My Friend Jamal - Muslims amd Prayer
A Muslim is a person who belongs to the Islamic faith. The Islamic faith believes in the God Allah.
Islam is based on five principles:
1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammed is Allah's apostle.
2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity).
4. To perform Hajj (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca).
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.
Islam has set the times of prayer so they coincide with the main times of eating; the early Morning Prayer is due about breakfast time; the Noon Prayer coincides with lunch; the Mid-Afternoon Prayer falls about the break time for tea or coffee; the sunset Prayer is about the supper time; and the Evening Prayer corresponds with the late snack. By observing these prayers, Muslims mark the whole day with a spiritual stamp in the beginning, throughout the day and at the end. They combine religion and life, reminding them of God throughout the day.
Before offering the prayer Muslims must feel pure so they wash the parts of the body which are generally exposed to dirt or dust or smog – hands and face and feet.
The name for Muslim prayer is called ‘Salah’ - the person bows whilst praying set phrases from the Qu’ran. Muslims are required to practice Salah 5 times a day. Each prayer time has a different name:
• 1. Fajr, (Dawn Prayer) takes place before sunrise
• 2. Dhur (Noon Prayer) begins just after the sun has passed the meridian.
• 3. Asr comes in the mid afternoon.
• 4. Magrib Sunset Prayer) begins immediately after sunset
• 5. Isha’a (Night Prayer) begins when the sky is completely dark.
When Muslims pray, the clothes that are worn and the place of prayer must be clean. Men and Women both wear loose well fitting pieces of clothing for when they pray.
Friday prayers
Salah can be practiced alone anywhere; in a house, office, factory, or school.
It is often performed in a large mosque, the Muslim place of worship.
On Fridays noon prayers are always said in the Mosque and is marked by these features:
• Prayers are at noon
• They must be said in a congregation led by an Imam.
• All kinds of normal work are allowed on Friday as on any other week day. For Muslims there is no Sabbath. They can carry on with their usual duties and activities provided they come to the congregational service in time. After the service is over, they may resume their mundane activities.
• Friday Prayer must be performed in a mosque, if there is one available. Otherwise, it may be said at any gathering place, e.g. homes, farms, parks, etc.
People make an extra effort to pray during Ramadan – a special time for Muslims.
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