The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No.917- One reciting the last letter of a word should not, as an obligatory precaution, pause after the vowel of the last letter is pronounced; for example, to pronounce a Ḍammah on the 'R' in "Allahu Akbar" and say "Allahu Akbaru" then pause for a [short] period of time and recite after it "Bismillah al-Raḥmān al-Raḥīm". However there is no problem in continuing the recitation of two words without pronouncing the vowel of the last letter of the first word meaning reciting the end of one phrase without uttering the fatha or kasra, and immediately pronouncing the next verse or word; though it is better not to.

Issue No.918- In the third and fourth rak‘ats of prayer, one may either read only sūrah al-fātiḥa or tasbīḥāt arbaʿah, (سُبْحانَ اللّهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ وَ لا اِلهَ إِلاَّ اللّهُ وَ اللّهُ اَکْبَرُ) three times, though once is enough. It is also permissible to recite sūrah al-fātiḥa in one rak‘at, and tasbīḥāt arbaʿah in the other.

Issue No.919- It is obligatory that one in the third and fourth rak‘ats recites tasbīḥāt arbaʿah or sūrah al-fātiḥa (even the "بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم" as an obligatory precaution) in a whispering manner.

Issue No.922- It is recommended to utter words of [seeking] forgiveness from Allah after tasbīḥāt arbaʿah. For instance one should say " اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ رَبِّى وَ اَتُوبُ اِلَيْهِ " or, " اَللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لي".

Issue No.923- If a person doubts while in rukū‘ whether or not he has recited tasbīḥāt arbaʿah, he should ignore his doubt. However, if he has not bowed to the extent enough for rukū‘, he should, as an obligatory precaution, return and recite it.

Issue No.925- It is recommended that in the first rak‘at the person offering prayer should say " اَعُوذُ بِاللّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطانِ الرَّجِيمِ " before reciting sūrah al-fātiḥa, and it is also recommended to recite "Bismillah" loudly in the first and second rak‘ats of ẓuhr and ‘aṣr prayers. It is also recommended to recite al-fātiḥa and the sūrah and other words of prayer distinctly, to leave a pause between verses and more importantly pay attention to their meaning. And if one is offering prayer in congregation, it is recommended to say " اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رِبِّ الْعالَمينَ " with hope of gaining Allah’s (swt) rewards after the completion of al-fātiḥa by the imam (leader of congregational prayer) and after reciting sūrah al-Ikhlas, he should say, “کَذلِکَ اللّهُ رَبِّى” or “کَذلِکَ اللّهُ رَبُّنَا” once, twice or three times.

Issue No.927- In every Rak’at, a person offering prayers should, after reciting the Surahs (Qira’at), bow to an extent that he is able to rest his palms on his knees. Rather, the obligatory precaution is that he should rest his palms on his knees.

Issue No.928- If a person is different from people in the hands and knees, e.g., if his hands are very long so that if he bends a little they reach his knees, or his knees are lower than others, so that he must bend himself much to make his hands reach his knees, he should bend to the usual extent.

Issue No.929- A person who performs rukū‘ in the sitting posture should bend so much so that it can be said that he has done rukū‘.

Issue No.930- Bending should be with the intention of rukū‘. Therefore, if a person bows without this intention, he cannot count it as rukū‘. He will have to stand up and bow once again in rukū‘.

Issue No.931- It is obligatory to utter a dhikr in rukū‘. One should, as an obligatory precaution, say "سُبْحانَ اللهِ" three times or "سُبْحانَ رِبِّىَ الْعَظِيمِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ" once, and it should be uttered in correct Arabic. It is recommended that the dhikr be repeated three or five or seven times.

Issue No.932- The body should be still while reciting the obligatory dhikr, and if the recommended dhikr is being recited with the intention of dhikr of rukū‘, the body should be still as well.