Introduction to Islam

Islam is a religion, which has over one billion adherents all over the world. Islam means "submission to the will of God". Muslims accept the Quran, as the word of God revealed to His last and final prophet, Mohammed (peace be upon him). Islam states that Allah sent messengers and prophets throughout the ages with the message of Unity of God, and accountability in the Hereafter. Islam thus makes it an article of faith to believe in all the earlier prophets, starting with Adam, and continuing with Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, John and Jesus amongst many others (may peace be on them all).

What is Namaz?
Namaz is the Urdu word for Prayer. The Arabic word for Prayer is Salah. Salah ( ) literally means one's calling upon one's God (in a respectful and humble way). It is very much the same as the word Du'a ( ). Namaz is the form of Worship of Allah S.W.T performed by Muslims. Namaz is one of the most important of the 5 pillars of Islam. Allah S.W.T has mentioned the benefits and the importance of Namaz as many as 500 times in the Holy Quran. Apart from the spiritual benefits that Namaz offers to Muslim worshippers, it is also one of the best forms of exercise that one can do on a regular basis. Namaz makes us disciplined and brings feeling of regularity and gives a direction to our daily life, 5 times a day, if we make it a routine to get up on hearing the Azaan, do the Wuzu (ablutions) and head for prayers, either in a congregation or alone, we feel a sense of Time Management in our daily chores.

The Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "What stands between a man and disbelief is the abandonment of prayer." "Know that among your duties, prayer is foremost." The object of prayer is to remember Allah. That is why prayer was dearest to the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, as he said: "He who gives up prayer has indeed disbelieved." The Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: "You should worship Allah as if you see Him; because though you don't see Him, He surely sees you." Prayer protects one from sins and shameful deeds. Prayer purifies a person and brings him closer to Allah. The Quran says: "Establish prayer, for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds." [Al-'Ankabut 29:45]

Namaz timings
Namaz has been made compulsory for Muslims 5 times daily the five times are: Fajr: Early morning just before sunrise. It consists of 4 Rakats.

2 Sunnah 2 Fard
Zuhar: Afternoon paryers post the period of Zawaal (when sun is perpendicular to earth). It consists of 12
Rakats.

Zuhr Namaz 4 Sunnah 4 Fard 2 Sunnah 2 Nafl

Asar: Post afternoon and before Sunset. It consists of 8 Rakats. Asr Namaz 4 Fard 4 Sunnah Maghrib: Just after Sunset. It consists of 7 Rakats. Maghrib Namaz 3 Fard 2 Sunnah

Isha: Late evening after the Sunset is complete and darkness of the night is complete and the cooling effect of
the atmosphere begins. It consists of 17 Rakats

Isha Namaz 4 Sunnah 4 Fard 2 Sunnah 3 Witr

Details about Namaz

Rakat: A Rakat is one complete cycle of Standing, Bending, Prostrations and subsequent Sitting or Standing up
again in the Namaz. Each posture of the Namaz has a standard defined procedure and recitations that are observed by every Muslim irrespective of where he lives or what race he belongs to. Muslims follow the methods as taught to us by Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Additional Namaz: JUMA: EID: TARAWEEH: The increase in our prayers and additional Namaz or the Taraweeh which is prayed during the
month of Ramzan, Although these additional 20 Rakats are for our spiritual self and gaining the blessings of Allah in the Holy month of Ramzan and from our hearing of the entire Quran in the process, but is also associated with immense medical benefits.

WITR: Cleanliness: Place of praying. Clothes.

Surroundings. Praying Namaz requires one to be clean in all respects, be its the physical self, the surroundings or the intent. No matter how hard a person prays or for how long he lies in prostration (Sajda), unless his intention are clean and motives selfless, the Namaz will not be accepted by Allah. It is required that a person ensures the surrounding is clean and free from sins where he intends to offer Namaz. The Prophet (SAW) advised that except for the washroom or where one relieves himself and the graveyard, Allah has made the whole world as a place of worship for his believers. For men, it is advisable to pray in a Masjid in congregation behind an Imam, as it is 27 times more rewarding than praying alone at home, but for women it is equally rewarding whether she prays alone within the confines of her home or in a congregation in a Masjid. The distinction does not signify that Islam discriminates men from women, as during the times of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), men and women would pray inside a same Masjid in separate lines or separate areas marked specifically for women, behind one Imam, and it is practiced even today in many Masjid's around the world the Haram Sharif or the Kaba and Masjid-e-Nabvi included.

Musalla: One should ensure before praying that the surroundings are clean and also advisable to lay out a
clean piece of cloth called the Musalla (Prayer mat), on which to pray rather than on bare ground. Wuzu: Another important requirement in preparation for Namaz is the Wuzu (ablution) which requires one to clean his mouth, nose face, hands, head, neck and feet with running water to purify oneself physically. Running water does not mean wasting of water with taps opened as is observed amongst most of us, but to use a minimum and sufficient amount so as to thoroughly clean yourself.

Things to avoid:
To cough or moan unnecessarily. To chew or eat something. Breaking into laughter. To commit a blunder in the recitation of Quran so as to change the meaning. To move about or shift unnecessarily.

To repeat an act irrelevant to the salat over and over again. To try to read something in front.

Cases in Which Salat Can Be Broken

A train, airplane, or ship is going to set off for destination. If a snake or harmful creature appears. In case of danger of material loss. If a person feels a strong desire to go to the bathroom. If there is a danger of a blind person falling and drowning in the stream. If the clothing catches fire. Parents or grandparents call for help in affliction.

The benefits of Namaz

The benefits of Namaz are immense, These can be proved by many benefits from only one action of Namaz, for instance the prostration or the Sajda. A worshipper keeps his forehead touched on the ground along with four other parts of the body which makes his prostration acceptable, these are the touching of the soft bone of the nose, the palms of our hands pressed on the floor with fingers facing the Kaba, the knees on which we rest our body and the toes of our feet bent and pressed on the ground pointing towards the Kaba. This posture increases fresh supply of blood to our brain, which is only one of the many benefits of Sajda.

Scientifically proved benefits: Scientific observations show other benifits of performing prostration. The
latest results are of a scientific study by Dr. Mohamed Diaa El Deen Hamed, Professor of Biological Sciences and Head of Food Radiation Department in Radiation Technology Center. If you are suffering from exhaustion or tension or permanent headache or nervousness and if you are afraid of tumors, so all you have to do is perform a prostration. Prostration frees you from your psychological and nerves illnesses. It is common knowledge that a human being is exposed to extra waves of radiation and lives, in most cases, in the middle of electromagnetic fields which affects the cells and increase energy. So, as stated by Dr. Diaa, prostration frees the body from the extra waves that cause many diseases. Any increase in the electromagnetic waves to which the body is exposed, causes disruption in the cells and consequently the human being is infected by what is called the diseases of the era; such as headaches, muscles pain, neck pain, exhaustion in addition to forgetting things and non concentration. This matter gets worse if the waves are too much and being blocked in the body. In that case, it causes cancer tumors and distortion of fetuses. We have to get rid of these waves out of the body without taking medicines and tranquilizers and their bad side effects. The Solution lies in prostration. There has to be an earthling's connection to free these extra waves and this is to be done by prostration to Allah Almighty, as we are ordered. This process is done by connecting the forehead to the floor. In prostration, the negative waves move from the body to the floor which is a negative pole. Consequently, the emptying process happens specially if you done the prostration by your seven members (forehead, nose, hands, knees and feet). The studies showed that, in order to empty the waves, you have to face the geographical center of the earth, which is scientifically proven to be Mecca. That is what we are all doing in our prayer (facing the Qibla or Kaba). The studies revealed that Mecca is the best direction to free these waves because of facing the centre of the Earth which is effective in freeing the human being from his grieves to feel peacefulness afterwards

Overall the benefits of Namaz are immense as it improves physical fitness, emotional well-being and increases the longevity of the Namazi resulting in betterment in the endurance, stamina, flexibility and strength. It was noted that the five daily prayers produce the same physiological changes without any undesirable side effects as those produced by jogging or walking at about three miles daily. Another major benefit is the prevention of Osteoporosis (weakening of bones and reduction in bone density among the elderly and post-menopausal women). Performing Namaz helps repeated and regular movements of the body, due to which the muscle strength, tendon power, joint, flexibility and the cardiovascular reserve are improved, reducing the chances of Osteoporosis. The repeated movement of joints involves proper circulation of blood and improved lubrication in the joints, thus preventing early onset of Arthritis. Namaz involves movement and contraction of every muscle of the body in a gentle way, which enhances endurance and diminishes tiredness thus preventing Muscular Atrophy as it increases blood flow in them. Namaz involves increase in Systolic Blood Pressure while reducing the Diastolic Blood Pressure, which improves respiratory efficiency and deep breathing with maximum utilization of Oxygen by the capillaries surrounding the alveoli in the lungs. The overall result is a refreshing feeling by the individual. A research study conducted by Mohammed Faruque Reza, Yuji Urakami and Yukio Mano, concluded that Namaz or Salat has immense benefits providing for psychological, musculoskeletal and cerebral improvements and also

as an aid for rehabilitation as physiotherapy resulting in long term health benefits affecting the brain, heart and the body apart from its spiritual benefits. The benefits are irrespective of age, gender and ability of an individual.

Impact on others.