THE IDEAL MUSLIMAH

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said,

“The Prophet (sallallahu alahi wassalam) advised me to do three (things): fast three days out of every month, pray two rak’ahs in the forenoon and to perform the witr prayer before I sleep (at night).”

Its Virtures:

Abu Dharr narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wassallam) said, “Every morning there is on the bones and joints of any of you a charitable act. Every saying of 'SubhaanAllah' is a charitable act; every saying of 'Alhumdullilah' is a charitiable act and every saying of ‘Laa illaaha illallah' is a charitable act; every saying ‘Allahu akbar’ is a charitable act; ordering good is a chartiable act; eradicating evil is a charitable act. To fulfill that charity, it is sufficient to pray two rakat of the forenoon.” (Muslim 364)

Number of Raka’ahs (Units of Prayer):

The minimum number of rak’ahs for the Forenoon prayer is two, based on the hadith just quoted and its maximum is eight. Umm Haani' narrated that on the day of the Conqueing of Makkah, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wassallam) bathed in her house and then prayed eight rak’ahs. (Bukhari, Muslim)

The Best Time to Perform the Forenoon Prayer:

Zayd ibn Arqam said that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wassllam) went out to the people of Quba and they were praying the Forenoon prayer. He said, “The prayer of the penitent is when the weaned camels feel the heat of the sun,” during the forenoon. (Muslim 368)