Muslim Prayer

• Prayer (“Salat”) is one of the five pillars of Islam. Others are Belief in one God, Fasting in the month of Ramazan (Roza), Alms (Zakat) to the poor,Pilgrimage to Mecca (Haj)

• Muslims pray 5 times a day in mediation to God• The ritual lasts s few minutes and has to be

performed in a certain manner facing Mecca• It is part of the Muslims direct vertical

relationship with God and our horizontal relationship with fellow humans

Prayer in the Bible: Kneeling and prostrating like Muslims

• "Now when Daniel...went into his house; and his window being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."-(DANIEL 6:10).

• "I am the Lord thy God...Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them."-(THE FIRST COMMANDMENT, EXODUS 20:2-5).

• "And he (Jesus) went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed..."-(MATTHEW 26:39). • "And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship..."-(JOSHUA 5:14). • "And he (Elijah) cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees."-(1 KINGS

18:42). • "And they (Moses and Aaron) fell upon their faces..."-(NUMBERS 20:6). • "And Abraham fell on his face..."-(GENESIS 17:3). • "...when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord, he arose

from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven."-(1 KINGS 8:54).

Prayer Guide(Salat)

CALL TO PRAYER THE MUEZZIN CALLING THE FAITHFUL TO PRAYER

An International anthem of over 1000 million Muslims of the world.) The following is a translation of  "Call to the Prayer," pronounced five times a day from the minarets of

Mosques all over the world • **God is Greatest.

*I bear witness that there is no other object of worship but Allah. *I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. *Come to prayer. *Come to Success. *God is Greatest.

There is no other object of worship but God. • *  Repeated twice. ** Repeated 4 times. • ...the faithful come to the mosque and take off their shoes so that they may enter the house of worship in bare

feet... "When he came to the Fire, a voice was uttered: O Moses! I am thy Lord, therefore put off thy shoes, for thou

art in the sacred valley of Tuwa."-(HOLY QURAN 20:11-12).

Takbeerat Posture 1

• Instructions: Bring hands, palms open, up to ears, and place thumbs behind earlobes, as << God Akbar>> is uttered.

God is the greatest.

Al Quayam Posture 2

• Recitation:

SUBHÁNA-KALLÁH-HUM-MA WA BI-HAMDIKA, WATABÁRAKAS-MUKA WATA'ÁLÁ JADDUKA, WA-LÁ ILÁHA GHAÍRUK.

O God, Glorified, praise-worthy. and blessed is Thy Name and exalted Thy Majesty. and there is no deity worthy of worship except

thee.

A'Ú-DHU-BIL-LÁ-HI MINASHAITÁNIR RAJÍM. BISMILÁHIR RAHMÁNIR RAHÍM. I seek refuge in God for the rejected Satan. In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

After this recite the opening Surah, Al-Fátihah:

• Following these words, a short chapter of at least three verses or a short surah should be recited from the Holy Qur'an.

ALHAMDU LIL-LÁHI RAB-BIL 'ÁLAMÍN.

Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.

AR-RAHMÁ-NIR RAHÍM.

The Beneficent, the Merciful

MÁLIKI YAU-MID-DÍN.

Master of the Day of Judgement

IYYÁ-KA N'ABUDU WA-IYYÁKA NASTA'ÍN.

Thee alone we worship and to thee alone we turn for help.

IHDI-NAS-SIRÁ-TAL MUSTAQÍM.

Guide us in the straight path.

SIRÁ TAL-LADHÍNA AN-'AMTA 'ALAÍHIM.

The path of those whom

GHAIR-IL MAGHDUBI 'ALAÍHIM.

You favored and who did not deserve Thy anger.

WALAD-DÁL-LIN (AMIN)

Or went astray.

Recite any other surah now

Any verse from the Quran can be recited here. For example:

Birth of Jesus in the Quran from Surah 19• She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Angel, and

he appeared before her as a man in all respects. • She said: "I seek refuge from thee to (God) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost

fear God." • He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a

holy son." • She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not

unchaste?" • He said: "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, "That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint

him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us: It is a matter (so) decreed." • So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place... • At length she brought (the babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: "O

Mary! Truly an amazing thing has thou brought! • "O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!" • But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the

cradle?"

Ruku Posture 3

• Instructions: Bend down at waist, placing palms of hands with fingers spread over knees. Back is parallel to ground, such that if a glass of water were on the back, it would not spill. Eyes looking down, directly ahead.

• Recitation:As bending at the waist, recite

ALLÁH AKBAR

God is the greatest.

Then3 times

Glory to my Lord the great.

Quayam Posture 4

• Instructions:While rising from the bending position of Ruku', recite

SAMI 'ALLÁHU LIMAN HAMIDAH

God has heard all who praise

Him.

RAB-BANÁ LAKAL HAMD

Our Lord: Praise be to Thee. • Then return to standing position, arms

at side.

• Recitation:After holding for six seconds, say:

ALLÁH AKBAR

God is the greatest.

and move to next position.

Sajjdah Posture 5

• Instructions:Go down to a kneeling position by placing both hands on knees, lowering oneself slowly and easily onto knees, then touch the head upon the ground so that the following seven body parts are in contact: forehead, two palms, two knees, toes of both feet.

Recitation:Recite 3 Times

SUBHÁNA RÁB-BI-YAL A'ALÁ

Glory to my Lord, the most high.

Quood Posture 6 • Instructions:

Reciting

ALLÁH AKBAR

God is the greatest.

rise from the SAJJDAH position, and assume the sitting posture shown to the left.

• Recitation:At end of six seconds, recite

ALLÁH AKBAR

God is the greatest.

And then assume SAJJDAH position once more.

Sajjdah

• Instructions:Go down to a kneeling position by placing both hands on knees, lowering oneself slowly and easily onto knees, then touch the head upon the ground so that the following seven body parts are in contact: forehead, two palms, two knees, toes of both feet.

Recitation:Recite 3 Times

SUBHÁNA RÁB-BI-YAL A'ALÁ

Glory to my Lord, the most high.

Quood Posture 8

AT-TAHI-YÁTU LIL-LÁHI WAS-SALAWÁTU WAT-TAY-YIBÁTU. AS-SALÁMU 'ALAIKA AY-YUHAN-NABIY-YU. WARAHMATUL-LÁHI WABARAKÁTUH. AS-SALÁMU 'ALAINÁ WA'ALÁ 'IBÁDIL-LÁHIS-SÁLIHÍN. ASH-HADU

AL-LÁ ILÁHA IL-LAL-LAHÚ. WA-ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAN 'ABDUHU

WARASÚLUH. All prayers and worship through words, action and sanctity are for God only. Peace be on you, O Prophet. And Mercy of God and His blessings. Peace be on us and on those who are righteous servants of God. I bear witness to the fact that these is no deity but God. I bear witness that Muhammad is His

slave and messenger. In the three raka'át(i.e. Maghrib) or four raka'át (Like Zuhr, 'Asr and 'Ishá) Saláh you stand up for the remaining raka'át after Tashahhud. On the other hand if it is two raka'át (Fajr) Saláh, keep sitting and after this recite Darud (blessing for the Prophet)

in these words:

Instructions: If the required number of Rakats is but two, the Salat would proceed to the next recitation.

AL-LÁHUM-MA SAL-LI 'ALÁ MUHAMMAD-IW WA 'ALÁ ÁLI MUHAMMADIN.

O Alláh, exalt Muhammad and the followers of

Muhammad. KAMÁ SAL-LAITA 'ALÁ IBRÁHÍMA WA'ALÁ ÁLI IBRÁHÍMA

As thou did exalt Ibrahim and his followers. IN-NAKA HAMÍDUM-MAJEED

Thou art the praised, the Glorious. AL-LÁHUM-MA BÁRIK 'ALÁ MUHAMMAD-IW

O Alláh, bless Muhammad WA 'ALÁ ÁLI MUHAMMADIN

and his followers KAMÁBÁRAKTA 'ALÁ IBRÁHÍMA WA 'ALÁ ÁLI IBRÁHÍMA

as Thou has blest Ibrahim and his followers.

IN-NAKA HAMÍDUM-MAJEED

Thou art the Praised, The Glorious.

• Instructions: Now turn your face to the

right saying:

AS-SALÁMU 'ALAIKUM WA-RAHMATUL-LÁH Peace be on you and God's blessings.

• Instructions: Now turn your face to the

left saying:

AS-SALÁMU 'ALAIKUM WA-RAHMATUL-LÁH Peace be on you and God's blessings