Five Times a Day
I grew up in a household that valued Islam and science (something which might seem like a paradox to a number of atheists). It wasn’t overly religious, and it wasn’t secular either. MTV and Bay Watch weren’t forbidden, yet they weren’t embraced. The focus was mainly on the spiritual aspects of Islam, for I was taught that without a solid spiritual foundation, the rest would be wobbly and misguided.
My parents pray 5 times a day, everyday, and while they encouraged me to do the same as a child, they never forced me to do so against my own will. I was free to make my own choices. Eventually I chose to follow my dad once in a while to the neighborhood mosque, a mosque that was blessed with a young charismatic Imam possessing a very beautiful voice. He had the ability to sing the Koran so beautifully, your mind got swept to a peaceful realm so far away, you never had to worry about a single thing. It was then that I slowly began to develop the habit of praying.
Now at 20, with ever-increasing stress-causing factors, prayer just keeps getting better. Why do I do it? Simple. It’s a form of meditation (when performed right).
It’s not just a set of “up and down” movements. It’s certainly not out of greed for heaven, and it’s surely not out of fear of hell’s eternal inferno. Those are both common views, which in my opinion, are unfortunately over-emphasized and hammered into our heads from a very young age sometimes. They should be minimal reasons for praying.
I pray because it’s calming, because it’s soothing and because it’s relaxing. It feels best when I’m not in a hurry. It feels absolutely best when performed as if it’s the last prayer I’ll ever have the chance to perform.
Some pop Xanax to relax themselves. Some listen to Bob Marley and smoke marijuana while ignoring all the associated health risks. Others practice a little Yoga. If Islam was a burden, I would have given it up a long time ago, and hence I prefer to pray 5 times a day.
(Cross-posted from The Sudanese Thinker)
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You mean rhythmically reciting it… I think it would be disrespectful to “sing” the Koran
Though hadiths and stories of the Prophet are often sung, especially in “nasheedas” or “mawlids.”
Great article Drima. I definitely agree with you that it’s so soothing. People can never understand how a Muslim feels like when he or she prays, especially at a mosque. It’s so beautiful, that feeling of unity and respect when you’re there… and you pray together, like there is no difference at all between you and the people next you, everyone is treated equally and with much love and appreciation. It’s those days that I am most proud to be a Muslim, and pity those who don’t understand how this feels… to dismiss the religion as bullshit without considering how amazing it makes a follower feel, when “practiced right” as you say. People simply don’t understand this.
Yaaay, thanks Esra’a
“I think it would be disrespectful to “sing” the Koran”
As a Muslim, I believe that Koranic recital is a form of music and singing, the most beautiful there is because the words are Divine. It’s such a huge difference when the Imam recites the Koran without tajweed (i.e. “musically”). It doesn’t feel as calming and nice.
My brother has an atheist Spanish friend he’s known for more than 10 years. We consider him as family. The guy used to spend a lot of time in our home during visits.
One day during the early years we discovered he likes listening to Koranic recital, something which surprised us. When we asked why, he said he thoroughly enjoys the calming effect of the “songs”.
I find it amusing and amazing at the same time that an atheist can enjoy listening to Koranic recital. He still does!
I too find Arabic chants…enchanting. The Quran is proof enough that it is divine. The really gifted chanters are amazing. We have some Baha’i prayers too in Persian and Arabic that are really nice to hear. I tried learning how to chant but I gave up…my voice was just not up to it.
I find it amusing and amazing at the same time that an atheist can enjoy listening to Koranic recital.
Hey, I’m an atheist, and I’m a huge fan of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Don’t know what the hell he’s singing about, but it doesn’t matter.
I really, really love the Baha’i chorale here (look at the audio selections on the right hand side.)
“Hey, I’m an atheist, and I’m a huge fan of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.”
Well I guess Mr. Spanish is not alone then.