ṢALĀTU ʾL-ʿĪDAIN (صلاة العيدين). “Prayers of the two festivals.” The two rakʿah prayers recited on the two Muḥammadan festivals, the ʿĪdu ʾl-Fit̤r and the ʿĪdu ʾl-Aẓḥā.
ṢALĀTU ʾL-ISTIK͟HĀRAH (صلاة الاستخارة). Lit. “Prayer for conciliating favour.” Two rakʿahs recited for success in an undertaking. Jābir relates that Muḥammad taught him Istik͟hārah, and that after reciting two rakʿahs he should thus supplicate God: “O God, I seek Thy good help in Thy great wisdom. I pray for ability to act through Thy power. I ask this thing of thy goodness. Thou knowest, but I know not. Thou art powerful, but I am not. Thou art knower of secrets. O God, if Thou knowest that the matter which I am about to undertake is good for my religion, for my life, for my future, then make it easy, and prosper me in it. But if it is bad for my religion, my life, and my future, then put it away from me, and show me what is good.” (Mishkāt, book iv. 40.)
ṢALĀTU ʾL-ISTISQĀʾ (صلاة الاستسقاء), from saqy, “Watering.” Two rakʿah prayers recited in the time of dearth.
ṢALĀTU ʾL-JINĀZAH (صلاة الجــنــازة). The funeral service. [[BURIAL OF THE DEAD], [JINAZAH].]
ṢALĀTU ʾL-JUMʿAH (صلاة الجمعة). Lit. “The prayer of assembly.” The Friday Prayer. It consists of two rakʿahs recited at the time of z̤uhr, or midday prayer on Friday. [[FRIDAY], [KHUTBAH].]
ṢALĀTU ʾL-K͟HAUF (صلاة الخوف). The “Prayers of Fear.” Two rakʿahs of prayers recited first by one regiment and then by another in time of war, when the usual prayers cannot be recited for fear of the enemy. These prayers are founded upon an injunction in the Qurʾān, [Sūrah iv. 102]: “And when ye go to war in the land, it shall be no sin for you to curtail your prayers, if ye fear that the enemy come upon you.” This was also the Talmudic law (Tr. Berachoth iv. 4): “He that goeth in a dangerous place may pray a short prayer.”
ṢALĀTU ʾL-K͟HUSŪF (صلاة الخسوف). Prayers said at an eclipse of the moon, consisting of two rakʿahs of prayer. (Mishkāt, book iv. ch. li.)
ṢALĀTU ʾL-KUSŪF (صلاة الكسوف). Prayers at an eclipse of the sun, consisting of two rakʿahs of prayer. (Mishkāt, book iv. ch. li.)
ṢALĀTU ʾL-MARĪẒ (صلاة المريض). “Prayer of the sick.” When a person is too sick to stand up in the usual prayers, he is allowed to recite them either in a reclining or sitting posture, provided he performs the usual ablutions. It is ruled that he shall in such a case make the prostrations, &c., mentally. (Raddu ʾl-Muḥtār, vol. i. p. 891.)
ṢALĀTU ʾL-WITR (صلاة الوتر). The Witr prayers. The word witr means either a unit, or an odd number, and is used for either a single or odd number of rakʿah prayers recited after the evening prayer (ʿishāʾ). (Mishkāt, book iv. ch. xxxvi.)