Considering the events of wildfires in USA, it was important that we enlighten our audience with the issues pertaining to Salaat-e-Ayat. This should be performed if any of the following events occur.

1. Solar eclipse.

2. Lunar eclipse, although it may be partially eclipsed and even though it may not create fear among the people.

3. Earthquake, although it may not create fear for anyone:

4. Thunder, lightning. red and black winds or storms, and the like which create ‘fear among most people.

Imam Khamenei

Q 1: What is an āyāt prayer and what makes it obligatory according to Islamic law?

A:

1. It is comprised of two rak‘ahs, with five rukū‘s and two prostrations in each rak‘ah.
2. According to Islamic law, it becomes obligatory due to
   1. Solar and lunar eclipses, even partial ones.
   2. An earthquake
   3. Any abnormal phenomenon which scares most people
      1. Such as an unusual black, red, or yellow storm,
      2. An intense darkness,

• Landslide,

1. A cry (from the heavens),
2. Fire which sometimes appears in the sky. Ā

3. Ayāt prayer is not made obligatory by that which does not frighten most people’

Q 2: How is an āyāt prayer performed?

A: Āyāt prayer has several forms:

1. After making intention and saying the takbīrah al-iḥrām, one recites the Fātiḥah and another one sūrah, and then performs rukū‘. After rising from the rukū‘, one recites the Fātiḥah and a sūrah, and again performs rukū‘. One keeps on doing so until one performs five rukū‘s, each preceded by the Fātiḥah and another sūrah . After that, one rises up and performs two prostrations, then stands up and performs the second rak‘ah in the same manner as the first one, completing with two prostrations, followed by tashahhud and salām.
2. Only one Fātiḥah and sūrahis to be recited in each rak`ah. it is said as follows: the other sūrahis divided into five parts and, after making intention and saying takbīrah al-iḥrām, one recites the Fātiḥah and one part of the other sūrah (be it one complete verse, a part of it or more than a verse), then performs rukū‘ (of course, it is an obligatoy caution not to count Bismillah as a part of the sūrah and bow to rukū‘ after it).  Then rising from the rukū‘, one recites another part of that sūrah without the Fātiḥah, followed by the second rukū‘. Then raising his head, he continues this procedure so that he completes the other sūrah just before the fifth rukū‘. Then after the fifth rukū‘, he performs two prostrations, then stands up and performs the second rak‘ah in the same manner as in the first one, finishing with tashahhud and salām.

iii. One performs one of the two rak‘ahs in one of the above two forms and the other rak‘ah in the other form.

1. One completes the sūrah, of which one recited a part in the first standing state, in the second, third, or the fourth standing state, for instance. Then it will be obligatory for him, after raising his head from the rukū‘, to repeat theFātiḥah in the following standing state, and to recite with it a sūrahor a part of it, in case of which he must complete that sūrah before the fifth rukū‘.

Q 3: Is the obligation of āyāt prayer limited to those who are in the city of occurrence of the phenomenon, or does it apply to any mukallaf who comes to know about it without being in that city?

A: It is obligatory only for those who are in the phenomenon’s city at the time of its happening.

Q 4: If someone is unconscious when an earthquake occurs, and becomes conscious after its occurrence, will the āyāt prayer be obligatory for him?

A: As for the given assumption, it is an obligatory caution that he offers the āyāt prayer.

Q 5: After an earthquake in an area, it is often observed that dozens of tremors occurs there in a short period of time. What is the rule with respect to āyāt prayer in such cases?

A: Each quake, whether violent or mild, requires its own āyāt prayer provided that it is considered as an independent quake.

Q 6: The centre of seismography reports the occurrence of several mild earthquakes in the area we live, mentioning their number, though we felt none of them. Is āyāt prayer obligatory for us in such a case?

A: If it happens in a way that no one feels its occurrence and it is only understood by using an instrument, the āyāt prayer will not be obligatory.

Ayatollah Sistani

Ruling 1. Ṣalāt al‑āyāt consists of two rakʿahs, and in each rakʿah there are five rukūʿs. The method of performing the prayer is as follows: after one has made the intention [of performing the prayer], one says takbīr, recites one Sūrat al-Ḥamd and one other complete surah, goes into rukūʿ, and raises one’s head from rukūʿ; then, one again recites one Sūrat al-Ḥamd and one other complete surah, goes into rukūʿ again, and so on until one has done this a total of five times. After getting up from the fifth rukūʿ, one performs two sajdahs, stands up, and proceeds to perform the second rakʿah in the same way as the first; one then says tashahhud and the salām of the prayer.

Ruling 2. [A shorter method of performing ṣalāt al‑āyāt is as follows:] after one has made the intention [of performing the prayer], one says takbīr and recites Sūrat al-Ḥamd; then, one divides the verses of the other surah into five parts and recites one verse or more, or even less, provided that – based on obligatory precaution – it is a complete sentence. One must start from the beginning of the surah and must not suffice with reciting bismillāh [on its own and count that as one verse]. Then, one goes into rukūʿ, raises one’s head, and without reciting Sūrat al-Ḥamd one recites the second part of the other surah. One then goes into rukūʿ again, and so on until one completes the other surah before one goes into the fifth rukūʿ. For example, if the other surah is Sūrat al-Falaq,[1] he first says:

Ruling 3. There is no problem if a person recites Sūrat al-Ḥamd and the other surah five times in one rakʿah of ṣalāt al‑āyāt, and in the other rakʿah he recites one Sūrat al-Ḥamd and divides the other surah into five parts.

Ruling 4. It is recommended that one say takbīr before and after rukūʿ but saying takbīr after the fifth and the tenth rukūʿ is not recommended; instead, it is recommended that one say ‘samiʿal lāhu liman ḥamidah’.

Ruling 5. It is recommended that one perform qunūt before the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth rukūʿ; and if one performs qunūt before only the tenth rukūʿ, it is sufficient.

Ruling 6. If in ṣalāt al‑āyāt one doubts how many rakʿahs he has performed and having thought about it he does not find an answer, his prayer is invalid.

Ruling 7. If a person doubts whether he is in the last rukūʿ of the first rakʿah or the first rukūʿ of the second rakʿah and having thought about it he does not find an answer, his prayer is invalid. However, if, for example, he doubts whether he has performed four or five rukūʿs, in the event that his doubt arises before he bends down for sajdah, he must perform the rukūʿ about which he doubts. However, if he has already bent down for sajdah, he must dismiss his doubt.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

Issue 1: The prayer of signs (Salatul-Ayaat) is obligatory in four instances:

• First and Second: Eclipse of the sun and eclipse of the moon, although the eclipse be partial whether anyone is afraid or not.
• Third: Earthquake, whether anyone is afraid or not.
• Fourth: Lightening, black and red winds and every frightful heavenly event when the majority of people are afraid. Rather, all frightful earthly events also when they bring about eeriness and the majority of people are afraid, according to obligatory precaution.

Issue 2: When the time of the event which necessitates the prayer of the sign is repeated, it is obligatory to perform this prayer for each one of (these events), like an earthquake occurring a number of times or the sun eclipses and an earthquake occurs at one time, a prayer is obligatory for each one of these events. However, when these events occur another time during the prayer of signs, one prayer of signs suffices.

Issue 3: When one comes to know that there was a complete solar or lunar eclipse after completion of the time, the Qadhaa’ of the prayer of signs is obligatory. As for when it was not complete, then, the Qadhaa’ is not obligatory.

Issue 4: The prayer of signs is considered two rak‘ah and for each rak‘ah there are five rukūʿ. It is possible to perform it in two ways:

1) To make the Takbeer after intention and recite Surah and a second complete Surah. Then, bow in rukūʿ, then, stand from rukūʿ and recite Al-Hamd and complete Surah. Then, bow in rukūʿ and stand from rukūʿ and recite Al-Hamd and a complete Surah until (this has been done) five times. Then, after that raise the head from the fifth rukūʿ and prostrate two prostrations, then, stand for the second rak‘ah as what had been done for the first rak‘ah, then, make the Tashahhud and Salaam.

2) After making the intention, make the Takbeer and recite Al-Hamd and divide the verses of a Surah into five parts. Then, recite one part and bow in rukūʿ, then, stand. Then, recite the second part, then, bow in rukūʿ, then, stand as such until the five parts are finished before the fifth rukūʿ without Al-Hamd. After the fifth rukūʿ, prostrate two prostrations, then, stand for the second rak‘ah and do the same as had been done in the first rak‘ah completely.

Issue 5: Nothing prevents one from performing the first rak‘ah of the prayer of signs according to the first method and the second rak‘ah according to the second method.

Issue 6: The Qunoot is recommended before the tenth rukūʿ. 

Issue 7: When there is doubt in the number of rak‘ah and one does not know how many he has prayed and is not able to arrive at anything (as a solution), the prayer is invalid.

As for when there is doubt in the number of rukūʿ, base (the number) on the minimum. If the place has been passed, meaning one has entered into the prostration, no attention is paid (to the doubt).