How to Pray Salat Al-Ghufayla

Bismillah ar-Rahman, ar-Rahim, as-salamu alaykum, wa rahmatul-Lahi Ta'ala, wa barakatu.

One of the most recommended prayers in Islamic teachings, is Salat ul-Ghufayla. It is a two unit prayer that takes only a few minutes to perform between Maghrib and Isha' prayers but comes highly recommended by the Ahlul Bayt, 'alayhum as-salam, with great rewards.

A hadith from Imam As-Sadiq, alayhi as-salam, from his fathers, from Rasul Allah Muhammad, Salallahu alahi' wa 'aali wa sallam, found in the book Thawab ul-Amal by Shaykh as-Sadooq, places the reward of praying Salat ul-Ghufayla, as inheriting paradise. Other narrations point to the fulfillment of wishes because of the Salah.

We usually pray Maghrib followed by Isha' and not reflect upon the short time in between these two prayers. It's called the time of Ghafla', meaning negligence, since people are generally heedless of its importance as well as potential.

The period between Maghrib and Isha' is also suggested as a symbol of how short this life is. Hence the time for Ghufayla' prayers is straight after Maghrib Salah and before we pray Isha' prayers. However, according to some scholars, it can still be prayed after Isha' prayers, if we forget to do so between Maghrib and Isha'. The other thing to remember is how Islamic teachings emphasize the importance of recommendatory prayers to compensate for the lack of focus or attention in our daily obligatory Salah. The more Mustahab Salaahs we perform, the more likely our daily Wajib prayers will be accepted by Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala.

Now this is how Salatul Ghufayla is performed.

Number one, have the Niyyah' in your mind. I am praying Salat ul-Ghufayla, Two Rak'aats Qurbatan illa Allahi Ta'ala, to get close to Allah. Second recite Surat ul-Fatiha'. Third without saying Bismillah recite verses 87 and 88 of chapter 21 as follows: "Wa dhannuni idh dhahaba mughadiban fadhanna an lan naqdira 'alayhi fanada fi adhdhulumati an la ilaha illa anta, subhanaka inni kuntu min adh-dhalimeen. (21:87) "Fastajabna lahu wa najjaynahu min al-ghammi wa kadhalika nunjee al-mu'minin"(21:88)

Four, go down to Ru'ku, then stand up, then go down to sajda as normal. Five, in the second Ruk'aah recite Surah Al-Fatiha. Six, after Fatiha, immediately and without reciting Bismillah, recite Ayah 59 of chapter number 6. "Wa 'indahu mafatih al-ghaybi la ya'lamuha illa huwa, wa ya'lamu ma fi al-barri wa al-bahr, wa ma tasqutu min waraqatin illa ya'lamuha, wa la habbatin fee dhulumati al-ardhi, wa la ratbin, wala yabisin, illa fi kitabin mubeen"(6:59) Then raise your hands in Qunoot and say "Allahumma inni as'aluka bi mafatih ul-ghaybi allati la ya'lamuha illa Ant. Antu Salli' Alaa' Muhammad wa 'aali'. Then you can ask for your wishes and whatever you wish to supplicate for.

Finally recite the following "Allahumma Anta Waliun na'mati, Wa al-Qa'diuru 'aala Talibati, Ta'lamu Haajati. Fa' as'aluka Bi haqqi Muhammad wa 'aali, alayhi wa 'alayhimu as-salam lamma qadhaitaha li".

Now you might be asking, can we hold a piece of paper, or use the phone, or listen to it being recited and repeat? The answer is yes to all these. Hopefully with practice it's eventually memorized. Now the prayer is then completed as normal.

There is so much emphasis by scholars on the Salaah, Salat ul-Ghufaylah, that if we have the intention of praying it as Nafilah of Maghrib and Ghufaylah prayers, we get the reward of praying both of them. SubhanaAllah!

The number of Rak'aahs for Maghrib Nafilah is four, of course, however, just praying Salat ul-Ghufaylah by itself without adding the Niyyah of the Nafilah prayer as well, does not cover for their Nafilah. Sometimes what happens is we forget to recite the specific Ayat like chapter six, verse 59 and instead recite a chapter of the Qur'an after Fatiha, like Surat ul-Ikhlaas. So what should we do then? Well, we should finish recitation of that chapter, then recite the Ayat afterwards.

We can pray Salat ul-Ghufaylah was sitting also, but if doing it in the sitting position two Raka'at sitting equals one standing. There is no Qa'dha for Salat ul-Ghufayla. So if we missed it, we can plan to do it the next day, inshaAllah.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I strongly recommend you start praying Salat ul-Ghufaylah, If you haven't already done so, it will change your life inshaAllah.

We are all desperate for the Mercy and reward from Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala, and the more righteous and recommended deeds we can do, the more we advance and progress towards success, happiness, and the pleasure of the Almighty Subhanah wa Ta'ala.