Steps of the Prayer
By Eldad Sharon

In Islam prayer isn't a motionless meditation, this resembles the first half of a Sun Salutations of a popular yoga series. The Salaat or Islamic Ritual Prayer is composed of six basic motions, each of which is its own sura or holy verse.

"It begins with saying 'Allaahu akbar' or 'God is great' showing that your intentions are to pray to God and nothing else," said Firas Al-Mohasen, junior mathematics major.

'Allaahu akbar' is said at the end of each step and at the end of the Salaat.

Calling for God's attention is done standing upright, facing Mecca. While still upright worshipers recite the first verse of the Qur'an, which is a pledge of allegiance to God, followed by any verse they want from the text.

Then the individual drops their hands along their legs until the fingers reach
their knees and their back is straight. In this position "Subhanna rabbiyal 'Azeem" or "Holy is my Lord, the Magnificent" is repeated three times.

While coming back to an upright standing position "Sami' allaahu liman hamidah" or "Allah listens to him who praises Him." is said. The next pose and possibly the most recognizable is called Sudjood (Prostration) in which the individuals go to their knees and perform a complete bow bringing their forehead and nose to the ground.

"They say 'Subhaana rabbiyal 'Alaa', which acknowledges him (God) as the one who created all of this (world),” said Al-Mohasen.

After which they rise upright on their knees, say 'Allaahu akbar' and go back into the Sudjood. This is the last step in the rakat or series.

Different prayers have differing amounts of rakats associated with them: there are two in the morning, four at noon, four in the afternoon, three at sunset and again four at the last prayer of the day.

For Muslims, prayer is a defining characteristic of devotion to the faith. According to Al-Mohasen it shows that Muslims are sacrificing time from their daily lives to be with God.

"We can be strict Muslims, some of us are not that way, but I have to pray
five times a day or I am not Muslim," said Yasir Al-Aosar, sophomore electrical engineering major