Reason Behind Elements in Solah (MM 20/7/08)

Munyatul Musolli 20th July 2008

It is appropriate that a person who performs solah aware there is reason behind every activity. Hopefully this would make him grateful, that Allah has made things easy for him.

Truly in a solah there are various virtues in terms of bodily activities and remembrance to Allah.

Takbir
When standing up and say “Allahu Akbar”, state the intention (niat) in the heart. Know that Allah is indeed great and exalted, and you are standing in service for him. As a matter of fact, at this time Allah is also facing you saying: “My servant is standing before me, proclaiming that I am the Greatest”.
Raising both hands level to the ears, you are making commitment to enslave yourself to nothing else besides Allah.

Do’a Iftitah
You continue with the do’a iftitah, and with every verse, you become aware with the message:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ- Dignified You are Allah, free from error or imperfection,
وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ - Blessed is any doing that commence by saying Your name,
وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ - So Exalted and Great You are,
لاَإِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ - Only You the Creator and the One Giving Sustenance. Nothing else worshipped but You, nothing precedes and nothing succeeds You.

Note: The above is a shorter version of do'a iftitah.

Recite al-Fatihah
Then you continue with reciting al-Fatihah, keeping in mind the message:


أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الْشَّيْطَانِ الْرَّجِيمِ
I ask Your protection from calamity caused by the accursed satan.
بِسْمِ اللهِ الْرَّحْمَانِ الْرَّحِيمِ
In everything I do, I ask for help with Your gentleness, love, and mercy.

[Recite al-Fatihah until the end.]
All praise to Allah who did not make me one of those He is angry with (the Jews), nor one of those who have gone astray (the Christians). Instead He made me from those on the path of the prophets, martyrs, and the honest.

Bowing
Bowing down (ruku’) is as if sending a salute to Allah by placing yourself low in front of Him. You present yourself while being sinful and full of offense, and with hope that He forgives you. Doing this, you recite:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
I present myself humbly to God the Great and Generous.

I’tidal
Next you raise yourself to the upright position saying:
سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Allah has forgiven those who say His name and obey Him.

Ustaz Zakaria said:

• In obtaining Islamic lesson, make sure you get it from authorized syaikhs, who carry a valid sanad (authority to transmit particular knowledge).
• An old man from Besut – Tok Ayah Pomen – obtained many ijazahs (authorization) to practice various hizibs. From syaikhs in Makkah alone, he obtained 21 ijazahs.
• Tariqah is a good thing for Muslims. Do not reject it simply because some people have tainted it with extremities.
• Satans who make journey to the sky and spy for divine news will be chased away with fiery objects (meteors). Some of them get hit and fall to earth. Incapacitated, they now take pleasure in doing mischief to people. These are what we call “ghosts” or “evil spirits”.
• It is preferred that at the end of al-Fatihah, we join together “صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِم “ with “غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِم” without waqaf (stopping).
• On reciting a surah after al-Fatihah, you get more reward if you recite a surah in full. So better to read a short surah completely compared to a long surah partially.
• Method in fiqh: Any ‘amal (religious practice) must be done in accordance with authentic position (qaul sahih). Only if you encounter difficulties, you are permitted to follow the weaker position. Even then, this position is for your own use only, do not force other people to follow it.
• Today Ustaz Zakaria gave ijazah to practice Hizib Bahr (Hizbul-Bahri) of Imam Abu Hassan As-Syazili (rh). He also mentioned the wirids to fight off satan.
• Interesting story about a pious man named “Pak Long Bismillah” from Besut, who gained Allah’s favor from simply reciting “Bismillah” 786 times a day, and consistently travel to different masjids to clean ablution water-tanks. Also called "Pak Long Kolah".
• It is sunnah to say “Bismillah” before performing any respectable work. Cleaning up dirt, even though virtuous in its intention, is not considered “respectable”.

Wallahu a’lam.

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