Prayer

Prayer or salat is the second pillar of Islam. The reasons and benefits of praying are:

1. To obey God's command


2. Salat is a way to worship God.
3. Salat is a direct relationship between you and God. Pretty much like a connection. It is the time in which you worship him, and ask him for forgiveness and guidance.


4. Increases one's spirituality.
5. Salat helps you get rid of: Depression, Loneliness (Because when you're praying, you feel very close to God spiritually) Migraines, and headaches, sinus, and pain in the back and knees.


6. Salat teaches us to be on time, not only with God, but with our worldly appointments as well.



7. Salat encourages purity of body, clothes, heart, mind, and spirit.



8. Salat encourages us to memorize verses of the Quran to recite in prayer. Thus making us have better memory.
9. It minimizes our arrogance when we bow forward and prostrate and inspires us to be humble and to acquire humility.



10. Praying in a congregation encourages unity, and oneness. During times of prayers Muslims from all over the world prostrate and pray in the direction of Makkah. This shows the unity of muslims.

In order to pray, a muslim must make abolution (Called Wudu' in arabic) Meaning they must purify themselves. To make wudu', a muslim must rinse the following body parts with water:

• Hands (Mandatory)


• Mouth (Optional but highly recommended)


• Nose (Optional but highly recommended)


• Arms (From wrist to elbow) (Mandatory)


• Face (Mandatory)


• Ears (Optional but highly recommended)


• The top of the head (Mandatory)


• Feet (Ankles down) (Mandatory)

I would like to talk about wudu' and the nullifiers of wudu' in further detail later on, but for now I'd like to focus on prayer.

This is how you pray:

1. Make a niyyah or intention, to pray to God.


2. Say the takbir: Allahu Akbar (God is Great)


3. Put your left hand over your chest, with your right hand over it. This position is called Qiyam. You then recite Surat(A chapter from the Quran) Al-Fatiha: Bismillahi Ar-rahman Ar-raheem: In the name of God the most Gracious the most Merciful (All surahs begin with this, except for one), Alhamdu lillahi rabbil alamin: All praises be to God, the Lord of the Universe, Ar-rahman Ar-raheem: The most Gracious the most Mericful, Maliki yawmi deen: Sovereign of the Day of Judgement, Iyaka Na'badu wa iyaka nasta'in: You alone we worship, amd your help we seek, Ihdina sirat al-mustaqeem: Guide us on the straight path Sirat al-lathina an-amta alayhim, ghayril maghdoobi alayhim wala ad-daleen: The path of those whom you have bestowed your favor, not that of those you are angry with or have gone astray. And then you may recite any other surah from the Quran.


4. Then you make Rukoo' Which is basically bending forward, with your hands on your knees. And you say "Subhana rabi al-athim" three times. It means "Glorified is my God he is the Greatest"


5. Then you stand straight again and say "Sami Allahu Liman Hameeda" Which means "Allah heard all those who praised him" and then you say "Rabbana wa Laka Al-Hamd" which means "Oh our Lord, our praise is for you"


6. Then you make Sujood, (which is done twice in a row)by putting your face, hands, knees, and toes on the ground and say "Subhana Rabi al-Ala" which means, "Glorified is my Lord, He is the Highest"


7. Then you make Jalsah (If you are on your 2nd Rakah, which means you have done the qiyam, ruku or another name for it is Qa'dah, which is basically sitting with your hands palm-down on your knees. Then you say the Tashahud (Which is in arabic, but I will translate): Part 1: All compliments, all physical prayer, and all monitary worship is for Allah. Peace be upon you, oh Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us, and all the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except for Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is his slave and messenger. Part 2: Oh Allah send grace and honor on Muhammad, and on the family and true folowers of Muhammad. Just as you sent grace and honor on Ibraheem and the family and true followers of Ibraheem. Surely you are praiseworthy and the Great. Oh Allah send your blessing on Muhammad and the true followers of Muhammad just as you sent blessings to Ibraheem and the true followers of Ibraheem. Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great.


8. Then you make Taslim. Which is turning your head to your right shoulder first, saying, "Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatu allah" which means, "Peace be upon you and blessings of Allah" Then you turn your head to your left shoulder and say the same thing. This ends your prayer.


9. If you want to ask God for something in particular after prayer, you make Dua. You can actually do Dua at any time, but most people prefer to do it right after prayer, since this is when their hearts are their purest.

If you did not understand some of the terms I used i.e. Qiyam, Sujood, etc, then you may look at the Pictures for Prayer Post. Or if you do not understand everything I've said in general (which is ok :) and want something more visual then you can watch the video, just click on the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kScrL8m1qms

There are five daily prayer that muslims must pray:

Other, than the five daily prayers, there are many other different types of prayers for other occasions:

• Salatul Eidain: Eidul Fitr Prayer, and Eidul Adha Prayer: these are prayed on the days of Eid. (Mandatory)


• Salatul Janazah: Funeral Salat


• Salatul Duha: After sunrise and before non. (In between Fajr and Thuhr prayers)


• Salatull Taraweeh: Performed during month of Ramadan, and after Salatul Isha.


• Salatul Haajah: For whenver a person is in trouble or distress.


• Salatul Tawbah: When a person has made a mistake, and wants to ask for God's forgiveness.


• Salatul Istikharah: When a person is confused and wants God to guide him or her to choose the right decision.


• Salatul Istisqaa': When there is a drought.


• Salatul Khawf: When people are struck in fear, for example if there is a earthquake, a person would pray this prayer.


• Salatul Tasbeeh: Can be done anytime.


• Salatul Kusoof and Khusoof: When a solar or lunar eclipse occurs.


• Salatul Tahiyatul Masjid: When one enters a masjid, they can pray this prayer.


• Salt after Tawaf: During Umrah or Hajj, after one makes Tawaf.

Most of these prayers aren't mandatory, but are highly recommended for good deeds.