Learning Islam

One of the things I had to learn and habituate myself to was praying 5 times a day. In Christianity, prayer is simply folding your hands together and bowing your head before talking to Allah. While I found peace in this manner of prayer, praying as a Muslim is more active physically and in recitation. The act of praying in Islam feels like a refreshing break in the day to stretch and refocus myself to my biggest goal: getting closer to Allah.

Salah (prayer) is made up of rakat (units) and the positions of standing, ruku (bending forward with hands on knees), sajdah (prostration), and Jalsah Al-istiraha (sitting position). Visit MyIslam for a detailed guide to prayer, including pictures of each position.

During each position of salah, shahada, surahs (chapters of the Qur’an) and invocations are recited to give thanks to Allah, bless our Prophet Muhammad, “sallallahu alayhi wa sallam”/“peace be upon him” (s.a.w.), and to ask for forgiveness and guidance.

Abu Hurairahu (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, “Say, if there were a river at the door of one of you in which he takes a bath five times a day, would any soiling remain on him?” They replied, “No soiling would left on him.” He (ﷺ) said, ” That is the five (obligatory) Salat (prayers). Allah obliterates all sins as a result of performing them.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Praying 5 times a day allows us to cleanse our soul of the negative unconscious and conscious actions and words that have hurt others or ourselves. The important part of salah is sincerity; consciously acknowledging where we have gone astray and asking Allah to forgive us and help us do better.