Don’t rush through prayer
By Rahla Khan
(excerpt from : http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009121456980)
Obligation of Ruku’
The acts of bowing and prostrating in prayer are commanded in the Qur’an and made obligatory upon the believers:
“O you who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves and serve your Lord.” (Qur’an, 22:77)
Abu Mas’ud Al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The prayer of one who does not straighten his back in his bowing and prostration is not accomplished.”
[Narrated by “the five,’’ [narrators] and Ibn Khuzaimah, Ibn Hibban, at-Tabarani and al-Baihaqi]
Prophet’s manner of performing Ruku’.
In The Prophet’s Prayer Described, the Prophet’s manner of performing Ruku’ is narrated thus:
* “He would place his palms on his knees”, and “would order them (his Companions) to do likewise.”
* “He would put his hands firmly on his knees (as though he were grasping them).”
* “He would space his fingers out”, ordering “the one who prayed badly” likewise, saying: “When you make Ruku’, place your palms on your knees, then space your fingers out, then remain (like that) until every limb takes its (proper) place.”
* “He used to spread himself (i.e., not be in a compact position), and keep his elbows away from his sides.”
* “When he made Ruku’, he would spread his back and make it level, such that if water were poured on it, it (the water) would stay there (i.e., not run off).”
* He also said to “the one who prayed badly”, “When you make Ruku’, put your palms on your knees, spread your back (flat) and hold firm in your Ruku’.”
* “He would neither let his head droop nor raise it (i.e. higher than his back)”, but it would be in between.
* “He used to make his Ruku’, his standing after Ruku’, his Sujood (prostration), and his sitting in between the two Sajdas (prostrations), nearly equal in length.”
(Muslims Offering Prayer in New York ~ www.islamicfinder.org/.../Salaat_in_New_Yo.jpg)
Inner dimensions of Ruku’.
In Ihya Ulum Ad-Din, in the Book of Prayer, Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy upon him) writes, “Ruku’ and Sujud (prostration) are accompanied by a renewed affirmation of the supreme greatness of Allah.
In bowing you renew your submissiveness and humility, striving to refine your inner feeling through a fresh awareness of your own impotence and insignificance before the might and grandeur of your Lord. To confirm this, you seek the aid of your tongue, glorifying your Lord and testifying repeatedly to His supreme majesty, both inwardly and outwardly.”
While researchers today are slowly making the connection between prayer and physical and spiritual health, Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) wrote about it centuries ago in Za’ad Al-Ma’ad:
“Prayer has an amazing effect on the health of the body and heart, and in strengthening them and expelling harmful toxins from them. No two people have been afflicted with any disability, disease, or other calamity, except that the portion of the one who prays, is less (harmful) and his outcome is better.
Prayer also has an astounding effect on the evils of the Dunya (worldly life), especially when the prayer is performed properly and perfectly, inwardly and outwardly. Nothing keeps the evils of the Dunya at bay and brings on the benefits of it like prayer.
The reason behind this is that prayer is one’s connection to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. So based on the strength of a person’s relationship with his Lord, the doors of goodness will accordingly be opened up for him, bad things and the reasons for them befalling him will be cut off, and the elements of success granted by His Lord, will begin pouring in…”
By Rahla Khan
(excerpt from : http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009121456980)
Obligation of Ruku’
The acts of bowing and prostrating in prayer are commanded in the Qur’an and made obligatory upon the believers:
“O you who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves and serve your Lord.” (Qur’an, 22:77)
Abu Mas’ud Al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The prayer of one who does not straighten his back in his bowing and prostration is not accomplished.”
[Narrated by “the five,’’ [narrators] and Ibn Khuzaimah, Ibn Hibban, at-Tabarani and al-Baihaqi]
Prophet’s manner of performing Ruku’.
In The Prophet’s Prayer Described, the Prophet’s manner of performing Ruku’ is narrated thus:
* “He would place his palms on his knees”, and “would order them (his Companions) to do likewise.”
* “He would put his hands firmly on his knees (as though he were grasping them).”
* “He would space his fingers out”, ordering “the one who prayed badly” likewise, saying: “When you make Ruku’, place your palms on your knees, then space your fingers out, then remain (like that) until every limb takes its (proper) place.”
* “He used to spread himself (i.e., not be in a compact position), and keep his elbows away from his sides.”
* “When he made Ruku’, he would spread his back and make it level, such that if water were poured on it, it (the water) would stay there (i.e., not run off).”
* He also said to “the one who prayed badly”, “When you make Ruku’, put your palms on your knees, spread your back (flat) and hold firm in your Ruku’.”
* “He would neither let his head droop nor raise it (i.e. higher than his back)”, but it would be in between.
* “He used to make his Ruku’, his standing after Ruku’, his Sujood (prostration), and his sitting in between the two Sajdas (prostrations), nearly equal in length.”
(Muslims Offering Prayer in New York ~ www.islamicfinder.org/.../Salaat_in_New_Yo.jpg) Inner dimensions of Ruku’.
In Ihya Ulum Ad-Din, in the Book of Prayer, Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy upon him) writes, “Ruku’ and Sujud (prostration) are accompanied by a renewed affirmation of the supreme greatness of Allah.
In bowing you renew your submissiveness and humility, striving to refine your inner feeling through a fresh awareness of your own impotence and insignificance before the might and grandeur of your Lord. To confirm this, you seek the aid of your tongue, glorifying your Lord and testifying repeatedly to His supreme majesty, both inwardly and outwardly.”
While researchers today are slowly making the connection between prayer and physical and spiritual health, Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) wrote about it centuries ago in Za’ad Al-Ma’ad:
“Prayer has an amazing effect on the health of the body and heart, and in strengthening them and expelling harmful toxins from them. No two people have been afflicted with any disability, disease, or other calamity, except that the portion of the one who prays, is less (harmful) and his outcome is better.
Prayer also has an astounding effect on the evils of the Dunya (worldly life), especially when the prayer is performed properly and perfectly, inwardly and outwardly. Nothing keeps the evils of the Dunya at bay and brings on the benefits of it like prayer.
The reason behind this is that prayer is one’s connection to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. So based on the strength of a person’s relationship with his Lord, the doors of goodness will accordingly be opened up for him, bad things and the reasons for them befalling him will be cut off, and the elements of success granted by His Lord, will begin pouring in…”
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