Myths about Islam

Islamic prayer is just a ritualized performance with no heartfelt meaning :

Prayer is a time to stand before God and express faith, give thanks for blessings, and seek guidance and forgiveness. During Islamic prayer, one is modest, submissive and respectful to God. By bowing and prostrating ourselves to the ground, we express our utmost humility before the Almighty.

How To Perform the Muslim Prayers

Five times each day, Muslims bow down to Allah in prayer. If you are learning how to pray, or are just curious about what Muslims do during prayers, follow along with these general guidelines.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 10 minutes

Here's How:
Make sure your body and place of prayer are clean. Perform ablutions if necessary. Make the intention to perform your obligatory prayer.

Standing, raise hands up and say "Allahu Akbar" (God is Most Great).

Standing with hands folded over chest, recite the first chapter of the Qur'an in Arabic. Then recite any other verses of the Qur'an that you would like.

Raise hands up, saying "Allahu Akbar." Bow, reciting three times, "Subhana rabbiyal adheem" (Glory be to my Lord Almighty).

Rise to standing while reciting "Sam'i Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd" (God hears those who call upon Him; Our Lord, praise be to You).

Raise hands up, saying "Allahu Akbar." Prostrate on the ground, reciting three times "Subhana Rabbiyal A'ala" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High).

Rise to a sitting position, saying "Allahu Akbar." Prostrate again in the same manner.

Rise to a standing position, saying "Allahu Akbar."

This concludes one rak'a (cycle or unit of prayer). Begin again from Step 3 for the second rak'a.

After two rak'as, one remains sitting after the prostrations and recites the first part of the Tashahhud in Arabic.

If the prayer is to be longer than these two rak'as, one now stands up and begins again to complete the prayer, sitting again after all rak'as have been completed.

Recite the second part of the Tashahhud in Arabic.

Turn to the right and say "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah" (Peace be upon you and God's blessings).

Turn to the left and repeat the greeting. This concludes the formal prayer.

Tips:
There are five daily prayer timings. Formal prayers can be done during a window of time between the start of one prayer and the start of the following prayer.
If Arabic is not your native tongue, learn the meanings in your language while trying to practice the Arabic.
Software programs are available that can help you learn the correct positions and Arabic pronunciations. Better yet, pray with other Muslims to learn.

What You Need:
The heart-felt intention to perform the prayer
A clean body with correct ablutions
A clean place to pray
A prayer rug (optional)


Islamic Prayer Timings
Muslims observe five formal prayers each day. The timings of these prayers are spaced fairly evenly throughout the day, so that one is constantly reminded of God and given opportunities to seek His guidance and forgiveness.
Muslims observe the formal prayers at the following times:
Fajr (pre-dawn): This prayer starts off the day with the remembrance of God; it is performed before sunrise.
Dhuhr (noon): After the day's work has begun, one breaks shortly after noon to again remember God and seek His guidance.
'Asr (afternoon): In the late afternoon, people are usually busy wrapping up the day's work, getting kids home from school, etc. It is an important time to take a few minutes to remember God and the greater meaning of our lives.
Maghrib (sunset): Just after the sun goes down, Muslims remember God again as the day begins to come to a close.
'Isha (evening): Before retiring for the night, Muslims again take time to remember God's presence, guidance, mercy, and forgiveness.
In Muslim communities, people are reminded of the daily prayer times through the calling of the adhan. For those in Muslim-minority communities, computerized adhan programs are available.



Azan

Muslims use the human voice to announce the times of prayer to the community. The adhan is the call to prayer itself, and the person who calls it is called the muadhan.

The following is the Arabic transliteration and the English translation of what you hear:

Allahu AkbarGod is Great(said four times)
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa AllahI bear witness that there is no god except the One God.(said two times)
Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool AllahI bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God.(said two times)
Hayya 'ala-s-SalahHurry to the prayer (Rise up for prayer)(said two times)
Hayya 'ala-l-FalahHurry to success (Rise up for Salvation) (said two times)
Allahu AkbarGod is Great[said two times]
La ilaha illa AllahThere is no god except the One God
For the pre-dawn (fajr) prayer, the following phrase is inserted after the fifth part above, towards the end:
As-salatu Khayrun Minan-nawmPrayer is better than sleep(said two times)