Namaz, Yoga and Gymnastic Exercises
As has been pointed out by many authorities, Salaat which is the Arabic word for Namaz can also be said to have been derived from SILAA which is a noun of the verb WASAL, denoting meeting. This meaning is quite appropriate as, in Namaz, the process it to lose oneself in the oneness of God. Also, there is the saying of the holy Prophet (Peace be on Him) that you should perform Namaz as if you were looking at God. If you cannot achieve it, at least offer Namaz as if He were lookign at you. Incidentally, the word YOGA is derived from the Sanskrit root YUJ which also means meeting. Of the various schools of Yoga known in India, the asanas of Hath Yoga and postures in Namaz are observed to have clear common features.
Some of the Yogasanas are easy and some others are difficult to perform differing according to individual cases requiring expert guidance. In the case of Namaz, it is a standardised and versatile form not difficult for anyone to perform. It is so composite as to contain all movements providing the best treatement for patients with different ailments as well as it endows and supplements the resistance power of healthy persons. If scientifically and statistically worked out, the strain of Namaz on a person will be on an average about 12% to 13% against that of Yogasanas in varying degrees according to the individuals.
Various postures to be performed during Namaz greatly resemble Yogasanas. It must be stressed here that Yogasanas as Namaz are not meant to be performed merely in a spirit of gymnastics or physical exercises. And, therefore, like Namaz, they do the work of greasing and oiling the God-gifted machine the human body. All types of machines small or big need greasing, oiling and servicing without which their efficient working is seriously impaired. in fact, Namaz generates inner energy, vitality and stamina, contrary to the bodily strength created by performing gymnastic exercises. Yogasanas and Namaz consume much less energy than exercise and therefore are much less tiresome. The most notable features is that in Namaz and Yogasanas a new form of energy, known as bio-energy in Western countries, is generated as a result of which one feels buoyant, joyful and enlightened after performing them. These are the fundamental differences between Yogasanas and Namaz on the one hand and physical exercises on the other; and the similarity of Namaz to Yogasanas.
In Namaz there are a total of forty eight Rakaats (Rakaat means a standard unit of Namaz) out of which seventeen Rakats are compulsory.
Thus Namaz divided into five small units takes only 50 minutes of a day benefitting the body and mind, giving mental peace and spiritual bliss to the regular and systematic performer. As regards the 50 minutes duration referred to above, it is seen that in the present-day world, which is full of engagements, struggle and strains a person regularly offering Namaz thus tries to snatch away approximately ten minutes at a prescribed schedule of intervals, automatically but uncon-sciously cultivating the habit of puntuality and making himself time conscious, planning his day-long activities between the timings of offering prayers, resulting in a well-disciplined life.
Another feature of Namaz is also noteworthy. No doubt prayer in any religion is meant to make one remember. The Almighty atleast for a short while. So does Namaz. But Namaz offers something more than that, Wuzu, the prelude to Namaz, commences with prayer to God. The process Wuzu is detailed in a later chapter "Ablution Prior to Namaz, Cleanliness and Hygience.
Recitation of prayers throughout (Wuzu to conclusion) besides including concentration, unfailingly leads to regular exhalationand inhalation. These processes excellently help the lungs to contract and expand in the desired way and turn out to be one of the best exercise without any extra strain on the lungs and help the blood to get sufficiently recuperated for the body's welfare.
Unfortunately, in modern times, there is a growing tendency to perform Namaz as a formal routine, without trying to understand its inherent principles for intellectual development which lead to all-round physical fitness, mental peace and spiritual bliss. As a result many of its innumerable benefits are lost and there is an inclination to consider Namaz as a relic of ancient and outdated ideology. It may be confidently said that such a trend is not only harmful to the individual but also to society as a whole to which we are duty bound. A decade of long, regular and constructive study of Namaz and close acquaintance with yogic exercises of Indian traditions, about which much work is being carried out here and in Western countries, go to prove that Namaz is not a relic at all but rather it is a boon with innumerable gains.
Viewed on a synthetic basis, man is nothing more than a machine with motor or sets of motors equipped with batteries. As every mechanic knows, the batteries and machines are required to be recharged and lubricated from time to time. A close study will reveal that the timings of prayers have been fixed after assessing the periods when the body, mind and soul are in a most receptive condition and rquire servicing and recharging. The regular day to day rhythmic offerign of Namaz replenishes the important tissues of the human body and provides extra power for action to dedicate ourselves towards achieving higher values and the real objective expected of life and creation with the blessing of The Almighty.
In China, many ailments are treated through ‘acupuncture' method. The theory behind this treatment is based on the principle that the human body carries current and that the thumb of the right foot is its starting point. This current can be focused in various parts of the body at changing intervals of time during the 24 hours. Any impartial observer will find that the timings of Namaz are also so scientifically devised that it is also kept on changing in accordance with the sunrise and sunset allowing movements of various parts of the body at certain timings. Incidentally or otherwise, the principle employed in the theory of passing of current through the body and its significance is well manifested in Namaz.
In every Rakaat there are seven postures, which are the most creative ones and contains the Yogasanas in a nutshell. In short, these seven movements if performed Precisely and Diligently as described in the religious code (Itteba-e-Rasool), tone up each and every limb and systematically regularise and tone up all the systems of the human factory. Thus, Namaz performed even without knowledge and consideration of its inherent benefits, reacts in its own way towards betterment of human life as a whole.
In fact offering Namaz is sub-consciously performing the exercise of Yoga. The performance of the series of seven* different standardised postures as detailed hereunder make one Rakaat, and in every 24 hours, 17 obligatory Rakaats are to be performed. Thus the total number of seven postures repeated 17 times comes to 119 as the following tabulation* reveals:
Postures Total Postures
Daily 119 x 30 days = 3,570 monthly
Monthly 3570 x 12 months = 42,840 yearly
Yearly 42,840 x 40 years = 17,13,600
average life time.
In conclusion, if a Namazee performs in his average lifetime all the 17,13,600 postures (Arkans) strictly and according to the religious code from the age of ten years, obviously no disease can strike him. The entire nervous system is revitalised and purified in such a way that neither ill-feelings nor unhealthy thoughts can occupy the mind of the Namazee.
Some of the Yogasanas are easy and some others are difficult to perform differing according to individual cases requiring expert guidance. In the case of Namaz, it is a standardised and versatile form not difficult for anyone to perform. It is so composite as to contain all movements providing the best treatement for patients with different ailments as well as it endows and supplements the resistance power of healthy persons. If scientifically and statistically worked out, the strain of Namaz on a person will be on an average about 12% to 13% against that of Yogasanas in varying degrees according to the individuals.
Various postures to be performed during Namaz greatly resemble Yogasanas. It must be stressed here that Yogasanas as Namaz are not meant to be performed merely in a spirit of gymnastics or physical exercises. And, therefore, like Namaz, they do the work of greasing and oiling the God-gifted machine the human body. All types of machines small or big need greasing, oiling and servicing without which their efficient working is seriously impaired. in fact, Namaz generates inner energy, vitality and stamina, contrary to the bodily strength created by performing gymnastic exercises. Yogasanas and Namaz consume much less energy than exercise and therefore are much less tiresome. The most notable features is that in Namaz and Yogasanas a new form of energy, known as bio-energy in Western countries, is generated as a result of which one feels buoyant, joyful and enlightened after performing them. These are the fundamental differences between Yogasanas and Namaz on the one hand and physical exercises on the other; and the similarity of Namaz to Yogasanas.
In Namaz there are a total of forty eight Rakaats (Rakaat means a standard unit of Namaz) out of which seventeen Rakats are compulsory.
Thus Namaz divided into five small units takes only 50 minutes of a day benefitting the body and mind, giving mental peace and spiritual bliss to the regular and systematic performer. As regards the 50 minutes duration referred to above, it is seen that in the present-day world, which is full of engagements, struggle and strains a person regularly offering Namaz thus tries to snatch away approximately ten minutes at a prescribed schedule of intervals, automatically but uncon-sciously cultivating the habit of puntuality and making himself time conscious, planning his day-long activities between the timings of offering prayers, resulting in a well-disciplined life.
Another feature of Namaz is also noteworthy. No doubt prayer in any religion is meant to make one remember. The Almighty atleast for a short while. So does Namaz. But Namaz offers something more than that, Wuzu, the prelude to Namaz, commences with prayer to God. The process Wuzu is detailed in a later chapter "Ablution Prior to Namaz, Cleanliness and Hygience.
Recitation of prayers throughout (Wuzu to conclusion) besides including concentration, unfailingly leads to regular exhalationand inhalation. These processes excellently help the lungs to contract and expand in the desired way and turn out to be one of the best exercise without any extra strain on the lungs and help the blood to get sufficiently recuperated for the body's welfare.
Unfortunately, in modern times, there is a growing tendency to perform Namaz as a formal routine, without trying to understand its inherent principles for intellectual development which lead to all-round physical fitness, mental peace and spiritual bliss. As a result many of its innumerable benefits are lost and there is an inclination to consider Namaz as a relic of ancient and outdated ideology. It may be confidently said that such a trend is not only harmful to the individual but also to society as a whole to which we are duty bound. A decade of long, regular and constructive study of Namaz and close acquaintance with yogic exercises of Indian traditions, about which much work is being carried out here and in Western countries, go to prove that Namaz is not a relic at all but rather it is a boon with innumerable gains.
Viewed on a synthetic basis, man is nothing more than a machine with motor or sets of motors equipped with batteries. As every mechanic knows, the batteries and machines are required to be recharged and lubricated from time to time. A close study will reveal that the timings of prayers have been fixed after assessing the periods when the body, mind and soul are in a most receptive condition and rquire servicing and recharging. The regular day to day rhythmic offerign of Namaz replenishes the important tissues of the human body and provides extra power for action to dedicate ourselves towards achieving higher values and the real objective expected of life and creation with the blessing of The Almighty.
In China, many ailments are treated through ‘acupuncture' method. The theory behind this treatment is based on the principle that the human body carries current and that the thumb of the right foot is its starting point. This current can be focused in various parts of the body at changing intervals of time during the 24 hours. Any impartial observer will find that the timings of Namaz are also so scientifically devised that it is also kept on changing in accordance with the sunrise and sunset allowing movements of various parts of the body at certain timings. Incidentally or otherwise, the principle employed in the theory of passing of current through the body and its significance is well manifested in Namaz.
In every Rakaat there are seven postures, which are the most creative ones and contains the Yogasanas in a nutshell. In short, these seven movements if performed Precisely and Diligently as described in the religious code (Itteba-e-Rasool), tone up each and every limb and systematically regularise and tone up all the systems of the human factory. Thus, Namaz performed even without knowledge and consideration of its inherent benefits, reacts in its own way towards betterment of human life as a whole.
In fact offering Namaz is sub-consciously performing the exercise of Yoga. The performance of the series of seven* different standardised postures as detailed hereunder make one Rakaat, and in every 24 hours, 17 obligatory Rakaats are to be performed. Thus the total number of seven postures repeated 17 times comes to 119 as the following tabulation* reveals:
Postures Total Postures
Daily 119 x 30 days = 3,570 monthly
Monthly 3570 x 12 months = 42,840 yearly
Yearly 42,840 x 40 years = 17,13,600
average life time.
In conclusion, if a Namazee performs in his average lifetime all the 17,13,600 postures (Arkans) strictly and according to the religious code from the age of ten years, obviously no disease can strike him. The entire nervous system is revitalised and purified in such a way that neither ill-feelings nor unhealthy thoughts can occupy the mind of the Namazee.
