Salat Timing

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INTRODUCTION

Prayer timings do not remain constant as they are determined by looking at the sun. Consequently the time of a particular prayer would be different in different parts of the World. Prayer Time Tables are easily available at the mosques and Islamic Centers throughout the World. Now-a- days electronic devices like 'TBilal" or "Spectronic" are available in the market which can tell the prayer times of nearly 1000 major cities of the World. They are particularly helpful to the Muslims traveling to non Muslim countries However, the following general timetable for prayers can fairly be observed in almost any part of the World. There are five obligatory prayers which are performed at five different times of the day.

(1) Salat-ul-Fair. the morning Prayer

It is the first of the Five obligatory prayers of the day. lt can be performed at any time between the breaking of the dawn till sunrise. It consists of two raka's (two units as explained through the accompanying postures).

(2) Salat-ul-Zuhr. the noon prayer

It consists of four raka's, (4 units); Its time begins after the sun declines from its zenith until it is about midway from setting.

(3) Salat-ul -Asr. the afternoon Prayer

It consists of four raka's (4 units). Its time begins soon after the time for Zuhr prayer ends and extends to just before sunset

(4) Salat-ul-Maghrib. the evening prayer

It consists of three raka's (3 units). Its time begins just after sunset and extends to a period of an hour and a half.

(5) Salat-ul-lsha. the night prayer.

It consists of four raka's (4 units) and its time begins about an hour and a half after sunset and extends to dawn.

Of the 5 obligatory prayers mentioned above, one of them contains two raka's, three contain four raka's and one containing three raka's Each kind has been explained separately. All the prayers (to be recited in Arabic) and the postures in which to recite each prayer have been explained with the help of the given figures. The figures have been drawn in the order in which each posture is assumed and the particular prayer recited. In order to memorize the prayer for each posture the reader only needs to look at the number of the figure and listen to the tape while looking at the transcript which gives the Arabic prayer in Roman letters.