Library Islam Islam: Faith, Practice & History Part II: Laws & Ethics Lesson 26-Islam’s Spiritual Program (2) (ii) SalÄt Helps in Spiritual Training
(ii) SalÄt Helps in Spiritual Training
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(ii) SalÄt Helps in Spiritual Training
The five daily prayers have different numbers of cycles known as rak‘ah. Each rak‘ah consists of the act of standing while reciting two short chapters from the Qur'Än, the act of bowing and two prostrations.
The fajr (dawn) prayer consists of 2 cycles.
The zuhr (noon) prayer consists of 4 cycles.
The ‘asr (afternoon) prayer consists of 4 cycles.
The maghrib (evening) prayer consists of 3 cycles.
The ‘isha (night) prayer consists of 4 cycles.
One wonders why Islam prescribed a different number of cycles for these prayers? Why could not they be the same for all ritual prayers?
Many people have attempted to explain it in different ways, but I have also looked at this question and came to the conclusion that there is no particular reason for this variety in the number of cycles. It seems that this difference in the number of cycles was introduced by Islam in order to create a sense of discipline among the Muslims and to create the spirit of absolute obedience to the Divine laws.
A Muslim is someone who voluntarily submits himself to Allah. This is not always easy keeping in mind the trials and tribulations which we are going through. Praying on a daily basis and following the number of cycles prescribed by the sharÄ«‘a without questioning its merit is a way of instilling in us the spirit of obedience to the laws of Islam. You must pray in the prescribed manner even if you do not understand the merit of some of its rules; you should pray with the thought in your mind that this is how Allah, subhanahu wa ta`ala, wants you to pray. This will indeed help you in harnessing the power of desires and emotions within yourself, and help you in getting closer to the purpose of life — to totally submit ourselves to the will of Allah.
