Raka'ah
Encyclopedia
Rakaʿah are the prescribed movements and words followed by Muslim
s during salah (worship).
After turning to God
in mind (niyyah
) and ritual cleansing
(wudu
), the worshipper will stand quietly (qiyam) while reciting the first verses of the Qur'an
. The second part of the rak'ah involves bowing low (ruku'
) with hands on knees, as if waiting for God's orders. The third movement (sujud) is to prostrate oneself on the ground, with forehead and nose on the floor and elbows raised, in a posture of submission to God. The fourth movement is to sit (julus) with the feet folded under the body. The prayers end as the worshippers turn to the left and right saying, "Peace be upon you, and God's blessing". This action reminds Muslims of the importance of others around them, both in the mosque
and in the rest of the world.
It also refers to one unit of Islam
ic prayer, or salah. Each daily prayer is made up of a different number of raka'at:
The Jumu'ah
(Friday prayer) consists of 2 raka'at and is prayed in place of the Dhuhr prayer on Friday.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s during salah (worship).
After turning to God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
in mind (niyyah
Niyyah
Niyyah, Niyyah, Niyyah, (also called niyah, niyya, niyyat or niyat (Arabic: نیّة) is an Islamic concept which is the intention one evokes in his heart to do an act for the sake of Allah (God)....
) and ritual cleansing
Ritual purification
Ritual purification is a feature of many religions. The aim of these rituals is to remove specifically defined uncleanliness prior to a particular type of activity, and especially prior to the worship of a deity...
(wudu
Wudu
Wuḍhu is the Islamic procedure for washing parts of the body using water often in preparation for formal prayers...
), the worshipper will stand quietly (qiyam) while reciting the first verses of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
. The second part of the rak'ah involves bowing low (ruku'
Ruku'
Rukūʿ refers to the bowing down following the recitation of the Qur'an in the standing position while praying according to Islamic ritual . There is a consensus on the obligatory nature of the ruku...
) with hands on knees, as if waiting for God's orders. The third movement (sujud) is to prostrate oneself on the ground, with forehead and nose on the floor and elbows raised, in a posture of submission to God. The fourth movement is to sit (julus) with the feet folded under the body. The prayers end as the worshippers turn to the left and right saying, "Peace be upon you, and God's blessing". This action reminds Muslims of the importance of others around them, both in the mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
and in the rest of the world.
It also refers to one unit of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic prayer, or salah. Each daily prayer is made up of a different number of raka'at:
- FajrFajrThe Fajr prayer is the first of the five daily prayers offered by practising Muslims. The five daily prayers collectively form one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Practices of the Religion according to Shia Islam.The Fajr prayer is mentioned by name in the...
— The dawn prayer: 2 raka'at - DhuhrDhuhrThe dhuhr prayer is the prayer after midday Performed daily by practicing Muslims, it is the second of the five daily prayers...
— The noon prayer: 4 raka'at - AsrAsrThe Asr prayer is the afternoon daily prayer recited by practising Muslims. It is the third of the five daily prayers . The five daily prayers collectively are one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Practices of the Religion according to Shia Islam...
— The afternoon prayer: 4 raka'at - MaghribMaghribThe Maghrib prayer , prayed just after sunset, is the fourth of five formal daily prayers performed by practicing Muslims.The formal daily prayers of Islam comprise different numbers of units, called rak'at. The Maghrib prayer has three obligatory rak'at. The first two fard rak'at are prayed...
— The sunset prayer: 3 raka'at - Isha'aIsha'aThe Isha prayer is the night-time daily prayer recited by practising Muslims. It is the fifth of the five daily prayers– [islamic evening begins at maghrib]. The five daily prayers collectively are one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Practices of the...
— The night prayer: 4 raka'at
The Jumu'ah
Jumu'ah
Jumu'ah is a congregational prayer that Muslims hold every Friday, just after noon in lieu of dhuhr...
(Friday prayer) consists of 2 raka'at and is prayed in place of the Dhuhr prayer on Friday.
What constitutes a Raka'at
- TakbirTakbirThe Takbīr or Tekbir is the Arabic term for the phrase ' . It is usually translated "God is [the] Greatest," or "God is Great". It is a common Islamic Arabic expression...
- Supplications / Iftitah
- Recitation of SuraSuraA sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
Al-FatihaAl-FatihaSura Al-Fatiha , is the first chapter of the Qur'an. Its seven verses are a prayer for Allah's guidance, and stress His Lordship and Mercy... - Recitation of another sura
- ruku (bowing)
- Straightening up from ruku
- Sujud (the prostration)
- Rising from Sujud
- The second Sujud
- TashahhudTashahhudThe Tashahhud is the portion of Salah where the Muslim kneels are on ground and facing Qibla in Mecca.Sunni Muslims recite the Tashahhud as:التحيات لله والصلوات والطيبات، السلام عليك أيها النبي ورحمة لله...
- SalamS-L-MShin-Lamedh-Mem is the triconsonantal root of many Semitic words, and many of those words are used as names. The root itself translates as "whole, safe, intact".-Salam "Peace":...
(the salutation)