So I really enjoy the salat. REALLY REALLY. Its so beautiful, and moving, and YAY!
Fujr is usually never a problem because unless I'm sick I don't really have anything stopping me from doing it besides getting up.
But I obviously cannot do them all on time because I have to go to work. Now, if I get home at a normal time I can do Dhur and Asr when I get home then Maghrib and Isha a couple of hours later. Its not my preferred way to do it but it works. I run into issues when I don't have time to do any of them. I cannot do more than 2 at a time for I simply cannot concentrate. I don't want to just run through the motions but I also have to get them done.
Like last night. I went to a movie after work and did not come home till midnight. I was exhausted. I literally sat down and fell asleep. On top of that this morning I had a bad headache and couldn't get up for Fujr. Now I have 5 prayers to make up. I have 10 to do total O_O. It makes you just not want to start at all. I will do them of course but I wish there was a better way.
Any suggestions?
Also, can anyone provide me with a definition for Du'a? I want to make sure I am using proper prayers for Qunoot. My understanding is Qunoot does not need to be in Arabic but it must be a Du'a. And I was told a Du'a is a prayer asking or thanking God for something. Now the kicker is some believe it has to be from an accredited source (Psalms of Islam, Qur'an, an Imam, etc). Some say it can be anything as long as you are thanking or asking.
I ask this because their is a prayer I have said every day since I was 1o and I would like to incorporate it. Some will know it as the Act of Contrition. I will share it now:
My God I am sorry for my sins with al my heart
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good I have sinned against you
Who I love above all things
I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin
(Yes there is a Jesus part tagged on at the end that I didn't learn till I was in my late teens and I never used it).
Thanks!
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Masha'Allah, it's great that you love salat so much. It is indeed very beautiful, and I wish everyone (including myself) had the passion for it that you do.
ReplyDeleteIt can be tough when you have to make up a string of prayers. My advice is to do them as soon as possible, but take short breaks in between the prayers so you can regain your concentration.
I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know what qunoot is. Is it the du'a that you say during witr?
Du'a is an informal prayer offered to ALLAH. I think of it as basically a "freestyle" prayer; it can be in any language you want, you can say it whenever and wherever you want, and it can be about anything. I think it's a great way to build a deeper relationship with ALLAH since it is so intimate. ALLAH is called al-Wali (the Protecting Friend), and if you think about ALLAH as actually being a Friend, it gives du'a a whole new perspective. ALLAH is the Best of Friends and the Best of Helpers, and He is always there to listen, so du'as are almost like conversations with ALLAH. Given this, I think saying the prayer that you posted is perfectly acceptable as long as the part about Jesus is omitted. There are some prescribed du'as in Arabic that are said at certain times (e.g. the du'a during witr, after eating, before going on a journey, etc.). If you're interested in these, I would recommend the book "Fortress of the Muslim"; it has hundreds of du'as in Arabic, Arabic transliteration, and English for all kinds of situations. And it's pocket-sized!
Dua Qunoot is a dua which was actually a Surah and part of the Quran of Ubay ibn Kab. However, it was not included in the final Quran complied by Uthman although Ubay ibn Kab continued to recite it as part of Quran and never gave it up from his Quran which eventually perished.
ReplyDeleteUbay Ibn Kab was one of the finest reciters of the Quran and the first to memorise it. At one time he even corrected/reminded Muhammad about a verse he couldn't recall. And even Omar is recorded to say in both Shia and Sunni ahdith that no one knew the Quran like Ubay Ibn Kab "but we didn't take all from his Quran and there was something we left."
Dua Qunoot can be found here - http://www.islamicacademy.org/html/Dua/Qunoot.htm
It is recited in Isha by Hanafis and Shias. Some other denominations don't even know about Dua Qunoot. Shias really like Ubay Ibn Kab, btw.
"Now I have 5 prayers to make up. I have 10 to do total O_O. It makes you just not want to start at all. I will do them of course but I wish there was a better way. Any suggestions"
Can worship be 'made up for'? That is one thing about Islam which I will never understand.
Sorry, I didn't read Banana Anne's comment. When I began writing my comment I was the first to comment :) My note that not many Muslims know about Dua Qunoot was not aimed at Banana Anne. I apologise.
ReplyDeleteOk maybe I used the wrong terminology. I am referred to the Du'a require in the second rakat of the 5 prayers. Can it be any du'a or are there specific Du'as that must be used? My Love says it must be one from the Qur'an or one from a reliable source (Imams etc). It can't be something you made up personally.
ReplyDeleteDoes that make more sense? I think I confused myself.
Anne: I will check out that book.
Achelois: thank you for the info , I will read about Du'a Qunoot more. I think that is something different from what i am talking about but I'm not sure anymore :)
Making up prayers: I don;t entirely understand it myself but I feel guilty if I don't get them done. Personally I think it is ok as long as you aren't doing them JUST to get them done. If they still mean something then I think its ok. I use to do this before as I required myself to pray once a day since I was a child. If for some reason I didn't pray the night before, I always made it up in the morning.
Sunnis don't pray like that. It is the Shia requirement to have the dua, I think. I honestly don't know about that. A Shia would be able to guide you on what dua you can say.
ReplyDeleteSalaam sis. As Far as I was aware a Dua is the freestyle prayer like Banana Anne said. It may be a Shia thing.... My love is Sunni so that doesnt help.... Is there any Shia's i the blog community that can help? I know when I ask my love anything he is often shy to answer and thats my main reason to be in the blogging community, I no longer am shy to ask for help and guidance.... My love just doesnt want to influence my thoughts etc on Islam as he doesnt want to be accused by our families on "forcing" his views!
ReplyDeleteYou can say anything sis :) I have ranged from asking God to continue to bestow his love and favour opon me and my family to, in desperate times, just pleading "Help me, help me" over and over again.
ReplyDeleteIf you wish to make a formal prayer, then make one that works best for you. My husband says something about the Prophet and the Ahlul Bayt, but it's in Arabic.
Anyway, you are quite right in what you are saying inshaAllah.
Ellen: YAY Im right :)
ReplyDelete