What to Say in Prayer in Islam
Learn what to say in prayer in Islam, as prescribed by the Islamic faith. Learn about the different Qur’anic expressions, the Fatihah (invocation), and the proper body position during the prayer. It can be challenging to find the right words and phrases in order to perform the prayer correctly.
Qur’an expressions
When Muslims pray, they often use Arabic expressions to remember Allah. These expressions are commonly used in daily life, but they also have special meanings for prayer. Here are some of them:
Fatihah
The first Surah of the Islamic prayer is known as the Fatihah. This verse, which is also known as the Opening, announces that Allah SWT has full control over all life. The Surah is divided into two parts, one for Allah and one for His servants. The first three verses of the Surah represent Allah, while the last three verses refer to the servants.
Invocation
The process of asking God to be present during prayer is called invocation. While it is not required for religious leaders, most prayer events will open with an invocation speech. Invocations can be secular or religious, and are commonly used in schools and government meetings.
Position of body during prayer
During prayer, Muslims are taught to place their body in certain positions. One of these positions is the qayyam (forward bending) position. This posture encourages relaxed breathing. It is important that a person’s body weight is evenly distributed on both legs and feet.
Four rakahs of prayer
In Islam, there are four rakahs in the prayer. One rak’ah represents the standing prayer while the other is a prostration. Both should be done in a beautiful manner. The Prophet Muhammad used to pray nine rak’ahs but later retrenched to two rak’ahs while sitting.
Qibla direction
The qibla direction in Islam is one of the most important aspects of Islam, as it helps Muslims to turn toward God. It also signifies unity and brotherhood among Muslims. The qibla direction in prayer allows all Muslims to face the same direction, thus showing their devotion to one supreme god.
As-salamu alaykum
The greeting “As-Salamu alaykum” is an essential part of Islam. This greeting is used by Muslims to greet each other and to seek blessings from Allah. It has its roots in the Quran and the Hadith. The Quran tells Muslims to return greetings in a courteous manner. In the Hadith book Sahih al-Bukhari, it says that the Prophet Muhammad commands us to greet others with the same greeting.