During the prescribed prayer times for Muslims, what is the content normally of the prayers offered? Are the prayers in the format of prescribed words that all say, or each pray his own words? Do Muslims pray outside the preset times? Are there certain things Muslims are prohibited from praying about?
(Still learning about the religion…)
The prescribed prayers called 'Salah' are offered in arabic.
The supplication prayers called 'Dua' is on the individual, what they want to ask for and when.
The content of the prayer is as prescribed by God through the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Some verses from the Quran are read, especially the first chapter of the Quran (Fatiah -the opening). Prayer consists of standing, bowing and prostrating positions. Muslims pray facing Kaaba (Makkah) where ever they are in the world.
Prayer consists of prescribed words but there are many duas(supplications) that can be read during the prayer. The five compulsory daily prayers are to be prayed during the prescribed times.
Fajr-Just before sunrise
Zuhr -After mid day
Asr- Mid Afternoon
Maghrib- Just after sunset
ISha- About an hour after sunset.
Besides these compulsory prayers we can pray as much as we wish.
Re: Prayers
Great questions, The Old Man.
LaeeqKhan mentioned that prayer consists of ‘standing, bowing and prostrating positions’. In prayers, one round of these positions equals one ‘rakat’ that has finished. (Each prescribed prayer contains different numbers of rakats - Fajr has 2, Zuhr = 4, Asr = 4, Maghrib =3, and Isha has 4). Each rakat (or round) for prescribed prayers starts off the same - first is the ‘niyaat’ (intention) which we state at the very beginning in our hearts. Surah al Fatiha is the first chapter of the Quran that we recite. In the first two rakats, another short chapter from the Quran is recited - it can be Surah al Ikhlaas.
Bowing is the position we take where the back is bent, hands are on the knees, also known as ‘ruku’. The ‘ruku’ has its own short line that we are supposed to say (Subhana Rabbiayl Azim which means Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty). Rising up from ‘ruku’, we stand straight, say another few short lines, then we bow down for prostration. You have probably seen this numerous times on tv when there is a documentary about Muslims or something. This position is known as prostration or ‘sijda’.
The rakats may sound confusing the first time around for someone new to Islam, but after a while you get the hang of it. The purpose of the niyaat - at the very beginning of each prescribed prayer, at least for me, is to try to clear my mind mentally away from the distractions of this world and try to put my heart into the prayer. There is absolutely no use whatsoever in performing these movements unless one’s heart is in there behind the actions. Otherwise, the prayer becomes a hollow act.
The prescribed prayers are in the format of words that all must say. Mystical Miss mentioned that the supplication prayers are called ‘dua’; these are usually (not always though) read after one has offered the prescribed prayers. You can do them while you are still sitting down on the prayer rug (janamaaz). Duas are intensely personal - infact, according to Islam, we are supposed to offer duas to Allah, ask Him for guidance, help, in times of trouble. So duas are highly subjective and will of course differ from person to person. There are many duas that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite; these are easily found in most Islamic bookstores. Supplications/duas are, for me, an intensely personal thing. It’s between me and Allah.
Yes, we can pray anytime. Sometimes, you will find people who will offer two rakats of voluntary prayer (known as nafl) before an exam, or before they are going to travel, or before the birth of a child. It can be for anything - anytime one is stressed out, just wanting to make that connection between yourself and God.
i hope that helps 
Thanks for the info, MyStiCaL_MisS and laeeqkhan.
Re: Re: Prayers
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*Originally posted by Nadia_H: *
The rakats may sound confusing the first time around for someone new to Islam, but after a while you get the hang of it.
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It certainly sounds very involved, but I suppose so is any ceremony in life....
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There is absolutely no use whatsoever in performing these movements unless one's heart is in there behind the actions. Otherwise, the prayer becomes a hollow act.
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Absolutely true.
Thanks for the info, Nadia.
Is the prayer rug compulsory, or is it mainly in order not to dirty one's clothes?
The "Maghrib" and "ISha" times are very close together. May one do both in one prayer?
I believe the way Muslims pray together as one do tend to draw them together and create a "fellowship" feeling (a feeling/responsibility for each other).
I gathered that male and female pray seperately?
Re: Re: Re: Prayers
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*Originally posted by The Old Man: *
Is the prayer rug compulsory, or is it mainly in order not to dirty one's clothes?
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Prayer rug is not mandatory. We can pray on any clean surface, like grass or desert.
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*Originally posted by The Old Man: *
The "Maghrib" and "ISha" times are very close together. May one do both in one prayer?
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Yes, there timings are close, but usually they can not be prayed together. Each prayer is to be prayed at its specified time. If someone misses a prayer on its time, then they should pray it late to catch-up.
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*Originally posted by The Old Man: *
I gathered that male and female pray seperately?
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Well, if they are praying in congregation, then females can pray with men, but all men will be in front and all women will be at the back. That is the specified way. A man may lead the prayers of both men and women. A woman can only lead if there are only women in the congregation.
Re: Re: Re: Prayers
i am not going to lie to you. Understanding the process can be very difficult. There are videos with Arabic, and English (or whatever local language), subtitles to help people understand what they should state with each movement. The best videos i have seen so far done on this, happen to be made by Muslim reverts - probably because, since they have never done these types of prayers before, they understand best what parts are confusing, what prayers would be difficult to memorize, etc. They explain it the best (IMO).
No, Faisal Bhai explained this well. The prayer rug is not compulsory. You were right, it is just in order not to dirty one’s clothes, and can be helpful as a symoblic definition of one’s prayer “space”. This is useful particularly when you are praying in a crowded area; in Islam, it is forbidden to walk too close and directly infront of someone who is praying. So the prayer rug sort of helps distinguish your prayer “space”. It is NOT mandatory, however. As long as the space is relatively clean, you can pray almost anywhere. i have seen people pray on top of clean sand, without a prayer rug.
Since the main purpose behind prayers is to establish or strengthen one’s connection with God, prayer rugs aren’t really that necessary (although you will find most Muslim families have at least a few). What’s more important is just the spiritual link or bond.
No, although you are right - they are close together.
Your point is very valid, but i am afraid each prayer has its own specific timings. What you can do, is - if you miss Maghrib, you can offer it later - even though, technically, the time for it has passed.
That’s an interesting way of stating it. i offer one of my compulsory Friday prayers at my university - and when you look around you, you see so many different people all bowing and praying together. It’s a nice feeling… even though, of course, there are so many conflicts and divisions amongst Muslims today (between Pakistanis as well). For that one short moment when all the heads are bowed, or you hear a collective “Ameen” at the end of a Surah, you feel pretty good inside - because it does truly feel like a “fellowship”. This is not to say there aren’t divisions within Muslims - we have way too many of them. So you cherish that one (brief) feeling of unity all the more.
**
Yes they do. It varies from country to country, even mosque to mosque. In Pakistan, generally speaking, some mosques do not allow females to enter the mosques. In Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), this is true as well. In Canada, females not only enter the mosques to pray, but many females serve on the mosque’s board of members as well. So it all varies. In all cases, females and males do pray separately. In a mosque close to my house, females have a completely separate area that is curtained off entirely. In a mosque i attended for four years in a different province in Canada, females and males prayed in the same room but females prayed at the back with males at the front.
Good questions by the way. :k:
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*Originally posted by MyStiCaL_MisS: *
The prescribed prayers called 'Salah' are offered in arabic.
The supplication prayers called 'Dua' is on the individual, what they want to ask for and when.
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What are the words you recite during Salah?
When you say Dua'h, Is that your own prayers? For your family or friends or a prayer of hope for others?
Hi AvgAmericalGirl,
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What are the words you recite during Salah?
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The words recited in Salah are chapters from the Quran.
The First Chapter known as 'The Opening' or in Arabic 'Al-Fatihah' is recited in all Salah prayers.
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When you say Dua'h, Is that your own prayers? For your family or friends or a prayer of hope for others?
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Yes. or whatever you want from God.
God mentions it in the Quran:
*"when my servants ask thee concerning Me I am indeed close (to them). I respond to the prayer(Dua) of the supplicant when he calleth on Me: Let them also with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: that they may walk in the right way."
Chapter 2:verse 186.
"Call on Me(in Dua) I will answer your prayer"
Chapter 40 verse 60.
:) hope its clear..
Absolutly a religion of hope and prayer.
Q.
Wondering if your kids don't like going to Mosque?
Only asking because know many kids who don't like going to church.
The priest at my church especially talks to kids during mass. During homily. And communion. All the kid's really like and look up to him alot. Before he became pastor of the church, he was a missionary. He has a really neat and likeable personality. I think one of the rare good people that turn up once in awhile to say hey.
here is anarticle i thought id post about Salaah (prayer) and iys healing purposes:
By Shahid Athar, M.D.
14/10/2002
We, the physicians, have now come to accept a fact known to our patients for centuries: that healing is from God, and we are just an instrument of the Healer. We give the same medication to two different patients with the same type of medical problem or perform similar operations on two patients otherwise at the same risk and one will survive and the other one doesn't. It is more than simple luck. As Socrates put it, "I dress the wound and God heals it." This was also acknowledged by the Prophet Abraham, "and when I am ill, it is He who cures me" (Quran 26:80). God himself attests to it by saying "If God touches thee with an affliction, no one can remove it but He" (Quran 6:17).
Healing from the Quran
The Quran is not a textbook of medicine, rather it contains rules of guidance that if followed will promote good health and healing. This is why the Quran calls itself a book of healing.
"O mankind, there has come unto you a direction from your Lord and a healing for the heart and for those who believe in guidance and mercy" (Quran 10:57).
"We have sent down in the Quran that which is healing and a mercy to those who believe" (Quran 17:82)
Healing from the Quran is of three types:
a. Legislative effect: This includes faith (iman) in God as not only the Creator but the Sustainer and the Protector. This also includes the medical benefits of obligatory prayers, fasting, charity and pilgrimage.
b. Health Guidelines: Health-promoting items from the Quran and the tradition of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) including the use of honey, olives, fruit, lean meat, avoiding excessive eating, and the prohibition of alcohol, pork, homosexuality, sexual promiscuity and sex during menstruation.
c. The direct healing effect of the Quran: Recitation of Quran by the ill or for the ill (ruqya) has shown to have a direct healing effect. This most likely uses the medical benefits of echo.
Echo of sound is such a powerful force that it has been used to blast off mountains. Now the miniaturized version of echo is used in medicine to break kidney stones (lithotripsy), gallstones, and even vegetations in the subendothelial bacterial endocarditis (SBE). Listening to the recitation of the Holy Quran has been shown in a study conducted by Dr. Ahmed E. Kadi and his associates to lower blood pressure, heart rate, and to cause smooth muscle relaxation in Muslim Arabs, non-Arab Muslims and even in non-Muslims. It is postulated that the echo target of “Alif Lam Meem” (the first three words of Surat AlBaqarah-the 2nd chapter of the Quran) is in the heart and that of Ya-seen (chapter 36) is in the pituitary gland of the brain. Thus the Prophet Mohammad always stressed reading the Quran (Quran-recitation) loudly and not silently by saying, "The comparison between a silent reader and a recitor is like a bottle of perfume when it is closed and when it is opened."
Use of Meditation in Prayer and Healing
Meditation includes acts of remembrance and communications with God as ordained to us.
"When my servant asks you (O Muhammad) about me, (tell them) I am close to them: I listen to the prayer of each supplicant when he asks Me. Let them listen to My call and believe in Me, that they may walk in the right way" (Quran 2:186).
"Your Lord says: "Call on Me and I will answer your call" (Quran 40:60).
"Those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of God, for in the remembrance of God do hearts find rest" (Quran 13:28).
"Remember Me, I will remember you; thank Me and reject Me not" (Quran 2:152).
"Remember thy Lord much and praise Him in the evening and morning" (Quran 3:41).
"Such as those who remember God standing, sitting and reclining" (Quran 3:191).
"and men who remember God much and women who remember God, God has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward" (Quran 33:35).
"O you believe! Remember God with much remembrance and glorify Him in the morning and evening" (Quran 33:41-42).
Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad
The Prophet Muhammad, like all other prophets of God, was engaged in the remembrance of God most of the time. He is known to have said:
"There is a polish for everything that removes the rust and the polish for the rust-of- heart is the dhikr (remembrance) of God."
He was asked which people are most virtuous and most highly esteemed by God on the Day of Judgement. The messenger of God (P) replied "Those who remember God often."
It is narrated in a hadith Qudsi (direct revelation to Prophet Muhammad) "God Most High says I am as my Servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me by himself, I make mention of him to Myself. If he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than his. If he comes closer to Me a hand span, I come closer to him arms-length, if he comes to Me walking, I come to him running."
Thus meditation/remembrance has been a practice of all Sufi sheikhs. In the words of Sheikh al-Mursi "dhikr (meditation) pleases God, defeats and drives evil forces, increases livelihood, makes the personality more prestigious, cleanses the heart, removes the faults and saves the tongue from lying, gossip, backbiting and hypocrisy while engaged in the remembrance of God."
Seeking Help with Prayers
According to Imam Ghazali, illness increases faith and brings man closer to God. Knowing this nature, we are told by the Quran -
"O you who believe, seek help with patience and prayers, as God is with those who patiently persevere" (Quran 2:153).
The Prophet Muhammad used to comfort the ill when he visited them and would say the following prayer:
"O Allah remove the hardship, O Lord of mankind, grant cure for You are the Healer. There is no cure but from You, a cure which leaves no illness behind."
He would also make following prayer for his own health:
"O Allah cure my body, cure my heart and cure my eyesight from any illness" (repeated 3 times).
Do Prayers Work?
Yes they do. Dr. Larry Dossey in his book "The Healing Words" has documented the healing effects of prayer. Citing one example from the research conducted by Dr. Byrd at San Francisco General Hospital in 1988, 393 critically ill heart patients admitted to the intensive care units over a 10-month period were divided into two groups. Patients categorized into group (A) were prayed for by name until they left the hospital. Those in group (B) were not prayed for. Those giving the prayers were not told how to pray. The results were very interesting. Those prayed for left the hospital early, had a lower incidence of cardiac arrest, 2-1/2 times less incidence of congestive heart failure and required 1/5th less antibiotics. The research team also observed that prayer combined with loving care worked even better. Men who had angina pectoris and a loving, caring wife, reported a 50% reduction in angina than men who were single or divorced.
Prayers work for us even while we are sleeping. The Prophet Muhammad advised us to say prayers from Quran (Surah Ikhlas, Al Falaq, Annas and/or last verse of Al Baqra (2:286) before going to sleep.
My Own Practice
I do dhikr in all my free time, especially while driving, and I pray for myself, my family, my friends and my patients by name, knowing that cure is only from God.
One time I visited a critically ill patient who had an adrenal tumor (pheochromocytoma) and was in hypotensive shock. I asked her what I could do for her and she, out of desperation (doctors had told her she wouldn't make it) asked me to pray. So I placed my hand over the site of the tumor and made the prophetic prayer and left. The next day when I came, I was surprised to see her sitting up in bed smiling. She told me that in the evening, the radiologist x-rayed her again and found no trace of the tumor. He could not explain it but thought that the arteriogram might have infarcted the tumor.
The Sufi Practices
In the treatment of diseases, Sufis use prayers and the knowledge of specific verses of the Quran and the names of Allah. This is called the Science of Tawidh (Taweez). They use science of numerology associated with Arabic alphabets. Some sample tawidh is given for illustration. One must know the healing is not in a piece of paper, words or numbers, but only from Allah. In my humble opinion, Tawidh is only a way to become God-conscious and receive His mercy as a result.
Shahid Athar, M.D. is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Athar is also the Chairman of the Islamic Medical Association of North American and a member of the Islamic Academy of Sciences (IAS).