Signs Prayers (Namaaz-e-Ayat)

  1. Sign prayers become obligatory when any of the following conditions are present:

  2. Solar eclipse (whether partial or complete).

  3. Lunar eclipse (whether partial or complete).
    Earthquake

  4. Thunder of the clouds and lightning, red and black cyclones and other similar occurrences, which normally creates fear in people.

The obligatory precaution is that besides the events mentioned the offering of Sign Prayers should not be abandoned in the event of certain terrestrial events, e.g. if the water of the sea recedes or the mountains fall, because of which people are usually frightened.

If there occur several events, which make offering of Signs Prayers obligatory, one should offer separate Signs Prayers for each occurrence.

If it becomes necessary for a person to offer a number of Signs Prayers it is not necessary for him, while offering the lapsed prayers, to specify the event, for which he is offering a particular lapsed Signs Prayers.

Offering of Signs Prayers is obligatory for the residents of only that town in which the event occurs, that is if you were able to see or feel it.

In the event of Solar or Lunar eclipse Signs Prayers should be offered when the eclipse commences and should not be delayed till such time that the sun or the moon may start coming out of the eclipse.

Signs Prayers is not obligatory for a women who is in Hayz or Nifas, and it is not obligatory for her to offer the Qaza of it.

If a person did not know about the sun or the moon eclipse, and came to know after the eclipse was over, he should offer its qaza if it was a total eclipse, and if he comes to know that the eclipse was partial, qaza will not be obligatory.

If Signs Prayers becomes obligatory on a person at the time of daily prayers, and if he has enough time at his disposal for both, he can offer any of them first. If the time for one of them is short, he should offer the daily prayers first.

If a person realizes during the daily prayers that the time for Signs Prayers is short, and if the time for daily prayers is also short, he should complete the daily prayers and then offer Signs Prayers. But if the time for the daily prayers is not short, he should break that prayers and first offer Signs Prayers and then offer the daily prayers.

If a person realizes while offering Signs Prayers, that the time for daily prayers is short, he should leave Signs Prayers and start offering daily prayers. After completing the daily prayers, and before performing any act which invalidates the prayers, he should start Signs Prayers from where he left.

Methods of Offering Signs Prayers

Signs Prayers consists of two rak'ats, and there are five Ruku in each. Its method is as follows:

  • After making niyyat of offering the prayers, one should say takbir (Allahu Akber) and recite Surah-al-Hamd and other Surah, and then perform the Ruku.

  • Thereafter, he should stand and recite Surah al-Hamd and a Surah and then perform another Ruku.

  • He should repeat this action five times, and, when he stands after the fifth Ruku, he should perform two Sajdah, and then stand up to perform the second Rak'at in the same manner as he has done in the first.

  • Then he should recite tashahhud and Salaam.

All the rules of the daily prayers also apply to the Signs Prayers.

Useful Information on the Night of Hopes: the First Thursday Night of Rajab

ليلة الرغائب: كيفية صـلاة ليلة الرغائب؟ 

ورد عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: ما من أحد صام يوم الخميس (أول خميسٍ من رجب) ثم صلى بين العشا ء والعتمة (بعد صلاة العشاء) اثنتي عشر ركعة يفصل بين كل ركعتين بتسليمة ( ست مرات مثل صلاة الصبح) يقرأ في كل ركعة فاتحة الكتاب مرة وإنا أنزلناه في ليلة القدر ثلاث مرات وقل هو الله أحد اثنتي عشر مرة فإذا فرغ من صلاته صلى عليَّ سبعين مرة يقول: أللهم صل على محمدٍ النبي الأميّ وعلى آله. ثم يسجد ويقول في سجوده سبعين مرة: "سبوح قدوس رب الملائكة والروح" ثم يرفع رأسه ويقول: "رب اغفر وارحم وتجاوز عما تعلم انك انت العلي الأعظم" ثم يسجد سجدة أخرى ويقول في سجوده مثل ما قال في السجدة الأولى ثم يسأل الله حاجته فإنها تقضى إن شاء الله تعالى

The Benefits of the Prayer of Night of Raghaeb 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has recommended making an important prayer, to be performed on the first Thursday of Rajab!
How to perform it?
1. Fast on the first Thursday of the holy month of Rajab. 2. In the evening between Maghrib and 'Isha, perform 12 units (Rakah) of Namaz, in two's (i.e. two at a time). In each unit recite: * Sura Al-Fatiha Once * Sura al Qadr thrice * Sura al Ikhlas (12 times) 3. After the 12 Raka'ats are over.
Recite Salawaat (70 times) while sitting:
اللھم صل علی محمد النبي الامي وعلی آله
O Allah send blessings on Muhammad, the Ummi Prophet, and on his descendants.
- Tasbeeh (70 times) in Sajdah:
سبوح قدوس رب الملائكة والروح
Holy and most Holy is the Lord of the Angels and spirts.
- Isteghfar (70 times) while sitting:
رب اغفر و ارحم وتجاوز عما تعلم انك انت العلي الاعظم
O Lord! Forgive, have mercy and be indulgent about that which you know well, verily you are Sublime, Mighty.
- Tasbeeh (70 times) in Sajdah:
سبوح قدوس رب الملائكة والروح
Holy and most Holy is the Lord of the Angels and spirts. Then Seek your needs, they will be granted, InshaALLAH.