Indeed, one can be mindful of God in every moment and situation[1] and supplicate Him in any language or method[2]. God will answer their calling[3] and cover whoever is in His remembrance with mercy[4]. Nevertheless, spirituality is not simply for entertainment or a tool for satisfying our needs, which we occasionally remember and abandon in our everyday life[5]. The Quran asks us to pray in the morning, midday, and evening[6] and to follow a permanent routine[7] to keep God’s remembrance alive in our hearts. Continual adherence to a specific, monotheistic prayer, will constantly remind us of our divine values[8] and block the paths to many potential deviations[9]. Verily, adhering to routine prayer will clear the dust of neglect from our eyes[10] and cure the diseases of our soul and spirit[11]. For this purpose, at specified times[12] we need to whilst facing Masjid al-Haram[13] (which is the first house built for the worship of God[14]), recite verses from the Quran[15] in a voice which is not too loud nor too soft[16] and glorify and praise God[17] as we bow and prostrate in prayer[18]. Of course, it is necessary to take “wudhu” before prayer by washing the face and hands with water and wiping the head and feet[19]. And in case we were “junub” (impure following sexual intercourse or seminal discharge), then we should do ablution with water (“ghusl”)[20] and in special circumstances, we can do “tayammum” with dust (or soil with dry, fine sand consistency)[21] instead of washing with water. These few points mentioned are all that the Quran has stated regarding the manner and external conditions required for performing our prayers. Consequently, there is no significant problem or ambiguity in this field. The timings for the five daily prayers, their structure and elements, the number of “rak’as” (portions of prayer), obligatory remembrances, and the main rituals for performing the prayers are clear to all Muslims and have remained the same, despite the creation of various sects. Nevertheless, naturally in this topic, like any other historical matter, lies ambiguities and differences of opinions, most of which are impossible to resolve. But since these secondary issues do not change the spirit and purpose of worship, instead of engaging in futile debates, everyone should try to choose the method they consider most correct[22]. And by relying on commonalities, try to reach a higher level of humility and presence of heart[23]. The fact that the Quran emphasizes on correctly establishing and performing the prayer which[24] is already recognised and practised by its audience, instead of dealing with the rules and components of this essential act of worship, shows that the general framework for worship established by other prophets of God was also the same. Therefore, this book has focused on optimising the effectiveness of the prayer which is commonly recognised by all[25]. A book like the Quran which considers a monastery, church, and synagogue[26] all in the same order as a mosque and sanctifies them due to their shared purpose of creating an environment for the remembrance of God. And considers the Christians and Jews who pray and still adhere to their past religious laws, as the righteous[27] and praises them for their prostrations and recitations of the verses of their book[28], will certainly admire and accept our sincere prayers, even with our slight differences.
Next: Prayer Timings
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Islamic Library: Introduction to Islam
[1] . Quran 33: 41:
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا اذكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكرًا كَثيرًا
O You who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance.
[2] . Quran 7: 55:
ادعوا رَبَّكُم تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفيَةً إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ المُعتَدينَ
Call on your Lord humbly and secretly verily He does not like the transgressors.
[3] . Quran 2: 186:
وَإِذا سَأَلَكَ عِبادي عَنّي فَإِنّي قَريبٌ أُجيبُ دَعوَةَ الدّاعِ إِذا دَعانِ فَليَستَجيبوا لي وَليُؤمِنوا بي لَعَلَّهُم يَرشُدونَ
When My servants ask you concerning Me, verily I am near, I answer the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me; so, they should answer me positively and believe in Me, in order that they may be led aright.
[4] . Quran 2: 152:
فَاذكُروني أَذكُركُم وَاشكُروا لي وَلا تَكفُرونِ
Therefore, remember Me, and I will remember you; and be thankful to Me, and do not deny the truth.
[5] . Quran 7: 205:
وَاذكُر رَبَّكَ في نَفسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخيفَةً وَدونَ الجَهرِ مِنَ القَولِ بِالغُدُوِّ وَالآصالِ وَلا تَكُن مِنَ الغافِلينَ
And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and awe, in the morning and evening; without a loud voice, and do not be of the heedless ones.
[6] . Quran 17: 78:
أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ لِدُلوكِ الشَّمسِ إِلىٰ غَسَقِ اللَّيلِ وَقُرآنَ الفَجرِ إِنَّ قُرآنَ الفَجرِ كانَ مَشهودًا
Perform the prayers from the declension of the sun till the darkness of the night, and the recitation of the Quran at dawn, verily the recitation of the Quran at dawn is witnessed.
[7] . Quran 70: 23:
الَّذينَ هُم عَلىٰ صَلاتِهِم دائِمونَ
Those who remain steadfast in establishing their ritual prayers.
[8] . Quran 20: 14:
إِنَّني أَنَا اللَّهُ لا إِلٰهَ إِلّا أَنا فَاعبُدني وَأَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ لِذِكري
Verily I am Allah, there is no god other than Me. So, worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.
[9] . Quran 29: 45:
وَأَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ تَنهىٰ عَنِ الفَحشاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ
And establish the prayer, verily prayer keeps one away from indecency and evil.
[10] . Quran 50: 8:
تَبصِرَةً وَذِكرىٰ لِكُلِّ عَبدٍ مُنيبٍ
So that for every returning servant (believer) there is an insight and reminder.
[11] . Quran 10: 57:
يا أَيُّهَا النّاسُ قَد جاءَتكُم مَوعِظَةٌ مِن رَبِّكُم وَشِفاءٌ لِما فِي الصُّدورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحمَةٌ لِلمُؤمِنينَ
O mankind, there has come to you an admonition from your Lord and a healing for what is in your hearts, and a guidance and mercy for the believers.
[12] . Quran 4: 103:
إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ كانَت عَلَى المُؤمِنينَ كِتابًا مَوقوتًا
Verily the prayer was enjoined upon the believers at fixed times.
[13] . Quran 2: 149:
وَمِن حَيثُ خَرَجتَ فَوَلِّ وَجهَكَ شَطرَ المَسجِدِ الحَرامِ
And from whatever place you come forth, turn your face towards Masjid al-Haram.
[14] . Quran 3: 96:
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنّاسِ لَلَّذي بِبَكَّةَ مُبارَكًا وَهُدًى لِلعالَمينَ
Verily the first house set up for mankind as a blessing and guidance for the worlds is the one at Becca.
[15] . Quran 35: 29:
إِنَّ الَّذينَ يَتلونَ كِتابَ اللَّهِ وَأَقامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَأَنفَقوا مِمّا رَزَقناهُم سِرًّا وَعَلانِيَةً يَرجونَ تِجارَةً لَن تَبورَ
Verily those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend in charity out of what We have provided them, secretly and openly, hope for a merchandise which will never perish.
[16] . Quran 17: 110:
وَلا تَجهَر بِصَلاتِكَ وَلا تُخافِت بِها وَابتَغِ بَينَ ذٰلِكَ سَبيلًا
Do not utter your prayer too loud nor be silent with it and seek a way between that.
[17] . Quran 32: 15:
إِنَّما يُؤمِنُ بِآياتِنَا الَّذينَ إِذا ذُكِّروا بِها خَرّوا سُجَّدًا وَسَبَّحوا بِحَمدِ رَبِّهِم وَهُم لا يَستَكبِرونَ
Only those believe in Our signs who, when they are reminded of them, fall down prostrating and celebrate the praise of their Lord, and they do not seek dominance.
[18] . Quran 22: 77:
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا اركَعوا وَاسجُدوا وَاعبُدوا رَبَّكُم وَافعَلُوا الخَيرَ لَعَلَّكُم تُفلِحونَ
O you who believe, bow down and prostrate yourselves and worship your Lord, and do goof, that you may be prosperous.
[19] . Quran 5: 6:
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا إِذا قُمتُم إِلَى الصَّلاةِ فَاغسِلوا وُجوهَكُم وَأَيدِيَكُم إِلَى المَرافِقِ وَامسَحوا بِرُءوسِكُم وَأَرجُلَكُم إِلَى الكَعبَينِ
O you who have faith, when you stand up for prayer, wash your faces and hands up to the elbows and wipe part of your heads and your feet up to the ankles.
[20] . Quran 5: 6:
وَإِن كُنتُم جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّروا
And if you were impure (junub) then purify yourself (perform a total ablution).
[21] . Quran 5: 6:
وَإِن كُنتُم مَرضىٰ أَو عَلىٰ سَفَرٍ أَو جاءَ أَحَدٌ مِنكُم مِنَ الغائِطِ أَو لامَستُمُ النِّساءَ فَلَم تَجِدوا ماءً فَتَيَمَّموا صَعيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامسَحوا بِوُجوهِكُم وَأَيديكُم مِنهُ
And if you are sick or on a journey, or one of you comes from the privy, or you have been in close contact with women and you can find no water, then betake yourselves to clean soil and wipe a part of your faces and your hands with some of it.
[22] . Quran 2: 286:
لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفسًا إِلّا وُسعَها
Allah does not oblige upon anyone a duty but to the extent of his capacity.
[23] . Quran 23: 2:
الَّذينَ هُم في صَلاتِهِم خاشِعونَ
Those who are humble in their prayers.
[24] . Quran 2: 43:
وَأَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكاةَ وَاركَعوا مَعَ الرّاكِعينَ
And keep up the prayer, pay the zakat and bow down in prayer with those who bow down.
[25] . Quran 10: 87:
وَأَوحَينا إِلىٰ موسىٰ وَأَخيهِ أَن تَبَوَّآ لِقَومِكُما بِمِصرَ بُيوتًا وَاجعَلوا بُيوتَكُم قِبلَةً وَأَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ
And we revealed to Moses and his brother, saying: ‘Provide houses for your people in Egypt, make your houses into places of worship, and keep up prayer…’
[26] . Quran 22: 40:
وَلَولا دَفعُ اللَّهِ النّاسَ بَعضَهُم بِبَعضٍ لَهُدِّمَت صَوامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَواتٌ وَمَساجِدُ يُذكَرُ فيهَا اسمُ اللَّهِ كَثيرًا
And had Allah not repelled some people by others, certainly there would have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which Allah’s name is much mentioned.
[27]. Quran 3: 114:
يُؤمِنونَ بِاللَّهِ وَاليَومِ الآخِرِ وَيَأمُرونَ بِالمَعروفِ وَيَنهَونَ عَنِ المُنكَرِ وَيُسارِعونَ فِي الخَيراتِ وَأُولٰئِكَ مِنَ الصّالِحينَ
They believe in Allah and the last Day; and they enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong, and hasten to do good deeds, and these are of the righteous ones.
[28] . Quran 3: 113:
لَيسوا سَواءً مِن أَهلِ الكِتابِ أُمَّةٌ قائِمَةٌ يَتلونَ آياتِ اللَّهِ آناءَ اللَّيلِ وَهُم يَسجُدونَ
Yet they are not alike: of the People of the Book is a group upright. They recite the verses and signs of Allah in the night time while they prostrate themselves.