Author: Dr. Noor Mohammad Mohibi
The Quran: A Miracle Beyond Time- A Study of Its Miraculous Nature (part 103)
Prayer within the Framework of the Quran’s Miraculous Nature
In Islamic thought, salah (prayer) is the pillar of religion, the pinnacle of servitude, and the highest expression of the servant’s connection with his Lord. Yet the greatness of prayer is not confined solely to its devotional and otherworldly dimension. Alongside its spiritual effects, this divine obligation carries profound physical, psychological, and even social consequences.
One of the remarkable aspects of the Quran’s miraculous nature is that it legislates acts of worship that are in complete harmony with human nature and the precise laws governing the human body, an alignment that modern science has only partially uncovered centuries later.
In this section, prayer is examined not merely as an act of worship, but as a comprehensive system for physical and mental well-being, a system ordained by the Creator of humankind, who is fully aware of the secrets of both body and soul.
Prayer and Physical Health: Hidden Wisdoms within Ritual Movements
The relationship between prayer and physical health is among the most refined and compelling topics within the field of the scientific miraculousness of the Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah (PBUH). Although a comprehensive examination would require an independent volume, even a brief reference to certain scientific findings suffices to reveal the depth of this divine wisdom.
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Prayer and Spinal Health
One noteworthy observation is that chronic spinal disorders are rarely found among individuals who regularly perform prayer. The balanced movements of salah (prayer), standing (qiyam), bowing (ruku), and prostration (sujud), constitute a form of continuous, rhythmic, and well-proportioned exercise for the spinal column.
These movements preserve the flexibility of the vertebrae, relieve uneven mechanical pressure on the joints, and help prevent joint inflammation. Consequently, joint stiffness, arthritis, and many musculoskeletal pains are significantly less prevalent among those who consistently observe prayer.
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Prayer and Blood Circulation
Through its regular bodily movements, prayer greatly contributes to improved blood circulation. The repeated transition of the body from standing to bowing and prostration facilitates balanced blood flow throughout the body. As a result, the following conditions are far less common among those who pray regularly:
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Abnormal stagnation in the lower limbs
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Deep vein blood clot formation
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Blood pooling in the pelvic region
Such circulatory congestion, common among sedentary individuals, is a major contributing factor to hemorrhoids, certain hemorrhagic conditions, and pelvic disorders.
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Prayer and the Respiratory System
Ruku and sujud induce deep and forced exhalations, which play a crucial role in expelling carbon dioxide from the lungs. Accumulation of this gas is one of the primary causes of breathlessness and chronic fatigue.
By simultaneously activating both the lungs and the heart, prayer enhances respiratory capacity and improves the overall efficiency of the respiratory system.
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Prostration (Sujud) and Brain Health
Among the most remarkable physical effects of prayer is the impact of prostration (sujud) on brain health. In the posture of prostration, due to the force of gravity, blood naturally and involuntarily flows toward the brain. This increased cerebral blood supply provides enhanced nourishment for brain cells.
Many forms of forgetfulness, mental confusion, and even certain types of senile dementia that appear in old age are caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. For this reason, phenomena such as cognitive decline and age-related dementia are noticeably less prevalent among those who regularly perform prayer.
Prayer: A Source of Tranquility for Body and Soul
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) alluded to this profound reality with a brief yet deeply meaningful statement. It is reported in a hadith that he said: «يَا بِلَالُ، أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ، أَرِحْنَا بِهَا [1]. » Translation: “O Bilal, establish the prayer and grant us rest through it.”
This expression clearly demonstrates that prayer is not a source of fatigue, but rather a source of comfort and serenity, a tranquility that encompasses both the body and the soul.
It must be emphasized, however, that divine commands cannot be reduced to a single benefit or a solitary wisdom. Prayer contains countless manifest and hidden wisdoms; what modern science uncovers today is but a drop from the vast ocean of divine wisdom.
To be continued…
Reference:
- Sunan Abidawud, Book on the Night Prayer (Sal at al-Atamah), hadith no. 4985, vol. 4, p. 453, commentary Awn al-Mabud.
