Muslim Prayer Is Important To Muslims

For Muslims, the religion and worship is the most important aspect in their lives. They put religion before family, and every other priority. The Islamic ritual prayer is known as salaat. All Muslims around the world pray at least five times a day. There are several rules to be followed when praying. All Muslim women must cover their heads when they pray.

And all Muslim men and women must be clean in their bodies and clothing, the place of the prayer must be clean too. When they pray, they must face the direction of the Mecca, the most holy place for them. While praying, all Muslim individuals have to stand erect, with their heads down, hands at the side and feet evenly spaced.

They must also recite the Iqama, or the private call to prayer. During this call they will praise God, and say that no one is worthy of worship except God. Then they have to express the intent to perform salaat. This will include them saying that they face the Qibla for the sake of Allah only. While beginning a prayer, a Muslim must forget everything else and pay full attention to God and the prayer only.

They must bring the hands to the ears, bring the palms forward and keep the thumbs behind the earlobes. They must then begin reciting the prayer in Arabic. After that, they must place the right hand over the left, and men must place the hands below the navel. Women must place it on their chests and recite the opening supplication.

While doing this, they must look at the ground in front of them. The first surah of the Koran is then recited. For Muslim converts, they may first use the English translation and then learn Arabic slowly. After this the hands must drop to the sides, the Muslim men and Muslim women must bend from the waist with their palms on their knees. They must then look at their feet.

They must then rise again and stand with their hands by their sides. They may lower themselves now to a kneeling position, touch the forehead, nose and palms to the ground. The toes must be bent so that the top of the feet face the Qibla. Now, the Muslims must again rise, but to a sitting position, and look at their laps. Men will turn up the heel of the right foot, and women will keep both the feet under their bodies.

They will become prostate again, and then rise to the sitting position for the second time. They must now recite the Fatiha again, and claim that God is great. All praying Muslims must remain seated till the end of the prayer, and must look over the right shoulder and then to the left to complete the prayer. Looking over the shoulders indicate they are speaking to the angels who record their good and bad deeds. Groups prayers must always end with each member of the group respectfully greeting each other.