On the other hand...

On the other hand, one should perform such acts which increase the reward like wearing an Aqiq, wearing clean clothes, combing the hair, brushing the teeth and using perfume. Obligatory Salat The following six prayers are obligatory: • Daily Salat . • Salat al-Ayaat. • Salat al-Mayyit. • Salat for the obligatory Tawaf of the holy Ka'bah. • Qadha Salat of father which are, as a precaution, obligatory upon his eldest son. • Salat which become obligatory on account of hire, vow or oath.

Salat al-Jumuah is included in the Daily Salat . Obligatory Daily Salat It is obligatory to perform the following five prayers during day and night: • Dawn prayers (Fajr) - 2 Rak'ats. • Midday (Zuhr) and Afternoon prayers ('Asr) - each one consisting of 4 Rak'ats. • Dusk prayers (Maghrib) - 3 Rak'ats and Night prayers ('Isha) - 4 Rak'ats. Issue 736: While travelling, a traveller should reduce the prayers of 4 Rak'ats to 2 Rak'ats.

The conditions under which the Rak'ats are reduced will be mentioned later. Time for Zuhr and Asr Prayers Issue 737: If a stick, a pole, or anything similar to it, which acts as an indicator (shakhis) is made to stand on a level ground, its shadow will fall westwards when the sun rises in the morning, and as the sun continues to rise the shadow cast by the indicator will reduce in size. And in our cities it becomes smallest at the time of the commencement of Zuhr.

And as Zuhr passes the shadow cast by the indicator turns eastwards, and as the sun moves towards west the shadow gets longer. Based on this, when the shadow is the shortest, and it begins getting longer again, it is known that Zuhr has taken place. However, in other cities like in Mecca, the shadow disappears totally, so, when it reappears it indicates Zuhr. Issue 738: * The time for Zuhr and Asr prayers is from when the sun starts declining at midday till sunset.

But, if a person intentionally offers Asr prayers earlier than Zuhr prayers, his prayer is void. However, if a person had not prayed Zuhr till the end of time, and the time left before Qadha allows only one Salat to be prayed, he will first offer Asr prayers in time and then his Zuhr will be Qadha. And if before that time a person offers complete Asr prayers before Zuhr prayers by mistake, his prayer is valid.

But as a recommended precaution, he should treat that Salat as Zuhr and should offer 4 more Rak'ats of prayers with the intention of relieving oneself of responsibility, if any (Ala mafi zzimmah).