Salatul Ayat

One of the Wajib Salat is Salatul Ayat, which becomes Wajib with the occurrence of natural events such as: Earthquakes, Lunar Eclipses, Solar Eclipses, Lightning and Thunder, and Yellow and Red Cyclones, in the instances that most people would become frightened by the natural event.

How to recite Salatul Ayat

Salatul Ayat consists of two Rak’at and each Rak’at has five Ruku’. Before each Ruku’, Surah al – Fatiha and one other Surah from the Qur'an must be recited. However, one is also allowed to break up the Surahs into five parts and before each Ruku’, recite one part of the broken Surah; and in this way, in the two Rak’ats, two Surah al – Fatiha and two other Surahs of the Qur'an will be recited.

We will now explain how Salatul Ayat can be recited by splitting up Surah al – Iklhas.

First Rak’at

1. After the Takbiratul Ihram, Surah al – Fatiha must be read, and then: “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim” is recited, and then one will go into Ruku’.
2. One will then stand up, and say: “Qul Huwallahu Ahad” and go back into Ruku’.
3. Again, one will stand up and say: “Allahus Samad” and go into Ruku’.
4. Then, one will stand up and say: “Lam Yalid Walam Yulad” and go into Ruku’.
5. From the Ruku’, one will stand up, and recite: “Walam Yakullahu Kufuwan Ahad” and then go into Ruku’.

When one comes back up from Ruku’, one will go into Sajdah and after performing the two Sajdahs, will get back up and perform the second Rak’at.

Second Rak’at

The second Rak’at is to be performed just as the first Rak’at, and thereafter the Tashahhud and Salam are to be recited to complete the Salat.

The Rules of Salatul Ayat

1. Only the people, who live in that area where one of the natural events occurs, need to recite Salatul Ayat, and the Salat does not become Wajib on those living in other areas.
2. If in the first Rak’at of Salatul Ayat, one recites Surah al – Fatiha and a complete Surah five times, and in the second Rak’at, recites Surah al – Fatiha once and breaks up the second Surah in five parts, then the Salat will be correct.
3. It is Mustahab that after the second Ruku’, the fourth Ruku’, the sixth Ruku’, the eighth Ruku’ and the tenth Ruku’, that Qunut be performed, and even if one Qunut is performed after the tenth Ruku’, this (too) is sufficient.
4. Each of the Ruku’ in Salatul Ayat is a Rukn, and if intentionally or unintentionally one is taken out or added, the Salat will become void.

Salatul Ayat can be recited in Jama’at, and if it is recited in Jama’at, then only the Imam would read Surah al – Fatiha and the second