How do Muslims worship and practice their beliefs?

Answer 1

Muslims pray in a mosque. They worship Allah (God in English); the one and only one who is also worshiped by Jews and Christians. You may refer to Arabic versions of The Bible to find God written as Allah. All religions call for peace and love. Only those who tends to violence and terrifying civilians are not true religious people by take the religion as a false justification to their terror acts.

Answer 2

Answer A

Muslims worship according to Qur'an and prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sayings and practices (that is called Sunnah).

Muslim worship is based on main principles including the oneness of God and faith in all of God's prophets, angels, holy books, and the Day of Judgment.

Muslims worship is based on two wings.

• The first wing is adopting the five pillars of Islam. These five pillars are, in brief:

1. Testimony that God is the one and only one God (with no partner, no son, no father, no companion, and no resemblance) and that prophet Muhammad is God's Messenger and prophet.
2. Praying
3. Paying zakat (specific compulsory charity)
4. Fasting the month of Ramadan
5. Performing Hajj by whom can afford it.

Refer to the related question below for more information on Islam five pillars.

• The second wing is performing good deeds for sake of God and for gaining his mercy and satisfaction; among these deeds are:

• Keeping good relations with relatives, neighbors, friends, colleagues in work, all community people.
• Doing work with good quality and honesty
• Respecting the old and be kind to the younger.
• Be humble to parents and kind to them
• Helping the poor, the sick. and all who needs help
• Being honest and faithful
• Not gambling, not drinking alcohols, and not performing sex outside marriage
• ... etc

Refer to the related question below for more details about Islam morals and Islam basic principles.

Praying for being the most important Islamic pillar after Testimony is discussed below in more details.

THE PRAYER

Worship is common to all religions. What differs is only the manner and style of worship. What is unique in Islamic mode of worship is that it contains features from almost each mode of prayers in other religions. Some people pray to God in a standing posture and some in a sitting posture. In some religions people remember God by kneeling to Him, while others bow down to Him. Some stand before Him with folded arms, and others with arms hanging at their sides. In short, there is no single mode of worship common to all religions as a whole. It is fascinating however to note that Islam instructs its followers concerning the manner of prayer so comprehensively, that all the postures of worship found in other religions are symbolically represented in the mode of Muslim prayer; that seems as another step forward an era of universal religion.

The institution of Islamic prayer is a most highly developed system, covering every human requirement. It should be remembered at the outset that the purpose of worship is not just bowing to a superior being and paying homage to His greatness, as if God created man only for satiating His egotistic desire of being praised. All the purposes mentioned in relation to the philosophy of worship and the manner in which a Muslim is required to conduct his prayer, makes it manifestly clear that the benefit of prayer is drawn by the worshiper himself and in no way can it be taken as a favor to God. The Holy Qur'an declares that God does not stand in need of ones' praises. He is so great in His nobility and so sublime in His character that the praises of His creatures do not add anything to His magnanimity and majesty. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) of Islam once mentioned that if the entire mankind had turned away from God and committed the worst possible sins, one and all, they would not diminish His universal grandeur even as much as when someone dips a sharp needle into a vast ocean; the water one finds adhered to the surface of the needle would be far more than the sins of the entire mankind could take away from the glory of God.

So, worship in the Holy Qur'an is only prescribed for the sake of the worshiper himself. It is a vast subject, and we can only illustrate a few points in relation to this as mentioned in the Holy Qur'an and the traditions of the Holy Prophet of Islam. Remembrance of God and pondering over His attributes during the prayer helps man in refining his spirit, bringing it more into harmony with the nature of God. This is central to the Islamic prayer. Man was made in the image of his creator, and he must ever strive to gain closeness to Him. This is a lesson in nobility which is ultimate. Those who train themselves to think like God and to act like Him within the limitations of the human sphere, constantly improve in their relation to all other human beings and even other forms of life.

In human terms it can be better understood with respect to mother's attitude towards her children. For the one who truly gains nearness to a mother, all that is dear to the mother will naturally become dear to him as well. Acquiring the attitude of the creator is like acquiring the attitude of an artist to his works of art. It is impossible for one to be near God and distance himself from His creation. Again, the term used for worship in the Quran is derived from a word which is so significant and different from terms used in other religions. Ain, Be, Dael ('A', 'B','D') are the three root letters which have the basic meaning of slavery. Like a slave who loses everything to his master and follows him in all respects, the worshiper in Islam must do the same in his relation to God. The infinitive used for worship has the connotation of following in the footsteps of someone. That is the ultimate in the imitation of God's attributes. Quran also says (meaning English translation):

"Verily, Prayer prevents the worshipper from indulging in anything that is undignified or indecent. Surah Al-Ankabut" (Ch. 29. Verse 46)

This verse has both positive and negative connotations, both highly essential for cultivating ideal human conduct. Thus in its negative connotation, it helps the worshiper by liberating him from sins of all types. In its positive connotation it educates man, fines his character and cultivates his qualities to such sublimity as he becomes worthy of communion with God.

Another area which is highly important in this regard is the role worship plays in developing one's soul. According to Islam, each human soul in relation to the carnal human body can be likened unto a child in the uterus of the mother. To give birth to a healthy child requires so many influences that are constantly transferred from the mother to the embryo, and the child at a later stage. If the mother's influences on the embryo are unhealthy, the child is born as congenitally ill; if they are healthy then the child is born enjoying perfect health. Of all the influences that work towards the making and modification of the human soul, prayer is the most important single factor.

The institution of Islamic prayer is rich in so many profound lessons as are not found even fractionally in other religions.

Islam admonishes both congregational and individual prayer. The congregational prayers are held in a manner which is amazingly well organized and meaningful.

There is one leader who leads the congregation in all such prayers. That leader is not an ordained priest; anyone whom the people consider worthy of this task is chosen as the 'Imam'. The assembly is admonished to be arrayed behind the Imam in perfectly straight lines, each worshiper standing close to the other, shoulder to shoulder, without any distance between the two worshipers. They follow the Imam perfectly in everything that he does. As he bows they bow, as he stands they stand. As he prostrates they prostrate. Even if the Imam commits a mistake and does not condone it even after a reminder, all followers must repeat the same. To question the Imam during the prayer is not permitted.

All face the same direction without exception, facing the first house of worship ever built for the benefit of mankind. No-one is permitted to reserve any special place behind the Imam. In this regard the rich and poor are treated with absolute equality, so also the old and the young. Whoever reaches the mosque ahead of others has the prior option to sit wherever he pleases. None has the right to remove others from the place that they occupy, except for reasons of security etc., in which case it becomes an administrative measure. Thus the Islamic system of prayer is rich not only in spiritual instruction, but also in communal and organizational instruction.

All mosques are frequented five times a day, a task which appears to be over-much demanding to a casual observer. This aspect should be further elaborated to build a more comprehensive picture of the role of congregational prayers in the Muslims' way of life. Of course in an ideal Muslim society, where mosques are provided within reach of almost every citizen, the five time congregational prayer becomes a routine way of all Muslims' life.

The midday prayer, which ordinarily is more problematic, is performed in Muslim societies during the midday break from work. Thus it is not only a lunch break, but is slightly extended to accommodate the performance of prayer as well. The next prayer after the midday prayer is the afternoon prayer, which is performed almost immediately after return from an ordinary day's work. Then no prayer is permitted until after sunset. The time between the two is spent in outdoor activities like sports, shopping, walks, visits to friends and relatives etc. It is a period of relaxation in which prayers are practically forbidden, except for the quiet remembrance of God which becomes a constant feature with some believers.

At sunset, the night of the believer begins with the sunset prayer, after which there is again a time for relaxation, dining, and so on. The night is capped before retirement with the last prayer which is called Isha. It is discouraged to stay awake after Isha in wasteful occupations of gossip and vain talk etc.

Muslims are encouraged to acquire a habit of early to bed and early to rise. The day, next morning, begins routinely in the small hours before dawn. The prayer which is performed at the end of the night is called Tahajjud. It is not obligatory, but is a very highly emphasized optional prayer. The dawn ushers in the time for morning prayer, which is called Al-Fajar. Optional prayers are not recommended between Fajar and sunrise, for obvious reasons. Then till Zuhar, the midday prayer, only two optional prayers are mentioned; otherwise the pre-Zuharperiod is expected to be spent in normal day to day activities.

Looking at the institution of prayer in Islam from another angle, it is intriguing to note how well organized, disciplined and comprehensive it is. There are certain prayers of congregation in which recitation of the Quran is done in a loud, audible voice, in a semi-singing tone, which does not exactly conform to the concept of singing, but which has a rhythmical tone that is deeply penetrating. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) also advised that there should be a shadow of sadness in the tone in which the Quran is recited; this makes it more touching, with the meaning of the verses sinking deeper into the recesses of the heart.

In some prayers, particularly the two afternoon prayers, there is no loud chanting; this goes well with the general mood of the time. Even the birds cease to sing during the early parts of the afternoon, and there is a general air of silence covering the hubbub of normal work. The morning prayer, the prayer after sunset and the prayer after the fall of night all include periods where chanting of verses is the routine practice.

The prayer can be further divided into two categories. As against congregational prayers, individual prayers are also highly emphasized. In congregational prayers, society pays homage to God collectively and openly. In individual prayers, emphasis is laid on privacy, and there should be no effort to display such prayers to anyone. Similarly the late night prayer is performed in perfect privacy. Members of the same house try to find their own niches, and even husband and wife try to say their prayers separately so that communion with God becomes a highly personal affair.

It has been observed that the institution of the five time congregational prayer has worked very well, for over fourteen hundred years or so, for the protection and preservation of this holy institution. The mosques have been the mainstay in keeping this noble institution alive. They also serve as education centers for young and old, and throughout history they have played the most prominent role in religious teachings and instruction.

The places of worship in Islam, whether congregational or private, are kept meticulously clean. Everyone is expected to take his shoes off before entering such places. Although in every prayer the worshiper has to touch the floor with his forehead, sometimes briefly and sometimes for longer periods, it is surprising that no skin diseases have been transferred from forehead to forehead in the Muslim society. Some may attribute this to the high standard of cleanliness and some to the blessings of God, but this is a well observed fact.

As far as the contents of the prayer go, they are of two types:

l. A formal routine recitation of verses of the Quran and other prayers which are done essentially in the language of the Quran, which is Arabic. All worshipers are expected to know the meaning of what they are reciting, otherwise they will deprive themselves of the immense benefit which they may draw from the meaningful recitation. It will make this discussion too lengthy if we were to go into the details of the contents, but such readers as are interested in further study can always consult the relevant literature.

2. To the second category belong the individual prayers in one's own language, in which one is free to beg as he pleases. This second category is controversial in the sense that many a school of jurisprudence disallow such practices and insist on the recitation of only the prescribed form, irrespective of whether the worshiper understands that or not. However, they do appreciate the need for private and personal prayers, so they suggest praying in one's own language after the formal prayer has ended and not during its course. We, the Ahmadi Muslims, recommend and practice the former option of praying to God in one's own language as one pleases during the formal prayer.

As we have amply demonstrated above, the institution of Islamic prayer is a highly developed one, where the individual is required to pray five times a day, both individually and in congregation with others. Islamic prayer thus plays an important role in the life of a Muslim, and in the spiritual and moral upbringing of the individual.

Answer B

Worship is due to God Alone! Islam teaches that all worship is to be directed to God alone, without any partners. God has no sons nor daughters nor any partners. He alone is the creator of everything that we see and don't see and He alone runs the affairs of the universe without being in need of anyone or anything. God alone is deserving of worship.

Islam teaches that we worship God by following the prophets and messengers that He sent to mankind-the last of them being Prophet Muhammad. God last revelation to mankind was through Prophet Muhammad in the form of the Qur'an (sometimes pronounced 'koran'). Islam recognizes all prophet sayings and practices, called, Sunnah, as complement to Islam teaching through Quran. The person who accepts Islam and practices Islam is called a Muslim.

Examples of how a Muslim worships God is by prayer. Prophet Muhammad showed mankind, in detail, how God wishes for you to pray. Your prayer is directed only to God and only in the name of God-not in anyone else's name-period. Another example of how a Muslim worships God is fasting. Once again, your fasting is for the pleasure of God alone and not for anyone or anything else. For further info, read the Qur'an and read about the practices of Prophet Muhammad and his companions.

Answer C

The Way Muslims Worship

The Five Daily Prayers

The five daily prayers are the first act of worship enjoined in Islam. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon him) said: "Prayer is the first thing one will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment."

Answer D

In Islam, the act of worshiping Allah (that is God in Arabic)is not limited by direct action or ritual. Tthough 5 basic pillars in Islam stated that to perform salat (prayers) 5 times a day, give zakat (charity), perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah the Holy Land) and to fast during the month of Ramadan are ways of worshiping Allah, a Muslim can do many other things as an act of worshiping Allah. The only major criterion for an act to be considered as an act of worship (that will be rewarded by Allah) is that it is done with an intention of pleasing Allah, doing that for the sake of Him and following the correct manners as shown by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Thus, for a Muslim, sleeping, waking up, brushing teeth, taking a bath, having lunch, talking, playing football, shopping,studying, smiling to others and even having sex would be considered as an act of worship, given that it follows the rules set by the Lord.

Answer E

Muslims generally believe that all good actions are considered to be acts of worship. Charity, fasting, correcting wrongdoing, even giving a gift to someone can be worship to your God as long as you have good intentions and you feel your doing what your doing for the sake of God. Prayer, fasting and making a pilgrimage to Mecca are the important forms of prayer to all Muslims.

Answer F

"I'm a truck-driver driving all 48 State USA. In one of my trip, I went the men's room and saw a man washing most of his body; hands, face, elbows, feet, etc. My curiosity got the better of me. I followed the man, he took a [prayer] mat from his truck and laid it on some isolated part of the truck stop. The mat have a compass on it and he oriented it probably towards Mecca. And he kneeled started praying, bowing his head several times."

Yes the prayers that we do 5 times a day is like this. But it is not like bowing in front of some material like in some other faiths. We do not pray in mecca or Kaaba. This place is accepted Holy but we direct our prayers to God Almighty only. We do not expect pray in or ask help from anything worldly. We also pray not because God needs it. We pray in God because we need it. I suggest you to try it. The more you pray, the more peace you get in heart. Of course prayer is not only in form of this 5 times prayers. We need to work to provide our needs, to help the people around and furthermore to help our nation to develop. Briefly our prayers should include both our works for this life and all other prayers written above for the life in the hereafter.

Answer G

The people who follow Islam are not called Islams, they called Muslims. they worship by going to the mosque five times a day. Going into the whole worshipping actions is a long process and will confuse you.

Answer H

the religion ISLAM is based on nature and the point about working is that they worship their GOD like people of every other religion do they thank GOD for giving them every thing that is the least they can do

Answer 3

Belief that God is one who is all-powerful and has no family and that no one can share His powers.

Belief that Prophet Muhammad is a human being and a prophet of Allah.

Belief that there were 124000 prophets and that all pf them command equal respect.

Belief that no religion or prophet or religious fiure should be ridiculed

Belief that no painting or idol of God can be made

Belief that we will all be resurrected one day when we will have to give answer to all of our deeds. The bad deeds and good deeds will be compared side by side. The one with more sins than good deeds will go to hell where he will live in blazing fire and will be tortured forever

Belief that after this life, there is another life which will be permanent.

Belief that there is a hell where bad people will be tortured for a certain amount of time.

Belief that there is a paradise where good people will lead a life of luxury forever

Belief that every person is responsible for his/her own actions

Belief that we should avoid lie, slander, murder, rob, rape, adultery, consume pig & alcohol

Belief that no member of other faith or religion should be attacked and that every person has a right to follow religion that he/she wishes.

belief that God is the most beneficial and merciful.

Answer-2

Basic Beliefs of the Muslims:

1. Belief in Almighty Allah (God) Sura Baqra -2. Aya 163: And your Allah is ONE Allah, There is no god but He. He is the Sole Creator, Sustainer, Provider and Ruler of the Universe. He has No Son, No Parents, No off-spring. He is Omnipotent, Omni-Present, All-Knowing, All-Seeing, All-Listening. HE and He alone deserves worship. All powers lie in His Hands. He alone is the Master of the Day of Judgment. He has No Partner, No Associate whatsoever. No one can understand Him completely. There is Nothing like Him. He is Most Merciful, Most Gracious, Most Forgiving..

2. Belief in Angels Created by Almighty Allah Karim from light. They are obedient to Allah Karim. Carry out His commands.

3. Belief in all heavenly books, including Tora, Zaboor, the Bible, the last one being the Qur'an.

4. Belief in all the Messengers of Almighty Allah- No distinction among them. Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) being the last Prophet of Islam. NO Prophet after him.

5. Belief in the Day of Judgment. Almighty Allah Karim is the Sole Ruler/Master of that Day. He enjoys the absolute authority to send people to Heaven or Hell.

6. Good and bad Destiny being in the Hands of Almighty Allah. No One can change his destiny.

7. Life hereafter: All the dead will be raised again and judged according to their good or bad deeds. There will be no death to them.

8. Hell and Heaven (Paradise)

These may be further elaborated in the light of the holy Qur'an and the Sahih Hadith.

Five Pillars of Islam:

1. Shahadat: [testimony that there is no god except Allah (God) the One and Only One, having No Partner whatsoever. And Muhammad is His servant and Messenger],

2. Salah: (praying five times a day)

3. Zakah: (specific compulsory charity-2,5% of annual savings)

4. Saum: (fasting during Ramadan)

5. Hajj: (pilgrimage) for each Muslim once in lifetime those who can afford it.

Answer 4

Here is a site:

Basic Muslim Beliefs: Muslim Beliefs in Submission to God, Purity, Monotheism - Are Muslim Beliefs Defensible? How Can Atheistic Critique Basic Muslim Beliefs?

* http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/islam/blfaq_islam_basic.htm

Answer 5

ok first of all its not called "the Islams" maybe you should do your research before asking such a question.

anwyas, the people the practice Islam are called Muslims, Second of all we worship God.

We pray five times a day, and follow Jesus, and the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAW).

ARite buddy!

Answer 6

Its very simple. Worship means to adore something and devoting completely towards it. You can be adoring or worshipping a sinful act and considering as correct. When you worship fire the attributes that you acquire from it are rash, blazing, more of worldy materialistic, unhuman as Satan himself was created from fire with the idea of being superior to humans. When you worship a cow for example as Bani Israel did in the past (a sect of jews) they were acquiring the attributes of worldy possession. When you worship the supreme deity God - Allah who has right to be worshipped you acquire his attributes foremost is distinction between right and wrong; a "practising" Muslim who is truly god-fearing would understand this.

Answer 7

• They worship God (Allah); the one and only one God, with no partner, no son, no father, no companion, no associate, and no equivalence.
• They do good deeds for the benefit of themselves, family, community, environment, and mankind.
• They follow good conducts and morals
• They follow Quran guides and prophet Muhammad (PBUH) teachings
• They observe God in their doings and hence they strive in their doings to satisfy God
• They offer alms giving, help the poor, call for forgiveness and tolerance
• They follow Islam principles as give in the question listed below.

Refer to related questions below.

Answer 8

five prayers a day reading the holy quran and carrying out the practices prescribed for them in the quran. Other than that Muslims live like everyone else

Answer 9

Muhammad is not worshiped. he and all Muslims worship only Allah swt.