On the contrary one should perform the acts which increase...

On the contrary one should perform the acts which increase the spiritual recompense (e.g. we should wear a ring containing agate (Aqiq) and also wear clean dress, comb our hair, brush our teeth and apply perfume). Obligatory Prayers The following six prayers are obligatory: (i) Daily prayers. (ii) Signs prayers. (iii) Prayers for a dead body. (iv) Prayers for the obligatory Tawaf of the holy Ka'bah. (v) Lapsed prayers of father which are obligatory upon his eldest son.

(vi) Prayers which become obligatory on account of hire, vow or oath. Obligatory Daily Prayers It is obligatory to perform the following five prayers during day and night: Midday (Zuhr) and afternoon prayers ('Asr) - each one consisting of 4 units (Rak'at). Dusk prayers (maghrib) - 3 units. Night prayers (Isha) - 4 units. Dawn prayers (Fajr) - 2 units. 736. While travelling the traveller should reduce the prayers of 4 units to 2 units.

The conditions under which the units are shortened will be mentioned later. Prescribed Time For Midday And Afternoon Prayers 737. If a stick or anything similar to it, which is called indicator (Shakhis) is inserted in a levelled ground its shadow will fall towards west when the sun rises in the morning and as the sun continues to rise the shadow of the indicator decreases. And in our cities it becomes smallest at the time of the commencement of miday.

And when midday passes the shadow of the indicator turns towards east and as the sun moves towards west the shadow goes on increasing. Hence when the shadow reaches the last stage of shortness and begins increasing again it is known that midday has taken place. However, in some cities e.g. in Mecca the shadow becomes extinct sometimes and when it reappears it becomes known that it is midday. 738. The time prescribed for midday and afternoon prayers is from the declining of the sun till sunset.

However, if a person intentionally offers afternoon prayers earlier than midday prayers his prayers is void except when sufficient time is not left for more than one prayer. In that event if a person has not offered midday prayers it becomes qaza and he should offer afternoon prayers. And if before that time a person offers complete afternoon prayers before midday prayers by mistake his prayers is valid.

And it is better that he should treat that prayers to he midday prayers and should offer 4 more units of prayers with the intention of nearness to Allah (Mafis zima Qurbatan ilial lah).