Translated By Amera Sharawi
Revised By Magdy Abd Al-Shafy
The second pillar of Islam is salat, the requirement to pray five times a day at fixed times. [24] [25] Each salat is performed facing towards the Kaba in Mecca. [24] However, in the early days of Islam prior to the hijra and until the beginning of the seventh month after hijra Muslims offered salat facing towards Jerusalem. [26] Salat is intended to focus the mind on God; it is a personal communication with God, expressing gratitude and worship.[24] According to the Qur'an (29:40) the benefit of prayer "restrains [one] from shameful and evil deeds"[25]. Salat is compulsory but there are flexibilities under certain circumstances. [27] For example in the case of sickness or lack of space, a worshipper can offer salat while sitting or even lying, and the prayer can be shortened when travelling. [27]
The salat must be performed in the Arabic language to the best of each worshipper's ability (although the du'a afterwards need not be in Arabic), and the lines are to be recited by heart, although beginners may use written aids. The worshipper's body and clothing, as well as the place of prayer, must be cleansed. [27] All salat should be conducted within the prescribed time period or waqt and with the appropriate number of raka'ah. While prayers may be made at any point within the waqt, it is considered best to begin them as soon as possible after the call to prayer is heard. When a worshipper is too far from a mosque to hear a call to prayer, the time may be inferred from the position of the sun in the sky.[citation needed]
Verses from the Holy Quran
[13:15] To GOD prostrates everyone in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the mornings and the evenings.
[16:49] To GOD prostrates everything in the heavens and everything on earth - every creature - and so do the angels; without the least arrogance.
[22:18] Do you not realize that to GOD prostrates everyone in the heavens and the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the animals, and many people? Many others among the people are committed to doom. Whomever GOD shames, none will honor him. Everything is in accordance with GOD's will.
The importance of prayer
Prayer in Islam has a great importance, this can proved by the following:
1- It is the second element of Islam.
2- It is the first thing to be asked about on the day of resurrection , if prayer is accepted then all man’s work will be accepted and if it is not accepted all his work will not be accepted either.
3- It is a distinguishing sign for pious (devoted) believers as Allah says: “and perform prayer “( surat Al-Bakkara/ verse 3).
4- This who preserves prayer preserves his religion, and this who abandons it loses his religion.
5- Islam is in man’s heart as far as prayer is in his heart and his share in Islam equals his share of prayer.
6- It is a sign of loving Allah and appreciating His Blessings.
7- Allah The Almighty ordered us to preserve it whether we are traveling or staying, during war and peace and whether we are ill or healthy.
8- Texts declare that who abandons prayer is a disbeliever (an atheist). Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said “what lies between a man and atheism is abandoning prayer “(Musli
“(Muslim accounts) and said “prayer is the commitment between us, who abandons it disbelieves - becomes a disbeliever or becomes an atheist – (Ahmad and people of norms “sunan” account). When this who abandons prayer dies he is considered an atheist, he is not washed nor enshrouded, no one prays for him, he is not buried in Muslims’ graves, his relatives do not inherit from him and his money goes to beit al-mal (where the money of Muslim states is kept) in addition to other similar provisions that apply to those who abandon prayer.
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yes , even high over the clouds moslems do the prayer ; they seek the pleasure of Allah and the peace of mind |
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God says in the Holy Quran what means " Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allah and constancy in prayer and paying to the poor their due; who fear a day when hearts and eyeballs will be overturned"(24:37.) |
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Even children like to do it , prophet Mohummed ordered that children should be learnt how to pray . |
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No matter where they are , they like it . It brings them close to God |
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Nothing beguiles them .They never forget their connection with God . The spiritual feeling in their heart search for a way to materialize and the best is the Moslem prayer |
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yes , they are at war ; they may have been angry , they may have been thirsty , they may have missed their family ; they may have been at feart of the horrible distructive weapons and nothing can relieve these pains but Salat . It is true , when you do the Moslem prayer you feel you entity close to God - it is something that beggers description |
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perhaps , they were about to travel ; perhaps they had short time but what could quench the love of Allah but the Moslem prayer ?!!! |
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Wait , wait -where are they ? though it is not incumbent in such a situation , but they refuse to miss the contact with God . How lovely |
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One of the merits Islam that God vouchsafed on us is that He made the earth a place suitable to prayer , prophet Mohummed says " wherever the time for the prayer comes upon you , perform the prayer ; for all the earth is a place of worshipping for you. |
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They fear none but God . What on earth could prevent a true believer from doing prayer ? They should understand what Islam is ; how could be a person who is in complete submission to God be a terrorist ?!! |
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See how long the row is , see how much they adhere to God's injunctions ; think what made those people to stop their cars to do the prayer . Though they could deter the prayer till they go home , they wish nothing but the contact of God , in their daily life they aspire for nothing but God's pleasure . yes , to them life should stop and their love and sbmission to God go -How beautiful this life is!! how beautiful is the land where they prostrate themselves - Those are the Moslems who never forget their Creator. |
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The mosque is completely filled , those Moslem take a place around the mosque to do their prayers . Prostration is a symbole of the complete submission and humilityto God , In moslem 's humility a declaration of no greatness but to Allah , self-conceit and self-importance die away . |
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When things are down
And you are out of your mind
Just Remember Allah is The Merciful .
When your life is in darkness
And nothing is right
Just Remember
Through the darkness, Allah is The Light.
When nothing makes sense
And your heading for demise
Just Remember
It doesn't make sense, but Allah is The Wise.
When times are troubled
And no one seems to care
Just Remember, that Allah wil care .
When your heart is breaking
And your pain makes you fall
Just Remember, Allah relieves it all.
When you are weak
And the road seems long
Just Remember, Seek strength from The Strong.
When life is a burden
And everything is unstable
Just Remember, Allah is The Able.
When the way is cloudy
And there is no one by your side
Just Remember, Allah is The Only Guide.
When no one wants to listen
Or is willing to lend an ear
Just Remember, Allah is always ready to hear.
When you are poor and penniless
And you are stuck in a niche
Just Remember, Allah is The Rich.
When you are down in your misery
And there is nowhere to run
Just Remember,
You can always run to The One.
When you r all alone
And your pain has no end
Just Remember, Allah is the only one you can depend.
And when your scars are hurting
And your heart is in fear
Just Remember, Allah is really here |
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They pray while another soldier defends their back - In such an extreme cold , they never forget to pray , they need the prayer that relieve thier pains .with hearts filled with love and wormth , they have prostrated themselves to God on the icy land . |
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Sajdah is a unique position or stance in the regular prayers, which a Muslim is supposed to offer at least five times a day. Although the basic purpose of obligatory prayers is not to provide an exercise for people yet it is being increasingly recognized that it has plenty of medical advantages for the human body. Here it is worth mentioning that Holy Prophet Muhammad has mentioned in a hadith in Ibn Majah that prayer is a cure for many diseases. The fact is that a person who offers his prayers regularly that too in the mosque is protected from many diseases which he many not even know.
The position of Sajdah in which the forehead touches the earth is exclusively associated with the Muslim form of prayer. It is the climax of a Muslim's prayer and as mentioned in a Hadith a Muslim is nearest to Allah in this position.
Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the messenger of Allah said:
"The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state)"
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
A'ishah Siddiqa (radiAllahu anha) narrates that Holy Prophet used to prolong the prostration to such an extent that one could recite fifty verses (of the Qur'an) before he would lift his head
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
In another Hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik (radiAllahu anhu) the Holy Prophet advised Muslims to perform Ruku (bowing) and Sajdah properly.
In another Hadith he advised to perform Sajdah and Bowing calmly and to get up only when the body has come to ease.
In supplication for the victory, He also performed long bowing (Ruku) and Sajdah in the special prayers at the time of eclipse. Hence the first positive effect upon a person who prostrates or does Sajdah is that he comes nearest to Allah and hence in that condition he can supplicate. This is a great psychological advantage and it gives relief to the person concerned as life is full of worries and in this position he gets at least a transient refuge from the agonizing problems. When a person goes to the position of prostration Sajdah his whole body is in active motion. This position can be considered as a mini dive as the musalli (one who offers prayer) goes to rest his forehead on the ground while his hands are placed at the sides. This brings most of the body muscles if not all in active motion and serves to give them some exercise.
The hands are then specifically stretched out and thence the forearm as well as arm muscles are supposed to bear the weight in the Sajdah position. It gives good exercise to the muscles of the upper limb. Holy Prophet in a hadith advised not to put the forearms flatly on the ground but to keep them elevated above ground and this is better for the forearm and arm muscles.
Sajdah is a unique position as this is the only position in which brain (or head) becomes lower than the heart and hence for the first time the blood gushes towards the brain with full force whereas in all other positions (even when lying) brain is above the heart when it has to work against gravity to send blood to the brain.
In the position of Sajdah due to the increased blood supply the brain receive more nourishment and it has good effect upon memory, vision, hearing, concentration, psyche and all other cognitive abilities. People who offer their prayers regularly have more will power and can cope with the difficulties of life in a much better manner. They have less incidence of headaches, psychological problems and other defects of cognitive function.
In the unique position of Sajdah the neck muscles get best exercise. They have to bear the load when the forehead lies at the ground hence the neck muscles become stronger. One can note the tense pressure at the neck muscles in the position of Sajdah specially the active motion of the neck and the facial muscles when the head is being lifted. (e.g. one inch above the ground) and it will be noticed that they are in a very active motion.
More strong cervical muscles mean the cervical vertebra will be better protected. Strength of cervical muscles is important as the head rests upon cervical vertebra supported by cervical musculature.
In fact head performs rotator movements over the cervical vertebra. In any accident cervical neck examination is especially important to the physicians because of its extraordinary importance.
It is uncommon that a person who offers his prayers regularly will get the usual neck myalgias or cervical spondylosis as the neck muscles particularly become very strong due to the 34 sajdahs offered daily in five prayers.
Position of Sajdah is also said to be a good treatment for the retroversion of uterus, a disease of women.
Most of us do not know that the position of Sajdah is an excellent exercise for men (for manpower). It may be a good information to the Viagra dependents. While getting up from Sajdah the perinneal muscles are one of those muscles which have to pull the trunk back to sitting position and they contract actively. Similarly while standing up from Sajdah the perennial muscles are again actively mobilised and this gives much strength to the muscles important for manpower.
The unique position of Sajdah also has positive effects upon the back muscles as while going into Sajdah and getting up from it the back muscle contract actively and they become stronger. Probably it is because of this reason that a person who is regular in prayers will uncommonly get backache.
After performing Sajdah either the musalli stands up or he sits to pray Attahiyyat. In this position the person sits calmly while his hands rest at his thighs which are folded backwards. This is much similar to the relaxation position of Yoga and has soothing effect upon one's health and mentation.
Holy Prophet Muhammad used to elongate the position of Ruku (bending) and Sajdah positions and he advised to do so. In the light of the above facts it is appropriate to say that from medical point of view as well this advice is a golden rule for health.
Finally it must be reminded that prayer is not meant to be an exercise. However there are a lot of medical advantages associated with it.
Still the best blessing is the peace of mind, which a person derives by the accomplishment of his duty to Allah by fulfilling an obligation.
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They are not playing , look at their face ; with eyes downwards , with heads bowing they submit themselves to God - Kids but with hearts of men |
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Man can be closest to God only when prostrating himself |
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(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam#Salat
http://www.geocities.com/mutmainaa/prayer/medical_benefits_sajdah.html
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