Too many people who are born in a Muslim family and adhere to the religion of Islam do not know how or wrongly perform such a religious action as prayer. Some justify themselves by the fact that there is a lot of work, study, housework, so they have no time to read the Quran according to the rules and pray. Many Muslims put off their self-education in the religious sphere "for tomorrow", but in fact, all this is only an excuse for himself.
True Muslims believe that such thoughts are wrong, since no one is safe from an accident, and tomorrow may simply not come, which means that a non-practicing Muslim will not easily go to Paradise. Prayer does not take much time, especially if it is performed correctly, and also it will become the main obstacle between a person and a shaitan, it cleanses the heart and thoughts. In the Sutra al-Ankabut ayat 45 it says: "Verily, namaz shall deliver from abomination and sin." "But is not the mention of Allah comforting the heart?" (sura 28).
What is namaz?
Let us understand not only how to read namaz, but also what it is. So, the correct definition of this concept will be - the main form of worship of God (in the Islamic religion this is Allah). It is one of the five pillars of religion and occupies a very important place in the life of Muslims, because every day they have to pray five times.
Before you start reading the prayer in the correct form, it is worth understanding its direct meaning. The word namaz means prayer or place for prayer. This definition is popular among Turkic-speaking Muslims, since the Arabs instead of the word "prayer" say - "salat." And in the Qur'an there is a statement of the Almighty: "Do prayer, pay sakat, and hold on to Allah."
Features of reading namaz
Teaching how to read namaz is taught not only in special religious schools - you can get advice directly in the mosque itself. Each prayer has its own special features. There are five of them in total - this means that five times a day, all Muslims who practice Islam must stop their activities and recite a specific prayer designed specifically for this hour.
To read the prayer correctly, you need to know not only the right time, but also how many cycles should be completed this time. Its main part is the rak'ah or cycle, which consists of special actions during which certain suras and duas are pronounced. In order to read the prayer correctly, it is necessary to follow the correct order in the reading of suras and duas, they follow each other in the form, as Allah pointed out.
The practice of reading namaz
In the Muslim world, there are four theological and legal school institutions called madhhabs. How to read the namaz according to the canons of a particular school is spoken out in special lessons. These differences show a different interpretation of the disclosure of God's entire prophecy, which is mutually enriched and fills the worshiper with a special love of enlightenment. Plus, reading always happens at specific times. How much they pray in a particular region of the planet, it is necessary to specify in a mosque (usually there is a schedule of all prayers for a given day).
In the Russian Federation, two schools are most widespread - Imam Numan ibn Sabit Abu Hanifah and Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi. In everyday practice, it is possible to read namaz for men and women using the knowledge of one madhhab, but in difficult life situations it is allowed to resort to the rituals of one of the other Sunni religious schools.
Key Terms Muslims Should Know
Is it possible to read namaz without knowing the meanings of all the terms used? According to all Muslim canons, it is definitely not worth doing this, because one can incorrectly choose one or another explanation and religiously harm one's practice. So, there are a number of basic terms that will help all newly minted Muslims understand how to read namaz for beginners:
- Salat. The word is in the singular, if you need to say the term in the plural, then it will be correct to pronounce - salavat. According to lexical norms, this word means dua, and in religious form - this is the moment when the believer says a prayer according to all necessary canons, which contains hands and dhikras. Salat is considered one of the Islamic pillars. Salat is also understood as a dua in honor of the prophet, whose direct translation is: "Bless and salute the prophet Muhammad and his whole family." This dua is uttered as a request, asking Allah to be honored throughout the world and in eternal life. This shows the worshiper's affection for the messenger and the maintenance of his path in the form of respect for his words.
- Takbir is translated from the religious language as "pronounce the word."
- Kiyam - "stand on your feet."
- Kiraat means "to read any part of the Qur'an."
- The hand translates as "tilt" in the lexical designation. And in the religious part of Islam, this is a bow that believers make after reading the holy book.
- Kavma is an action in which a hand straightens and stays in that position during the time of pronouncing certain words from the Koran.
- Saja explains how to read salah to men and women in earthly worship. During this action, part of the face is applied to the floor, the ground. This procedure magnifies the power of the Almighty.
- Sajjidayn is the same as a saja, only the bow of the earth is repeated twice without interruption. Sometimes in the explanations that explain how to read namaz, the word "sujut" appears, which also means a bow to the earth.
- Jalsa - the meaning of the "sit" action during the period of performing the bow of the earth. It looks like this - there is one bow to the earth, then the worshiper straightens up in a seated position and utters certain words: "Glory to my highest Lord!"
- Kada - sitting posture while reading tashahhuda or greeting. Kadu is performed after the performance of two rak'ahs of prayer, and the words of salutation are as follows: "Greetings to Allah, all prayers and best words, peace be upon you, O Prophet, mercy of Allah, His blessing, peace be upon us to his righteous slaves. I testify that there is no one but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is his messenger and prophet. "
- Rakaat is a part of prayer in which words and actions form a complete prayer. For example, kyyam, arm and double saja are one rak'ah. Two rak'ahs include two kyyam, two double sajjas and two tilts - a hand. How to read namaz, which consists of four rak'ahs? This will be discussed below. The first rak'ah is called kadau-ulya, the second rak'ah during sitting is kadau-ahyra. The next three and four rak'ahs, respectively, will include an increased number of times of the above ritual actions.
- Shaf, or pair, is a separate name for two rak'ahs that make namaz. To understand how to read salah, one should know the difference between the terms “shafu-avval” used to define the first two rak'ahs and “shafu-sani” for the next two. With three rak'ahats, the third will also be called "shafu-sani."
Correct execution
It is believed that just by the way a Muslim fulfills the instructions of Allah - he reads namaz, a judgment will be made about human affairs. Al-Ausat 2/13 says that on the day of the Resurrection, Allah will consider only the zeal with which a person approached his prayer, and if it was sufficient, then all his activities will be determined as good, and if the prayer turns out to be wrong and it turns out that she was uttered without real unconditional faith, then his deeds will be worthless. "So is it really impossible to learn how to read prayer to women and men in order not to anger the Almighty?" - Muslim believers ask.
The easiest way to develop the habit of daily prayer is to visit a mosque and closely monitor the parishioners. But how to learn to read namaz if most suras are pronounced in a half-whisper? To do this, you can turn to our modern technologies and watch videos on Internet portals that help Muslims to master the correct pronunciation of prayers. Perhaps this option is suitable for rooting the regular reading of prayer for both women and men.
Video lessons
Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity at the exact time to come after the azan for prayer due to the presence of daily work, so another question arises: "Is it possible to read namaz without visiting a mosque?". In such cases, you should turn to video tutorials for help. This option is also suitable for more shy persons: who have learned all the rules of prayer, but do not yet have complete confidence in their actions and pronunciation.
The world does not stand still, and in the Muslim environment there have long been convenient and comfortable religious lessons that can be viewed at any time. This is a great option for beginner men. How to read namaz on video, you ask? Very simple, you just need to repeat the pronunciation correctly. Indeed, it is often impossible to convey accurate sounds from Arabic using the Cyrillic alphabet. In fact, learning using video is much easier than attending a mosque and trying to learn something that I never knew. So, for example, at any time, you can stop the video and double-check the correctness of your speech or write yourself tips on the correct pronunciation.
Where to begin?
In the end, how to read namaz for beginners? It is necessary to learn well how Gusl and Voodoo are performed, at least three not very long suras from the Koran, as well as Sura Fatih, and of course, have a concept and knowledge of those words and duas that should be pronounced in prayer. It will be important to remember at what time they read namaz. Above all, you need to know the very principle of prayer.
Do not despair at first, making mistakes, this does not mean that prayer will not be counted, because the hope for the forgiveness of Allah always remains in our hearts, especially when prayers are said from the bottom of our hearts. Reading namaz for both a novice woman and a man can be done in several ways. For example, there are two-, three-, and four-raka prayers, where one rak'ah is one half-bow and two sajas or earthly nods.
What is a gusl?
Before entering into God’s abode, all Muslims should take a special bath. There are two types of ablutions: full and small. It is performed before any prayer, even in the early times, if it is cold outside (in mosques places for bathing are mostly in the open air) and morning prayers are read.
The full one is called Gusl; it is also defined as religious cleansing. From the definition it can be understood that not only arms and legs are washed, but the whole body is completely. Most often, Gusl is made after the desecration of the body (both disease and a long journey are attributed here).
For Gusl, first of all, it is necessary to express the very intention to cleanse itself, it must come from the heart. After the divine name “Bismillah” is pronounced, individual parts of the body are washed in turn: hands, genitals, triple washing of the body, starting from the head. All actions in the bath take place first on the right side, and then on the left, for example, the right shoulder - the left shoulder. In addition to the complete ablution, cleaning of the oral cavity and nose, washing of the umbilical zone and the entire area where there is hair is included. For women, simple watering of water on the head is allowed if washing all the hair at the moment is difficult. But the water must necessarily reach the roots, and then with a wet hand draw along the entire length of the hair and remove the desecration from it.
During the Hussl, it is forbidden to read any prayers. There are times when a person has limited water, then only the entire body is washed without rinsing the mouth and nose. Some religious figures believe that Gusl includes a small bath, roughly speaking, it is his replacement. And it works, even if the Muslim has not determined for himself the intention to make a complete cleansing, instead of a partial one. However, if desecration was carried out during Gusl, for example, dirty water flowed under his feet and standing in the same water a person washed his feet, then there is no need to start a full one again, but Voodoo should be carried out.
So, in general, Gusl consists of eleven farzes (steps) - rinsing the mouth, cleansing the nose, washing the body, genitals, face, in particular the part under the eyebrow, if there are mustaches and a beard, then rinse the skin under them, the navel, and the entire hairline and other. That is, all of the above comes down to washing the body, but what can violate or defile this procedure?
There are several serious reasons in Islam, and if one of them suddenly happened, then a full ablution (in the case of Voodoo) should be done before any prayer begins.
What is the desecration of the body:
- Intimacy or pollution, that is, the release of a seed without sexual intercourse (masturbation is also included, although it is generally prohibited by Islam, or any touch with lascivious thoughts).
- In the female half - menstruation or bleeding after childbirth.
- Proximity to a dead person or animal with any consequences.
- Seed after sleep. A person may not remember that a dream, for example, combined actions related to intimacy. The same applies to the unexpected detection of a seed after intoxication or loss of consciousness (fainting).
- Wash a dead man (before a funeral).
- The birth of a child, even without blood.
- Conversion to the Islamic faith by an unbeliever.
How many total desecrations were at a time does not matter; complete ablution should be taken only once.
What is voodoo?
But a short bath designed to cleanse certain parts of the body before performing the prayer is called Voodoo. It is worth using it when a person plans to touch the Koran or perform any other worship prescribed in the holy book.
In all Sharia schools, the fulfillment of Voodoo is almost the same and consists primarily of intention coming from the heart. Next, the already familiar word "Bismillah" is pronounced and the hands are washed three times. Three handfuls of water are typed in the palm of your hand and then poured into the oral cavity, thereby rinsing the mouth (three times). Next immediately goes the same three times washing the nose. The face is washed three times, and if the man has a mustache and a beard, then he should also wash the skin under them, thinning his hair with his fingers. Hands are washed in the sequence: right and left. First, the fingertips are washed, gradually rising and ending with the elbows. Moreover, the elbow also necessarily washed. The entire action is repeated three times. After, the head is rubbed. Water should get on the skin. Then, in line with the washing of the ears, the ankles of the legs and feet are washed last, also three times. When the Muslim has completely completed the religious ablution, he pronounces words in the name of Allah that there is no more worthy worship than Allah, who does not have his own comrades, but Muhammad is his messenger.
There are times when even Voodoo does not have enough time, then you can do the very least: wash your face once, completely wash your hands, including your elbows, rinse your scalp with water (you can use your fingers), wash each foot with ankles once, and express with my heart my inner intention to surrender to prayer to Allah.
As with complete ablution, Voodoo also has its own principles that violate it. Let's analyze them:
- Firstly, this is the performance of personal toilet affairs, in particular for everything that comes out of the anus and anus. Only the outgoing air from the female genital organs is not considered. Immediately touching the anus or genitals (no matter whose). By the way, touching women is also prohibited in one of the madhhabs.
- Secondly, procreation, even without the presence of blood.
- Thirdly, opening a purulent place on the body.
- Fourth, the exit from the body of any substances through vomiting.
- Fifth, the presence of blood in saliva.
- Sixth, sleep in a supine position.
- Seventh, alcohol or drug intoxication, as a result of which there was a loss of consciousness or a person made crazy lunges. This also includes noise and laughter when performing prayers.
But in addition to the desecration of the body, there are conditions under which washing is counted. So, for example, the water should be clean, but if there is no clean source nearby, then you can use the land. , , : , , , , , , , , . , , . , (, , ). , , ( ). , ( ). , , , .
A few words about water for bathing. It can be either ordinary fresh, or even carbonated and mineral. And here is what Muhammad said about the water from the sea: "It is clean and suitable for the performance of Gusl or Voodoo, and all that died in the sea can be consumed as food." Washing can also be done using snow, only it must necessarily melt on the skin, otherwise the whole point disappears. In general, any liquid that heaven spills on earth is permitted by Islam for both complete and minor ablutions.
The basic rules of prayer for novice men
How do men who have just come to the religion of Islam read namaz? Let's start with two racquats. Before prayer, believers perform the purification ritual described in the previous two blocks. The next thing a man takes off his shoes and enters a mosque. But which way to read namaz, if a person cannot visit the mosque at the moment? Always and under any circumstances, the worshiper should look only to the Kaaba. Ikamat is the first to read, according to which a person pronounces words in Arabic, meaning that Allah is most important and there is no one who compares with the only God, that Muhammad is his messenger and everyone should rush to the prayer that begins now, because only Allah is above all in life, and there is no other God besides him.
The intention is then expressed. It comes from the very depths of the heart, and is the phrase: "I intend to perform a prayer, consisting of two rak'ahs now in the morning and all this will be in the name of Allah." This can be said to oneself, but it is necessary to determine in advance how many rak'ahs will be done in one prayer.
The next step will be raising your hands to your ears, while your palms are turned towards the sacred stone of the Kaaba. Thumb pads should touch the earlobes, the rest of the palm straightens and the ends of the fingers rush up. It is very important to know that it is strictly forbidden to cover the ears with your palm or turn them towards the ears. In this case, the original takbir is pronounced. The body at this moment stands motionless and straight, not hunched over. With your eyes you need to look where the bow will be further made, however, and here it is forbidden to tilt the neck down and touch the chin of the sternum. The legs are parallel, and the distance between the feet should be at least four fingers.
After making Takbir, you need to stand in Kyyam position: the thumb (or little finger) of the right hand grabs the wrist of the left, and in this position both hands fall on the part of the abdomen located slightly below the umbilical opening. At the same time, the gaze is directed to where the forehead will be located during the bow of the earth. Without looking away, one should begin to read Kyraat, which begins with the dua "sana" and follows to Ruku. The meaning is the same: the chanting of Allah. The worshiper seeks refuge in order to hide from Satan, who beats him with stones.
In the same position, the first raccoon begins. A person reads the surah of Fatih, meaning that only Allah can lead all sinners on this earth. Without changing position, you need to read another sura, as you wish. For example, you can choose Al-Qawthar, which speaks of the endowment of al-Qawthar, that is, countless blessings, and the importance of prayer for Allah, as well as the provision of sacrifice (literally "slaughter the sacrifice"). However, for novice men, you can confine yourself to Fatih sura, however, you should not practice a simplified version for a long time. It is better to gradually begin to teach the rest of the suras.
After that, a bow is made with a straight back and the words "Allahu Akbar" or "Our Allah is Great" are pronounced. At the same time, the fingers are spread apart and placed on the knees, but the legs with the back remain still straight. Ultimately, a person develops a ninety degree angle between his hips and stomach. The gaze is fixed on the toes and the phrase "Subhaana rabiyal azyim" is pronounced (My Great Glory to the Lord). It can be said several times, but at least three.
Having straightened up, one more phrase is uttered: "Samyallahu liman hamidah. Rabbana wa lakal hamd" (He who praised Allah, he heard). And then a saja or bow is held, followed by the words "Allahu Akbar." When performing a sage, first of all, the legs fall on the knees, then the hands are placed on the palms of the hands, and the forehead and nose are laid on the floor. The head should be between the hands, the fingers are gathered together, but the elbows do not touch the floor, they are spread apart on the sides. The feet are in a parallel position to each other, the fingers and toes are directed to the Kaaba. In this position, "Subhana rabiyal alaa" is pronounced seven times (can be reduced to five or three times).
From the above position, a person goes into a sitting pose with the words "Allahu Akbar." He sits on his knees, hands are placed on top, and “Subhanallah” is pronounced, then the previous saja is repeated, and only after it the person rises to a standing position, and puts his hands on his chest, repeating “Allahu Akbar”. On this, the first rak'ah ends and the second begins, which goes on until Sura Fatih, after which Ihlas is read. It says that Allah did not give birth to anyone and was not born by anyone. But it should be remembered that for one prayer it is not allowed to read the same surahs, except for Fatih, who is at the beginning of each rak'ah.
Next is Ruku (sacred slope), a saj, as in the first rak'ahat until its repetition, instead of which you should sit down with your body on your left leg. Her fingers, bending, should be directed towards the Kaaba. The gaze is directed to the knees and pronounced dua Tashahud, saying that all good deeds belong only to Allah. Moreover, when in the text a person reaches the pronunciation “la illah”, he needs to raise his index finger on his right hand, and when pronouncing “illah allah” he should omit it.
Without changing his position, a Muslim reads the dua Salavat or the Blessing of Muhammad. The next is a dua in which the worshiper asks for atonement for his sins and confesses an unjust attitude to himself. Then a greeting is pronounced, for which the head first rotates to the right side, and the gaze is fixed on the shoulder. The greeting consists of wishing everyone peace and God's blessing. The head turns to the left and the words are repeated. On this, the simplest namaz in two rak'ahs is over. Sometimes, at the end, they read the two hundred twenty-fifth ayah of Surah Bakar, thirty-three times the tasbih, the same number of Subhanallah, Alhamidulillah and Allahu Akbar. In the end of the tasbih, any duas are read that do not contradict Sharia. Hands rise to the chest, palms up.
The next thing a novice man should learn is to read namaz, consisting of three and four rak'ahs. Briefly, in the first case, it is added: the already famous sura Fatiha, hand, two approaches to the saja and dua. In the second: after the second rak'ah in a seated position, read only Tashahud, after doing two rak'ah, but without the surah following the suh Fatih. After the fourth - read Tashahud, Salavat and say "Allahumma ini zalyamta nafsi" and end with a greeting.
How to read namaz to a woman?
For the female half, performing namaz is a little different. Firstly, the fact that the mosque for women always has a separate entrance. That is, a man in front of himself should never see a woman praying, bending down. How to read a prayer to a woman:
- She must express her sincere intention, before which a ritual bath is performed.
- Further, the beginning is exactly the same as that of men - Sura Fatih. Moreover, beginners can be limited only to it.
- When making a hand, the bow is not so deep, that is, it is not necessary to make a 90-degree angle between the hips and stomach, and you can leave your head above your back.
- During the bow of the earth, the elbows should touch the floor and thighs, to which the stomach is pressed.
- While sitting, the woman does not sit on her left leg, she puts her body on the floor, and her legs move to the right. At this moment, a greeting is pronounced, first turning to the right shoulder, then to the left.
- In the end, you can turn to Allah by speaking a personal dua.
Also, how to read namaz for a novice woman can be seen in detail in the video tutorials.
Having learned a short two-part prayer, you can begin to practice full.