Well-known Islamic scholar MJ Mohammed Iqbal writes about the significance of the Holy Quran and Islamic teachings during the month of Ramadan through the columns of The Gulf Today. Readers may send their feedback to iqbal@mjmiqbal.com

PRAYERS are to be established in a joyful manner both in mind and heart without any hurriedness at appointed times, said great imam Syed Khaleel Awn Mowlana Al Hasaniyul Al Hashimiy.

There are three aspects to the salat (prayer): Thought, word, and action. Before beginning the salat, one must clean oneself of any physical dirt on the body or clothing, or on the place where one intends to pray. At this same time, one must drive out all negative or evil thoughts and cleanse the mind to concentrate fully upon the glory of Allah the Almighty.

This preparation, called wudu (ablution), consists of washing the hands, rinsing the mouth (and brushing teeth if necessary), snuffing water up the nose, wiping the face from brow to chin and from ear to ear, washing the forearms from the wrists up to the elbows, wiping over the head and the back of the neck, and, finally washing the feet up to the ankle bone. Each of these washings is repeated three times and must be done in the sequence described.

The salat is done by assuming eight separate positions of the body and reciting various Qur'anic verses with each position. Positions, actions and benefits which are described below by a famous medical practitioner Dr. Ashraf Nizami.

In the first stage, the person who offers salat, brings hands, palms open, up to ears, and places thumbs behind earlobes, as "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) is uttered and the benefits are the body feels relieved of weight owing to even distribution on both feet, straightening back improves posture. Mind is brought under control of intellect. Vision is sharpened by focusing upon floor. Muscles of upper and lower back are loosened. Higher and lower centres of brain are united to form singleness.

In the next stage, the performer places hands, right over left, just near the navel which would give beneficial effect of extension of concentration, causes further relaxation of legs and back, generates feelings of humanity, modesty and piety. In the recital of the above verses, virtually all of the sounds that occur in Arabic are uttered, stimulating dispersal of all of the ninety-nine drive attributes in perfectly controlled degrees throughout the body, mind and soul. The sound vibration of the long vowels stimulates the heart, thyroid, pineal gland, pituitary, adrenal glands, and lungs, purifying and uplifting them all.

In the next stage, the performer of salat bends at waist, placing palms on knees with fingers spread. Back is parallel to ground, such that if a glass of water were on the back, it would not spill. Eyes are looking down, directly ahead. Do not bend knees. Blood is pumped into upper torso. Tones the muscles of stomach, abdomen, and kidneys. Over time, this posture improves the personality, generating sweet kindness and inner harmony.

In the next stage, the performer of salat will be rising from the bending position of "ruku" recite "Samia Llahu li-man Hamidha." "Rabbana Wa Lakal-hamd" (Allah hears the one who praises Him; Our Lord, Yours is the praise). Then return to standing position, arms at side and the beneficial effects are the fresh blood moved up into torso in previous posture returns to its original state, carrying away toxins. Body regains relaxation and releases tension.

In the next stage, the performer of salat will place both hands on knees and lower slowly and easily into a kneeling position. Then touch the head and hands to the ground, the followings seven body parts should be in contact with the ground: forehead, two palms, two knees, toes of both feet.

The beneficial effects are; knees form a right angle allowing stomach muscles to develop and prevents growth of flabbiness in midsection, increases flow of blood into upper regions of body, especially the head (including eyes, ears, and nose) and lungs; allows mental toxins to be cleansed by blood. Maintains proper position if foetus in pregnant women. Reduces high blood pressure. Increases elasticity of joints.

Annihilates egotism and vanity. Increases patience and reliance upon God. Increases spiritual stations and produces high psychic energy throughout body. This posture of supreme submission and humility is the essence of worship.

In the next stage the prayer performer will be reciting "Allaht Akbar," rise from previous positions and assume the sitting stage. The beneficial effects are; for men, the heel of the right foot is curled up and the weight of the leg and part of the body rests upon it. This aids detoxification of the liver and stimulates peristaltic action of the large intensive. Women keep both feet, soles up, underneath their bodies. The body returns to even greater relaxation and the posture assists digestion by forcing the contents of the stomach downward.

In the further stage, motions of above two are repeated exactly and the beneficial effects are repetition of the deep prostration within a few seconds cleanses the respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems. Gives experience of lightness of body and emotional happiness. Oxygenation of entire body is accomplished. Balances sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

In the next and last action for one unit is that with head in prostration, lift head away from the floor and bring the torso backward. Placing hands on knees, reverse the procedure for going down, and, while again reciting "Allahu Akbar," return to the standing position. This completes one 'rak'at' of (unit) prayer.

Another important point regarding this practice, simply as a physical activity, is that people of all ages can do it. It is smooth and easy and in time becomes the greatest physical development that is possible.

In the course of one day, the minimum performance consists of seventeen units of prayer, composed of nineteen separate positions during each rak'at. This is a total of 119 physical positions per day, or 3,570 postures monthly, or 42,840 postures yearly.

In an average adult lifetime of forty years, 1,713,600 postures are performed. Anyone so doing is protected and inoculated against a host of ailments and diseases, such as heart attack and other cardiac problems; emphysema arthritis; bladder, kidney, and bowel problems, viral and bacterial infections, eye diseases, loss of memory and senility, sciatica and spinal ailments, and many, many others. This practice can be done virtually anywhere, requires no special equipment and costs nothing at all.