How do Muslims pray? |

Prayer is one of the Five Pillars (or important traditions) of faith in Islam. Muslim people are required to pray five times a day, but there are exceptions for people who are ill, disabled, or in extreme circumstances where prayer cannot be performed. Additionally, children, menstruating people, and those who are within the first forty days after giving birth are not required to pray. Muslim people pray for the same reason anyone else might pray- to give thanks and praise to God, or maybe to ask a request or guidance from God.

Muslim people begin by finding a place and time to pray. The prayer times are determined by sunup and sundown, with three additional prayer sessions throughout the day. A space for prayer ought to be quiet, clean, and free of distraction. Some people pray in a mosque or masjid, but others may pray in their own homes, or carry a special prayer rug to mark out a temporary sacred space. It is also important that the body be clean for prayer, so as not to create a barrier between oneself and God. Many Muslim people make sure to use the bathroom and wash up before praying.

Prayer begins by facing in the direction of Mecca, the holy city of Islam. Prayers are conducted in this direction because the first mosque was built by the Prophet Muhammad here, and it is the holiest place of worship for Muslims. Prayer may be simple or complex depending on the time of year and a person's lifestyle, but there are some guidelines all Muslims follow when praying. Prayer begins by saying, "Allahu akhbar," or "God is most great." (This praise is repeated throughout the process of praying.) After giving praise, the first chapter of the Koran is recited, along with any relevant verses the person may choose.

Next, the person bows three times and gives praise to God again. Then begins a cycle of prostration and praise. To prostrate oneself is to bow in reverence, with hands on the floor and the head bowed low. This cycle begins with, "Allahu akhbar," then the prostration, and in this position one says, "Subhana rabbiyal A'ala-" in English, "Glory be to God, the most High." Then one rises from the prostration into a sitting position and repeats, "Allahu akhbar." This process is repeated three times.

Between the cycles of prostration and praise, one recites the first and second parts of the Tashahhud. The Tashahhud is essentially a scripted part of prayer. After these recitations and three prostrations, the person turns their head to the left and right, saying, "Peace be upon you, and God bless."

This is the formal, standard method of Muslim prayer, but many people incorporate other elements into their daily or holiday prayer. Some people may perform longer prayer sessions in the morning and before bed and keep their three sessions throughout the daytime a bit shorter. As you can see, the emphasis of Muslim prayer is on praising God and to repeat certain actions to engage in a mindful state of being. Much of the repetition and recitation of Muslim prayer is intended to remind oneself what it means to be a Muslim and what their values and aspirations in life are. Think of it as a check-in with oneself and with God.