Anonymous asked: Can you tell me something about Islamic prayers, those which are made five times throughout the day? Can you explain what a Rak'ah is? Thank you.
Anon, there are some wonderful sites that will give you very detailed information about the nature of prayer in Islam and the approach from a million different perspectives. There have, literally, been volumes published on the matter. I’ll try to do my best to present some information to you.
The requirement to pray for Muslims comes from the Qur’an, the holy book of Muslims, which we believe is the Word of Allah. The Arabic name for prayer is Salah but it is called Namaz in some cultures.
Muslims pray five times a day. These times are just before dawn (Fajr), just after high noon (Dhuhr), in the late afternoon (Asr), just after sunset (Maghrib), and as the colour of the sky darkens (Isha). There are compulsory and voluntary components to each of these prayers. The compulsory components are called fardh and the voluntary components are called sunnah or nafil. Other than the compulsory fardh prayers a Muslim can offer as many prayers as he or she likes (except at certain times of the day (just after dawn, at high noon, and just before the sun sets).
A rak’ah is a unit of prayer. Each prayer is broken down in to cycles where a Muslim performs slightly different actions. A person recites the Qur’an and praises Allah during the prayer. A Muslim asks for Allah’s help and guidance. A Muslim sends blessings on Muhammad (PBUH). For different prayers the number of rak’ahs that is compulsory differs. At Fajr we offer 2 compulsory rak’ahs, at Dhuhr we offer 4, at Asr we offer 4, at Maghrib we offer 3, and at isha we offer 4 rak’ahs.
There are many reasons why we pray. One is to have a clear and direct mode of communication to Allah. A Muslim is never as close to God as (s)he is during prayer. A Muslim uses prayer to be aware of and thankful of Allah and the blessings He has bestowed on us. Another is to remain fearful and thoughtful of Allah and put our trust in our Lord. Praying prevents a person from committing sin as well as wiping away sins through an act of cleansing.
Salah is a vital part of a Muslim’s life. For me, personally, not performing salah is virtually unimaginable. It’s become so engrained in my life and daily routine that the very thought of missing a single prayer sends shivers down my spine. I use the time in prayer to talk to Allah, to ask him for everything and to praise Him. My connection to God is renewed every time I stand in front of my Lord and then bow down before Him. It’s the most beautiful and straight forward action a Muslim can perform.
Sorry for my extremely long winded answer. If something I’ve explained isn’t clear then please feel free to ask me any further questions on the matter.
Alhamdulilah.
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