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Triumph of the Irrational
Choreographing the Irrational - Prayers
By
tying the irrational to the performance of a sequence of prescribed movements
done in unison while spouting familiar phrases repeated as one, Muhammad
achieved three objectives that are central to the success of Islam, or any
militant organization: indoctrination, visibility and discipline.
The coercive choreography of prayers in Islam is central to this purpose. You did not perform this choreography exactly as demonstrated and on schedule at your risk and peril, in both the Hereafter and in the here-and now.
Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir:
The Prophet said, "Straighten your rows or Allah will alter your faces."
Bukhari 11.685
Narrated Abdullah bin Masud:
The Prophet recited Suratan-Najm (103) at Mecca and prostrated while reciting it and those who were with him did the same except an old man who took a handful of small stones or earth and lifted it to his forehead and said, "This is sufficient for me."
Later on, I saw him killed as a non-believer.
Bukhari 19.173
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "No doubt, I intended to order somebody to pronounce the Iqama (the second call to Islamic Prayer) of the (compulsory congregational) prayer and then I would go to the houses of those who do not attend the prayer and burn their houses over them."
Bukhari 41.602
The Islamic State exercising the type of discipline of which Muhammad would have approved, in the Syrian city of Jarablus, where parents are forced to watch an ISIS executioner behead their 14-year-old son after he missed Friday prayers, as reported in the Daily Mail February 4, 2016. Notice the blood-stained sword. This is obviously not our executioner's first beheading of the day.
Friday prayers in Islam are of such importance that angels will be taking attendance.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "On every Friday the angels take their stand at every gate of the mosques to write the names of the people chronologically (i.e. according to the time of their arrival for the Friday prayer and when the Imam sits (on the pulpit) they fold up their scrolls and get ready to listen to the sermon."
Bukhari 54.433
Call to Prayer
A number of options were considered to announce to the believers that it was again time to pray before settling on the Adhan, i.e., the call to prayer.
Narrated Ibn Umar:
When the Muslims arrived at Medina, they used to assemble for the prayer, and used to guess the time for it. During those days, the practice of Adhan for the prayers had not been introduced yet. Once they discussed this problem regarding the call for prayer. Some people suggested the use of a bell like the Christians, others proposed a trumpet like the horn used by the Jews, but Umar was the first to suggest that a man should call (the people) for the prayer; so Allah's Apostle ordered Bilal to get up and pronounce the Adhan for prayers.
Bukhari 11.578
If necessary, you can do your own Adhan. It may annoy some within earshot if they are not believers, but not those who will bear witness on Judgement Day that you completed your duty to Allah and Muhammad, even when you thought no one was watching.
Narrated Abdul Rahman:
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri told my father, "I see you liking sheep and the wilderness. So whenever you are with your sheep or in the wilderness and you want to pronounce Adhan for the prayer raise your voice in doing so, for whoever hears the Adhan, whether a human being, a jinn or any other creature, will be a witness for you on the Day of Resurrection."
Abu Said added, "I heard it (this narration) from Allah's Apostle."
Bukhari 11.583
After listening to your own Adhan, or that of the Muezzin from his minaret, you can increase your odds that it will not only be a jinn or some other creature that will intercede on your behalf on Judgement Day, but Muhammad himself.
Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah:
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever after listening to the Adhan says, 'Allahumma Rabba hadhihi-d-da' watit-tammati was-salatil qa'imati, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadilata, wab' athhu maqaman mahmudan-il-ladhi wa' adtahu (O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (of not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established! Kindly give Muhammad the right of intercession and superiority and send him (on the Day of Judgment) to the best and the highest place in Paradise which You promised him)', then intercession for me will be permitted for him on the Day of Resurrection").
Bukhari 11.588
Satan at prayer time:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "When the call for prayer is made, Satan takes to his heels passing wind so that he may not hear the Adhan and when the call is finished he comes back, and when the Iqama is pronounced, Satan again takes to his heels, and when the Iqama is finished he comes back again and tries to interfere with the person and his thoughts and say, 'Remember this and that (which he has not thought of before the prayer)', till the praying person forgets how much he has prayed. If anyone of you does not remember whether he has offered three or four Rakat then he should perform two prostrations of Sahu (forgetfulness) while sitting."
Bukhari 22.323
The Example of Muhammad
Everyone has had a teacher like Muhammad, the one who said they had eyes in the back of their head.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "You see me facing the Qibla; but, by Allah, nothing is hidden from me regarding your bowing and submissiveness and I see you from behind my back."
Bukhari 12:708
How to pray properly was something Muhammad took upon himself to demonstrate after being shown by the angel Gabriel how God wanted it done.
Gabriel came to him one day on the high ground above Mecca, and struck with his heel the turf of the hillside, whereupon a spring gushed forth from it. Then he performed the ritual ablution to show the Prophet how to purify himself for worship, and the Prophet followed his example. Then he showed him the postures and movements of the prayer, the standing, the inclining, the prostrating and the sitting, with the repeated magnification, that is, the words Alldhu Akbar, God is Most Great, and the final greeting as-Saldmu 'alaykum, Peace be on you, and again the Prophet followed his example. Then the Angel left him, and the Prophet returned to his house, and taught Khadijah all that he had learnt, and they prayed together.”
Martin Lings, MUHAMMAD: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources
Muhammad was very much a petty perfectionist keen on controlling every detail of everyone's existence, and prayers were no exception.
Narrated Ibn Abbas:
The Prophet said, "I have been ordered to prostrate on seven bones i.e. on the forehead along with the tip of the nose and the Prophet pointed towards his nose, both hands, both knees and the toes of both feet and not to gather the clothes or the hair."
Bukhari 12.776
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
The Prophet said, "Be straight in the prostrations and none of you should put his forearms on the ground (in the prostration) like a dog."
Bukhari 12.785
A word you will encounter often relating to prayers is ‘perfectly’.
Narrated Ibn Umar:
Allah's Apostle said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform that, then they save their lives and property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah."
Bukhari 2.24
You could not have straight rows if you did not have crowds; and straight rows, as Muhammad reminded his followers, were an important part of a ‘correct prayer’.
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
The Prophet said, "Straighten your rows as the straightening of rows is essential for a perfect and correct prayer."
Bukhari 11.690
When you can pray while standing:
Narrated Nafi:
Ibn Umar said something similar to Mujahid's saying: Whenever (Muslims and non-Muslims) stand face to face in battle, the Muslims can pray while standing.
Ibn Umar added, "The Prophet said, 'If the number of the enemy is greater than the Muslims, they can pray while standing or riding (individually).'"
Bukhari 14.65
If you had sex or a nocturnal emission before the call to prayer, follow Muhammad's example and take a bath for you are Junub, i.e., impure, for the purpose of praying.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Once iqama was pronounced and the people had straightened the rows, Allah's Apostle went forward (to lead the prayer) but he was Junub, so he said, "Remain in your places." And he went out, took a bath and returned with water trickling from his head. Then he led the prayer.
Bukhari 11.613
Muhammad even had instructions on how a woman should clean her dress if it has been soiled by menstrual discharge so that she pray while wearing it.
Narrated Asma:
A woman came to the Prophet and said, "If anyone of us gets menses in her clothes then what should she do?"
He replied, "She should (take hold of the soiled place), rub it and put it in the water and rub it in order to remove the traces of blood and then pour water over it. Then she can pray in it."
Bukhari: 4.227
Eating a shoulder cut of mutton after performing your ablution should not require a repeat ritual purification before getting down and doing your prayers.
Narrated Abdullah bin Abbas:
Allah's Apostle ate a piece of cooked mutton from the shoulder region and prayed without repeating ablution.
Bukhari 4.206
Don't interrupt the Imam!
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "When the Imam is delivering the Khutba (sermon), and you ask your companion to keep quiet and listen, then no doubt you have done an evil act."
Bukhari 13.56
Do not raise your head before the Imam.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "Isn't he who raises his head before the Imam afraid that Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey or his figure (face) into that of a donkey?"
Bukhari 11.660
From the example of Muhammad we get a performance that is unmatched starting with wudu, the ritual washing.
The following instructions on how to perform wudu and how to pray respectively are from the free The Beginner’s Guide to Learning How to Pray on the website of Ottawa’s Masjid ar-Rahmah mosque (www.mymasjid.ca). It is a well-written guide that includes many illustrations and references to scriptures which are not included here. Also, the guide provides the Arabic version of the verses of the Koran to be read and of the Duas (supplications) as they all must be said in Arabic. I only give you the English translations.
What is written here is not meant to replace what is posted on the website. For what has been left out we invite you to visit it. My comments or additions are contained within “***”. Punctuation, or lack thereof, is as found in the guide.
How to Make Wudu, Step by Step
Before we can perform salah (prayer) we need to prepare ourselves mentally, physically, and spiritually. A large portion of this preparation is what is known as wudu. It is a purification process that every Muslim must perform before their prayer can be performed. It is such an important part of the salah that if anyone decides to leave it due to ignorance, forgetfulness, or negligence then their prayer will not be accepted by Allah.
1 – Make your intention to perform wudu
The first step is to understand that you are about to begin the process of wudu so that you can perform salah. There are no words or special statements that need to be said here. Creating the intention is a matter of the heart and mind.
2 – Say Bismillah
This is a critical part of making wudu. Before we begin to wash ourselves we need to say Bismillah (In the Name of Allah). You can say it silently to yourself.
3 – Wash your hands three times
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us to begin with our right side first. That means you will need to wash your right hand from the fingertips to the wrist three times. Make sure water touches every part of the hand. Afterwards perform the same actions with your left hand three times.
***
Three was an odd number that Muhammad favored when performing ablution and that included the number of stones used to clean your private parts after answering the call of nature.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "Whoever performs ablution should clean his nose with water by putting the water in it and then blowing it out, and whoever cleans his private parts with stones should do it with odd number of stones."
Bukhari 4:162
***
4 – Rinse your mouth three times
Take some water into your right hand and rinse your mouth three times. Do this thoroughly to clean your mouth properly.
5 – Sniff water into your nostrils three times
Take some water in your right hand and sniff it into your nose. We used the word “sniff” here to give you an idea of what this means. You will need to snort or inhale the water into your nose and then blow it out, three times. Try not to take in too much water or you may hurt yourself.
6 – Wash your face three times
Every part of the face needs to be washed. That means from ear to ear and from the top of your forehead to the bottom of your chin. Do this step three times. For men who have beards take your wet hands and pass them through your beard as you wash your face.
7 – Wash your arms three times
Start from the fingertips and wash your right arm up to the elbow three times. Make sure that no part is left dry. Afterwards, follow the same process for your left arm and do it three times.
8 – Wipe your head once
Move your wet hands from the top of the forehead to the back of the head, and then from the back of the head to the forehead. This is done only once.
9 – Clean your ears once
This step should be performed with the same water from step 8. Using your wet hands you will use your index fingers to clean the inside of your ears and your thumb to clean the area behind your ears. This is done only once.
10 – Wash your feet three times
Similar to what was done with our hands, we will also wash our feet three times. Begin from your toes on your right foot and wash up to and including your ankle. Make sure water touches every area of the right foot, especially between the toes and the back of the ankle. Do this three times with the right foot followed by three times with the left foot.
11 – Recite the Shahada and the Dua
“I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I also testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.” “O Allah, make me among those who seek repentance and make me among those who purify themselves.” At this point your wudu is complete and you can begin to pray.
What Nullifies Your Wudu?
Your wudu remains until one (or more) of the following happens:
1) anything that is a natural discharge such as urine, stool, or passing gas;
2) falling asleep, i.e. becoming unconscious;
3) ejaculation.
If any of the above take place then you will need to perform wudu again.
Checklist for Getting Ready to Pray
1 – Made wudu
2 – Check to see if the time of prayer has arrived
Each of the five daily prayers has its own specified time in which it must be performed.
Fajr – before dawn
Dhur (or Zuhr) – at noon
Asr – in the afternoon
Maghrib – sunset
Isha – nightfall
***
Narrated Ibn Umar:
Allah's Apostle said, "When the (upper) edge of the sun appears (in the morning), don't perform a prayer till the sun appears in full, and when the lower edge of the sun sets, don't perform a prayer till it sets completely. And you should not seek to pray at sunrise or sunset for the sun rises between two sides of the head of the devil (or Satan)."
Bukhari 54.494
What are Muslims who live in the Arctic and near-Arctic to do during the period in the summer when the sun does not set, or only partially; or in the winter when it does not rise at all, or not completely?
This is an issue which has been discussed in detail by many classical and contemporary jurists. One possible solution that has been suggested is for one to pray according to maghirb, isha and fajr times in the nearest city in which these three prayer times can be seen to enter and exit. This means finding a city which lies on the latitude of 48 and using it’s sunset, isha and dawn times (Fath al-Mulhim).
This is one possible method. It is also better to see what the Muslim community at large in the particular area is doing, and act accordingly.
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat (seekersguidance.org)
You can delay the Zuhr prayer if Hell is in the process of exhaling.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "In very hot weather delay the Zuhr prayer till it becomes (a bit) cooler because the severity of heat is from the raging of Hell-fire. The Hell-fire of Hell complained to its Lord saying: O Lord! My parts are eating (destroying) one another. So Allah allowed it to take two breaths, one in the winter and the other in the summer. The breath in the summer is at the time when you feel the severest heat and the breath in the winter is at the time when you feel the severest cold."
Bukhari 10.512
3 – Dress appropriately
Make sure to wear clothing that covers the necessary parts of your body. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instructed the men to cover from the naval to the knee. As for the women, he instructed them to cover their body except for her face and hands. This is known as the “awrah.”
4 – Find a place to pray that is clean
It is very important to pray in a place that is generally clean. If it isn’t clean, you can use a carpet to cover the area you will be praying.
5 – Face the Qibla
The Qibla is the direction the Kaaba is from your current location. Allah commanded us to face the Holy Kaaba in Makkah whenever we perform our prayers. Once you have completed this checklist you are ready to start praying.
Once you have completed this checklist you are ready to start praying. The salah is a special form of worship that is the second most important pillar of Islam after the shahada (testimony of faith). It is an obligatory form of prayer performed five times a day that was revealed in the Holy Qur’an and taught to us by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
How to Pray Salah, Step by Step
The salah involves a number of physical movements – standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. It also involves the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran in Arabic along with a number of dua (supplications).
***
The Koran, like many books on the conduct of war, is meant to remove any empathy for the enemy so that when you are told to kill or to do them harm you will do so gladly and promptly. Repetition is integral to the indoctrination process. In Islam, it means repeating, day in and day out, during prayers, verses that demonize Allah’s enemies—Jews and Christians for the most part. This aspect of Muslim prayers has to be the most worrisome.
***
The Muslim will face the direction of the Kaba, the Sacred House of Allah in Makkah, whenever they perform their prayer. One of the biggest differences between a Muslim and a non-Muslim is the salah. The steps of the salah:
Standing
Takbir
Fatihah – Recitation
Ruku – Bowing
Sujud – Prostration
Tashahud – Sitting
To understand the steps of the salah it is important to understand that the prayer is made up of rakah, or units of prayer. Every rakah has the same basic steps within it.
There will be a part when you are standing.
A part when you recite from the Quran.
A part when you bow down.
A part where you prostrate (make sujud).
Depending on which prayer you are performing there will be slight differences in how these rakah are performed. Here is a summary of how each of the five daily prayers differs from one another:
Fajr – has two rakah, or two units
Dhur – has four rakah
Asr – has four rakah
Maghrib – has three rakah
Isha – has four rakah
Learning How to Pray: One Rakah at a Time
1 – Make your intention to pray
We first began the prayer by making an intention from the heart to pray to Allah. As soon as you begin, your entire focus should be on the prayer itself and nothing else.
2 – Raise your hands to your ears and say ‘Allahu Akbar'
The moment you say “Allahu Akbar” the prayer will officially begin.
3 – Lower your hands and place them over your naval.
Your right hand should be placed over your left hand
4 – Keep your eyes focused on the ground in front of you [to where you will prostrate]
Although it is not obligatory, it is also highly recommended to read the following dua after saying Allahu Akbar (the dua in the Guide has no ending punctuation):
How perfect you are, O Allah. I praise you
How blessed is Your name
How lofty is Your position
And none has the right to be worshipped but You
5 – Recite the opening chapter of the Qur’an
The first chapter of the Qur’an is called Surah Fatihah. You will begin by saying the following:
‘I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan (devil).’
And then begin to recite the chapter verse by verse:
In the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Master on the Day of Recompense (Judgement Day).
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the straight path,
The path of those who You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
After reciting Surah Fatihah, you can recite another chapter from the Qur’an. However, at a minimum you must recite Surah Fatihah in every raka’at of prayer.
***
Not reciting the seven verses that make up the first chapter of the Koran as part of the prayer ritual renders a prayer meaningless.
Narrated Ubada bin As-Samit:
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever does not recite Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid."
Bukhari 12.723
***
6 – Bow down.
This is known as the ‘ruku’ As you are bowing down say ‘Allahu Akbar’. Make sure to keep your back straight, your hands on your knees, and your eyes focused on the ground where you will be prostrating. When you are in this position you will say this sentence three times:
‘How perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent’
7 – Return to standing up again
As you are rising up from the ruku position to a standing position you will bring your hands to your ears and will say:
‘Allah hears those who praise him’
And when you are standing upright then lower your hands to your waist and say:
‘Our Lord, to You is all praise’
8 – Go down to perform prostration.
This is known as ‘sujud’ As you are moving into this position say Allahu Akbar. And also make sure your forehead, nose, palms of both hands, knees, and both toes are touching the ground.
9 – Say this phrase while in sujud (prostration)
Say this sentence three times:
How perfect is my Lord, the Most High
10 – Rise up from sujud and sit for a moment
Say Allahu akbar as you rise from sujud and then sit on your left leg. Your left foot will rest on the floor while your right foot is upright. Place your hands on your knees. When you are in this position it is recommended to ask Allah for forgiveness. A simple and easy dua you can say is:
O my Lord, forgive me.
11 – Return to the position of sujud
You will repeat step 9 again and perform a second sujud and say subhanna rabbeeyal ‘alaa (“How perfect is my Lord, the Most High”) three times again.
Step 12 – Arise from the sujud to return to the standing position and say Allahu Akbar
The first rakah of every prayer is performed with these twelve steps. When you reach the end of the second rakah you will perform the tashahud, or a step 13.
13 – Perform the tashahud at the end of every two rakah
Instead of standing up after the two sujud, this time around you will sit on your legs and knees again. You will raise your right index finger and say:
All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah.
Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Peace be upon us, and on the righteous slaves of Allah.
I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger
If this is the final rakah in the prayer then you will add this part to the tashahud:
O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family (or followers) of Muhammad, Just as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family (or followers) of Ibrahim,
Verily, you are full of Praise and Majesty.
O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family (or followers) of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family (or followers) of Ibraaheem,
Verily, you are full of Praise and Majesty.
After reciting the second part of the tashahud, you will say the “tasleem.” The tasleem is to look to your right and say: Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatu Allah
No translation was provided. The following is from a Google search: "May you be safe from evil, and Mercy of Allah be upon you. "
And then to look to the left and say it again. Upon saying the tasleem the prayer will have come to an end.