itsIslam - share knowledge itsIslam - share knowledge
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
itsIslam - share knowledge itsIslam - share knowledge
Home
Basics
Quran Audio and Translation
Naats
Islamic Articles
Lectures by Islamic Scholars
Islamic Picture Gallery
You are here: Home > Articles > Basics about Prayers
Categories
Allah (SWT)
1. Allah the Creator and Lord of Universe
2. Attributes of Allah Almighty
3. Concept of God in Islam
4. Getting closer to Allah
5. Infinite Powers of Allah
Beliefs and Worships
1. 8 ways to boost your Ramadan spirit
2. Behavior of Old and Young
3. Caring for the Orphans and Weak
4. Cleanliness and Beautification in Islam
5. For Whom Fasting is Mandatory?
6. Hajj
7. Human Rights in Islam
8. Itikaf: Spiritual Retreat in Ramadan
9. Kindness to Daughters
10. Lessons of Fasting in Ramadan
11. Marriage Proposals
12. Marriage to Women of People of the Book
13. Marrying more than one Woman
14. Merits of Fasting
15. Mutual Rights of Husband and Wife
16. No Monasticism in Islam
17. Our On Going Test
18. Prayers
19. Prohibition of a Muslim Woman Marrying a Non-Muslim
20. Ramadan (Fasting) - month of forbearance and brotherhood
21. Rights of Neighbors
22. Rights of Relatives
23. Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (Charity of Ramadan)
24. Seeing the Woman before Marriage
25. Ten Goals for Ramadan
26. Treating Children Equally
27. Treatment of Slaves And Servants
28. Why Marrying More Than One Permitted?
29. Woman In Islam - 1
30. Woman In Islam - 2
31. Women To Whom Marriage is Prohibited
32. Zakat (Charity or Alms)
Islam
1. Basics of becoming Muslim
2. Beliefs and Practices
3. Brief History of Islam
4. Days and Dates of Islamic significance
5. Dealing with Anti Islamic Websites
6. Holy Days of Islam
7. Ibadaat during Last Ten Days of Ramadan
8. Introduction to Islam
9. Islam, A World Civilization
10. Islamic Calendar
11. Lailat ul-Qadr (The Night of Power)
Islam and Science
1. Biology by Muslims
2. Chemistry by Muslims
3. Experimental Methods by Muslims
4. Transmission of Sciences
Islamic Scholars
1. Imam Maalik
2. Imam Shafie
3. Physics by Muslims
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
1. Characteristics of Prophet Muhammad
2. Last Sermon by Prophet (PBUH)
3. Life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Stories of Prophets
1. Prophet Adam (PBUH)
2. Prophet Ayub (PBUH)
3. Prophet Aziz (PBUH)
4. Prophet Dawood (PBUH)
5. Prophet Huud (PBUH)
6. Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH)
7. Prophet Idris (PBUH)
8. Prophet Isa (Jesus) (PBUH)
9. Prophet Ismail (PBUH)
10. Prophet Lut (PBUH)
11. Prophet Musa (Moses) (PBUH)
12. Prophet Nuh (Noah) (PBUH)
13. Prophet Salih (PBUH)
14. Prophet Shoaib (PBUH)
15. Prophet Yahya (PBUH)
16. Prophet Yaqub (PBUH)
17. Prophet Zakariya (PBUH)

Basics about Prayers

The five daily mandatory prayers are the pillars of Islam. Referred to as solaah, the Muslim form of prayer comprises of a series of postures in which Qur'anic verses are recited and Allah SWT is praised and supplicated.

The primary purpose of prayer is to instill Allah-consciousness in an individual. It is our duty as a creation of Allah SWT to worship Him at any time or under any circumstances. It will make a Muslim more disciplined and help him avoid committing deeds that are forbidden by Allah SWT.

Prior to performing prayer, the Muslim purifies himself/herself. He/she must be clean and pure from any najaasah or impurities before performing the prayer. The purification process, via ablution or a complete bath, is with water. In the absence of water, one can perform the tayammum with sand or other alternative substances.

The five obligatory prayers that Muslims perform every day are Fajr, Zuhr ,Asr, Maghreeb and Ishaa'. In countries where there are large Muslim communities, the call to prayer (azaan) is announced loudly to indicate the time of each prayer. That is followed by the iqaamah which denotes that the prayer is about to begin. The command concerning prayer is contained in the following Qur'anic verse:

"Verily! I am Allah (SWT)! Laa-ilaaha-illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and perform As-Solaah (iqaamat-us-solaah) for My Remembrance. [Taaha: 14]

While in prayer, a state of full concentration or khushook should be attained to ensure that the person's heart is attuned to make his/her act a true remembrance of Allah SWT and is turned to Him for forgiveness. When khushook is attained, the worshipper feels a kind of calmness and strength to obey Allah SWT and to avoid what He forbids.

There are several blessings that Muslims should notice while performing their prayers. Prayer makes us fully aware that we are servants of Allah SWT and thus we should adore and obey Him by performing what has been prescribed to us. That is why the prayer has been described as 'remembrance' in the Qur'an - its true meaning and purpose lie in remembering Allah SWT.

Regular establishment of prayer makes one constantly aware that we live in His presence and His love, and at the same time fear His power so as to avoid whatever that may displease Him.This is emphasized in the following Qur'anic verse:

"Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee; and establish regular Prayer, for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah (SWT) is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah (SWT) knows the (deeds) that ye do." [Al-Ankaboot: 45]

On the importance of prayer, Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." [Bukhari]

Apart from the daily five, there are also several recommended prayers that Muslims can perform in order to please Allah SWT and to gain rewards in the Hereafter.

The other Arabic word that can be translated as prayer in English is du'aa, which means supplication or asking assistance from Allah SWT to fulfill a specific need of this life or in the Hereafter. In Islam, worship means to revere, serve and obey Allah SWT in one's life wholly and completely. The word du'aa indicates a direct relationship between the worshipper and his Creator.

Affirming this, the Prophet SAW said:

"Du'aa is worship." [Abu Dawood]

 

Article Contributed by: itsIslam Staff



Follow us on:
Follow us on Facebook

Contribute

If you like this site, then please Contribute and support us.



If you like this site, then please Contribute and support us.


2005 - 2021, itsIslam - share knowledge, All rights reserved.
Powered by: Habibz Inc. - Part of itsPakistan Network