Psychological, physical benefits in performing 'shalat'<\/p>\n
By Rita A. Widiadana<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Obligatory prayer shalat, one of the five
\npillars in Islam, and wudhu (ablution) have both spiritual and
\nphysical benefits.<\/p>\n
To perform the prayer, one must be in the state of ritual
\npurity conferred by washing parts of the body in a ritual called
\nwudhu.<\/p>\n
K.H. Noer Muhammad Iskandar, a noted ulema, and Dr. Hembing
\nWijayakusuma, a prominent acupuncturist, explain the
\npsychological and physical benefits of performing wudhu.<\/p>\n
The wudhu consists of the following actions.<\/p>\n
* Running water over the right hand and then the left and
\nwashing the hands by rubbing one over the other three times.<\/p>\n
This action will stimulate important acupuncture points in the
\nhands which relate to the lung and the heart. If the points are
\nfrequently stimulated, blood circulation and the respiratory
\nsystem will function better.<\/p>\n
* Cupping water in the right hand and rinsing the mouth three
\ntimes.<\/p>\n
A study done by famous bacteriologist Dr. Fisius shows there
\nare more than 6 billion live bacteria in human saliva. If we
\nrinse the mouth frequently, we will reduce the possibility of
\nvarious illnesses.<\/p>\n
* Raising water in the cupped right to the nostrils and
\nsqueezing it out with the left, three times.<\/p>\n
One of the nose's function is to distinguish more than 10,000
\nkinds of smells, therefore this organ should be treated
\ncarefully. We breathe through the nose, so we should clean it to
\nremove all dirt.<\/p>\n
* Washing the face three times with both hands.<\/p>\n
There are several significant acupuncture points in a man's
\nface which are related closely to the function of heart, lung,
\nand liver. If the face is regularly washed, these acupuncture
\npoints will be stimulated. The stimulation will directly affect
\nthe works of these three important human organs--heart, liver and
\nlung.<\/p>\n
* Washing the right arm, up to the elbow, three times with the
\nleft hand, and then the left arm up to the elbow three times with
\nthe right.<\/p>\n
* Passing the wetted right hand over the head, first back and
\nthen forward using the left hand to raise the turban or headgear,
\nonce. If both hands are free for this operation, then both wetted
\nhands are passed over the head.<\/p>\n
The action will clean the hair and will indirectly affect
\nbrain activity.<\/p>\n
* Putting the wetted forefingers in the ears, and, with the
\nthumbs behind the lobes, moving both fingers upwards following
\nthe contours of the outer ear, and then from the top of the ear
\ndown along the outer ridge.<\/p>\n
The ear has more than 200 significant acupuncture points that
\nrelate to man's sense organs including smell, sight and touch
\nsystem. They also relate to other significant bodily parts such
\nas the colon, ovarium, genitals and uterus. Frequent stimulation
\nof these points will help the related parts to work better,
\nHembing said.<\/p>\n
* Washing the right foot with the left hand by wiping the
\noutside of the foot with the fingers, palms against the sole,
\nstarting at the heel and moving to the toes; from the toes back
\nwith the palm against the inside of the foot, fingers along the
\nsole, and then up to the ankle. The left foot is wiped by the
\nright hand, palm against the inside, fingers against the sole
\nstarting from the toe down to the heel, then upwards.<\/p>\n
The action will stimulate all nervous systems in the sole of
\nthe foot. The stimulation will help every part of the body to
\nfunction better.<\/p>\n
Shalat<\/p>\n
Shalat consists of series of movements repeated several times.
\nEach series, or cycle of sacred speech and movement, is called
\nrakaah.
\n1. Standing with the feet only slightly apart.
\n2. After the worshiper ends the standing position, he\/she should
\nbow and place his or her hands on his knees. The position is
\ncalled bow (ruku).
\n3. The worshiper should rise back to the standing position and
\nthen perform sujud, touching his\/her head to the ground with both
\npalms on the ground.
\n4. One rises to a seated position. The correct posture for this
\nseated position involves placing the outside of the left foot
\nunderneath oneself, with the right foot crouched and the big toe
\nof the right foot hooked on the ground.<\/p>\n
Shalat not only deals with one's physical and psychological
\nconditions, but it is also related to one's ratio, said Hembing.<\/p>\n
There are several physical advantages to performing shalat.
\nWhen one performs ruku, bows and place hands on one's knees, for
\ninstance. This action, he said, will affect the function of the
\nhuman skeleton, particularly the cervical vertebra, acromion,
\nthoracic vertebra and lumbar vertebra.<\/p>\n
When one performs ruku, he or she will move and stretch the
\nskeleton, and also influence the function of all nervous and
\nmuscle systems from head to toe. This will again enhance blood
\ncirculation throughout the whole body and the function of the
\nheart in general.<\/p>\n
But Hembing said the most important benefit to performing
\nshalat lies in its psychological effect. When one performs
\nshalat, one will be in the state of self-composure.<\/p>\n
K.H. Noer Muhammad Iskandar added that shalat is an act of
\nsubmission of a Moslem to his Creator.<\/p>\n
\"It is true that there are a number of physical benefits to
\nperforming shalat, but there are other significant aspects,\" the
\nulema explained.<\/p>\n
When one performs shalat regularly, one seeks only God's
\nprotection and forgiveness. One is convinced that every problem
\nwill have a solution. One will be grateful for happiness, and
\npatient when one faces various difficulties, the ulema said.<\/p>\n
\"Such a positive way of thinking will surely relieve all
\nroutine and stressful condition. If one can manage his stress,
\none may reduce the chance of suffering from various diseases,\"
\nthe ulema said.<\/p>\n
Stress will boost the growth of cancer and will stimulate
\nother illnesses. Relieving stress is one the important benefits
\nof performing shalat, he added.<\/p>",
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