Prayer in Islam

Prayer is the topic of thousands of books of Fiqh, or Islamic Law, and every reformulation of Shari’ah law dedicates at least one whole book to the logistics of prayer, of which there are many different types articulated by the ‘Uluma.

1. What is “Prayer” in Islam? “Talking to God” or making requests? No, this is called دعاء, and is important

but not the main Islamic idea of prayer. Meditation or contemplation of God? No, this is called فكر in Islam. Chanting or mantras? No, this important act is called ذكر.

) صلوات ) The Salah (Salat) is the obligatory Islamic ritual prayer, performed at -الصالةleast five times daily at appointed times.

This religious duty falls under the category of a عين فرض , or something that is mandatory on all members of the community (as opposed to a كفاية فرض , mandatory only for some members).

Prayer before Islam- Before the beginning of his message, the Prophet did pray, but it was closer to meditation, where he would separate himself from society in a mountaintop cave for days on end, contemplating God and likely prostrating to His glory.

Prostration- Prostration was the practice of the pre-Islamic monotheistic ascetics of Arabia (Hunufa), and was considered to have been first given to Abraham, whom the Arabs trace their decent from. Prostration is a primordial act of worshiping the God, and is present in all the great religions, especially the tradition of the Biblical prophets, which Muhammad is the heir to.

o Genesis 17:3-4: And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

o Numbers 20:6: And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.

o Numbers 16:20-22: And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

o Psalm 95:6: Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;o 1 Kings 18:42: So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of

Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,o 2 Chronicles 7:3: And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and

the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshiped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

o Nehemiah 8:6: Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

o Matthew 26:39: And he [Jesus] went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Prayer in the Early Years of Islam

Following Muhammad’s prophecy, prayer was enjoined upon himself and his followers, though only twice per day, and not strictly obligatory. In this early period, the angel Gabriel showed the Prophet how to perform the Salah.

“Bear, then, with patience, all that they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting.” –Surat al-Qaf: 39