Prayers (salat), whether obligatory or voluntary, require preparation. Write an account of how a Muslim prepares for it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2017). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. 5(a) Straight forward question requiring the candidate to say how Muslims prepare themselves to say their obligatory fard or voluntary nafl prayers. Before any prayer is offered the believer needs to be in a state of purity by performing ghusl/wudu as necessary. Candidates could give an account of how both are performed and this should be read as development of the answer. In the case of non-availability of water tayammum should be performed and again the good answers will give its method. Answers could quote from the Qur'an to support the need to perform purification. Candidates could quote Hadiths like 'Allah does not accept any prayer that was not performed while in a state of purity' (Agreed). Besides the body, the clothes of the worshipper as well as the place where salat is to be performed should be clean of all impurities. The timings are also important and candidates could say that the fard prayers should be offered at the prescribed times, again some candidates may give the names and timings of the five obligatory prayers. It is prohibited to pray when the sun is in the Meridian or is rising or setting and this prohibition applies to both fard and nafl prayers and could be given in the answers and should be read as development of the answer. Sattar must be observed, for men this means that they should be covered from the naval to the knees and for women all the body besides her face and hands should be properly covered. Finally, the worshipper needs to face the qiblah by making the effort to know the direction of the Ka'ba and by making a pure intention before starting the salat.
2. 5(b) Every response will vary as each candidate will give their own personal answer to why dua after obligatory prayers is recommended. They could say that after one has completed his/her salat, one is still in a state of purity or wudu, facing the qiblah, has made his connection with his Lord during the prayer and so it is an opportune time to seek God's mercy and ask for the fulfilment of one's wishes or needs. Others could say that the Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) informs Muslims that amongst other times after performing obligatory prayers is an opportune moment to make dua so by making dua after salat Muslims are practising the sunna of the Prophet (pbuh). Again as in all Part (b) answers all valid responses should be credited.