Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Salf,h (Regular Prayer)

saldh  is the Arabic.term for  prayer,  referring specifically to the
particular 
manner in  which  Muslims  perform^  it  by  standing,
bowing  and  prosfrating. 
No  other  form  of  *"o.*hip  can  bi

compared  to  Saldh,  for  it  is  the basis of  religion.  Sc/cft  puts
Muslims in continuous  communication  with their  Creator,  while
providing  a  constant  reminder  of  their  higher  moral  and
spiritual  mission in  life.  Saldh (prayer) was practised in  some
form  by the earlier prophets  and  their  followers  as  an essential
part of  the religion  of  Allah.  Islam,  which is  the final  stage,  the
completion  and  confirmation  of  monotheistic  religion,
considers  Saldh (prayer)  essential,  and  its  denial removes  one
from the  ranks  of  Islam.
Oblig;atory  prayers  are performed five  times a  day:  at dawn,
noon, mid-afternoon, sunset,  and nightfall  and are  a direct  link
between  the  worshipper  and  Allah.  The  prayer  may  be
performed  at  any  clean  place  (home,  mosque,  park,  the
workplace, etc)  by  an  individual  or  by  a  group.  There  is  no
hierarchical authority or  priesthood in  IslEm,  so group prayers
are  led  by  a  person  learned  in  the 
Qur'dn.  These  prayers,
whether  performed  in  congregation  or  individually,  contain
verses  from  the 
Qur'An and are said in Arabic,  the language  of
the revelation.  Personal  supplications,  however, can  be offered
in  one's  own language.  Isldmic prayer  takes  a special  form  and
content,  in  which  both  body  and  soul  are  harmoniously
involved;  each  prayer is practically  speaking,  an audience  with
Allah.  Prayer, both  obligatory  and  voluntary,  is  an  immense
spiritual  treasure  to  be  tapped.  It  inspires  peace,  purity  and
tranquillity,  ird  instils a  continuous  awareness  of and  feeling  of
closeness  to  Alldh.  It  amaeingly  reduces  the hustle-and-bustle
of  life  to  tame  proportions.  By  their  spacing throughout  five
times  a  day,  beginning  at  dawn,  prayers help  worshippers to
maintain a therapeutic  level of  well-belng  and  practically leave
no  room  in  their  consciousness  for  mischievous  thoughts  and
deeds.


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