The Sunan Of Salaah

(Sunan - things said, done or liked by Rasoolukkah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)
1. Lifting the hands to the ear-lobes (or the shoulders, for girls and women) when saying Takbeer Tahreemah.
2. Placing the right hand over the left during Qiyaam.
3. Reading of Thanaa and Bismillah.
4. Saying ""Ameen"" silently after Suratul Faatihah.
5. Saying ""Allahu Akbar"" when going into Ruku and when coming up between each Sajdah. (Note: the first Allahu Akbar, Takbeer Tahreemah, is Fard.)
6. Reading tasbeeh in ruku and sajdah
7. Lifting the right forefinger when reciting the Kalimah Shahaadah in Tashahhud.
8. Reading Durood and Du’aa after Durood in the last rakaat.
9. Sitting in the prescribed manner.
10. Turning the face to the right when saying ‘Assalaamu Alaikum’, and then doing the same to the left, at the end of the Salaah.

Note: By performing the various Sunan of Salaah, the full benefits of Salaah will be obtained, Insha Allah. If a Sunnah is left out it will not break the Salaah, nor will Sajdatus Sahw be necessary, but it will lessen the benefits and blessings of the Salaah."


THE SUNAN OF TAKBEER--E--TAHREEMAH
1. It is Sunnah for males to lift the hands up to the ears and for females to lift the hands upto the shoulders, while saying "Allahu Akbar."
2. The fingers should be kept relaxed with the palms facing Qiblah.
3. Males, after lifting the hands to the ears, place them below the navel with the right hand over the left.
4. Females place the hands on the chest, with the right hand over the left.


THE SUNAN OF QIYAAM
1. Stand with the feet parallel to one another with a gap of about 10cm--15cm between the feet.
2. The body should be erect with the head lowered and the eyes focused on the spot where the forehead will rest when in Sajdah.


THE SUNAN OF QIRAAT
1. To recite Thanaa
2. The reciting of Ta’wwuz
3. The reciting of Tasmiyah
4. The reciting of Bismillah at the start of every rakaat.
5. The saying of "Ameen" after Surah Faatihah
6. The reciting of Ta’wwuz, Tasmiyah, Ameen and Tahmeed softly.
7. The first rakaat of the Fard of Fajr should be longer than the second.
8. The reciting of Surah Faatihah in the third and fourth rakaats of Zuhr, Asr, Esha and the third of Maghrib.
See the tab "What must be read" for more on the Arabic.


THE SUNAN OF RUKU
1. The reciting of the Takbeer when going into Ruku.
2. The reciting of the Tasbeeh thrice.
3. The holding of the knees firmly. The fingers of the males to be open when holding the knees, and those of the females closed.
4. The legs should be straight and erect.
5. The back should be in line with the head.
6. The reciting of the Tasmee when getting up from Ruku and the reciting of the Tahmeed while in Qawmah.


SUNAN OF SAJDAH
1. When going into Sajdah, allow the knees to touch the ground first, then the hands, the nose and finally the forehead.
2. When getting up from Sajdah, the forehead is lifted first, then the nose, next the hands, and finally the knees. In other words, the process is reversed.
3. When in Sajdah the palms of the hands should be placed on the ground with the fingers closed and facing the Qiblah. The forehead should rest between the hands.
4. The reciting of Takbeer when going into Sajdah.
5. The reciting of Takbeer when getting up from Sajdah.
6. The reciting of Tasbeeh thrice while in Sajdah.
7. While in Sajdah, males should ensure that the stomach does not rest on the thighs while the forearms should not rest on the floor.
8. Females should keep the thighs close to the stomach to observe hijaab. The forearms should be flat on the floor and close to the body.


SUNAN OF QA’DAH AND JALSAH
1. Males should sit on the left foot by placing it flat on the ground and the right foot up with the toes facing the Qiblah.
2. Females should sit on their left rear, extending both the feet out to the right.
3. Place the palms of both hands on the thighs above the knees.
4. When reciting Tashahhud, lift the index finger on reaching the "Laa" of "Ashhadu anlaa ilaha", fold the rest of the fingers into a ball and lower the index finger on reaching "illallahu".
5. Recite Durood - e - Ibraheem and the Du’aa - e - Ma’thoorah.


SUNAN OF SALAAM
1. It is Sunnah to say the words "Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah" when making Salaam at the end of every set of rakaat.
2. When making Salaam, the face should be turned first to the right, then to the left.
3. When turning the face to the right and left, during Jama’ah Salaah, the intention of greeting the Musallees, the Imaam and the angels on either side should be made.
4. A Munfarid (one who performs Salaah by himself) should make the intention of greeting the angels on both sides.

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