mkag_fnk.blog: Method of Muslim Prayer

Muslim Prayers

Prayers take place anywhere in the direction of the Ka'bah and its Black Stone located in the Masjid Al-Haram.
All other mosques have the Mihrab, an alcove in the Qiblah wall pointing to the Ka'bah.
The call to prayer from a minaret follows this pattern:

Four times	God is great	Allah-u-Akbar
Twice	I bear witness that there is no God but God	Ashhadu 'an la 'ilaha 'illah Allah
Twice	I bear witness that Muhammad is God's messenger	Ashhadu 'an Muhammadan Rasul-Allah
Twice	Come to prayer	Hayyi 'ala-il-salah
Twice	Come to success	Hayyi 'ala-il fala'
Twice	God is great	Allah-u-Akbar
Once	There is no god but God	'ilaha 'illa-Allah

This is another transliteration of the Adhan:

Adhan

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
Ashadu an la ilaha Allah
Ashadu an la ilaha Allah
Ashadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullah
Ashadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullah
Hayya'alas salah
Hayya'alas salah
Hayya'alal falah
Hayya'alal falah
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
La ilah ill Allah

Added sentence in morning prayers:

Assalatu khayrun minan nawm
Assalatu khayrun minan nawm

Translation (English)

God is great, God is great
God is great, God is great
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but God
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but God
I bear witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God
I bear witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God
Come to prayer, Come to prayer,
Come to success, come to success,
God is great, God is great,
There is no deity but God.

Added sentence in morning prayers:

Prayer is better than sleep.
Prayer is better than sleep.

Muslim prayer should be at a clean space, whether it is in a mosque or not. This is why a prayer mat is commonly used: it is clean. The top edge faces the Ka'bah when rolled out for prayer. A mat is either woven carpet with pile or made from matted wool (felt). Prayer mats contain designs or perhaps an image of the Ka'bah or the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. Prayer mats might around be 43 inches by 26 inches.
There are five daily prayers, the number decided by the Night Journey of Muhammad. Each one has an exact cycle of standing, sitting and bowing known as Raka'h (prostration). Men and women perform the same prayers.
At dawn prayers there are two Raka'h, at sunset prayers there are three Raka'h and at noon, afternoon and night prayers four Raka'h are performed. Arabic is used in utterance to oneself.
The standard prayer involves:

Once	Standing up	Declaration of intention to pray the prayer of the time
The first Raka'h (prostration) begins
Once	Standing up	Acknowledgement that God is great
Once	Standing up	God is praised and thanked for his Majesty and is sought as shelter from Satan
Once	Standing up	Chapter 1 of the Qur'an is recited (the Surah Al-Fatiha)
In the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful. Praise be to God, Lord of the Universe, the Compassionate, the Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Judgment! You alone we worship, and to You alone we turn for help. Guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom You have favoured, not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor o those who have gone astray.
Once	Standing up	Another short chapter of the Qur'an is recited
Thrice	Bowing	Declarations that God is mighty
Once	Standing up	A verse states that God listens to those who praise God.
Thrice	Kneeling and the head touches the ground	Declarations that God is the Highest
Once	Sitting upright	Declaration that God is great
Thrice	Kneeling and the head touches the ground	Declarations that God is the Highest
End of the Raka'h
Starts again the next Raka'h and as many as required
Once	Seated	Verses stating There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger are recited
Once	Seated	God is asked to give his blessing to the Prophet and his descendants, good worshippers, and Abraham and his descendants
Once	Turning to the right	Peace be upon you and thanks be to God for his blessings
Once	Turning to the left	Peace be upon you and thanks be to God for his blessings