Monday, 26 November 2012

The Prophet's (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) recitation of the Qur'an in Salaat

The Prophet's (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) recitation of the Qur'an in Salaat

Hadhrat 'Auf (Radhiyallaho anho) narrates:
"I was once with the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasal-lam). He brushed his teeth with a Miswak, performed his Wudhu and stood up for Salaat. I also availed of the opportunity to join him. He recited surah 'Baqarah' in his first rakaat; he would pray for mercy when he recited any verse extolling the Grace of Allah, and would supplicate for Divine forgiveness when reciting any verse referring to His wrath. He took as much time in Ruku* and Sajdah each as he had taken in Qiyaam. In Ruku' he recited:
'Glory to Allah the Lord of Majesty, sovereignty and magnificence.'
He recited the next three successive Soorahs in the remaining three rakaats, and each rakaat was of about the same length as the first one."

Hadhrat Huzaifah (Radhiyallahu anho) has also narrated a similar story about his Salaat with the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam.)
The Qiraat (recitation) of the Qur'an by the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) in the above mentioned four rakaats amounts to more than one-fifth of he whole Qur'an. And the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) recited the Qur'an with proper intonation (Tajweed), and would also pray and seek forgiveness after relevant verses. Again his Ruku' and Sajdah also would last as long as his Qiyaam.
We can thus have a fair idea of how much time he must have taken to say his Salaat. This can only be possible when Salaat is a source of great inner satisfaction and spiritual ecstasy. That is why the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) has often been quoted as saying:
"The comfort of my eyes lies in Salaat."