Ramadan Day 10 & 11

In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful.

Muslims pray 5 x/day...dawn, early morning, afternoon, sunset and night. A prayer begins with an intention to pray, followed by a ritualistic wash (hands, feet, face, nose and mouth are rinsed 3 times each). A prayer is made up of "rakahs". Each prayer has a set number of rakahs: Dawn-2, sunset-3; early morning, afternoon and night are each 4.

Anatomy of a Prayer
1. Intention to pray and ritualistic washing
2. Stand upright,wave hands up to head say "God is Great" then fold the right hand over the left at the waist
3. Recite the opening chapter of the Koran called the Fatah:
"In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful
Praise be to God, Lord of the universe, master of the day of judgement
Master of the day of judgement
You alone we worship and to you alone we turn for help
Guide us to the straight path
the path of those whom you have favored
not the path of those who have incurred your wrath
nor of those who have gone astray"

4. Recitation of a memorized portion of The Koran

5. Bend at knees say "god is great"

6. Hands on knees, say 3 times "Glory to God the Great"

7. Stand upright saying "god is great"

8. While standing upright, arms at side and say: "God hears those who call upon Him; Our Lord, praise be to You"

9. Prostrate, touch forehead to floor and say 3 times "Glory to God the supreme"

10. Sit up on knees, say "god is great"

11. Forehead to floor again and say 3 times "Glory to God the Supreme"

****this is 1 rakah*****

12. After 2nd rakah
-stay sitting on knees and say "Prayers greetings and good deeds are all due to you God, may peace be upon you our prophet Muhammad with Gods blessing and mercy, may peace be upon us all who serve God with Gods blessings and mercy, I bear witness that there is not God but God and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God"

13. After last rakah
--stay sitting on knees and say
"Prayers greetings and good deeds are all due to you God, may peace be upon you our prophet Muhammad with Gods blessing and mercy, may peace be upon us all who serve God, I bear witness that there is not God but God and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God. God bestow honor upon Muhammad and his family as you bestowed honor on Abraham and his family; God bestow blessings on Muhammad and his family as you have bestowed blessings upon Abraham and his family. God you are the greatest"

14, Prayer is concluded by turning your head to the right and say: "may the peace and blessings of God be upon you", then you turn your head to the left and say: "may the peace and blessings of God be upon you"

A person may not pray if unclean, while menstruating. A full washing is required after sexual intercourse.

Prayers can be made up if one is unable to pray during the scheduled time, but it is best to pray on time. If in a place where one is unable to perform the ritualistic movements, prayer can be done while sitting anywhere.

For me, I typically perform the ritualistic prayer and follow it up with a sort of meditation. It is during this meditation that I find my true connection. I don't always perform the ritualistic movements. I try, especially during Ramadan. I convince myself all other times of the year that it's not these movements that matter but my intentions and just taking a few minutes to sit quiet and pray. Truthfully, however, I find that during Ramadan when I am so focused on the prayer times and meeting those times with the ritualistic prayer and movements in conjunction with my sitting quiet afterward and praying my own reflections that that is the most helpful...the deepest connection. The importance of the structured movements is much more than the structure. There is something else to it. Something that can never be explained with words but only felt by ones heart.

May you find your peace today and always in whichever method you pray.