Liaison office of Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Al Sistani (L.M.H.L) in London, Europe, North and South America.
1516. Namaz-e-Ayaat 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 Akbar) and recite Surah al-Hamd and the 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 Salam.
1517. 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.
1518. There is no harm if in one Rak'at of Namaz-e-Ayaat, a person
after Surah Al Hamd recites another Surah five times, and in the second Rak'at
recites Surah Al Hamd, and divides the other Surah into five parts.
1519. The things which are obligatory and Mustahab in daily prayers
are also obligatory and Mustahab in Namaz-e-Ayaat. However, if Namaz-e-Ayaat is
offered in congregation, one may say 'As-salaat' three times in place of Adhan
and Iqamah. If the prayer is not being offered in congregation, it is not
necessary to say anything.
1520. It is Mustahab that the person offering Namaz-e-Ayaat should say
takbir before and after Ruku, and after the fifth and tenth Ruku he should say
Sami'allahu liman hamida before takbir.
1521. It is Mustahab that qunut be recited before the second, fourth,
sixth, eighth and tenth Ruku, but it will be sufficient if qunut is recited only
before the tenth Ruku.
1522. 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.
1523. If a person doubts whether he is in the last Ruku of the first
Rak'at, or in the first Ruku of the second Rak'at, and he cannot arrive at any
decision, his Namaz-e-Ayaat is void. But if he doubts whether he has performed
four Ruku or five, and if the doubt takes place before he goes into Sajdah, he
should perform the Ruku about which he is doubtful. But if he has reached the
stage of Sajdah, he should ignore his doubt.
1524. Every Ruku of Namaz-e-Ayaat is a Rukn, and if any addition or
deduction takes place in them, the prayer is void. Similarly, if an omission
takes place inadvertently, or, as a precaution, an addition is made to it
unintentionally, the prayers will be void.