MUSTAHABBAAT IN SALAAT(ACTS THAT EARN EXTRA MERITS IN SALAAT)

GREEN:    common to both men and women    BLUE:      only men       RED:     only women

 While Standing (Qiyaam) 

1]         When pronouncing the first Takbir at the commencement of prayers (Takibratul Ihram) and also when reciting all Takbirs which occur during prayers, raise your both hands and bring them parallel to your ears with fingers held adjacent to one another, pointing towards Qiblah. 

2]         Stand upright so that the weight of your body rests equally on two feet.  

3]         Relax your shoulders.  

4]         Place both your hands on the thighs with fingers held adjacent to one another.

(women should keep their hands on their chest)

 5]         Look at the place of Sajdah.   

6]         Stand in complete humility.  

7]         Align your feet.    

8]         Keep a distance of three open fingers, or a span between your feet.

(women should keep their feet close and adjacent to one another)

 

While Kneeling (Ruku’) 

1]         When kneeling for Ruku’ say Takbir first while still standing upright. 

2]         In Ruku’ bend further your knees backwards.

            (women should relax their knees)  

3]         Bend in such a way as to align your back with your neck.

(Women should bend their backs to look curved) 

4]         Place your palms on your knees with fingers stretched.

(Women should place them on their thighs with their fingers held adjacent) 

5]         Keep your arms and elbows apart from your body.

(women should keep them adjacent to their bodies)  

6]         Keep your eyes focused between the two feet. 

7]         After Ruku’, stand upright and say Takbir before going to Sajdah.

While Prostrating (Sajdah) 

1]         When going to Sajdah, first place your hands on the ground.

(women should place their knees first on the ground) 

2]         While performing Sajdah, you should not rest your arms on the ground; also, you should hold your arms apart from your sides.

(women should, while performing Sajdah, rest their arms on the ground, and their limbs kept close and adjacent to one another) 

3]         Place an additional Turba (Muhr), or a long Turba so that your nose touches the Turba. 

4]         Keep your fingers close and adjacent to one another, parallel to the ears, with their tips pointing towards Qiblah. 

5]         Look towards your nose. 

6]         After performing Sajdah, sit on your left leg and keep your hands on your thighs, at the same time placing the top of the right foot on the sole of the left foot.

(women should sit on their legs with their hands resting on their thighs and the soles of their feet on the ground)  

7]         At the time of standing up for the next Rak’at, you should lift your knees first from the ground and then your hands.

(women should keep their hands on their knees while sitting and should stand up straight from that position) 

           Note:    The obligatory precaution is that, after the second Sajdah in the first Rak’at and in the third Rak’at of Zuhr, Asr and Isha prayers, one should pause for a moment   before standing up.

 

While Reciting Tashahhud and Salaam 

1]         Sit on the left leg and place the top of your right foot on the sole of your left foot. 

2]         Place your hands on your thighs with fingers adjacent to one another and pointing towards Qibla, while your eyes are focused on your laps.

            (women should keep their thighs close and adjacent to each other while their eyes are focused on their laps) 

3]         When saying the three Takbirs after Salaam, raise your both hands and bring them parallel to your ears with fingers adjacent to one another, pointing towards Qiblah.

 

While Reciting Qunoot 

1]         Raise your hands to the level of your face, fingers (except the thumb) and palms held close and adjacent to one another and facing the sky, while eyes are focused on the palms. 

____________________________________________________________________________________

References:

·         Articles of Islamic Acts of Aayatullah Al-Sayyid Abul Qasim Al-Musavi al-Khui.

·         Islamic Laws of Ayatullah al-Udhma Al-Sayyid Ali Husaini Al-Seestani.

·         Elements of Islamic Studies by Allama Sayyid Saeed Akhtar Rizvi.

____________________________________________________________________________________                       

After Concluding the Prayers  

1] Before you change your sitting position, recite the Tasbeeh of Fatimah Zahra (a.s.):  

Allahu Akbar    -          34 times.

Alhamdulillah   -          33 times.

Subhanallah     -          33 times.

The use of beads that are made from the Turbah of Imam Husayn (a.s.) is recommended.  

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) narrates:  “Whoever did the Tasbeeh of Fatima Zahra (a.s.) before he unfolded his legs (from the position of sitting in obligatory prayer), Allah will forgive him and will make Paradise obligatory upon him.” 

“The beads from the grave of Imam Hussein (a.s.) are counted as Tasbeeh in the hand of a man, even if he didn't make the Tasbeeh (i.e. he only held it). The Tasbeeh of Fatima Zahra (a.s.) after every obligatory prayer is more loved by Allah than praying 1,000 Rak’ats every day.”

(Imam Reza (a.s.) Network.)

Other Duas after Salat