RECITATION OF THE QURAN

Allah the Supreme states, “Recite from the Quran as much as you can achieve.”

And on another occasion He states: “And when the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and keep silent, so that you receive mercy.”

Memorizing one Ayah (verse) of the Holy Quran is a principal obligation upon every duty-bound Muslim, and memorizing the entire Holy Quran is a “Sufficing Obligation” (Farz Kifayah). Memorizing Surah alFatehah and one small Surah (or three small verses or one large verse equal to one small Surah) is Essential.

Learning the rulings of Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh) is also a principal obligation and learning it more than what is needed is better than memorizing the entire Holy Quran.

Reading the Quran whilst looking at it is better than reciting from memory, for this entails reciting it plus looking at it plus touching it – and all these are acts of worship. It is recommended to read it with ablution, while facing the “Qiblah” and wearing clean clothes. It is also recommended to recite “Taawuz” and “Tasmiyah” prior to beginning reading the Quran. If it is the beginning of a Surah, reciting the “Tasmiyah” is Sunnah. During recitation if one stops to attend any worldly matter, the “Taawuz” and the “Tasmiyah” should be recited again.

Reciting the Quran whilst lying on the back is permitted, provided the knees are folded up. Likewise reciting it whilst walking or working is also permitted provided the heart is not distracted or else it is undesirable (Makrooh).

When the Quran is being recited audibly, it is obligatory for all those present to be quiet and to listen to it attentively. Listening to the Quran is better than reciting it or offering Voluntary Prayers.

In a gathering, it is forbidden for everyone to read the Quran audibly at the same time. In some “Quran Completion” (Quran Khwani) gatherings everyone reads it aloud at the same time – such collective loud reading is forbidden (haraam). When there are several people reading the Quran, each one of them must keep a low voice which is not audible to others but at least audible to the reader (provided there is no noise interference from other sources).

Each alphabet must be pronounced correctly. Special care should be taken for similar sounding alphabets e.g. Alif, Ain – Qaf, Kaf – Daad, Daal etc. This is very important because changing the pronunciation could corrupt its meaning, leading to the invalidation of Prayer.

It is a grave sin to forget the Quran after having memorized it or having learnt how to read it. It is mentioned in the Hadith that a person who forgets the Quran after having read it will come as a leper on the Day of Resurrection – whilst it is mentioned in the Quran that he will come blind.

Not only will those who memorize the Holy Quran and act upon it accordingly be awarded Paradise, but Allah the Supreme will accept their intercession for 10 such relatives of theirs, upon whom hell had become mandatory.

The Prostration for Quran recitation.

There are 14 verses in the Holy Quran which when read or heard, make it Essential to offer prostration. Its method according to Sunnah is to at first say “Allahu Akbar” while standing upright, then proceed for the prostration in which “Subhaana Rabbi al-Aala” should be recited 3 times, and then get up again while saying “Allahu Akbar”. The prostration is correctly offered even if one does not stand up before or after such prostration. Do not raise your hands to the ears nor proclaim Salaam for this prostration.

If such a verse is recited during the Prayer, it becomes Essential (Wajib) to offer the prostration within the particular Prayer itself. The entire verse need not have been recited. The prostration will become Essential even if just the word mentioning the command of prostration along with another word (before or after) is recited from such a verse. To offer this, just making an intention for the Recitation Prostration is enough – it is not necessary to make an intention that the prostration is for such and such particular verse.

If one reads or hears one such verse several times over in a single sitting, only one prostration is Essential- even if heard from more than one person. Similarly if the same verse is repeated several times in a single Cycle (Rakaat), only one prostration is Essential – even if the person offers the prostration after reading it once or then reads it several times again, still the one prostration is enough. It is strongly disliked (Makrooh Tahreemi) to recite an entire Surah and leave out a verse containing the command of prostration.

If one reads all the 14 commands of prostration and offers the prostrations, Allah will fulfil the purpose for which these were offered. The prostrations can be offered after reciting each verse or all together at the end.

It is recommended (Mustahab) to offer a prostration of gratitude towards Allah upon receiving any blessing such as a child, wealth, restoration of health etc. Cleanliness (Taharah) is a condition for the prostration of gratitude and its method is similar to the prostration for recitation.

THE NIGHT VIGIL

It is recommended (Mustahab) to maintain the Night Vigil (stay awake for worship) during the following nights – 15^th night of Sha’baan (Shab-e-Baraat or the Night of Deliverance), the nights of Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha, the last 10 nights of Ramadhan, and the first 10 nights of ZilHajj.

The Night Vigil does not mean merely spending the night staying awake, but to spend it in worship. If one has some lapsed Prayers pending, one should offer them or else offer Voluntary (Nawafil) Prayers alone, or read or listen to the Holy Quran or Ahadith, or send Salutations upon the Holy Prophet () – all these are acts of worship and one should engross oneself in them. In these special sacred nights, if one gets the chance to attend a gathering where one can obtain religious knowledge, this is still better as obtaining such knowledge is an obligation upon all Muslims.

Among these, the Night Vigil for the nights of the two Eids means offering the Night (Isha) Prayer as well as the Dawn (Fajr) Prayer along with the first congregations. It is mentioned in the Hadith: “The one who offers the Night Prayer with the congregation has spent half the night in worship, and the one who also offers the Dawn Prayer with the congregation has spent the full night in worship.” (Muslim)

If one wishes to spend one third of the night in worship, it is better to sleep for the first one third and do worship in the middle one third of the night. If one wishes to spend half the night in worship, it is better to do worship in the second half of the night.

The Holy Prophet () has stated: “Every night when a third of it remains, Allah the Supreme directs His special attention to the sky of the world and says: “Is there anyone who invokes Me, so that I may accept his invocation ?? Is there anyone who seeks something from Me so that I may bestow to him ?? Is there anyone who seeks forgiveness so that I may forgive him ??” (Bukhari & Muslim)

THE PURE WORDS (KALEMAATE TAYYEBAAT)

The Concise Faith (Imaaan Mujmal)

Aamantu Billahe kama huwa be-Asmaaehi wa sifaatehi wa qabiltu jameeya ahkaamehi iqraarun billisaani wa tasdeequn bil-qalb

“I accept faith in Allah - the way He is as per His names and His attributes – and I accept all His commands with verbal acknowledgement and heart’s testimony.”

The Descriptive Faith (Imaan Mufassal)

Aamantu Billahe wa malaaekatehi wa kutubehi wa rusulehi wa alyawme al-aakheri wa al-qadre khayrehi wa sharrehi min-Allahe Ta’ala wa al-ba’se ba’d al-mawt.

“I accept faith in Allah, and His angels, and His books, and His apostles, and the last day (of resurrection), and the fact that good and evil destiny is from Allah the Supreme, and in resurrection after death.”

The First Declaration - of Purity (Kalemah Tayyeb)

La Ilaha Ill-Allahu Muhammed-ur-Rasoolu-Allah

“There is none worthy of worship (God) except Allah, Mohammed () is the Messenger of Allah.”

The Second Declaration – of Testimony (Kalemah Shahadah)

Ash-hadu alaa ilaaha Ill-Allahu wahdahoo laa shareeka lah – wa ash-hadu anna Muhammedan abduhoo wa Rasooluh.

“I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship (God) except Allah, He is One, He has no partner – and I also bear witness that Mohammed () is His bondman and His Messenger.”

The Third Declaration – of Honoring (Kalemah Tamjeed)

Subhaanallahe walHamdu lillahe wa laa ilaaha ill-Allahu wAllahu akbar; wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billah –ilAliy-ilAzeem

“Allah is Pure, and all praise is for Allah, and there is none worthy of worship (God) except Allah, and Allah is Most Great; and the power to resist evil and the strength to do good is only from Allah, the Supreme, the Greatest.”

The Fourth Declaration – of Oneness (Kalemah Tawheed)

La ilaaha ill-Allahu wahdahoo laa shareeka lah – lah-ulMulk wa lah-ulHamdu yuhyee wa yumeetu wa huwa hayy ul-laa yamootu abadan abadaa; zulJalaale wal-Ikraame ; beyadehil-Khair; wa huwa alaa kulle shaeyin qadeer.

“There is none worthy of worship (God) except Allah, He is One, He has no partner – for Him is the kingdom and all praise – it is He Who gives life and it is He Who gives death, and He is Alive by Himself, He will never ever die; the Owner of great majesty and superiority; in His Hands lies all goodness and He is Able to do all things.”

The Fifth Declaration – of seeking Forgiveness (Kalemah Isteghfaar)

Astaghferullaha rabbee min kulle zambin aznabtuhoo amadan aw khata-an sirran aw alaniyatan wa atoobu ilayhe min-azzambi-llazzee aalamu wa min-azzambi-llazzee laa aalamu innaka allaam-ulghuyoobe wa sattaar-uluyoobe wa ghaffaar-uzzunoobe wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billah-ilAliy-ilAzeem.

“I seek forgiveness from Allah my Lord, for all my sins which I committed purposely or by mistake, secretly or openly – I incline in repentance towards Him – and also for the sins I know and the sins I do not know; O Allah !! Indeed You are All Knowing of all the secrets, and it is You Who hides the shortcomings and You Who forgives the sins - and the power to resist evil and the strength to do good is only from Allah, the Supreme, the Greatest.”

The Sixth Declaration – rejecting disbelief (Kalemah Radd-e Kufr)

Allahumma Innee aoozubeka min an ushreka beka shay-an wa ana aalamu behi wa astaghferuka lemaa laa aalamu behi tubtu anhu wa tabarra’tu minal-Kufre wash-shirke wal-Kizbe wal-geebate wal-bidate wan-nameemate wal-fawaheshe wal-buhtaane wal-maaasee kullehaa wa aslamtu wa aqoolu La Ilaha Ill-Allahu Muhammed-ur-Rasoolu-Allah

“O Allah !! I seek Your refuge from knowingly associating anyone with You and I seek Your forgiveness from unknowingly associating (anyone with You) and I repent from it – and I am unconcerned with disbelief, association, falsehood, backbiting, innovating, spreading spite, lewdness, slander and all sins – and have accepted Islam and I declare that “There is none worthy of worship (God) except Allah, Mohammed ( is the Messenger of Allah””

SOME SUNNAH SUPPLICATIONS

The Holy Prophet () has said: “Supplication is the core of worship.” The author’s book named “Masnoon Dua-en” (Sunnah Supplications) is a collection of 180 such supplications plus other remembrances (azkaar) and has been published several times. Below listed are a few such supplications – for more, please refer to the above-named collection.

The Morning and Evening Supplication

Bismillah-illazee laa yadurru ma-Ismehee shay-un fil-arde wa laa fi-ssamaae wa huwa-sSameey-ulAleem

With Allah’s name (I witness the morning / evening) – with Whose name nothing in the earth nor in the sky can cause any harm – and He only is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

When entering one’s home

Allaahumma innee as-aluka khair-alMawlije wa khair-alMakhrije - Bismillahe wa lajjenaa wa alallahe rabbenaa tawakkalnaa

“O Allah !! I seek goodness from you for entering into and exiting from the house; we enter with the name of Allah, and have relied only upon Allah the Supreme, our Lord.”

When stepping out of one's home

Bismillaahe tawakkaltu alallaahe wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah.

“With Allah’s name (I go forth), I put my trust in Allah, and the power to resist evil and the strength to do good is only from Allah, the Supreme, the Greatest.”

When entering a mosque

Bismillaahe was-salaatu was-Salaamu alaa Rasoolillaah – rabbigfirlee zunoobee waftah lee abwaaba rahmateka

“With Allah’s name (I enter the mosque) and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah !! Open for me the gates of Your mercy.”

When stepping out of a mosque

Bismillaahi was-salaatu was-Salaamu alaa Rasoolillaah - Allaahumma inee as-aluka min fadleka.

“With Allah’s name (I exit from the mosque) and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah !! I seek from You Your grace.”

While performing Ablution

Allaahummaghfirlee zambee wa wassey lee fee daaree wa baarek lee fee rizqee.

“O Allah !! Forgive me my sins and bestow spaciousness and improvement in my house, and bestow abundance in my livelihood.”

Before beginning a meal

Bismillah-illazee laa yadurru ma-Ismehee shay-un fil-arde wa laa fi-ssamaae yaa Hayyu yaa Qayyoom

“With Allah’s name (I begin my meal) – with Whose name nothing in the earth nor in the sky can cause any harm. O the Eternally Alive, the Sustainer.”

Bismillaahi wa alaa barkatillah

“With Allah’s name, and with abundance from Allah (I begin my meal).”

Upon finishing the meal

Alhamdu lillaahillazee, atamanaa wa saqaanaa wa jaalanaa min-almuslimeen.

“All praise is for Allah who fed us and gave us drink and made us Muslims.” (Tirmizi)

If one forgets to say Bismillah before beginning the meal

Bismillaahi awwalahoo wa aakherahoo

“With Allah’s name, in the beginning and also at the end.” (Tirmizi)

Upon going to bed

Allaahumma bismeka amootu wa ahyaa.

O Allah !! Upon Your name only will I die and live !! (Bukhari)

Upon getting up from sleep:

Alhamdu lillaahillazee ahyaanaa bada maa amaatanaa wa ilayhin-nushoor

“All praise is for Allah who gave us life after death (sleep), and it is to Him we have to return.”

Before entering the toilet:

Allahumma innee aoozu bika minal khubusi wal khabaa-es.

"O Allah !! I seek refuge with You from all wicked male and female jinns."

Upon coming out of the toilet:

Gufranaka - AlHamdu lillaahillazee azhaba annil azaa wa aafaanee.

"All praise is due to Allah alone, who has removed the distress from me and given me comfort."

When removing one’s clothes

Recite “Bismillah Shareef” when taking off the clothes, as this creates a veil from humans and devils.

When putting on a new dress:

AlHamdu lillaahil-lazee kasaanee maa uwaariya bihi auraatee wa atajam-malu bihi fee hayaatee.

"All praise is due to Allah, who has clothed me so that I may hide my nakedness and so that I may adorn myself while I am alive."

On looking into the mirror:

AIlaahumma hassanta khalqee fa hassin khuluqee.

"O Allah !! You have made me good-looking; make my characater good too."

When seated on a mount or a vehicle:

AlHamdu lillah - Subhaanallazee sakh-khara lanaa haaza wa maa kun-naa lahoo muqrineena wa innaa ilaa rabbenaa lamunqaliboon.

"All Praise is for Allah - Pure is He Who has put this (mount) in our control whereas we could not have subjugated it, and indeed we are to return to our Lord."

When visiting a market:

Laa ilaaha Ill-Allahu wahdahoo laa shareeka lah – lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu yuhyee wa yumeetu wa huwa hayyul-laa yamootu beyadehil-Khair; wa huwa alaa kulle shaeyin qadeer.

“There is none worthy of worship (God) except Allah, He is One, He has no partner – for Him is the kingdom and all praise – it is He Who gives life and it is He Who gives death, and He is Alive by Himself, He will never die; in His Hands lies all goodness and He is Able to do all things.”

When in fear or anxiety:

Hasbun-Allahu wa neamal wakeel

“Allah is Sufficient for us, and what an excellent Trustee He is !!”

To remove the effect of evil eyes:

Aoozu be-kalemaat-illahe-ttaamate min kulle shaytaani-wwahaammatin wa min kulle ayni-llaammah.

“I seek refuge through the entire words of Allah from the evil of every devil, and every harmful animal and every harmful eye.”

To free oneself from pain:

The Holy Prophet () said: “If a patient puts the hand at the place of pain and recites “Bismillah” thrice and then recites the following supplication 7 times, the pain will, Allah willing, go away.” (Saheeh Muslim)

Aoozu be-izzatillahe wa qudratehi min sharre maa ajedu wa uhaaziru.

“I seek refuge of Allah the Supreme’s Honour and Power from the evil of the suffering I am experiencing and I seek refuge from this suffering.”

For abundance in provisions and repayment of debt:

Allahumma akfenee be-halaaleka an haraameka wa agninee be-fadleka amman sewaka.

“O Allah !! Suffice me with lawful provision and save me from the forbidden, and by Your Munificence make me independent of everyone except You.”

For freedom from sorrow and for the attainment of blessings:

The Holy Prophet () said:

“Sending blessings (upon me) removes sorrow and annuls sins.” (Tirmizi Shareef)

“Whoever sends one blessing upon me – Allah sends ten blessings upon him.” (Saheeh Muslim)

SallAllahu alanabbiyy-illummiyye wa aalehi sallAllahu alayhe wa sallam salaata-wwa-salaaman alayka yaa RasoolAllah.

“Allahs’s blessings be upon the untaught Herald of the Hidden and his progeny, Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him – blessings and peace be upon you, O the Messenger of Allah !!”

“All Praise to Allah the Supreme, and abundant blessings and peace be upon His Messenger Mohammed, the leader of the creation.”