Benefits of the ritual salat?
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Salaat is worship at a dynamic level. The physical postures themselves do not amount to anything if the intention and mindfulness is not coupled with it. When this happens, the prostration (sajda) has the effect of inducing humility and reverence for Allah, it is also a means of realizing ones dependence upon Allah and brings one peace of mind and certainty. Those who regularly perform salaat with this mindfulness will become addicted to it, and resort to it as the answer to all their spiritual and physical needs. The Holy Quran has expounded the excellences and benefits of salaat
Nay, seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and prayer It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit (245)
Here Allah has revealed that salaat is a means of enduring and developing steadfastness, and it is also the route to gaining the help and favour of Allah in this very life for those who come to it in a lowly spirit of humility and genuine attitude of worship.
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Peace all...
regarding "exericse benefits", I can throw in a dime or two...
These are just my opinions and I have no scientific evidence or similar to support them, so just take it for what it is, namely my own opinions.
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Some people are more physically flexible than others. One xrsize is to stand with straight legs and just fold in half, i.e try to touch your toes/floor with your fingers/palms while keeping your legs straight (no bend in the knees). Some people have great difficulty touching the floor, or simply just cannot do that. According to some medicine systems like yoga or unani or similar taught by s.c. hakims, improving this kind of flexibility of the legs/back improves certain aspects of the health. While bending 90 degrees in the ritual prayer, you do indeed stretch this very part of the body, which therefore can be seen as having some physical benefit. At least, more flexible is better than less flexible.
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Leaning forwards and putting your forhead to the ground makes more blood go to the head as compared to when sitting and standing. Perhaps getting this shift can be beneficial in some ways. Blood does afterall transport oxygen, nutrients/fuel and waste... so all body parts would benefit from an increased blood flow (within limits of course), so why not the brain as well?
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Movement is better than no movement. If your keep doing the bending and sitting and standing up as in the traditional prayers you do get exercise for the knees and other joints. This must be beneficial since if you stop using some bodypart, it will stagnate and lose its flexibility and strength since the body thinks it is not needed very much any more. The ritual prayer does keep your body moving much more than for example sitting still in a church bench or similar.
muscle
peace -
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Peace OPF,
have you read this article?
First of all, IMO the ablution is mental preparation more than anything. Does it really physically clean the areas that need to be? or thoroughly even?
To me the benefits of salat
To remember God, once we remember God more (our good or best side) the more we are deterred from evil. Remember God is in all of us (1529, 3872)
Its a consistent way to earn points on our report card; on a daily basis we make many mistakes.
God doesn't need anyone(4131, 148, 2740, 296 etc...)Iif he doesn't gain anything...obviously it's for us.
I also think repetitive physical motion helps you focus, (like meditation)
Some Verses/Signs/Proofs
"And seek help through patience, and through the Salat/Connection. It is a difficult thing, but not so for the humble" (245)
"The devil only wants to cause strife between you through intoxicants and gambling, and to repel you away from remembering God and from the Salat/Connection . Will you be deterred? (591)
"Recite what is inspired to you of the Scripture, and hold the Salat/Connection, for the Salat/Connection prohibits evil and vice; but certainly the remembrance of God is the greatest. God knows everything you do." (2945)
"I am God, there is no god but Me, so serve Me and hold the Salat/Connection for My remembrance." (2014)
If you were only asking for physical benefits, i apologize peace
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Here comes some speculations about the wudhu
This has probably never ever been looked into, but by washing face, top of head, arms/hands and feet, it just might have some connection to the human electric field, or aura. It might serve as a clearing reset function to clear of disturbances picked up during the day. Perhaps it has something to do with the location of certain energy meridians and chakras. It's just a speculation, but hey, maybe someone who is into auras and is sensitive enough to evaluate such things may look into it some day.
peace
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Dargento
I have read that article, I meant specifically the traditional 5 times a day ritual performed exactly as the modern day Sunni (exclude Muhammad's name if you will). In fact, it is very limited or restricted by default since none other than God's name may be mentioned in the salat, rendering most of the Quran useless for the purpose (as if telling God to "Say I seek refuge" was not already ridiculous).
As for wudhu, I don't want to know (in terms of a critical look, since it is Quranically ordained). Washing has always been beneficial, as we all know. That's for another thread. I am concerned purely with the Sunni ritual salat.
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See http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9867.0
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JM, why did you reference the above link?
Because it is about the benefits of the ritual prayer. Is it not ?
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See http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9867.0
They gave these advantages
- A lesson in discipline and willpower.
- A practice in devotion to Allah and all worthy objectives.
- A vigilant reminder of Allah and a constant revelation of His Goodness.
- A seed of spiritual cultivation and moral soundness.
- A guide to the most upright way of life.
- A safeguard against indecency and evil, against deviation and stray.
- A demonstration of true equality, solid unity, and brotherhood.
- An expression of thankfulness to Allah and appreciation of Him.
- A course of inner peace and stability.
- An abundant source of patience and courage, of hope and confidence.
Now, we can definitely concede 1.) because a ritual or repeated act fits the glove perfectly. On the other hand - 2.) as everyone knows has everything to do with remembering Muhammad and Abraham, 3.) has absolutely no relation to salat, 4.), same, 5.) is an absolute joke, 6.), may or may not be the case depending on the person, 7.) is twaddle, 8.) is further twaddle but depends on the person, 9.) is utter twaddle, as is 10.) - all those from 1-9 can be achieved by actually following the quran, salat aside.
When we analyze the Islamic prayer and study its unique nature, it is apparent that it is not merely a physical motion or a void recital of the Holy Book.
Is there any truth to that?
Furthermore, as Hlatif pointed to very pertinently, the traditional prayer is practised nearly in the same way by sunni, shia and ibadites. So, it is very hard to imagine (as Aidid Safar claims) it has been fabricated by men (because it would have entailed an agreement between these sects) ; yet it can have been distorted...
Pure rubbish. True? 100%. Useless? 100%. Why? Because Christianity and Judaism all have their rituals intact. I don't see any Sunnis with quranic verses tied to their door-handles. If the sects came after any fabrication, then there would be no need for collaboration.
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the other day i say an image on-line of a man making salat next to his parked taxi, near a busy street, oblivious of the noise around him. it really struck me... to be so faithful and obedient in remembrance of God is, for me, a humbling and admirable quality. when i remember to make salat (as in bowing, prostration, dua), i am humbled, feel more disciplined, grateful, and connected to God. for me, these are truly practical things, as i seek to bring my faith into every aspect of what i do, God willing.
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the other day i say an image on-line of a man making salat next to his parked taxi, near a busy street, oblivious of the noise around him. it really struck me... to be so faithful and obedient in remembrance of God is, for me, a humbling and admirable quality. when i remember to make salat (as in bowing, prostration, dua), i am humbled, feel more disciplined, grateful, and connected to God. for me, these are truly practical things, as i seek to bring my faith into every aspect of what i do, God willing.
Thats the image i dislikes a lot about salat... Here in my country people making salats in filthy places and roadsides just to keep their timings of the salat.
Is salat a timebound duty? does god says that anywhere? cant he just wait and find a clean place or mosque and say his prayers peacefully? -
amin- for me it is not timebound, no. but i will pray on the sidewalk, a grassy field, and other places if the need to pray overtakes me. what i admired about the image was the man's aura of quiet, focus, and remembrance of God even with the world all around him.
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Peace OPF,
Out of curiousity what was your motivation for starting this thread?
Belated reply Would god order us to waste time doing things of no benefit?
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I have read that article, I meant specifically the traditional 5 times a day ritual performed exactly as the modern day Sunni (exclude Muhammad's name if you will). In fact, it is very limited or restricted by default since none other than God's name may be mentioned in the salat, rendering most of the Quran useless for the purpose (as if telling God to "Say I seek refuge" was not already ridiculous).
Dear OPF,
Whilst prayer does indeed serve many purposes whether it be spiritual, mental or physical. I have noticed your criticism of general prayer. As stated many times on this site, salah was done in congregation when the prophet lived. Thousands of people stood besides each other. The chances of it being altered is extremely low. Even the Quran mentions many times prostration and rukuu'. The people in those days recognised what salah was. The people of mecca all recognised how to carry it out. So when the Quran was revealed they all understood what salah is. They even prayed behind the prophet. When we read the quran in salah it is a way demonstrated to us by God of the best way to contact him. The first Surah of the quran is the best form of dua taught to us by God.
As for Chapter 112, it is used in salah, when we say (say i seek refuge or say god is one). It is not a message to god. It is us professing to ourselves. After all prayer is for our benefit not his and this surah sets our minds right on the concept of God. When the verse "Say god is one" was revealed it was not just intended for the prophet but for all of humanity. Similarly to "i seek refuge". We keep the Qul(Say) within the ayah because we do not seek to take a way a part of the quran. Reciting the words of God in prayer is the best way to improve ourselves and bring ourselves closer to the creator. So when we say "Qul huallahu ahad"(SayGod is one) We are in a sense speaking to humanity and ourselves. For this is the message god wants us to contemplate under.
I myself dislike prayer to be a mechanical ritual. It should indeed be expressed from within the heart. But the Quran indeed does clearly specify for us the best way to express ourselves to our lord. And it should be kept in time.
"So woe to the worshippers Who are neglectful of their prayers" 1074-5 Quran
2.) as everyone knows has everything to do with remembering Muhammad and Abraham,
At the end of sallah we say our salams to the prophet and ourselves and then the mu'minuun. Then finally its a salam to all "Asalamu alaykum warahmatul allahi"ie peace to the angels and others.
There is nothing wrong with saying our peace. and there is nothing wrong with remembering pious humans. As long as we are not worshipping them. God many times in the quran reminds us of such pious men and reveals to us the best of their stories so that we may reflect.Peace
