Salat - The Muslim Prayer Book — Page 91
S al a t —The Muslim Prayer Book 91 blessing. Although it is not obligatory, it is very strongly emphasised by the Holy Quran. It has always been the practice of the pious people to perform this Prayer regularly in order to gain Allah’s special favours. The time for Tahajjud Prayer finishes when the time for Fajr Prayer starts. The supplications made during Tahajjud Prayer are granted acceptance by God Almighty readily. It is also a vehicle for achieving nearness to God, because at that hour, one gives up sleep and forsakes the comfort of one’s bed, to fall prostrate before one’s Lord. Tahajjud Prayer consists of eight Rak‘ a t. The Holy Prophet sa always offered Tahajjud Prayer, dividing it into two Rak‘ a t units. He used to recite long passages from the Holy Quran in the Qiy a m position and prolong Ruk u‘ and Sajdah with supplications. His Tahajjud Prayer was followed by three Rak‘ a t of Vitr Prayer. Thus he used to offer eleven Rak‘ a t every night before dawn. TAR A V IH PRAYER Tar a v ih Prayer is the special Prayer ordained for the month of Ramadan. It has to be performed each night during the month of Ramadan. It is in fact offered at Tahajjud time. The observance of Tar a v ih Prayer after the ‘Ish a ’ Prayer was allowed during the caliphate of Hadrat ‘Umar ra , to enable such people, who for unavoidable reasons could not perform Tar a v ih Prayer at Tahajjud time to still offer this Prayer. However, it is preferable to offer this Prayer in pre-dawn hours. The recitation of long passages from the Holy Quran during the Tar a v ih Prayer has been in vogue among Muslims, following the practice of the