Muslim men are required to pray 5 times a day. For women it is optional. The exact timing, I'm not sure of because it changes slightly each day due to the sun position. And there are different interpretations given the branch of Islam that you follow. But approximately, the timings are sunrise, noon, afternoon, sunset, and after dark. At this time of the year, the sunrise prayer is happening around 6am and each morning is getting a little later each day. There is a short call to wake people up approximately 15 minutes before this. The Muadhin says, "Prayer is more sweet than sleep." Right now, this is all timed just after my alarm goes off, so as I'm getting dressed and brushing my teeth I'm being serenaded by the Muadhin's and roosters. As I'm going to work in the taxi, I see many men in the neighborhood walking or driving to the Mosque for their prayer.
Each of the 5 prayers of the day is different from one another. They are all recited in Arabic; even in non-Arabic speaking countries (kind of like Latin mass was for the Catholics). When we were in Turkey, the mosques there were sending out the call to prayer in Arabic, too. Each prayer has its own sequence of prayers, bowing, kneeling, and bowing prostrate. (click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/galleries/salah/) This specific sequence is conducted in Arabic. At the end of the prayer, the worshipper looks to their right and then their left shoulder to bless the angels recording their good and bad deeds. The worshipper may also choose to make his/her own personal prayer and this can be done in their local language.On the radio, there are several Muslim stations that broadcast the prayers, sermons and the reading of the Quran. These broadcasts are all day long (All Muslim - All the Time). Today, in the taxi on the way to work, I was riding right during the time of the sunrise prayer. Most of the taxi drivers are Pakistani (and Muslim). My driver was listening to the broadcast of the prayer - and a rooster was crowing in the background. Took me a second to even realize that the rooster was on the radio. Guess I'm not the only one for whom these sounds will be forever intermingled.
More information:
http://muslim-canada.org/salaat.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_prayer
http://www.islam-usa.com/pray1.html
http://www.sunna.info/prayer/TheBasicsoftheMuslimsPrayer.php
2 comments:
I have to tell you how much I enjoy hearing about the practices, lifestyle and traditions there. I have never known much about the Muslim religion or Arabic peoples. I am afraid of the fact that most people from the U.S. know too little and respect nothing of the religion and culture. We only hear the negative and violent. Thanks for sharing the peaceful, beautiful and normal.
Hi Julie, Russ and Lyra, I understand you have been galavanting down the Nile. Sipping tea! I hope this post finds you all healthy and happy. I saw your dad, Susie and Amy at my dad's on Christmas eve after I got off work. I worked the 23-25 this year. Kind of puts a damper on all the family festivities. Today everyone was at mom and dad's including Matt/Jenni/Nick and Steve/Eric/Lauren. A. Audree and U Wayne were also there and brought a special surprise for the girls. Lots of her jewelry in white elephant type gifts. Curtis pulled out of the box for me. I learned how to play guitar hero on the Wii. Russ you'd probably have fun with this if you don't already have one. Didn't have to transport to many sick babies today. Thank goodness. Take care. Love Jenn
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