How do you actually do Salah?
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I usually do not advocate other people's posts, but take a look at this one
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9605084.msg322050#msg322050
It is worth pondering.
Thank you
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I sort of "freestyle". Often I say Surah Fatiha, to begin, sometimes in Arabic and English and sometimes either in Arabic or English. Then I may say some other Surahs in Arabic and English. I say the praises to Allah as described throughout the Quran then I may just talk and communicate anything I wish. I think that is one of the purposes of salat - to open up your communication with Allah. I don't use rakats - I believe you can do salat for as long as is practically possible for you and however long you would like or need to. I remember a verse from the Quran about Abraham and Ishmael asking Allah to show them how to worship and serve Him. This is something we can all do as well, I believe. Hope this helps.
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Saying that we 'do' the salat tends to mean we see it as a ritual...
Not necessarily. The salat can be seen as a practice something that is "done" just like dua something that you do. So the person asking here may want to have a bit more understanding of the possibilities that salat can have. Would you see ablutions as a ritual? And personally, although you may disagree, I believe that if someone finds standing, then bowing and prostrating a useful way for them to fix their mind and continue communicating with Allah - then they should do it. We can always ask Allah if this is the appropriate way to do it, in fact we should really because He is the only one who will guide and bestow knowledge.
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Not necessarily. The salat can be seen as a practice something that is "done" just like dua something that you do. So the person asking here may want to have a bit more understanding of the possibilities that salat can have. Would you see ablutions as a ritual? And personally, although you may disagree, I believe that if someone finds standing, then bowing and prostrating a useful way for them to fix their mind and continue communicating with Allah - then they should do it. We can always ask Allah if this is the appropriate way to do it, in fact we should really because He is the only one who will guide and bestow knowledge.
I actually agree with you.
I'm of the opinion that all of us are moving through life on our own independent journeys of learning and hence move through different levels of understanding. What is right for one person may not be right for another person at a given time. We all have dfferent things to learn and go through, and what matters is actually not exactly what or how we do, but WHY we do them. Doing 5 times namaz may be the right way to go for someone at a certain stage in life, while it would be a waste and manifest ignorance for someone else.So my sentence was a bit of a teaser or thought-provoker...
D
peace
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How do you do Salah using the Quran Alone?
Does anyone who takes the Quran as their only source of guidance do any rakah in their salah?
If so how do you know how many to do?
http//www.quran-islam.org/main_topics/islam/pillars/al-salat_%28P1192%29.html
This site has every information you need on how to perform salat with Quran only.
Salaam brother
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Hi Everyone,
I will throw my approach in... Here is what I do. You will notice I focus on breathing and less on what exactly to say.
I start standing facing Mecca. (doesn't matter how I am standing).
I start off by taking several deep breaths with my eyes closed.
Then I open my eyes and look at floor.
I breathe in Allah. I breathe out hu akbhar. I do this twice.
I bow and do the same breathing thing.
I then prostrate myself (head on floor) and do the same breathing thing. Sit up at take a few deep breaths.Then repeat once.
This is my ritual that keeps me focused on Allah. I don't worry about specific postures. The goal is to stay focused on Allah.
Just my crazy thoughts.
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace -
How do you do Salah using the Quran Alone?
Does anyone who takes the Quran as their only source of guidance do any rakah in their salah?
If so how do you know how many to do?
I do two rika's. I start by reciting Quran and I usually face Mecca but its not important to me. I do zikr usually in threes. I then bow and do more zikr and then I stand up and then I hit the floor and do two prostration again doing zikr.
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Peace all,
I grew up in a traditional shafii Sunni family, so u can imagine how structured my salahs were before I started turning towards the Quran alone. Here's how I do my salah now
When? Dawn Midday Dusk - I try to stick to that.
- I stand facing Mecca or any other direction if I dunno where Mecca is, ie when I'm out.
- Silently say with conviction Allahu Akbar
- I start with al Fatiha, followed by other surahs I can remember, if I can't I'll hold my little Quran and refer to it as I recite in prayer. My hands are usually down by my side and not folded anymore like all Sunnis do.
- At times I raise my hands when I feel the need to supplicate
- I bow, hands on knees and I praise God personally, no formula here.
- I go back upright and then I go down and prostray, here I would either recite al fatiha or say a personal prayer.
- I sit up and stay in a meditative state for a moment before I end.
Peace!
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Hi meisnatz,
Thanks for sharing. It's nice to hear how others pray. It seems we are all very similar.
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace
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Peace be upon you,
There is a reason why there are so many people who "recite" all kinds of scriptures who still can't transcend negative habits and behaviors. Through metaphor we are being shown that we must enter the trance state ...that state where day merges into night and night into day...dawn and dusk are the only two "times" mentioned. Salaat is programming of the nafs in a state of trance through meditation.
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Hi meisnatz,
Thanks for sharing. It's nice to hear how others pray. It seems we are all very similar.
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace
Shalom aleichem,
I've always wanted to know how others do theirs too. Toda Raba for sharing )
Baruch HaShem / Praised be Allah.
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Peace be upon you,
There is a reason why there are so many people who "recite" all kinds of scriptures who still can't transcend negative habits and behaviors. Through metaphor we are being shown that we must enter the trance state ...that state where day merges into night and night into day...dawn and dusk are the only two "times" mentioned. Salaat is programming of the nafs in a state of trance through meditation.
Right. whats important is glorification and praise. Unless you do them some other time. The Quran says we are to do glorify God and praise Him at all times of the day. What i do is I do them all during my salat.
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Saying that we 'do' the salat tends to mean we see it as a ritual...
What Quranic evidence do you have that there's anything wrong with rituals? If those rituals involve shirk then sure, it's wrong. But I see nothing wrong with rituals that bring you closer to God.
Btw, my prayers
I pray the way I was taught. Typical Muslim prayer... Except I don't include the names of any Prophets in my Adhan (call to prayer) or in the part where I'm sitting down. I recite Ayat Al Kursi (2255) instead. Why? Because it feels right and I love the meaning. But I don't think details matter. I believe it's about intention and conviction. Also, I'm scared the saying Salaam to angels and jinn to finish prayer might be shirk. The Quran says end prayer with "Praise be to Allah, lord of the worlds"Their prayer in it is "Be you glorified, our god!" And their greeting in it is "Peace," and the end of their prayer is "Praise to God, Lord of the worlds!"
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What Quranic evidence do you have that there's anything wrong with rituals? If those rituals involve shirk then sure, it's wrong. But I see nothing wrong with rituals that bring you closer to God.
Btw, my prayers
I pray the way I was taught. Typical Muslim prayer... Except I don't include the names of any Prophets in my Adhan (call to prayer) or in the part where I'm sitting down. I recite Ayat Al Kursi (2255) instead. Why? Because it feels right and I love the meaning. But I don't think details matter. I believe it's about intention and conviction. Also, I'm scared the saying Salaam to angels and jinn to finish prayer might be shirk. The Quran says end prayer with "Praise be to Allah, lord of the worlds"Their prayer in it is "Be you glorified, our god!" And their greeting in it is "Peace," and the end of their prayer is "Praise to God, Lord of the worlds!"
Good method. However shirk is not as simple as you think. Its not something you can just fall into without knowing. Its not an act you can just commit. Its much bigger than that. Much bigger. Its a belief system.
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRPqtGywkCw
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Good method. However shirk is not as simple as you think. Its not something you can just fall into without knowing. Its not an act you can just commit. Its much bigger than that. Much bigger. Its a belief system.
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRPqtGywkCw
Yes. You're probably right. But my thinking is if one way is 100% safe and the other MIGHT displease God. Yo! I ain't takin no chances dawg!
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Salaam everyone,
I have to admit I observe a modified version of the traditional prayer with free speech at the end of the prayer.
However, I consider my whole life a sort of prayer, but the ritual helps me focus on the Lord, it is a sort of meditation. I focus more on the concentration and less on monotone bosy movement, as I perceive the prayer is meant to be.
I have to further admit that I still recite sura 1 from the Quran, but it has to do with my code 19 belief (lips touch each other 19 times while reciting) and that Surah 1 is short and beautiful. But I add my own elements of glorification and praise of the Lord, which I believe is right as long as they are dedicated to God alone.
If I am in public and I have no clean spot to observe a physical prayer or on the move I cross hands and pray like Christians. Most important is to focus on intense commemoration of God and give your gratification, in my opinion.
My prayers can take from a few minutes up to 30 - 60 minutes in some cases, where the long time indicates I meditate or speak freely.
I pray almost traditionally, 5 times per day, although I have started to accept the idea of 3 prayers per day.
Many days I have a prayer each 3 hours, ie at 6, 9, 12, 3, 6, 9, after inspiration from some Bible reading. Thinking traditionally, I consider the noon prayer to be the middle prayer, and being of high importance.
When I go to bed I always pray before sleeping, regardless of the amount of prayers observed. In the small hours before sunrise I also observe a prayer, out of discipline, even if I go to sleep and wake up later for the morning prayer. The body is accustomed to the behavior and it does not have a severe impact on my mood/ capability.
I have the opinion that there is no fixed amount of prayers, the more the merrier, as they use to say. After all, it is seeking His nearness and guidance, as well as protection from the evil one and his followers. And to show you submit to His Will.
Thanks for reading my post and hope it was a pleasant reading.
God bless you
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What Quranic evidence do you have that there's anything wrong with rituals? If those rituals involve shirk then sure, it's wrong. But I see nothing wrong with rituals that bring you closer to God.
I agree that anything that brings you closer to God in action or remembrance is good to do, whether it is rituals or not. The only issue is when people insist that we should do it this or that way, judging other's way of connecting to God.
What I was hinting at is that I personally don't think that solaa must be a physical ritual. Absence of physical ritual doesn't mean absence of solaa. It's not that simple. That was my point.
Salaam
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I agree that anything that brings you closer to God in action or remembrance is good to do, whether it is rituals or not. The only issue is when people insist that we should do it this or that way, judging other's way of connecting to God.
What I was hinting at is that I personally don't think that solaa must be a physical ritual. Absence of physical ritual doesn't mean absence of solaa. It's not that simple. That was my point.
Salaam
I don't think details like how you position your hands, etc matter. But i completely believe that it's a physical ritual. There are 3 mandatory positions during Salat Standing, Bowing and Prostrating.
Quranic evidence
Preserve the contact prayers, and the middle contact prayer, and STAND devoutly for God.
The angels called to him while he was STANDING and praying in the temple enclosure "God gives you good tidings of John, authenticating a word from God, respectable, protected, and a prophet from the reformers."
If you are with them and hold the contact prayer for them, then let a group from amongst them STAND with you and let them bring their weapons; when they have prostrated then let them stand guard from behind; let a group who has not yet contacted come and contact with you, and let them be wary and let them bring their weapons with them. The ingrates hope that you would neglect your weapons and goods so they can come upon you in one blow. There is no sin upon you if you are impeded by rainfall, or if you are ill, that you keep from placing down your weapons. Be wary. God has prepared for the ingrates a humiliating retribution.
We have appointed to Abraham the location of the sanctuary "Do not set up anyone with Me, and purify My sanctuary for those who will partake, and those who will enforce, and those who BOW and PROSTRATE."
Muhammad, the messenger of God, and those who are with him, are severe against the ingrates, but merciful between themselves. You see them BOWING and PROSTRATING, they seek God's blessings and approval. Their distinction is in their faces, as a result of PROSTRATING. Such is their example in the Torah. Their example in the Injeel is like a plant which shoots out and becomes strong and thick and it stands straight on its trunk, pleasing to the farmers. That He may enrage the ingrates with them. God promises those among them who acknowledge and do good works forgiveness and a great reward.
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Salaam Aamer,
It is interesting to keep those postures in mind, it may tell that at least 3 prayers per day should include some deeper devotion for the Lord. I still observe the ancient ritual of prostration, which can also be found in the Bible, at most situations throughout the day.
The Bible is a risky source of information though, but I feel that this physical movement is prescribed by God.
Submission to God can be shown to God in many ways though, for example, through charity or similar things. Or by exposing yourself to risks in the name of God.
In my opinion, one should live in s state of prayer throughout the day, God should never leave your consciousness, every action should be made out of righteousness and fear of God. Any meeting with another human can be a test from God.
But, for me, the formal meaning of prayer is to seek contact with God, His presence. A focused "ritual" is the best option, in my opinion, showing some humility is to dare look silly in front of the Lord. The ancient ritual may not be a false practice, but there is no prescribed way to do it, except the postures.
The prostration comes from an ancient practice of greeting to a superior or very courteous gesture to someone you had respect for. It is a very humble greeting, not performed today, except by Muslims to God, but the bowing part still remains in some cultures.
Considering the above, it is not "wrong" to physically prostrate to God. It may feel primitive, but our ancestors did that not because of submission to idols, even if it was used for that too, but as a special greeting. You can ponder, "am I too proud to humiliate myself this way to God".
Now, it comes down to the three basic criteria to fulfill for salvation
- Believe in God
- Believe in the Hereafter
- Be righteous, ie be a good person
Prostration is not mentioned in this regard, so it does not seem to be mandatory, but could possibly be voluntary and/ or recommended. But to make every decision in life in the Light of God seems to be necessary to be forgiven and admitted into Paradise.
Conclusively, I fully respect those who interpret the Quran in other ways and choose to worship the Lord their way. Dedicating the whole life, prayers and sacrifices, and all else to God alone is the most important criterion.
God bless you