How to Give a Signal in Prayer (Salat) – Men and Women's Role According to Islamic Teachings

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giving signal in prayer, giving signal in salat,

How to Give a Signal in Prayer (Salat) ~ Hello readers! In some of my previous articles, I discussed the importance of refraining from speaking during prayer. I also highlighted the differing opinions among Islamic scholars on this topic. As promised, in this article, I will explain what to do if someone calls you while you are praying or if there is an attacker during prayer.

Before answering the question, let me share a hadith that is specifically relevant to this discussion.

Hadith About Giving a Signal During Prayer (Salat)

The hadith related to giving a signal during prayer (Salat) is as follows:

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ؛ التَّسْبِيْحُ لِلرِّجَالِ وَالتَّصْفِيْقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ . زَادَ مُسْلِمٌ ؛ فِيْ الصَّلَاةِ

Translation: From Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, he said, "The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: 'Saying tasbih (subhaanallaah) is for men, and applauding (tasfīq) is for women.' This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim. Muslim added, 'In prayer.'"

Does Farting Without Sound or Smell Break Prayer (Salat)?

Key Points of the Hadith

This hadith contains important details that we need to understand:

  • Men are allowed to use prayer sentences, like saying tasbih (subhaanallaah), if they need to communicate during prayer. For example, men may use this signal to allow someone into the house, answer a call, inform the person leading the prayer, or warn a blind person of an obstacle.
  • Women, on the other hand, cannot use tasbih (subhaanallaah) while praying. Instead, they are required to use applause (clapping) if they need to communicate. This is because, in Islamic teachings, women's voices should be kept modest, and thus, they are instructed not to utter prayer words when they need to signal something.
  • Women should clap once when signaling. If a woman needs to signal again, she must pause between claps. Clapping should not be continuous like cheering.

Conclusion

If we understand the hadith and the explanation provided above, the answer to the question is clear. There is no need for further elaboration.

This article provides a simple yet clear explanation regarding giving a signal during prayer (Salat). Do you understand now? If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

I hope this article is beneficial. May it be useful to all readers. Amen.

See you again in the next article!

Akhmad Syafiuddin
Akhmad Syafiuddin An expert in Islamic discourse and law, and a graduate of Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

2 comments

Comment Author Avatar
Omar
January 7, 2025 at 4:46 AM Delete
Alhamdulillah, I am so thankful for coming across this article! As a new Muslim, I have been learning a lot about the intricacies of prayer (Salat), and one of the topics I was curious about was how to give a signal during prayer, especially when someone calls your name or if there's an urgent situation like an attacker. This article has provided exactly what I needed—clear, detailed, and easy-to-understand guidance on the topic!

The way the author starts by sharing the hadith related to signaling during prayer really helped me understand the Islamic perspective. The reference to the hadith from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) gives such valuable insight into how men and women are to respond if they need to communicate during Salat. It was so helpful to learn that men are permitted to use tasbih (subhaanallaah) to signal, while women are instructed to clap instead. This difference was clearly explained, and it made me realize the wisdom behind such guidance—it's about maintaining the modesty and sanctity of the prayer for women.

I also appreciated how the author highlighted the importance of moderation in signaling. For women, clapping once and then pausing before clapping again really makes sense. It helps ensure that the action doesn't disrupt the flow of prayer or become distracting. It's amazing how simple and clear these instructions are, yet they carry so much meaning and respect for the prayer ritual.

As a beginner in Islam, I often find myself wondering about the small details like this, which is why I'm so grateful for this article. The author explained everything without overcomplicating it, making it very accessible for someone who is just starting to learn. The article's tone is friendly and respectful, making it feel like the author is genuinely helping me along in my journey of learning.

The language used in this article is straightforward, which makes it so much easier for me to grasp the concepts. The practical examples and the references to hadith give me confidence that I'm learning about this topic the right way.

I sincerely hope the author continues to share such helpful articles. This one was truly beneficial, and I feel much more at ease now knowing how to handle signals during prayer. May Allah reward you for providing such clear and valuable knowledge. Ameen!
Comment Author Avatar
January 13, 2025 at 6:25 AM Delete
Hi Omar,

Ameen and thank you for reading this article.

Regards,