I have a few quick questions:
1. I know there are times for when you perform each prayer, but does it have to be exactly at this time? Could it be a little earlier or later?
2. I'm at school till 3 and it generally takes about 20-25 minutes to get home, depending on traffic and whatnot, so I usually miss my Dhuhr prayer and sometimes Asr, so could I pray my Dhuhr prayer and my Asr prayer consecutively as soon as I get home?
3. So I'm entirely confused about dua. Are there specific times for dua, or could I just make dua whenever? How many times do I need to make dua per day? I'm not really sure if this question belongs here but I'll just put them all in one nice post.
4. What are tarawih salah and witr salah? Are they required during Ramadan?
Sorry about all the questions, I know it's a lot?
Jazakallahu khayr for your questions.
1. Praying Salah in the correct appointed time is prescribed in the Qur'an.
Allah Most High says::
“Verily, As-Salaah (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours” [al-Nisa’ 4:103]
Therefore it is most important that we are mindful of praying Salaah in the correct prescribed times:
Woe to the worshipers who are unmindful of their prayer. (Quran 107:4-5)
2. The biggest test for us in terms of praying our daily Salah is that there will be many times where it will not be convenient for us. Like for example when we are at work, out shopping etc. But no matter what we are doing we must bare in mind the purpose of our life and there is no other reason we are created for except to worship Allah and Salaah is the best of all worship therefore there is no excuse for us to miss our Salaah. Having worked in many organisations i can personally tell you that it only takes a little effort from our part in order for us to pray at work. All we need to do is to find a small amount of space to be able to prostrate and we can pray our prayers there. This requires just a little bit of walking around looking for places around our workplace. If not then there is no harm in asking someone to recommend us a place to do a short prayer. No one can stop us from praying our daily prayers.
Most of the times it is us who stop ourselves from praying at work or if we are out and about. So we must NEVER let our enemy satan give us excuses to skip our prayers just because we are at work or are out and about. Allah has made the entire Earth a place of prayer for us except those places where there is visible dirt and toilets. Therefore we can pray ANYWHERE especially whilst at work and shopping etc. There is no excuse for us to miss a prayer and make Qadha at home because of being at work or shopping. So from now on let us make firm intention NEVER to miss a single prayer no matter where we are for on the day of Judgement when we realise the reward of each Salah we will regret for eternity missing it just because we could not be bothered to pray it at work or whilst out shopping. We must be firm on ourselves NEVER to miss a single prayer.
3. There is no limit to the amount of Dua that we can make. Almighty Allah does not tire of listening to our Dua's but it is us who tire in making Dua. Allah loves it when his slaves call upon him in meekness and humility.
In order to build a close relationship with Allah we should always call upon him in all situations and circumstances whether we are happy or sad and we should ask him for all of our needs aswell as help and guidance in all aspects of our lives.
Allah the most compassionate says in the Holy Quran, "Call on Me. I will answer your prayer, but those who are too arrogant to serve me will surely find themselves humiliated in Hell" (40:60).
Allah the Exalted, has said: "And your Lord says: Pray unto me: and I will hear your prayer" (Quran 40:60),
"Call upon your Lord Humbly and in secret" (Quran 7:55),
"When My servants question thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me" (Quran 2:186),
"Is not He (best) who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and who relieves its suffering." (Quran 27:62)
Dua’s are never wasted
Aisha radhiallaahu anha said, "No believer makes Dua and it is wasted. Either it is granted here in this world or deposited for him in the Hereafter as long as he does not get frustrated."
Allah’s anger at those who don’t make dua
In fact, it is even wrong to never make Dua, "Whosoever does not supplicate to Allah, He will be angry with Him." [Saheeh Jaami`as-Sagheer #2414]
Dua is a weapon for the believers
Rasullullah is reported to have said, “Dua is the weapon of a Muslim”.
Dua for ones brother in his absence
"The supplication that gets the quickest answer is the one made by one Muslim for another in his absence." [Abu Daw'ud and Tirmidhi]
So let us build a close relationship with Allah by making much Dua to him. He loves it when his slave calls upon him and it angers him if his slave does not call upon him.
These etiquettes are narrated in the Hadith. For reasons of brevity, only the following summary and reference of each Hadith is mentioned instead of the entire Hadith.
1.To abstain from haraam food, clothing and earnings. (Muslim : Tirmizi)
2.To make Duaa with sincerity. In other words, one should firmly believe that nobody but Allah Ta'aala will fulfill his objectives. (Haakim)
3.One should perform a good deed prior to making the Duaa & he should mention this during the course of the Duaa. For eg. He should say, O Allah! I had performed so & so deed solely for Your pleasure. O Allah! accept my Duaa due to the barkat of that deed. (Muslim, Tirmizi, Abu Daud).
4.To make Duaa whilst one is paak & clean. (Tirmizi, Abu Daud, ibne Majah, Nasai, ibe Hibbaan, Mustadrak).
5.To make wudhu before the Duaa (Sihah-Sittah)
6.To face the Qiblah (Sihah-Sittah)
7.To sit as in the Tashahhud position (Abu Awanah)
8.To praise Allah Ta'aala at the beginning as well as at the end of Duaa (Sihah-Sittah)
9.To convey Durood upon Rasulullah ( ) at the beginning as well as the end. (Abu Daud, Musnade-Ahmad)
10.To spread out both the hands. (Tirmizi, Mustadrak)
11.To raise both the hands up to the shoulders (Abu Daud, Musnade-Ahmad)
12.To sit with humility and respect. (Muslim, Abu Daud, Tirmizi, Abu Daud)
13.To mention ones helplessness and dependence. (Tirmizi)
14.To abstain from raising the eyes towards the sky whilst making Duaa (Muslim)
15.To mention the Asmaal-Husnaa (the names of Allah Ta'aala ) and the sublime qualities Of Allah Ta'aala. (Ibe Hibbaan and Mustadrak)
16.To abstain from ceremonies rhyming of the Duaa phrases (Bukhari)
17.To abstain from saying the Duaa in a "sing-song" tone if the Duaa is in a poetic form (Hisn)
18.One should make Duaa through the medium of the Ambiyaa (alayhimus-salaam) and other Pious servants. (For eg. He should say. O Allah! Accepts my Duaa through The good offices of these saintly people). (Bukhari, Bazzaar, Haakim)
19.To make the Duaa in a soft voice (Sihah-Sittah on the authority if Abu Musa )
20To utter the Duaa phrases transcribed from Rasulullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam because Rasulullah Didn't leave out a single need of the Deen nor of the dunya whilst teaching us how to make Duaa (Abu Daud/Nasai)
21.To make a Duaa that encompasses most of the needs of Deen and the dunya. (Abu Daud)
22.To make Duaa in favour of oneself first, thereafter ones parents and to include the other Muslims in the Duaa as well (Muslims)
23.If the Imam is making Duaa, he should not make Duaa for himself only but he should Include all the congregants in the Duaa (Abu Daud, Tirmizi, ibne Majah)Abu Daud (R.A.) Narrates that Rasulullah Said that the Imam who makes Duaa for himself only, has betrayed the people." In other words, the Imam should not Make a Duaa that is restricted to him alone. For eg. He should not say, "O Allah! cure my son." or "O Allah! Return my lost item." etc. but he should make a Duaa that includes all the congregation for eg. He may say "O Allah! Forgive us and have mercy upon us."
24.To make Duaa with firm conviction (for eg. he should not say: "O Allah! If you wish fulfil so and so task of mine." (Sihah-Sittah)
25.To make Duaa with enthusiasm & yearning. (Ibne Hibbn & Abu Awana).
26.As far as possible endeavour to bring about a "presence of heart and mind" and cherish a high hope of the Duaa being accepted.(Haakim)
27.To make Duaa repeatedly. (Bukhari, Muslim) This repetition should be at least thrice (Abu Daud)Note One may repeat the Duaa thrice in none sitting or he may repeat it on three different occasions. The "repetition of the Duaa" can be interpreted in both ways."
28.To make Duaa earnestly and insistently. (Nasai, Hakim, Abu awanah)
29.To abstain from making Duaa of severing family ties or other sins. (Muslim, Tirmizi)
30.Avoid making Duaas of pre-determined and fixed things (for eg woman should not make a duaa of being transformed into a man or a tall person shouldn't make Duaa thus:"O Allah! Make me short ." etc) (Nasai).
31.Don't Make Duaa for impossible things. (Bukhari)
32.Don't make a Duaa in which you ask Allah Ta'aala to confine His mercy to yourself Only (Bukhari, Abu Daud, Nasai, ibne Majah)
33.Ask only Allah Ta'aala alone for all your needs. Do not depend upon His creation. (Tirmizi/ibne Hibbaan)
34.The one making the Duaa as well as the person listening to it, both should say Aameen at the end. (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Daud, Nasai)
35.Rub both hands over the face at the termination of the Duaa (Abu Daud, Tirmizi,ibne Hibbaan, Majah, Hakim)
36.Don't be impatient over the acceptance of Duaas. In other words, don't say: "I've made Duaa repeatedly but to no avail." (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Daud, Nasai, ibne Majah)
Taken from: http://ahmed2004uk.blogspot.com/2006/03/etiquettes-of-dua.html
4. Tarawih prayers are prayed during the nights of Ramadan. They are an important Sunnah prayer during this blessed month and therefore should be prayed. It is prayed After the Isha prayer and before the Witr prayer. For men it is recommended to pray in the Masjid in congregation and for women it is better to pray at home but they may also pray Tarawih prayers at the Masjid if the facilities are available.
The Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has regarded the tarawih salah as a means of the forgiveness of sins.
He has said:
"The one who observes the tarawih salah at night during Ramadan with complete faith and devotion only for the sake of the recompense of the Hereafter, will have all of his previous sins forgiven by Allah." (Bukhari, Muslim)
The Witr prayer is an important Sunnah prayer which should be prayed after the Isha prayer. According to the Hanafi methodology it is compulsory. Do you normally pray this after Isha?
