Virtues and benefits of salah

What do you understand?

The key to paradise is prayer and the key to prayer is cleanliness.

OBJECTIVES;
Identify

the virtues / benefits of salah Explore what the Quran says about salah Identify the medical/ scientific benefits of salah Write how the actions of salah can provide medical & scientific benefits

DEFINITION OF SALAH
The

literal meaning of Salah is Du'a (supplication). However technically it is that collection of words and actions which begins with the Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) and ends with the Salaam (Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah) with specific conditions.

VIRTUES OF SALAH
The

prayer has many benefits. It cleans the heart and the mind. It is a means of communication between the servant and the Lord in this world that will eventually lead him to paradise.

HADITH
O my companions ! if there is a stream running in front of a persons home and he takes a bath five times in it every day, do you think any dirt will remain on him? They said no dirt will remain on him. Holy Prophet said: "That is the example of the five daily prayers, because of the salah Allah (swt) wipes away all sins of a person.

HADITH
Once in winter the Prophet was walking outside whilst the leaves were falling from trees. He held a branch of a tree and the leaves began to fall. He called out O Abu Zarr! I replied, Yes, O Messenger of Allah. He said, "When a Muslim prays seeking the pleasure of Allah (swt) his sins fall from him like these leaves fall from this tree."

HOLY QURAN
When you finish prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when you are free from danger, set up regular Prayers: prayers have been made obligatory for believers at set times. (4.103)

 To

miss the prayer without an excuse is a major sin To deny the obligation of prayer is Kufr (disbelief) because prayer is a compulsory part of Islamic faith. It is an Islamic duty of all the Muslims to encourage others to pray 5 five daily prayers.

SALAH INCLUDES OTHER PILLARS

in the beginning of salah Zakah when people leave behind the time of making money / business and devote it to salah Sawm one does not eat in salah Hajj one faces the direction of the kabah in salah
Shahadah

Salaah & science

Salah

is not just an obligation it is also a cure for many major illnesses

HADITH
Prayer

is a cure for many diseases

The

fact is that a person who offers his prayers regularly that too in the mosque is protected from many diseases which he many not even know.

JOINTS
Painful

joints can be cured by means of salah, when we stand the body becomes weak, however, when we lift our hands naturally we gain strength. Everybody knows for the body to be in a healthy state the spinal cord needs to be in good condition. It is in salah that this can be achieved

STANDING IN PRAYER

Muslim researchers have found that when Muslims recite the Quran, old thoughts, feelings, fears and guilt are released or healed, and blood pressure and stress levels are reduced. Rudolph Steiner (founder of the Waldorf Schools), found that vibrations made when pronouncing the long vowels, A, E, and U (in Arabic), stimulated the heart, lungs, and the thyroid, pineal, pituitary, and adrenal glands during laboratory tests.

TAKBIR AND QIYAM

Found

to improve posture, balance, and self- awareness. This position also normalises blood pressure and breathing, thus providing many benefits to asthma and heart patients due to peace physically and mentally

HEART ILLNESSES

Many cardiologists after research have come up with the conclusion that the illnesses of the heart are reduced when salah is offered. In Qiyam the lower body gets blood, in ruku the middle , in sajdah the blood reaches the upper body with less pressure on the heart as whilst a person is stood up the heart has to try and pump the blood to the brain, however, when in prostration the blood reaches the brain without much effort. This demonstrates how salah helps with blood circulation.

RUKU

Ruku saves a person from getting kidney stones and if one has stones it will come out shortly. In ruku circulation of blood in the body works well benefiting the eyes and mind. Ruku stretches the muscles of the lower back, thighs, legs and calves, and allows blood to be pumped into the upper torso. It tones the muscles of the stomach, abdomen, and kidneys. Forming a right angle allows the stomach muscles to develop

RUKU

This position also promotes a greater flow of blood into the upper regions of body particularly to the head, eyes, ears, nose, brain, and lungs to be released. Over time, this improves brain function and ones personality, and is an excellent stance to maintain the proper position of the foetus in pregnant women. When coming up from the ruku we place the hands on the thighs it strengthens the spinal cord and creates flexibility

SUJOOD

Sajdah is a unique position as this is the only position in which brain (or head) becomes lower than the heart and hence for the first time the blood gushes towards the brain with full force whereas in all other positions (even when lying) brain is above the heart when it has to work against gravity to send blood to the brain. Due to the increased blood supply the brain receives more nourishment and it has good effect upon memory, vision, hearing, concentration, psyche and all other cognitive abilities. People who offer their prayers regularly have more will power and can cope with the difficulties of life in a much better manner. They have less incidence of headaches, psychological problems and other defects of cognitive function

SUJOOD

In the unique position of Sajdah the neck muscles get best exercise. They have to bear the load when the forehead lies at the ground hence the neck muscles become stronger. One can note the tense pressure at the neck muscles in the position of Sajdah specially the active motion of the neck and the facial muscles when the head is being lifted. (e.g. one inch above the ground) and it will be noticed that they are in a very active motion.

TASK

Cut out the hand outs and stick accordingly with each salah action and write down the scientific benefits in your own words next to each action.

HOMEWORK
Complete

the task