How to pray?
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Hi everyone. How does one pray in Islam? Do you know of any good online guides to praying in Islam? I am hoping it is not the complex way I was taught via non-Quran Alone Islam. It would have taken me forever to learn that.
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Hi everyone. How does one pray in Islam? Do you know of any good online guides to praying in Islam? I am hoping it is not the complex way I was taught via non-Quran Alone Islam. It would have taken me forever to learn that.
A Person should first ask Why then How.
Why do you have to pray in the first place? The answer will guide you as to how to pray.
Please tell me if you already know why a person has to pray
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Hi everyone. How does one pray in Islam? Do you know of any good online guides to praying in Islam? I am hoping it is not the complex way I was taught via non-Quran Alone Islam. It would have taken me forever to learn that.
The Quran gives us the three positions observed during the Salat. These are Standing, Bowing and Prostrating. The Salat starts in the standing position
"You shall consistently observe the Salat (Contact Prayers), especially the middle prayer, and STAND before God in submission." 2238
"The angels called to him as he was STANDING praying in the sanctuary "God gives you good news of John; a believer in the word of God, honorable, moral, and a righteous prophet." 339
"When you are with them, and lead the Salat (Contact Prayer) for them, let a group of them STAND with you and let them hold their weapons, and let them stand behind you as you prostrate. Then, let the other group that has not prayed take their turn praying with you, while the others stand guard and hold their weapons." 4102
All the above three verses indicate the standing postion. Verse 4102 in particular indicates that the Salat starts in the standing position. The words "When you are with them, and lead the Salat for them, let a group of them STAND with you and let them hold their weapons" indicate the biginning of the salat, that is because it is not feasible to say that the group of believers would join the salat in its middle or near its end! Consequently the words "let a group of them STAND with you" indicate that the salat starts in the standing position.
Submission to God should be declared physically and symbolically by first bowing down and prostrating
"We appointed Abraham to establish the Shrine "You shall not idolize any other god beside Me, and purify My shrine for those who visit it, those who live near it, and those who BOW and PROSTRATE." 2226
"Muhammad-the messenger of God, and those with him are harsh and stern against the disbelievers, but kind and compassionate amongst themselves. You see them BOWING and PROSTRATING, as they seek God's blessings and approval." 4829
The greater majority of Quranic verses speak of bowing and prostrating in that order. This seems the logical progression from the standing position, i.e. standing then bowing then prostrating.
The Salat ends with the last prostration
" ...... then when they have performed their prostration (fa iza sajadu) let them fall to the rear and let another group come that has not worshipped yet and let them worship with you ......" 4102
These three Quranic physical movements (standing, bowing and prostrating) are not required at the times of emergencies, fear, and unusual circumstances (2239).
"Under unusual circumstances, you may pray while walking or riding. Once you are safe, you shall commemorate God as He taught you what you never knew." 2239
The traditional number of prayers observed by the majority of Muslims today is 5 daily prayers. However, when we study the Quran, we find only 3 prayers prescribed by God.
Those who observe 5 daily prayers can be grouped in one of the following groups
1- The First Group of Muslims are the hadith followers. They observe 5 daily prayers because they derive their religion from their books of hadith. The hadith books they follow authorise 5 daily prayers.
2- The Second Group also observe 5 daily prayers and claim that they follow the Quran alone. However they do a U-Turn when it comes to the subject of authorisation of rituals and claim that the Quran cannot be relied on alone as the only source for Islam! They claim that Islam is derived from two sources, the Quran is one source and the inherited rituals are the second source. So on one hand they say that they follow the Quran alone and that the Quran is fully detailed, but on the other hand they say that the Quran is not the only source of Islam and that the details of our practices are not in the Quran! With some unexplicable logic they declare that 'Quran alone' does not mean 'Quran alone'!
3- The Third Group are those who state that they follow the Quran alone and they observe five daily prayers because in their view the Quran authorises five daily prayers.
With regards to the First Group, the reader will note that the Quranic command to follow the Quran alone and reject all forms of hadith is a subject that has already been dealt with extensively.
.The Quran is All We Need
.
When we come to the Second Group who claim that the Quran is not the only source of Islam, we can see that they too have faltered from God's clear Quranic words that cofirm that God's authorisation (Quran) is the only authority for ALL our religion (4221), that the Quran is fully detailed (6114), that NOTHING has been left out of the book (1689) and that even though Islam is as old as Abraham, yet we should only follow the rules, rites and practices authorised for US in the Quran (54 and not what was decreed to those before us. We read in 548 that God has decreed different rules and rites to different people and that the test of each people lies in following what is revealed to them (in our case the Quran) and not what was revelead to those before .
" ....... For each of you, We have decreed laws and different rites. Had God willed, He could have made you one congregation. But He thus puts you to the test through the revelations He has given each of you." 548
Needless to say, there is no verse anywhere in the Quran where God authorises us to accept the inherited rituals that came to us through our predecessors as a second source of religion besides the Quran.
Those who make such claims base their claims on the mis-interpretation of the Quranic phrase 'Milat Ibraheem' (The Creed of Abraham), also on the mis-interpretation of the command in 16123 to follow 'Milat Ibraheem'.
For more details on this issue please check the following page
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'Milat Ibraheem'
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Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those with him are firm of heart against the unbelievers, compassionate among themselves; you will see them bowing down, prostrating themselves, seeking grace from Allah and pleasure; their marks are in their faces because of the effect of prostration; that is their description in the Taurat and their description in the Injeel; like as seed-produce that puts forth its sprout, then strengthens it, so it becomes stout and stands firmly on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the unbelievers on account of them; Allah has promised those among them who believe and do good, forgiveness and a great reward. Quran (48.29)
Genesis 171-4 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Deuteronomy 56-9 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 7 Thou shalt have none other gods before Me. 8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them nor serve them...
Psalm 956 O come, let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Revelations 711-12 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Joshua 76-7 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. 7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast Thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!
Numbers 1620-22 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, 21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with the all of the congregation?
Numbers 206 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.
Matthew 2636-39 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gesthemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be very sorrowful and heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou Wilt.
Then the man bowed down and worshipped the Lord. (Genesis, 2426)
...So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshipped. (2 Chronicles, 2930)
and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord?(Genesis, 244
.... Then the people bowed down and worshipped...did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. (Exodus, 1227-2
and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped. (Exodus, 431)
and bowed down...three times, with his face to the ground. (1 Samuel, 2041)
Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. (Nehemiah, 86)
Abram bowed with his face touching the ground...(Genesis, 173)
When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord. (Genesis, 2452)
Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshipped. (Exodus, 34
When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. (Numbers, 164)
the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened. (Numbers, 244)
Then Joshua bowed to the ground in reverence...(Joshua, 514)
When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord?He is God! The Lord?He is God!"(1 Kings, 1839)
when I bow down in the temple...may the Lord forgive your servant for this. (2 Kings, 51
they bowed low and fell prostrate before the Lord. (1 Chronicles, 2920)
they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord...(2 Chronicles, 73)
... the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshipped... ordered... to praise the Lord. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshipped. (2 Chronicles, 2929-30)
Then he fell to the ground in worship and said ?Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.? (Job, 120-21)
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Hi everyone. How does one pray in Islam? Do you know of any good online guides to praying in Islam? I am hoping it is not the complex way I was taught via non-Quran Alone Islam. It would have taken me forever to learn that.
Salaam sis
Free Minds have a good article that can help you with your salat
http//www.free-minds.org/salat
I hope it helps. The main point of salat is to worship God, so to me, your intention is the most important thing , as well as your dedication to Allah.
May Allah help you on your path.
Peace peace -
Hi everyone. How does one pray in Islam? Do you know of any good online guides to praying in Islam? I am hoping it is not the complex way I was taught via non-Quran Alone Islam. It would have taken me forever to learn that.
As Salaamu Alaykum
Noticed that no one provided you with complete instructions on how to observe salaat. Allah makes it very clear in the Qur'aan that observing salaat is very important so we went to know how to do it correctly.
First be aware of the false teachings of the 3 Salaat Theory which is addressed in this website below
http//www.freewebs.com/tawhiyd/3salaattheoryexposed.htm
Allah prescribed 5 Salaat in Al Qur?aan, not 1, 2, 3, 4 which you will commonly hear among Progress Moslems.
Below is a website where you can find the tools on how to observe the 5 Salaat as prescribed in Al Qur'aan
http//www.freewebs.com/salaat
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Peace to all,
There's a question that puzzles me about the Salaat (contact prayer) taught by Rashad Khalifa, and it's the same example as the Sunnite prayers. At the end of their salaat, they look to the right and the left and say, "As Salaamu Alaykum" on both sides. This is used as a greeting throughout the Muslim world, and the Quran confirms that the greeting of the believers will be "Salaam"/Peace. However, the Quran states that the contact prayers are dedicated and directed to GOD ALONE. So, my question is
Who are they greeting? Why do they say, "As Salaamu Alaykum" to the right and the left, and who are they saying it to?
Peace,
Ahmad
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Peace to all,
There's a question that puzzles me about the Salaat (contact prayer) taught by Rashad Khalifa, and it's the same example as the Sunnite prayers. At the end of their salaat, they look to the right and the left and say, "As Salaamu Alaykum" on both sides. This is used as a greeting throughout the Muslim world, and the Quran confirms that the greeting of the believers will be "Salaam"/Peace. However, the Quran states that the contact prayers are dedicated and directed to GOD ALONE. So, my question is
Who are they greeting? Why do they say, "As Salaamu Alaykum" to the right and the left, and who are they saying it to?
Peace,
Ahmad
Salaam Ahmad
Good question and I know that traces of this, saying the salaams after prayer is found in the Qur'aan
Qur'aan 1010
Their PRAYER therein is "Be You glorified, our Creator," THEIR GREETING THEREIN IS, "PEACE," and their ultimate prayer is ?Praise be to Allah, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the all the Boundless Universes.? -
As Salaamu Alaykum Al Khidr,
Good question and I know that traces of this, saying the salaams after prayer is found in the Qur'aan
Qur'aan 1010
Their PRAYER therein is "Be You glorified, our Creator," THEIR GREETING THEREIN IS, "PEACE," and their ultimate prayer is ?Praise be to Allah, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the all the Boundless Universes.?Praise be to Allah ("Alhamdulilah", thanks for your use of the Quran Alone as a reference; I very much appreciate it. I understand this fact, and I've read this verse many times in reference to the greetings among the peoples, but who is this greeting directed toward? We don't approach Allah with, "As Salaamu Alaykum", do we? I've always pondered this question, but nobody's ever been able to give me a response to it. I understand the greetings if we are performing Salaat in a group setting, and AFTER THE SALAAT, you are greeting the submitters to your right and left. However, this can't be the case DURING the Salaat, since it's dedicated to GOD ALONE. And also, Rashad Khalifa taught that this greeting ("As Salaamu Alaykum" is to be stated even if praying alone/not in the company of others. So, who exactly are we greeting?
Peace,
Ahmad
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Peace Bigmo,
I thought the salaam to the left and right was made for the angels on your left and right
If saying, "As Salaamu Alaykum" is part of the Salaat and it's directed at the angels, that means the Salaat is dedicated to more than Allah; it's also directed towards the angels. Also, if saying this greeting DURING the Salaat is directed toward the believers to your right and left, this also means that the Salaat is dedicated to more than Allah; it's dedicated also to humans. Both of these acts are forms of idolatry/shirk.
Peace,
Ahmad
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First be aware of the false teachings of the 3 Salaat Theory which is addressed in this website below
http//www.freewebs.com/tawhiyd/3salaattheoryexposed.htm
Allah prescribed 5 Salaat in Al Qur?aan, not 1, 2, 3, 4 which you will commonly hear among Progress Moslems.
Peace all
As per 3-7, believers should follow well-established meaning verses in order to know their obligated duties. Now, I know that Sunset, night, and Dawn prayers are commended in a very well-established verses. But on the other hand, Zuher and Aser time are not mentioned in well-established verses to be as time for prayers.
The article claims that The following are the verses that calls for the Zuher and Asr(2) The Noon Prayer (Zuhr), given in 1778 and 3018
(3) The Afternoon Prayer (Asr), given in 2238Qur?aan 1778 was translator in the article as follow
You shall observe the Salaat when the sun declines from its highest point at noon, as it moves towards sunset. You shall also observe (the recitation of) the Qur?aan at dawn. (Reciting) the Qur?aan at dawn is witnessed.
The red part is added by the translated and is not written in Quran; thus, if you remove them, the verse is calling for Sunset prayer.
Moreover, 30-18 has no mentioning to establish prayer.Qur?aan 2238 was translated in the article as follow
You shall consistently observe the Salaat especially the middle Prayer (the afternoon Prayer), and devote yourselves totally to Allah alone.
Again, the red part is added by the translator and not in Quran. Thus if you ignore the added part, the middle prayer can be understood (if we refer to the well-established verses that call for Sunset, Night and Dawn prayers) as the Night Prayer.
Moreover, please note the following verse
Qur?aan 2458
O you who believe, permission must be requested by your servants and the children who have not attained puberty. This is to be done in three instances-before the Dawn Prayer, at noon when you change your clothes to rest, and after the Night Prayer. These are three private times for you. At other times, it is not wrong for you or them to mingle with one another. Allah thus clarifies the revelations for you. Allah is Omniscient, Most Wise.Now, please note the red colored words and the blue ones. If there is a prayer during noon, why God did not mention (in blue word section) as He did when speaking about the Dawn and night (red colored section)?
May God lead us to the truth.
Peace -
http//www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/quranindex.html
times of day of, 11114, 1778, 1779, 20130, 2436, 2458, 3017-18, 3216, 3818, 5039-40, 5117, 5248-49, 732-4, 7625-26First, middle, last
011.114
YUSUFALI And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night For those things, that are good remove those that are evil Be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord)017.078 (is this a good translation?)
YUSUFALI Establish regular prayers - at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony.First
017.079
YUSUFALI And pray in the small watches of the morning (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee soon will thy Lord raise thee to a Station of Praise and Glory!First, middle
050.039
YUSUFALI Bear, then, with patience, all that they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting.First, last
024.058
YUSUFALI O ye who believe! let those whom your right hands possess, and the (children) among you who have not come of age ask your permission (before they come to your presence), on three occasions before morning prayer; the while ye doff your clothes for the noonday heat; and after the late-night prayer these are your three times of undress outside those times it is not wrong for you or for them to move about attending to each other Thus does Allah make clear the Signs to you for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.030.017
YUSUFALI So (give) glory to Allah, when ye reach eventide and when ye rise in the morning;024.036
YUSUFALI (Lit is such a Light) in houses, which Allah hath permitted to be raised to honour; for the celebration, in them, of His name In them is He glorified in the mornings and in the evenings, (again and again),-076.025
YUSUFALI And celebrate the name of thy Lord morning and evening,middle, last
030.018
YUSUFALI Yea, to Him be praise, in the heavens and on earth; and in the late afternoon and when the day begins to decline.038.018
YUSUFALI It was We that made the hills declare, in unison with him, Our Praises, at eventide and at break of day,First, middle, last, first, middle
020.130
YUSUFALI Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun, and before its setting; yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day that thou mayest have (spiritual) joy.Intuitive prayer
032.016
YUSUFALI Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep, the while they call on their Lord, in Fear and Hope and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them.051.018 (error in the index)
YUSUFALI And in the hour of early dawn, they (were found) praying for Forgiveness;052.048
YUSUFALI Now await in patience the command of thy Lord for verily thou art in Our eyes and celebrate the praises of thy Lord the while thou standest forth,073.002
YUSUFALI Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,-073.003
YUSUFALI Half of it,- or a little less,073.004
YUSUFALI Or a little more; and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.076.026
YUSUFALI And part of the night, prostrate thyself to Him; and glorify Him a long night through.I also remember a verse in the Quran about middle prayer, and to especially guard it. Maybe I missed it in the index.
Quickly compiled, but you get the idea.So, apart from intuitive prayer, and looking at previous renditions of Abrahamic faith, 3 seems like the definitive number.
addition Also, the prayer direction was changed (from jewish tradition), so it would indicate that jewish tradition were respected, and changed.
(reposted from http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9597462.msg185742#msg185742 , I know it's not easy to follow all the threads)
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Peace Belalhammad,
As per 3-7, believers should follow well-established meaning verses in order to know their obligated duties. Now, I know that Sunset, night, and Dawn prayers are commended in a very well-established verses. But on the other hand, Zuher and Aser time are not mentioned in well-established verses to be as time for prayers.
The article claims that The following are the verses that calls for the Zuher and Asr(2) The Noon Prayer (Zuhr), given in 1778 and 3018
(3) The Afternoon Prayer (Asr), given in 2238Qur?aan 1778 was translator in the article as follow
You shall observe the Salaat when the sun declines from its highest point at noon, as it moves towards sunset. You shall also observe (the recitation of) the Qur?aan at dawn. (Reciting) the Qur?aan at dawn is witnessed.
The red part is added by the translated and is not written in Quran; thus, if you remove them, the verse is calling for Sunset prayer.
Moreover, 30-18 has no mentioning to establish prayer.I agree with this. The Quran definately promotes the dawn and evening prayers in well-established verses, and then the night prayer is mentioned several times throughout the scripture as well.
Quraan 2238 was translated in the article as follow
You shall consistently observe the Salaat especially the middle Prayer (the afternoon Prayer), and devote yourselves totally to Allah alone.
Again, the red part is added by the translator and not in Quran. Thus if you ignore the added part, the middle prayer can be understood (if we refer to the well-established verses that call for Sunset, Night and Dawn prayers) as the Night Prayer.
Moreover, please note the following verse
Quraan 2458
O you who believe, permission must be requested by your servants and the children who have not attained puberty. This is to be done in three instances-before the Dawn Prayer, at noon when you change your clothes to rest, and after the Night Prayer. These are three private times for you. At other times, it is not wrong for you or them to mingle with one another. Allah thus clarifies the revelations for you. Allah is Omniscient, Most Wise.Now, please note the red colored words and the blue ones. If there is a prayer during noon, why God did not mention (in blue word section) as He did when speaking about the Dawn and night (red colored section)?
Again, you are correct on this issue as well, brother. Some have translated 2238 as "middle Salaat/prayer", while others have translated it as best, or even balanced, prayer. However, since all the prayers are required as part of our worship to Allah, then there is no "best" prayer. Also, the first instance of the prayer/salaat is used in the plural form, clearly meaning there are more than 2 prayers. So, this middle/"wusta" prayer is obviously talking about the night prayer.
Peace,
Ahmad
