Fiqh-e-Jafariya • Allama Fida Hussain
Executive Briefing: The Original Practical Demonstration of Salat
In this official instructional video lecture, renowned scholar Allama Fida Hussain physically demonstrates the complete, authentic method of performing Shia Salat (Namaz) according to the Ja’fari School of Jurisprudence (Fiqh-e-Jafariya). Below, Sapiotic documents the exact spoken words, vocal instructions, physical demonstrations, and Arabic recitations delivered by Allama Fida in the video, accompanied by exhaustive jurisprudential rulings from Tohfat-ul-Awam and Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani. This ensures complete transparency, proving that every ruling presented reflects the authentic recorded guidance.
Watch the practical video demonstration above by Allama Fida Hussain while studying the verbatim spoken transcript and jurisprudential analysis below.
1. Video Transcription: Step-by-Step Spoken Words & Physical Demonstration by Allama Fida Hussain
In this 4-minute and 29-second practical masterclass (“Shia namaz Parhana Ka practice Tariqa”), Allama Fida Hussain stands upon the prayer mat (Musalla) with a Turbah (Mohr) to teach momineen and beginners the exact physical posture and verbal recitation of a two-rakat prayer. Here is the verbatim breakdown of the knowledge shared in the video:
A. Qiyam & Hand Position (Irsal / Haath Khulay Rakhna)
Spoken Guidance in Video: Allama Fida emphasizes standing completely straight facing the Qiblah with eyes cast down toward the place of prostration (Turbah). He highlights that in the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the Ahlulbayt (A.S), hands must hang straight and relaxed at the sides (known as Irsal).
“نماز میں بالکل سیدھے باوقار انداز میں قبلہ رو کھڑے ہوں، پاؤں کے درمیان اعتدال رکھیں اور دونوں ہاتھوں کو کھلا چھوڑیں (ارسال کریں)۔ ہاتھ سینے یا ناف پر باندھنا (تکفیر) آئمہ اہلبیتؑ کے نزدیک جائز نہیں۔”
B. Niyyat (The Intention)
Spoken Guidance in Video: He explains that Niyyat is the conscious intention of the heart for the sake of Allah alone (Qurbatan ilallah). While verbalizing is not compulsory, Allama Fida clearly voices the intention so listeners understand how to formulate it:
(Meaning: “I perform two units of prayer seeking closeness to Allah alone.”)
C. Takbirat-ul-Ihram (The Opening Takbeer)
Spoken & Demonstrated: Allama Fida physically raises both hands with palms facing forward toward the Qiblah up to the level of his earlobes, reciting with clear articulation:
اللّٰهُ اَكْبَرُ
He clarifies that with this Takbeer, the state of Ihram in prayer begins, rendering worldly speech and actions forbidden until the final Salam.
D. Qira’at: Surah Al-Fatiha & Complete Second Surah (Al-Ikhlas)
Spoken Guidance in Video: Allama Fida recites Surah Al-Fatiha from beginning to end with proper Tajweed, highlighting that Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim is an inseparable, obligatory verse. Immediately following Al-Fatiha, he demonstrates the recitation of a complete secondary Surah, reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas (Tawheed):
2. Surah Al-Ikhlas: بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ • قُلْ هُوَ اللّٰهُ اَحَدٌ • اللّٰهُ الصَّمَدُ • لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُوْلَدْ • وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهٗ كُفُوًا اَحَدٌ
Scholarly note by Allama Fida: In Ja’fari fiqh, reciting only a few verses or an incomplete portion of a Surah in the first two Rakats invalidates the prayer under standard conditions.
E. Ruku (Bowing) & Its Obligatory Zikr
Demonstrated in Video: Allama Fida says Allahu Akbar, bows until his hands firmly cup his kneecaps with fingers slightly spread and back straight. He pauses until the body is completely motionless (Itminan) and recites:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
He then stands up fully straight into Qiyam Muttasil ba Ruku saying: “سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ” (Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah), noting that one must stand fully upright before moving into prostration.
F. Sajdatayn (Two Prostrations) on Pure Earth (Turbah / Mohr)
Demonstrated in Video: Allama Fida descends into Sajdah saying Allahu Akbar. He explicitly demonstrates placing the seven essential points of the body on the ground:
- Forehead: Placed directly onto the clay Turbah (Mohr). He emphasizes: the forehead must touch natural earth, stone, or unwearable vegetation—prostrating directly on synthetic wool or nylon carpets is not valid in Fiqh-e-Jafariya.
- Two Palms: Laid flat on the ground beside the head.
- Two Kneecaps: Resting firmly on the prayer mat.
- Two Big Toes: The tips of both big toes must firmly touch the ground.
In prostration, he recites the obligatory Zikr:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْاَعْلَى وَبِحَمْدِهِ
He sits up completely between the two prostrations (Jalsah), pausing motionlessly while reciting: “اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَیْهِ” (Astaghfirullaha Rabbi wa Atubu Ilayh), then performs the second identical Sajdah.
G. Rising for Second Rakat & Performing Qunoot
Demonstrated in Video: Allama Fida rises to his feet reciting: “بِحَوْلِ اللّٰهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ اَقُوْمُ وَاَقْعُدُ” (Bi-hawlillahi wa quwwatihi aqoomu wa aq’ud). After reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-Ikhlas, before going into Ruku, he raises both hands in front of his face with palms turned upward toward the sky to perform Qunoot:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
H. Tashahhud & Salam (Concluding the Prayer)
Demonstrated in Video: After completing the two Sajdahs of the second Rakat, Allama Fida sits in the prescribed posture (Tawarruk—seated on the left thigh with the instep of the right foot resting over the sole of the left foot) to recite Tashahhud and Salam:
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ، اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهٗ، وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهٗ وَرَسُوْلُهٗ، اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ.
Salam:
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ اَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهٗ،
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ،
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهٗ.
Following the final Salam, Allama Fida completes the prayer by raising his hands three times to ear level, saying: “اَللّٰهُ اَكْبَرُ، اَللّٰهُ اَكْبَرُ، اَللّٰهُ اَكْبَرُ” (Three Takbeers).
2. Sapiotic Scholarly Analysis: Fiqh-e-Jafariya & Grand Ayatollah Sistani’s Decrees
To complement Allama Fida Hussain’s practical demonstration, Sapiotic provides the authoritative jurisprudential framework established in classical Shia texts such as Tohfat-ul-Awam, Wasail ash-Shia, and Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani’s Islamic Laws (Tawdhih al-Masa’il):
A. Legal Distinction: Arkan (Pillars) vs. Wajibat Ghair-Rukni (Non-Pillar Duties)
In Ja’fari jurisprudence, understanding what constitutes a Rukn (Pillar) is vital. A Rukn is so essential that increasing or omitting it—whether intentionally or through an unintentional mistake (Sahw)—renders the prayer void (Batil):
| Category | Components in Shia Salat | Legal Ruling on Omission / Addition |
|---|---|---|
| Arkan (5 Pillars) | 1. Niyyat 2. Takbirat-ul-Ihram 3. Qiyam (connected to Takbeer & prior to Ruku) 4. Ruku 5. Sajdatayn (both prostrations together) |
Invalidates Prayer (Batil) whether omitted intentionally or by mistake. Cannot be compensated. |
| Wajibat Ghair-Rukni | 1. Qira’at (Surahs) 2. Zikr of Ruku & Sajdah 3. Qunoot 4. Single missed Sajdah 5. Tashahhud & Salam |
Invalidates only if omitted intentionally. If forgotten, prayer remains valid and is compensated via Sajdah-e-Sahw or Qaza of the component. |
B. The Jurisprudence of Sajdah on Turbah (Pure Earth)
A hallmark of Shia prayer demonstrated by Allama Fida is prostrating on a Turbah. Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (A.S) was asked about prostration surfaces and explicitly decreed in Al-Kafi:
“Prostration is only permissible upon the earth (turbah) or upon that which grows from the earth, provided it is not consumed as food and not worn as clothing.” (Wasail ash-Shia, Vol. 5, p. 343)
Synthetic rugs, carpets made of wool or cotton, nylon mats, and leather are strictly excluded because they represent worldly luxury and clothing. Prostration on earth represents the absolute servitude of mortal clay before the Eternal Creator. Prostrating on Turbah-e-Karbala (the clay from the shrine of Imam Hussain A.S) is highly recommended (Mustahabb) due to its sacred connection to martyrdom and divine pleasure.
3. Common Invalidation Mistakes Highlighted by Allama Fida Hussain
In his pedagogical bayans, Allama Fida warns worshippers against frequent pitfalls that can unintentionally render their prayers void:
- Reciting Zikr While Moving (Lack of Itminan): The obligatory Zikr of Ruku (Subhana Rabbiyal Azeemi wa bihamdih) and Sajdah (Subhana Rabbiyal A’la wa bihamdih) must only be uttered when the body has come to an absolute, tranquil standstill. Uttering words while descending or rising invalidates the Zikr.
- Lifting the Forehead Off the Turbah: If the forehead bounces or is lifted off the Turbah before the Zikr is finished and then placed back down, it can inadvertently count as two Sajdahs, potentially invalidating the unit.
- Folding the Hands (Takfeer): Placing hands across the chest or stomach intentionally during Qiyam invalidates the prayer in Ja’fari jurisprudence, unless performed under conditions of extreme dissimulation (Taqiyyah).
- Skipping Bismillah in Second Surah: In Fiqh-e-Jafariya, every Surah (except Surah At-Tawbah) must begin with an independent Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim intended specifically for that chapter.
4. Video Timestamp Reference Guide (nIAqoSe8gnM)
| Timestamp | Action in Video | Allama Fida Hussain’s Spoken Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00 – 00:35 | Introduction & Qiyam | Explaining proper stance, facing Qiblah, and letting hands hang loose (Irsal). |
| 00:36 – 01:15 | Niyyat & Takbirat-ul-Ihram | Formulating intention for Qurbatan ilallah and raising hands to earlobes for Allahu Akbar. |
| 01:16 – 02:05 | Surah Recitation (Al-Fatiha & Al-Ikhlas) | Emphasizing full Bismillah recitation and the obligation of reciting a complete secondary Surah. |
| 02:06 – 02:50 | Ruku & Sajdatayn on Turbah | Physical positioning of hands on knees, back leveling, and placing 7 body parts with forehead on Turbah. |
| 02:51 – 03:45 | Second Rakat & Qunoot | Reciting Bi-hawlillah, raising hands for Qunoot supplication with Salawat upon Aal-e-Muhammad. |
| 03:46 – 04:29 | Tashahhud, Salam & 3 Takbeers | Seated Tawarruk posture, complete Tashahhud/Salam, and concluding with 3 hand-raised Takbeers. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q2: What should a Shia Muslim do if a Turbah is unavailable while traveling?
According to the edicts of Grand Ayatollah Sistani, if earth (clay/Turbah) is unavailable, you can prostrate upon clean natural stone (marble, granite, pebble), plain unglazed ceramic tile, unvarnished wood, clean leaves, or paper manufactured from wood pulp (free from synthetic coatings). Only if none of these are accessible may one prostrate on cloth or carpet out of emergency.
Q2: What happens if I forget to perform Qunoot before Ruku?
Qunoot is a recommended obligation (Mustahabb Mu’akkadah), not a Rukn. If you forget it and bow into Ruku, your prayer is completely valid. You may perform Qunoot immediately after rising from Ruku, or perform it as a Qaza supplication after completing the final Salam.
Q3: Why do Shias perform 3 Takbeers at the end of Namaz?
As demonstrated by Allama Fida Hussain at minute 04:15, reciting three Takbeers while raising hands to the ears after Salam is a verified Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (OBUH) recorded in both Shia and classical Sunni hadith compilations (including Sahih Bpkhari, Hadith 841, where Ibn Abbas states: “We used to know the conclusion of the Prophet’s prayer by the Takbeer”).
