Updated 15 July 2009

The World Federation would like to bring to the attention of Mu’mineen a clarification upon the following ruling from Ayatullah al-Uzma Syed Sistani.

ERROR IN ISLAMIC LAWS
In the publication ‘Islamic Laws’, at ruling number 1517, the method of reciting Namaz–e-Ayaat has been described as follows:

Namaz-e-Ayaat can also be offered in the following manner:

• After making niyyat to offer Namaz-e-Ayaat, a person is allowed to say takbir and recite Surah al-Hamd and then divide the verses of the other Surah into five parts, and recite one verse or more or less, and thereafter perform the Ruku.
• He should then stand up and recite another part of the Surah (without reciting Surah al-Hamd) and then perform another Ruku. He should repeat this action, and finish that Surah before performing the fifth Ruku.
  For example, he may say: Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim with the niyyat of reciting Surah al-Ikhlas, and perform the Ruku.
  He should then stand up and say, Qul huwallahu Ahad, and perform another Ruku.
  He should then stand up and say, Allahus Samad, and perform the third Ruku. Thereafter he should stand up again and say, Lam yalid walam yulad, and perform the fourth Ruku.
• Then he should stand up again and say, Walam yakullahu Kufuwan ahad, and then perform two Sajdah and then rise for the second Rak'at, the same way as the first Rak'at.
• At the end, he should recite tashahhud and Salam after the two Sajdah. It is also permissible to divide a Surah into less than five parts. In that event, however, it is necessary that when the Surah is over, one should recite Surah al-Hamd before the next Ruku.

We have recently learned that there is an error at the part in bold above and the sentence ‘Bismillahirrahmanirrahim’ cannot be counted as one of the five parts of a surah for Namaz-e-Ayaat based on obligatory precaution (ihtiyat e wajib). The correct method would be to choose a sura with 5 verses as follows:

If you are reciting Namaz-e-Ayaat by dividing the Sura after al-Hamd into five parts then you cannot count ‘Bismillahirrahmanirrahim’ as one of the five verses on its own. For example In Sura Falaq, the following division would be correct:

1 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim  Qul a`uzu bi-rabbi l-falaq
2 Min sharri ma khalaq

3 Wa min'sharri ghasiqin iza waqab

4 Wa min'sharri n-naffasati fi l-u'qad

5 Wa min'sharri hasidin iza hasad.

So the correct method for the namaz would be as follows:

• After making niyyat to offer Namaz-e-Ayaat, a person should say takbir and recite Surah al-Hamd and then divide the verses of the other Surah into five parts, and recite one verse or more or less, and thereafter perform the Ruku.
• He should then stand up and recite another part of the Surah (without reciting Surah al-Hamd) and then perform another Ruku. He should repeat this action, and finish that Surah before performing the fifth Ruku.
  For example, he may say: Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim Qul a`uzu bi-rabbi l-falaq and perform the Ruku.
  He should then stand up and say  Min sharri ma khalaq and perform another Ruku.
  He should then stand up and say  Wa min'sharri ghasiqin iza waqab and perform the third Ruku. Thereafter he should stand up again and say,  Wa min'sharri n-naffasati fi l-u'qad
 and perform the fourth Ruku. Then he should stand up again and say,  Wa min'sharri hasidin iza hasad., and then perform the fifth Ruku. He should then perform two Sajdah and then rise for the second Rak'at, the same way as the first Rak'at.
• At the end, he should recite tashahhud and Salam after the two Sajdah 

However, it is better to choose another Sura with five verses, for example Sura Falaq or Qadr.

Question:  I am a follower of the rulings of Ayatullah Sistani, what if I have already prayed Namaz-e-Ayaat previously, in the wrong method?
Answer:  Ayatullah Sistani’s office has confirmed that if someone unintentionally recited the prayer wrongly, then he does not have to offer Qadha.

Question:  I am a follower of the rulings of Ayatullah Khui, does this affect me?
Answer:  No – Ayatullah Khui (ra) regarded ‘Bismillahirrahmanirrahim’ as a verse of the Sura that could be recited as one of the five parts for namaz e ayaat.

A full version of the rules relating to Namaz e Ayaat is also provided here:
Namaz-e-Ayaat becomes obligatory on account of the following four things:

1. Solar Eclipse     
2. Lunar Eclipse

Namaz-e-Ayaat becomes wajib even if the moon or the sun is partially eclipsed, and even if they do not bring about any fear.

If a person delays offering of Namaz e Ayaat till the sun or the moon starts coming out of the eclipse, the niyyah of ada (i.e. praying within time) will be in order, but if he offers the prayers after the eclipse is over, he should make a niyyah of qadha.

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

3. Earthquake 
(as an obligatory precaution, even if no one is frightened).

If the earthquake was experienced and felt by an individual then Namaz-e-Ayaat becomes obligatory and if it was not recited then the qadha is wajib. If the earthquake was neither experienced nor felt, due to sleep for example, then the recitation of Namaz-e-Ayaat is not obligatory and hence no qadha either. (office of Ayatullah Sistani in London reported by The Council of European Jamats)

4. Any other natural occurrence that happens in the sky or on earth, such as thunderstorm, hurricane, tornado, twister, whirlwind, cyclone, windstorm, avalanche, etc. provided that it causes most people to be fearful and scared.

When earthquake, thunderstorm and other similar events take place, a person should offer Namaz-e-Ayaat immediately, not allowing undue delay.

GENERAL RULINGS

1. If several events which make Namaz-e-Ayaat obligatory occur together, one should offer Namaz-e-Ayaat for each of them.  For example, if solar eclipse as well as an earthquake take place, one should offer separate Namaz e Ayaat for each of these two occurrences.
   
2. Offering of Namaz-e-Ayaat is obligatory for the residents of only that town in which the event takes place.  It is not obligatory for the people of other towns.
   
3. If a person realizes that Namaz-e-Ayaat offered by him was void, he should offer it again.  And if the time has passed, he should offer its qadha.
   
4. If solar or lunar eclipse, thunder, lightning or any other similar events takes place when a woman is in her menses or nifas, it will not be obligatory for her to offer Namaz-e-Ayaat nor is there any qadha upon her.
   
5. If a person doubts as to how many rak’ats he has offered in Namaz-e-Ayaat, and is unable to arrive at any decision, his prayer is void.
   
6. Every ruku of Namaz-e-Ayaat is a rukn, and if any addition or deduction takes place in them, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the prayer is void. 

TWO METHODS OF OFFERING NAMAZ E AYAAT

Namaz-e-Ayaat consists of two rak’ats having five ruku in each rak’at. Its method of praying is as follows:

• Niyyah.
• Takbiratul Ihram
• Recite Surah al-Hamd and any other Surah.
• Perform Ruku (This will be your first Ruku)
• Stand and recite Surah al-Hamd and any other Surah.
• Perform Ruku (This will be your second Ruku)
• Stand and recite Surah al-Hamd and any other Surah.
• Perform Ruku (This will be your third Ruku)
• Stand and recite Surah al-Hamd and any other Surah.
• Perform Ruku (This will be your fourth Ruku)
• Stand and recite Surah al-Hamd and any other Surah.
• Perform Ruku (This will be your fifth Ruku)
• After rising from the fifth Ruku, go to Sajdah.
• Perform the two Sajdahs and rise for the second Rak’at.

The same procedure is to be repeated as in the case of the first Rak’at.  After you have completed 5 Ruku in the second Rak’at, you will conclude your Namaz-e-Ayaat in the usual way by performing two sajdah, tashahhud and salaam.

Note: It is mustahab to recite Qunuut before the second and fourth Ruku (in the first Rak’at) and before sixth, eighth and tenth ruku (in the second Rak’at).

SHORTER VERSION OF SALATUL AYAAT
Namaz e Ayaat (shorter version) consists of two rak’ats having five ruku in each rak’at.
Its method of praying is as follows:

• Niyyah.
• Takbiratul Ihram
• Recite Surah al-Hamd and then
  بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
  إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ {1}
• Perform Ruku. (This will be your first Ruku)
• Stand and recite
  وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ {2}
• Perform Ruku. (This will be your second Ruku)
• Stand and recite
  لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ {3}
• Perform Ruku. (This will be your third Ruku)
• Stand and recite
  تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ {4}
• Perform Ruku. (This will be your fourth Ruku)
• Stand and recite
  سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّى مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ {5}
• Perform Ruku. (This will be your fifth Ruku)
• After rising from the fifth Ruku, go to Sajdah.
• Perform the two Sajdah and rise for the second Rak’at.

The same procedure is to be repeated as in the case of the first Rak’at.  After you have completed 5 Ruku in the second Rak’at, you will conclude your Salatul Ayaat in the usual way by performing two Sajdah, Tashahhud and Salaam.

Note: It is mustahab to recite Qunuut before the second and fourth Ruku (in the first Rak’at) and before sixth, eighth and tenth Ruku (in the second Rak’at).