How do you think we should pray actually?

[Anjum]

Salam All,

Well..i am confused about prayer for the past few days...we may have five prayer times...in which we should pray...and...we are not told to recite any surahs right?...because..i found myself...just memorizing the surahs and saying it while praying..whereas i was not even concentrating while praying...so..what does a prayer actually consist of?..apart from...standing...bowing and prostrating?...can we pray...whatever we want to?...is it just like asking duas?...i just want to feel connected with God...i dont want to just memorize something and say it...can you guys please clear it...
M sorry...

Regards,
Anjum

[Hamzeh]

Asalamu Alykum Anjum

Despite the many many articles and debates on the topic of prayer that can be found either through the topic sections or the search engine provided on the website that will probably answer almost any questions about the exhausted topic of how to pray, i'll try to quickly answer your question.

The Quran instructs believers to pray 5 times a day " THE FIVE PRAYERS" http://quransmessage.com/pdfs/The%20Five%20Prayers.pdf
The Quran explains in details the minimum requirements of how the prayer should be performed in the physical sense. These are required if one is able to perform them.  from Joseph Islam's Facebook page

THE GUIDING ASPECTS OF SALAAT
• The details of ablution (4:43; 5:6)
• A need for a direction - Qiblah, specific for the ‘believers’ (Mu'mins) (2.143-44)
• Garments (7:31)
• Allusion of times: (4:103; 11:114; 17:78; 24:58; 30:18; 2:238: 20:58)
• That prayers must be observed on time (4:103)
• Followers of the previous scripture to observe their Qiblah and the Believers (Mu’mins) their own Qiblah (2:145)
• Prayer involves prostration (Sujood - 4:102; 48:29)
• There is more than one prayer (Prayer in plural used - Salawat) (2:238)
• There is a general form to prayer (2:238-39).
• Standing position (3:39; 4:102)
• Bowing down and prostrating (4:102; 22:26; 38:24; 48:29)
• Form is not required during times of emergencies, fear, and unusual circumstances (2:239)
• A mention of a call to prayer and congregation prayer (62:9)
• A warning not to abandon prayer as was done by people before (19:58-59) but to establish prayer (Numerous references)
• The purpose of prayer - To remember God alone (6:162; 20:14)
• Prayer involves utterance (4:43)
• The purpose to protect from sins (29:45)
• What to do in danger and the shortening of prayer (4:101)
• Garments and mention of a Masjid, or a place of prayer (7:31)
• The tone of prayer (17:110)
• There is a leader of prayer (4:102)

There is no specific recitations required from a Quranic perspective, however which ever recitation one chooses it must be in a tone that is neither to loud nor to low. A tone in-between. Also there seems to be a suggestion that one is to understand what he/she is actually reciting(4:43). If praying with a group, i personally find one should make a effort to try their best to understand what is being recited and if one does not understand the Arabic Insha'Allah eventually it will be come easy and maybe a suggestion is to say a prayer in a language one is familiar with in their hearts while praying with a group.
We can pray whenever we want, but as believers we must pray the prescribed 5 prayers at the times they are required.

Hope that helps God Willing

Salam

[Anjum]

Salam Hamzeh,

Thank you very much for your reply and all the references.....Thank you...but..m in doubt...that..nowhere in Quran it states that...we have to recite any surahs while praying...right?...so...we can pray...whatever we want right?..like..the good things and praise the God...right?..m confused..

Regards,
Anjum

[Hamzeh]

Salamu Alykum Anjum

Thats right. The Quran does not speculate which verses or surah one has to recite. However it there does seem to be referance in the Quran that tells the Prophet Muhammad to recite short verses of the Quran as there maybe people who are old or working etc. Insha'Allah I will find the verse tomorrow. Also by reading the Quran one notices many prayers and the opening chapter in itself is a prayer. To me suggests a very good way to start a prayer.
Also dont forget prayer is also encouraged to be performed as a group and to be established. The traditional prayer in the main is in NO conflict with the Quran. So there is no need to reinvent something that is well practiced by Muslims all over the world. If one is praying by her or his self then you have many options and flexibility as this is seen my many as a blessing from God

Insha'Allah that helps

Salam

[Anjum]

Salam Hamzeh...

Thank you very much for your patience......actually..i find it..difficult..as...we just memorize the verses..and just recite the verses while praying...but..our mind is somewhere else..because...we are not talking or contacting God..we are just reciting...right?...like..memorizing a poem and reciting...i feel less connected to God...i felt..we should be frank and freely talk or pray to God...not just memorize and say it...m i right?..in that way...we will be much more connected...right?

[Hamzeh]

Salam

Hi Anjum

Well it can be argued that reciting the verses of God is a form of worship. However there should be the intent to understand them as well. And while someone recites the verses of God they should try to focus on their meanings and message while praying as best as they can. Of course you may also ask and speak to your Lord in your own personal ways that one may feel connects them. If this is done while actually doing the form of prayer this is called a dua while praying. One may also do dua at any time when no form is even being done. Just constantly remembering your Creator and asking him for help, patience, forgiveness etc.

The recitation of the Quran while performing the ritual prayers can be argued as an act of worship even though one may not be the leader or in charge of what is being said. So simply reciting the Quran during prayer would be an act if worship God Willing. Although like I said before it should be done with the intent of listening and trying to focus on what is being recited to ones best ability. The traditional prayer seems like it also leaves room for individuals to speak their own words and prayers during various positions.

At the end one should try to be connected as best they can to make the prayers as meaningful as possible to the Lord

Salam

[Sardar Miyan]

Prayer has been been done by Jews & Christians as per their beliefs and our prophet did pray and this
prayer has come to us as Tawaatur from our prophet and we have pray as he prayed. Except form every thing about timing extra are mentioned in Quran

[Anjum]

Salam Hamzeh,

Thank you for your explanation......m sorry for all the troubles....and once again thanks for your patience.....i understand the things you say...but...the thing is...Quran does not state anything about Dua right?...well..actually..i do understand...what i recite...like...i recite the Surah Fatiha...i know the meanings...and i just recite it..as i have memorized...but as i told earlier...we may just...recite it without concentration right...you know that...whenever we try to pray...shaitan try to distract us...i personally feel that...when i memorize and recite while praying..m very much distracted...but at the same time..when..i actually pray in my own personal way...i feel..connected and concentrated..and i feel full..i hope u understand what i m trying to say...m jus trying a way to connect to God......and...the traditional prayer..as followed by the muslims all over the world is actually written in hadeeth right?..i know..we dont have to go against it totally..but..most of them..dont understand what they are reciting and they just recite..and they think that..they have finished the prayers...it shouldnt be like this...right?..

Regards
Anjum

[Anjum]

Salam Sardar,

Thank you very much for your reply....but as you say...we pray as our Prophet did...but..again..we are going as per the hadeeth right...which we reject here......i guess so...and we are not sure...how exactly did Prophet prayed..as...u know...hadeeth was written after almost 200 years of the death of Prophet...m sorry if m wrong......

Regards,
Anjum

[Sardar Miyan]

When I tell Tawatur means not Hadith but an act of prophet which has come to us by his act of worship

[Zack]

Hello Anjum,

Thanks for your honesty in saying "I just want to feel close to God." I think you have expressed what is the cry of everyone. Don't feel like you need to find "The right prayer ritual" to feel close to God.

To be honest, this is one of the tendencies I see on this forum.... "Finding a verse from the Qur'an to follow then everything will be fine." We can have everything memorised and be totally following the Qur'an only, yet feel far from God! God focus's on your heart, not your head. You can have all the right answers, but it comes back to the heart. Just words brings emptiness.

This is the message of all the Prophets. I would recommend reading through the Psalms, www.revisedenglishversion.com/Psalms/1 , and read them with the understanding that even a Prophet like David / Daud had the same desire... they reflect the human heart cry. Some Muslims would be worried that it is not the Qur'an, that is just the thinking of traditions even later than the Hadith! Pray that God's presence would be revealed to you... speak out all the blessings that God has given you! God's love is LIKE a loving Father's love to his children..., and we can live life and rest in that knowledge.

I will pray for you Anjum,

Wasalam
Zack

[Anjum]

Salam Sardar,

Ya...but...where did we find the way or act of worship of Prophet?...ultimately..it must be hadeeth right?..m sorry..if m wrong..

Regards,
Anjum

[Anjum]

Salam Zack,

Thank you very much for your support and understanding.....ya...exactly..that is what i m trying to find...like..i find people..just blindly following the imams...and believe whatever they say..and they dont even read the Quran themselves and understand the religion wrongly...same goes to the prayer...if we follow ritual prayer..i believe most of them dont know the meanings of the verses they recite..they just...memorize it..and just follow the ritual and recite and finish it...because..even i did the same thing..but i noticed that..i was not able to concentrate..even though..i was reciting the verses..my mind and heart was somewhere else..i tried hard to focus...but couldnt...we need to connect to God through heart...we should fear and feel close to him..and have faith in him...m just trying to feel close and contact God...thanks for your prayer Zack.....i will pray for you too....May God bless u..

Regards,
Anjum

[Mubashir]

With respect to prayer, we read in the Quran not to go near it if our minds are messed up and we don't know what we are saying. 90 % of the Muslims are Non Arabs and although they go through the ritual, they don't understand what they are saying other than a few short memorized suras.

Then we read that the Salat must not be too loud or too soft. Why then we go through two silent prayers in the masjid?

I have always wondered why the Muslims, in the sitting position greet the Messenger as if was alive sitting near us.

Kindly comment. Thanks.

[Anjum]

Salam Mubashir,

Yup...we are not to pray when we are intoxicated or sleepy..as we should not utter anything without our knowledge..most of the people...are not aware of what Quran says about prayer..instead..they follow...whatever the hadeeth quoted or whatever their Imams or Maulanas teach them...people do not know that..they are committing many sins or can say mistakes by just following hadeeth..as...many hadeeth quotes are contradictory to Quran...like..Quran says that...Only God knows about the unseen and the future...but hadeeth says Prophet knew about the unseen and he predicted and so on...but most people mainly prefer Hadeeth over Quran...as Shaitan has made them believe it...even i was blindly following everything..and had no idea what i was reciting...and at some point..i was too much frustrated with the so called prohibitions according to hadeeth...and prayed to God for guidance and he guided me......but its not easy to leave everything so soon...but trust in God..and you will be able to come over it......as far as prayer is concerned...we should totally submit to him..and focus on our prayer...and we may use whatever language we are comfortable with.....hope this will help..

Regards,
Anjum