PRAYER IN CONGREGATION AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

Prayer in Congregation and Its Significance Both the Qur’ān and Hadīth lay special emphasis on observing prayers in congregation. The Qur’ān says:

And be steadfast in prayer; practice regular charity, and bow down your heads with those who bow down in worship. (Q 2:43)

Even in battlefield, there is instruction about observing the prayer collectively. When it is time for prayer during actual fighting, a group of the Muslim soldiers are to go and offer the prayer in congregation under the leadership of an Imam while some others stand on guard. Then the group rotates.

When ye pass (congregational) prayer, celebrate God’s praises, standing, and sitting down or lying down on your sides, but when ye are free from danger, set up regular; regular prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times. (Q 4:103)

THE STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPHET 'S PRAYER.

The step-by-step description of the complete prayer of the Holy Prophet (SAW) as an imam and with his companions as the congregation following Him.

The Prophet (S.A.W) after the call to stand for salat (Iqaamat), would direct the congregation to straighten the rows, and stand shoulder to shoulder, he would recite the takbiratul-ihraam. The congregation then follows the suit with thier own takbiratul-ihraam. The rest goes as follows:

1. The Prophet (SAW ) then hold his left wrist with his right hand and place them over his chest.

2. The Prophet (SAW ) then recite the opening prayer "Dua Istiftiha" - this is in contrast to the common practice of Maliki School of Thought and negates the Mukhtasar al-Khaleel.

THE CHAPTERS OF THE HOLY QUR'AN MOSTLY RECITED BY THE HOLY PROPHET ( S.A.W ) IN HIS FIVE DAILY PRAYERS

1. For Noon (Salaat Zuhur) and Afternoon  (Asr) Prayers:
a. Surat at-Taariq; Chapter 86
b. Surat al-Lail; Chapter 92
c. Surat al-A'ala; Chapter 87
d. Surat al-Ghaashiat; Chapter 88

2. For Morning  (Subhi) Prayer:
a. Surat / Chapters longer than that of Zuhur

3. For Night (Isha'i) Prayer:
a. Surat ash-Shams; Chapter 91

4. For weekly (Juma'a) Prayer:
a. Surat as-Sajda; Chapter 32

5. Journey  (Safar) Prayer:
a. Surat at-Tin; Chapter 95

SIGNIFICANCE OF TAJWIID

The significance of Tajwiid is stressed with an injunction of the Quran where Allah says in al-Muzammil 73 verse 4

The Arabic-English dictionary by Mr. Hans Wehr gives the meaning of tartiil to be tajwiid. If we are to go by this meaning, the above verse could be interpreted in Arabic to mean which in English means “beautify the Quran with Tajwiid”.

Every injunction of the Quran has a reasonable objective behind it. The objective behind this injunction is to beautify the Quran by reading it in the best way possible; and by guiding against committing solecism in the course of its recitation. The commitment of solecism in the articulation of vowels and letters of the Quran has great effects on the meaning of the words of the Quran. These effects are errors that result in distortion of the meanings of the Qur'an.

These errors are divided into two.

METHODS OF APPLYING THE RULES OF TAJWIID

 The knowledge of Tajwiid can be leanrt and applied in Qur’an recitation through two methods. These are:

1- Talqiin (Guide reading): In this method, a teacher teaches a learner the Qur'an through guide reading method. The teacher reads the Qur'an, applying the rules of Tajwiid, while the learner repeats what the teacher says after him. Ultimately, though ignorant of the principles of Tajwiid, the learner will be able to correctly recite the Qur'an with Tajwiid. This was the only method available to the students of Qur'an throughout the first two centuries of Islam and the major part of the third. Prophet Muhammad learnt the Quran from Jibril and taught it to his students (that is, the Sahabah) through this method.

MEANING/DEFINITION OF TAJWID

Tajwiid is an Arabic word for elocution, meaning proper pronunciation during recitation, as well as recitation at a moderate speed. It is a set of rules, which govern how the Qur'an should be read. It is derived from the trilateral root j-w-d, meaning to make well, make better, or improve. It is required by fard. There are altogether 14 recognised schools of Tajwiid with seven being the most popular.

In defining Tajwiid, the following terms must be understood: Tajwiid, ‘ilmu ’t-Tajwiid and Tajwiidu ’l-Qur’an.

Tajwiid is from the verb 'jawwada' which literally means to decorate, make better or to perfect.Tajwiid therefore literally means betterment, decoration or perfection of an act. Technically, it means the pronunciation of every letter of the Qur'an from its point of articulation with its attributes.

‘llmu ’t-Tajwiid (the art of Tajwiid) is the science dealing with the rules and regulations governing the recitation of the Qur'an the application of which makes the correct recitation of the Qur'an possible.

CLASSIFICATION OF HADITH (The Sahih, The Hassan and The Da’if)

The Sahih

This is the authentic Hadith. It is the first category among the excellent Hadith. Any Hadith under this category is genuine and has passed all tests. The reputation of reporters of Hadith in this category is of high status due to high level of scrutiny before accepting the Hadith. One of such collectors was Muhammad b. Ismail Abu Abd Allah Al-Ju’fi popularly knows as Imam Al Bukhari.

The Hadith in this category are highly rated by Muslims. For instance Al-Bukhari laboured for 16 years on the compilation of his sahih. He also sought the aid of prayer before committing traditions to writing. He was also reported to have interrogated over one thousand scholars living in places so distance as Balkh, Merv, Nisabur, Hijaz, Egypt and Syria.