What does the word 'ritual' mean in prayer?

Answer 1

Learning the basics of Muslim Prayer

Salat or Muslim's prayer is an essential part of muslims' worships. Prophet Muhammad said that the Salat is the pillar of our religion. So it is important for every muslim to know how to pray. This page is created to help those muslims, new-muslims, non-mulims, and youth to learn the basics of how to prayer. Please read the disclaimer first, this is a short version of the teachings, a more detailed one can be found here. Hope to be helpful.

The first thing to know about prayer is that it's very simple and there are many exeptions for those who have difficulties; however, while performing prayer full concentration and attention is required.

There are five required daily prayers for every muslim. Each prayer consist of several Rakats (parts) depending to the time it is performed for. The Dawn 2 Rakat (fajr), Noon 4 rakat (duhr), Afternoon 4 rakat (asr), Sunset 3 rakat (magreb), and Night 4 rakat (esha) prayers. Total of 17 rakats a day to the direction of Ka'ba (North-east in North America). It seems too much and too long but when you learn how to do it and undrestand why you do it, it is going to be very enjoyable.

The time for Fajr prayer is from dawn to time of sunrise. The time for Duhr and Asr prayer is from noon to sunset, and the time for Magreb and Esha prayer is from sunset to midnight.

How to Pray

It is impossible to explain how to pray in short article like this and it is a big responsiblilty to teach people something this important. However, the greater responsibility is to introduce the basic and leave the research for the reader. Before praying you have to make a wodho, be sure you are pure and clean, and your dress is appropriate(research more about this part). Ladies should weara clothe where only their face, hands (to the wrist, not arms) and their feet (to their ankle) is shown, and male are required to cover their body appropriatly as well.

Neiat and Ghera'at

Neiat or intention is the most important part of the prayer. By this you say that why you are standing for prayer, which prayer, how many rakats. You can say it loud or in your mind.

For example: I will pray the salat al-Fajr, two ra'akat, gurbatan ela-laah, (to get closer to Allah).

It doesn't matter what language you say it, as long as you have the intention. This is the way you should stand and put your hands during this stage:

(fig 1)

Then you do your Takbiratul-Ehram (saying Allah Akbar)and drop your hands, from ears to your laps. Now you entered prayer officially and from this point till salam you can't talk, eat, or move out of prayer's form. Start your prayer by reading Al-Hamd and the sura (fig 2). You have to say everything in arabic and learning it is very easy just need practice, you can ask some of the Muslims or people who know arabic to read the right pronounciation for you, or click on the photo to listen to it. In this part you would read two chapters, Reading the chapter al-Hamd is necessary but chossing the sura is up to you, people read the chapter of Ekhlas mostly. The way to stand and read is in the figure 2.

(fig 2)

Rakat

Rakat consist of Gera'at (reading of the al-hamd and sura, or Tasbeehat al-Arba'a), one Ruku'e, and two Sajda.

Ruku'e

After you read the Al-hamd and sura you bend by placing your hands on your knees and looking between your legs, this is called Ruku'e. And you say a Thekr (praise to allah). To make it easy on the biginners you would say Subhan-allah 3 times or you can refer to the people who pray for their thekr. Fig 3 explains how you have to do this part.

(fig 3)

Qunut

Qunut is the part you raise your hand and ask allah for what you need you can say it in any language or just say a short grace in arabic. Qunut is performed after the Al-hamd and Sura recitation of the second rakat and it is not required (vajeb) but is Mustahab (recommended). The way to do this part is explained in figure 4.

(fig 4)

Sajda

After Ruku'e you stand straight like you started and then go to Sajda. In this part you prostrate to allah. That means you place seven part of your body touching the ground and say a thekr similar to the one in Ruku'e, your forehead, palms, knees, and your toes. Your forhead should be on a wooden or stone made object (see more details on this part). You did one Sajda, like in fig 5, you sit like your in Tashahood, and do another one after that.

<(fig 5)

Tashahud

After performing your second sojda on the second rakat of every prayer and the last rakat of the particular prayer your performing, you perform Tashahud. In this part you would sit in a way that your left foot is on your right and your palms are on your thighs. And you read Tashahood in arabic (see fig 6). This part is to be performed on every two Rakats and before you finish salat. Example if you are doing the Dohr, Asr, and Esha prayers which are four Rakats you do Tashahood in the end of second Rakat and at the end of fourth Rakat before saying the Salam. And if you praying the Maghreb prayer which is three Rakat's you do Tashahood at the end of second Rakat and the third Rakat before finishing the prayer. The meaning of it is:

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He is one and no one is like him, And I bear witness that Mohammad is his conformer (Ab'd) and his messanger, O'Allah send greetings to Mohammad and the Family of Mohammad.

(fig 6)

Salam

This is the end part of salat and by reciting this part you officially end your prayer. You would read it at the end of the last Rakat (after the second sajda) and you finish your prayer. After reading it you would raise your palms from your thigh and say Allah'u Akbar and put your hands back on the thighs for three times (see fig 7). You read it in Arabic and pronunciaion is here. The meaning of the reading it is

Greetings to us and to the faithful (Saleheen) conformers' of allah, Greetings and Mercy of Allah be onto you.

(fig 7