Prayer in Islam

Prayer is the topic of thousands of books of Fiqh, or Islamic Law, and

every reformulation of Shariah 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 , and
is important but not the main Islamic idea of prayer.
Meditation or contemplation of God? No, this is called in
Islam.
Chanting or mantras? No, this important act is called .
( )- The Salah (Salat) is the obligatory Islamic ritual
prayer, performed at least five times daily at appointed times.
This religious duty falls under the category of a , or something that
is mandatory on all members of the community (as opposed to a ,
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 Muhammads 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