conclusion
Thus, based on all of the above, asr namaz is one of the five most important daily prayers when a Muslim can directly appeal to Allah and remember that he is only a mortal man. And also about the impossibility of taking worldly goods on the other side of earthly life, no matter how much one would like. Therefore, we should start taking care of our other life now, discarding at least for some time all worldly habits, worries, pleasures, etc.