Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 106
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 106 worshippers stand in a row with their arms folded in an attitude of the utmost humility; this is followed by Ruku, in which the worshippers bow down in even greater humility before their Lord; this is followed by two prostrations, one after the other, whic h are indicative of the uttermost humility of the worshippers before their Lord. These three postures constitute one raka’a , that is to say, one unit. At the end of two raka’a s, the worshippers continue their glorification of God and their supplications in a sitting position, which is called Qa’dah, and is indicative of serenity. The praise and glorification of the Divine and supplications to Him are prescribed for each posture and have to be repeated in Arabic, but it is permissible for the worshipper to supplement them with supplications in his vernacular. The worshippers must face towards the Ka’aba during the Salat. The Salat should preferably be performed inside a mosque be hind the Imam (leader), but may be performed anywhere provided only that the place is clean. Before joining in the Salat a worshipper must wash his mouth, face, forearms and his feet. The Salat is the principal form of worship in Islam. The Holy Prophet is reported to have said that the Salat is the spiritual ascension of the believer during which he holds communion with God. There is no doubt that if the Salat is offered with full conc entration and in conformity to all the prescribed conditions, it becomes a means of achieving nearness to God. The Salat combines the body and the soul in divine worship, which is in accord with the verity that there is an intimate relationship between the body and the soul in consequence of which each of them reacts to the condition of the other. During Salat both are