How do different religions pray?

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Greetings,

I thought I should post another link seeing as the earlier link about Muslim prayer was only a couple of seconds and did not have any recitation in it.

It is a prayer in the holiest city for Muslims, Mecca; during the holiest month, Ramadan. The person leading the prayer, or the Imam, is one very much enjoyed by many Muslims who try to imitate the way in which he recites the holy Qur'an. Here he begins with the 78th Chapter.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7894563232050081883&q=muslim+prayer&hl=en


All the actions of prayer are not clearly shown due to the zooming out of the camera, but at least we hear the part of the prayer where words are spoken aloud by the Imam :).

If anyone has better videos, please feel free to share! Also, I wanted to ask about the Jewish video (second one) - what are they saying when they chant in unison?

Peace.
 
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Ansar. I can tell you that maybe a Jewish community under Islamic countries did this. But prostrating is not common among Jews at all. Even on Yom Kippur only the Rabbi will get on his knees, and his head will not touch the ground.
 
lavikor201 said:
Ansar. I can tell you that maybe a Jewish community under Islamic countries did this. But prostrating is not common among Jews at all. Even on Yom Kippur only the Rabbi will get on his knees, and his head will not touch the ground.
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So what about the verses Br. Ansar Al-'Adl posted before? how do you interpret them then?
 
Not really sure. Prostation may have been used by some of our prophets to reach higher levels with G-d, but only our Rabbi will do somewhat of a prostation on a holy day.

We basically do not prostate in prayer, and we never really did to the best of my knowledge.

the word 'prostate' is not in the tanakh though. They say he was with his head to the ground, but that isnt while praying , but in awe of G-d.
 
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Ansar Al-'Adl said:
There seem to be some references in the Tanakh to this practice:

Genesis 17:3 Abram fell with his face to the ground

Numbers 20:6 Moses and Aaron left the people. They went to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. There they fell with their faces to the ground.

Joshua 5:14 And he said, No, but I am the the captain of the host of the Lord; I have now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and prostrated himself, and said to him, What does my lord say to his servant?

Job 1:20 Then Job stood up, and rent his robe and tore his hair; then he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
Another Jewish member who used to post on this forum over a year ago told me:

He also gave me this link:
http://www.chayas.com/qidah.htm

Here's a picture:
[url]http://children-of-abraham.org/2004/img/uploads/gallery/full_1035.jpg[/url]


Peace :)
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The other religious group I've seen doing prostration in their prayers are the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.... I've seen it on either Discovery Channel or Natl Geographic ...... maybe someone can find pics of the ethiopian Christians too?
 
:sl:

I would just like to clarify that, the link brother Muhammad posted, the "special" clothes the Imam is wearing is not required, rahter its more of a Saudi custom.

Its nice with the translation as you can follow the reciatiation.
 
Here's another video of the Muslim prayer:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8366018035933114770&q=kanderi

It only shows the part where Muslims recite from the Qur'an (there are subtitles with the meaning in English, so you know what is being said). We also bow, prostrate etc. and proclaim, among other things:

* Perfect [Above, and free from, all imperfections] is my Lord, The Most High

* God listens to the one who praises Him. Oh, God - our Lord - to You be all praise!
 
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us christians can pray in any way, shape, or form we want. whether we are sitting still, lying in bed, or even praying like islamic prayers.. we don't have any requirments, because as christians, we believe you can talk to god whenever and wherever and however you want.. and you shouldn't have to make certian bows and moves and such.

muslims.. well, this is an islamic board so you guys should know that.

as for judaism.. i'm not so sure.. i know that they say sh'ma yisrael in the morning and at night.. it's a nice prayer. :)

the baha'is say one obligatory prayer each day, and they can choose out of three.. they have a short prayer, a long, and a medium. but they get to choose. and they do have to make certain bows and movements and such.. it's very similar to a muslim prayer actually.. and they pray to haifa israel.
 
what you are talking about in Islam is called supplication (du'a)... we make those as well......an actual prayer requires you recite from the Noble Quran and those are at certain times.... it really strengthens the bond between one and God.....The Prophet said: 'If one of you had a stream running at his door and he bathed in it five times every day, do you think any dirt would be left on him?' His companions answered, 'No dirt at all would be left on him.' He said, 'That is what the five prayers are like, with which Allah washes away your sins.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
 
thirdwatch512 said:
us christians can pray in any way, shape, or form we want. whether we are sitting still, lying in bed, or even praying like islamic prayers.. we don't have any requirments, because as christians, we believe you can talk to god whenever and wherever and however you want.. and you shouldn't have to make certian bows and moves and such.
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Hi Thirdwatch,
Islam is actually very comprehensive and detailed so when Christians talk about 'prayer', Muslims have many terms including Dhikr, Du'â, and Salâh. When Christians speak about praying all the time, this is actually the tip of the iceberg in terms of the Islamic concept of Dhikr which entails a perpetual state of spiritual deovtion to God, remembering God, contemplating His bounties, reflecting upon His Majesty, etc. When you speak about praying to God for something, this is only touching upon the expansive Islamic concept of Du'â which entails supplicating to God, invoking God, repenting to God, etc. The formal prayers are the Salâh which are prescribed daily and allow for an organized format in one's prayer to God and congregational worship of Him.

So non-muslims often don't realize that tremendous concept of worship in Islam and only compare with the external bdy movements they see.
 
As a Catholic who has never attended a Protestant church meeting, what I would like to know is what is the difference between Catholic and Protestant methods of prayer - or are there any? Can anyone help me with this?
 
stannis said:
As a Catholic who has never attended a Protestant church meeting, what I would like to know is what is the difference between Catholic and Protestant methods of prayer - or are there any? Can anyone help me with this?
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LOL that's a funny question on Islamic Forum :giggling:
Protestants differ VERY strongly. They are like patchwork, all colors, all sizes.
If you would visit Lutheran church, you wouldn't find their service that different from Catholic Mass. Except for theological differences, the biggest one is that Lutherans i know don't kneel :)
On the other hand Baptists service is much more informal. They sing, clap hands, then someone reads one part of Bible, then sing, then another reading, then everybody who feels in need ask for prayer, then Lord's Supper.
Pentecostal service may be even more informal. They are the one who emphasis "speaking in tongues".
And there are also Quakers who sit silently, unless someone "feels moved by Holy Spirit". It may happen that no one is moved, then they sit in silence for whole time.

Maybe take a chance and visit some Protestant churches?
And Orthodox one! I think that everyone should hear them singing!
 
There are lots of Protestan churches here, perhaps I will visit one. Might be eduational :)
 
stannis said:
As a Catholic who has never attended a Protestant church meeting, what I would like to know is what is the difference between Catholic and Protestant methods of prayer - or are there any? Can anyone help me with this?
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I was brought up a Catholic, but now attend a protestant church.
Our servic is very happy-clappy and free in praise and worship - very different to the formal and organised mass I remember from my childhood and the high Anglican services here in the UK.

Like Duskiness says, it's more personal preference than any reflection on how devoted people are to God.

When I pray alone at home, my prayer style often reflects what I am praying:
standing with my hands raised for God's strength or prostrate in submission to him ... and anything in between.

God bless :)
 
stannis said:
As a Catholic who has never attended a Protestant church meeting, what I would like to know is what is the difference between Catholic and Protestant methods of prayer - or are there any? Can anyone help me with this?
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As has already been said, Protestants are of many different varieities in prayer: standing, sitting, kneeling, jumping about and shouting, laying in bed looking up at the ceiling, or laying prostrate on the ground with face down. It might also be noted that there are variantions based not just on which denominations you are talking about, but also whether it is a time of personal private prayer or as part of corporate worship. For instance, Lutherans generally stand when praying in corporate worship, while Methodists tend to sit.

When I was in seminary, I had a worship professor try to teach us the importance of being aware of our body position in prayer and how it added different senses to the act of praying. He had us pray "The Lord's Prayer" first seated in our chairs, then kneeling at them, then standing with our hands raised above our heads, and then laying prostrate. Same prayer, and yet the emotional aspect of it and the way in which it resonated with one's inner spirit varied greatly from one position to another.

You might try that little experiment yourself.
 

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