Islam

*Please read it with respect! Thank you!😊*

Let's join for a Friday Prayer together in the Mosque!

Salaam, Hello everyone 😊✨

First of all, thank you SO much for coming here to visit this page!

Let me show you all the beauty of the Islam religion, what a Friday prayer is like, what the culture of the religion is, what the customs and the reasons behind them is. I hope you will find it interesting, it will create a few "WAOW" reactions, because honestly, for me it was amazing to get to know about everything I'm about to share with you All! 😄

Please note that so far it's the Budapest Mosque that I have visited, some mosques may - for sure - looks different.

Hope you will enjoy it very much! 🤍

Let's start with one interesting fact: have you ever been wondering - or noticed - why is it called Friday Prayer, why is Friday the holy day in Islam? Friday (Jumu'ah) is the holiest day for Muslims - a day for congregational prayers and it is seen as a weekly gathering for spiritual reflection, community, and worship. Friday is seen as a day filled with blessings, mercy, and forgiveness. It is believed that on this day, Allah (God in arabic) grants special favors and He answers prayers more readily. This day emphasizes the sense of unity and community among Muslims.

Only a lovely extra information if you ever visit a mosque (or meet a friend) - when you enter the mosque say Salaam or Assalaamu 'alaykum meaning "Peace" or "Peace be upon you", it is a way of saying hello to each other; when you are saying goodbye say "ma'a assalaama". You might have also heard Alhamdulillah which means "Praise and thanks be to God" or Allahu Akbar which means "Allah is greater".
(In my opinion these phrases are the sweetest way of showing respect and love to one another!)

Prayer times:

If you didn't know, here is another interesting thing about Islam: Muslims pray five times a day:

Fajr (Dawn Prayer): It begins at dawn, before sunsrise. Fajr is a time of spiritual renewal and dedication to God at the start of the day.
Dhuhr (Midday Prayer): Typically around noon to mid-afternoon, after the sun has passed its zenith. Dhuhr helps muslims to pause from daily activities to remember and thank God.
On Friday muslims gather in the mosques to pray the Dhuhr- Midday Prayer together.
Asr (Afternoon Prayer): Late afternoon, before sunset. Maintains spiritual awereness and connection during the busy afternoon hours.
Maghrib (Sunset Prayer): Immediately after sunset. Marks the end of the day, affering gratitude as night begins.
Isha (Night Prayer): After darkness has fully settled in the evening. it's a time of reflection and seeking peace before rest.

Benefits:

Physical health:
Stress Relief & Inner Peace - In Islam prayer involves specific physical postures, breathing and focus on recitation and reflection, whoch can be meditative and calming.This practice can reduce stress, anxiety and promote mental well-being. Movements during the prayer (standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting) engage multiple muscle groups, stretch the spine, the neck, thights, calves and others, improving overall flexibility and promoting good posture! Regular prayer can help maintain the health of joints, muscles and bones.
Circulation: The various positions can enhance blood flow to different parts of the body, including the brain. This increased circulation can aid in oxygenating tissues and organs, supporting their function.
Mental health: Salah (prayer in arabic) requires concentration and presence of mind, which improves mental focus and cognitive function over time. Slow rhythmic movements and deep breathing can activate the body's relaxation response which reduces stress hormones like cortisol and can lead to a calming effect, which is similar to meditation. Most importantly helps to stay in connection with Allah.

Extra benefit:

the discipline of praying at the set times helps regulate daily routines, including sleep patterns & help to set a natural rhythm that aligns with the body's circadiac rhythms.

What is Wudu?

Before prayers, muslims do Wudu. Wudu is ritual wash of hands, face, arms and feet to maintain physical purity before the prayer which helps the spiritual purity. On the picture you can see the ladies' room - don't worry I didn't visit the men's room, however for men the same opportinities for physical purity is given.

On the wall is written "don't waste water and electricity" - for muslims enviroment protection is important as The Quran advises against wastefulness, also it is a way of showing respect for creation, reflection on nature as a way to understand the greatness of Allah. Respecting and protecting the enviroment is a way to honor the Creator.

Required dress code in the Mosque

(Yes, that's me on the photo hehe & Yes, I got help to amend the hijab!)

Islam teaches about modesty, respect & spiritual focus!

Both men and women expected to wear modest loose-fitting clothes & Hijab for women. For men cover atleast from the navel to the knees, for women advised to fully cover.(for example me on the photo with the whole arms covered too.)

What is the reason?

Modesty: dressing modestly helps create an enviroment conductive to worship & free from distractions related appearance.
Respect: Dressing appropriately shows respect for the sanctity os the mosque and the communal nature of worship.
Cleanliness and Purity: Clean and modest attire aligns with the broader Islamic practice of maintaining purity in all aspects of life, particularly in prayer.
Equality and humility: It reduces visible differences related to wealth, status, or personal style, emphasizing that everyone is equal before God.
Focus on Spirituality: helps to minimize distrations and allows worshippers to focus on their prayers and connections with God.

Salah/Prayers in the Mosque

1st of all a very important fact about praying in the mosques - out of respect and cleanliness, you have to take off your shoes before entering (here in Budapest before entering the praying rooms).
Men and women are praying in seperate rooms (& men are usually praying in bigger rooms, the reason behind it is for men Friday prayer in the Moqsue is obligation, for women and kids it is not, but they have to pray at home)
In this room the rugs are facing Mecca as people have to pray into the direction of Mecca.
People sit on the rug (no, it is not uncomfortably 😊) out of respect, purity and spiritual focus - but as you can see on the photo, chair is also acceptable for example for elder people.
It is time when you have the opportunity to listen to the Imam (in Christianity called priest), pray, focus on your spirituality, do namaz (the 5 time prayer) & pray together in community.
The prayer starts with standing up, raising your hands up to your ears and say "Allahu Akbar" which means "Allah is greater", meaning Allah is greater than everything in existence. It is a reminder to Muslims that Allah is greater than all other thoughts and actions.

Some rules and reasons behind them:

No alcohol: I'm sure some of us heard that in Islam alcohol is forbidden - if not, let me tell you all why:
Alcohol and intoxiants are forbidden in Islam due to its impact on the state of mind, can lead to harmful behaviour, which contradicts the values of self-control and responsibility in Islam. It is also super unhealthy as it affects:

liver - the liver has to work hard to detoxify alcohol and prolonged, also heavy drinking overwhelmes its capacity and leading to permament damages
brain & nervous system - as alcohol affects the central nervous system it can lead to slow reactions and coordination issues. In long-term alcohol can cause memory problems, mood disorders and increase the risk of mental health issues like depression and anxiety - why? Because alcohol disrupts neurotransmitters, the chemicals that the brain uses to communicate.
cardiovascular health - heavy drinking causes high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, it can weaken the heart muscle and increases th risk of stroke and heart diseases. Why? Because alcohol increases blood pressure and triglyceride levels, which can contribute to the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries and leading to heart problems.
risk of cancer - alcohol can damage DNA in cells and it is metabolized into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that can also contribute to cancer development

(It is only a couple of examples)

Pork is fobidden: "He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the fresh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah" - it is a verse from The Quran (Holy Book in Islam, Words of Allah). In Islam spiritual purity is essential, and certain foods are considered impure! However, there are also practical reasonsrelated to health, as pork can carry parasites, bacteria, and viruses that can cause illnesses in humans if not properly handled and cooked. As Allah's words.
SInce violence is fordibbed in Islam, only certain animals are permitted to be slaughtered for food (halal) and this is done with the permission of Allah. Even in process of slaughter the animal has to be treated humanely and must minimize its suffering.

Poligamy (More than one wife): now first of all, poligamy is not a mandatory in Islam. It is allowed, but not mandatory! Most muslim marriages are monogamous (only one wife)! Poligamy in Islam only and only acceptable if the man can treat their wifes and kids fairly and equally (financially, emotionally, equal rights in terms of living condition, time spent, so basically fairly and equally in any possible ways).

The reason behind poligamy: During times of war, many men were killed, leaving behind widows and orphans who were vulnerable and needed support. Poligamy was a practical solution to ensure that widow women and their children were cared for, providing them with financial security, social status and protection.

It is not an Islam stereotype by the way, as in some society, poligamy can serve as a way to balance the gender rotios and ensuring that more women have the opportunity for marriage and companionship, also before Islam, poligamy existed in many other cultures and religions as well.

Islam is one of the world's major monotheistic religions, founded in the 7th Century CE by the Prophet Muhammad in the Arabian Peninsula.
The basics of Islam:

The Five Pillars of Islam:

Shahada: The declaration of faith, affirming that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger and the last Prophet he sent.
Salah: Titual prayer perfomed five times a day facing the Kaaba in Mecca.
Zakat: Obligatory charity or almsgiving, where Muslims give portion of their wealth to help those in need.
Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan, abstaining from food, drink and other physical needs from dawn to sunset.
Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca, which every Muslim who is physically and financially able must undertake at least once in their lifetime.

The Quran:

The holy book of Islam, believed to be the literal word of Allah as revealed to Muhammad over period of 23 years.
It serves as the ultimate source of guidance for Muslims in matters of faith, morality and law.

Belief in Allah:

Islam teaches the belief in one God, Allah, who is merciful, compassionate and omnipotent. Muslims believe in the oneness of Allah and reject the notion of associating partners with Him.

Prophets and Messengers:

Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers sent by Allah thoughout history to huide humanity, including Adam, Jesus, Moses and Muhammad, amongs others.

Judgement Day:

Muslims believe in the Day of Judgement (Qiyamah), when Allah will securrect and judge all human beings based on their beliefs and deeds.
Those who followed Allah's guidance will be rewarded with paradise, while those who disobeyed will face punishment.

Mosques and Community:

Muslims gather for communal prayers and religious gatherings in mosques, which also serve as centers for education and community activities