10 Rak’a – Bowing
Ṣalât, the ritual prayer of Muslims, is not confined to the recitation of formulas but includes bodily movements. One such is bowing (rak’a). This term, however, has taken a wider meaning, covering a unit of prayer that includes several elements. The rak’a in this sense consists of the following:
- Standing, the first sûra (chapter) of the Qur’an is recited;
- Then the imam (the one leading the prayer) recites a passage from the Qur’an (at least three verses);
- One makes a bow, bending the body until the palms of the hands are on a level with the knees;
- The upright position is regained and the hands are lifted to the side of the head;
- Then comes the prostration (sujûd) with the forehead touching the ground; after which the one praying sits back on their heels and then performs a second prostration.
This unit (rak’a) is repeated a varying number of times:
Dawn - 2 rak’as
Midday – 4 rak’as
Afternoon – 4 rak’as
Sunset – 3 rak’as
Night – 4 rak’as
At the end of the final rak’a the one praying remains in the seated position and turns the head to the right and to the left saying al-salâm ‘alaykum wa-raḥmat Allâh “peace be with you and the mercy of God”) to the worshipper on the right and the left.
This is done even if one is performing the prayer alone (it is said that in this case one is greeting one’s two guardian angels, one on the right and one on the left).
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