Prayer, Islam intro – English Prayer, Islam intro – English – Indonesian Muslim Association in Hong Kong

Prayer, Islam intro – English

Prayer, Islam intro – English

Prayer

Prayer is done until the person’s last breath. Allah said:

أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا

“Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur’an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.” (Surah Al Isra 17:78)
The command to pray five times a day was revealed during Isra and Mi’raj, a journey that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) took in a single night around the year 621 CE. Here are the five daily prayers:
 
  1. Fajr prayer. It consists of two units of prayer and can be performed from the beginning of dawn until before sunrise.
  2. Dhuhr prayer. It consists of four units of prayer and can be performed right after noon  and before Asr time.
  3. Asr prayer. It consists of four units of prayer and can be performed in the afternoon when the shadow of one’s object is longer than the object itself. Asr prayer time ends when the sun sets.
  4. Maghrib prayer. It consists of three units of prayer. It starts just after sunset and ends when Isha prayer starts.
  5. Isha prayer. It consists of four units of prayer. It can be performed when complete darkness has arrived and when twilight has gone. Isha prayer lasts until the dawn of the next day.
There are many components of prayer:
 
  • The intention to pray
  • Recite the Takbirah al-Ihram (to say that Allah is Great)
  • Stand up (one can sit or lie down if they are not physically able to stand)
  • Recite Surah Al-Fatihah (the first chapter of the Quran)
  • Ruku’ (bowing)
  • I’tidal (standing up after bowing)
  • Sujud (prostration)
  • Sitting after prostration
  • Sujud again (prostrate again)
  • Thuma’ninah (a pause that is done during prostration, bowing and sitting)
  • Tashahhud and Taslim (a specific recitation that one does when sitting down during prayer)
  • The series of movements and recitations should be done in the correct order

Requirements for prayer:

  • A sane mind
  • Attained puberty
  • At a state of Islamic purification (e.g. performed ablution, non menstruating)
  • The clothes, place and body should be clean
  • Perform the prayer at the correct time
  • Cover the aurat (body parts that cannot be seen by the public)
  • Facing the Qibla (where the Ka’baa, the holy structure in Islam, is)