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The Advantages of Sajada (Prostration)

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The Advantages of Sajada (Prostration)
Saffiyah
04/24/02 at 12:17:23
[slm]

Dr. Muhammad Karim Beebani, Saudi Gazette
>(The Muslim World weekly July 7, 2000)

Sajada has plenty of medical advantages
>Sajada is a unique position or stance in the regular
>prayers, which a Muslim is supposed to offer at least
>five times a day. Although the basic purpose of
>obligatory prayers is not to provide an exercise for
>people yet it is being increasingly recognized that it
>has plenty of medical advantages for the human body.
>Here it is worth mentioning that Holy Prophet Muhammad
>(peace be upon him) has mentioned in a hadith in Ibn
>Maja that prayer is a cure for many diseases.
>The fact is that a person who offers his prayers
>regularly that too in the mosque is protected from
>many diseases which he many not even know. The
>position of Sajda in which the forehead touches the
>earth is exclusively associated with the Muslim form
>of prayer. It is the climax of a Muslim's prayer and
>as mentioned in a Hadith a Muslim is nearest to Allah
>in this position. Abu Huraira (R) reported in Bukhari
>that the messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: "The nearest
>a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating
>himself, so make supplication (in this state)"
>
>Syeda Aisha Siddiqa (R) narrates that Holy Prophet
>(pbuh) used to prolong the prostration to such an
>extent that one could recite fifty verses (of the
>Qur'an) before he would lift his head, (Bukhari). In
>another Hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik (R) Holy
>Prophet (pbuh) advised Muslims to perform Rukuu
>(bowing) and Sajda properly.In another Hadith he
>(pbuh) advised to perform Sajda and Bowing calmly and
>to get up only when the body has come to ease.
>Inupplicated for the victory. He (pbuh) also performed
>long bowing (Rukuu) and Sajda in the special prayers
>at the time of eclipse.
>Hence the first positive effect upon a person who
>prostrates or does Sajda is that he comes nearest to
>Allah and hence in that condition he can supplicate.
>This is a great psychological advantage and it gives
>relief to the person concerned as life is full of
>worries and in this position he gets at least a
>transient refuge from the agonizing problems. When a
>person goes to the position of prostration Sajda his
>whole body is in active motion. This position can be
>considered as a mini dive as the musalli (one who
>offers prayer) goes to rest his forehead on the ground
>while his hands are placed at the sides. This brings
>most of the body muscles if not all in active motion
>and serves to give them some exercise.
>
>The hands are then specifically stretched out and
>thence the forearm as well as arm muscles are supposed
>to bear the weight in the Sajda position. It gives
>good exercise to the muscles of the upper limb. Holy
>Prophet (pbuh) in a hadith advised not to put the
>forearms flatly on the ground but to keep them
>elevated above ground and this is better for the
>forearm and arm muscles.
>
>Sajda is a unique position as this is the only
>position in which brain (or head) becomes lower than
>the heart and hence for the first time the blood
>gushes towards the brain with full force whereas in
>all other positions (even when lying) brain is above
>the heart when it has to work against gravity to send
>blood to the brain.
>
>In the position of Sajda due to the increased blood
>supply the brain receive more nourishment and it has
>good effect upon memory, vision, hearing,
>concentration, psyche and all other cognitive
>abilities.
>
>People who offer their prayers regularly have more
>will power and can cope with the difficulties of life
>in a much better manner. They have less incidence of
>headaches, psychological problems and other defects of
>cognitive function. In the unique position of Sajda
>the neck muscles get best exercise. They have to bear
>the load when the forehead lies at the ground hence
>the neck muscles become stronger. One can note the
>tense pressure at the neck muscles in the position of
>Sajda specially the active motion of the neck and the
>facial muscles when the head is being lifted. (e.g.
>one inch above the ground) and it will be noticed that
>they are in a very active motion.
>
>More strong cervical muscles mean the cervical
>vertebra will be better protected. Strength of
>cervical muscles is important as the head rests upon
>cervical vertebra supported by cervical musculature.
>Infact head performs rotator movements over the
>cervical vertebra. In any accident cervical neck
>examination is especially important to the physicians
>because of its extraordinary importance.
>
>It is uncommon that a person who offers his prayers
>regularly will get the usual neck myalgias or cervical
>spondylosis as the neck muscles particularly become
>very strong due to the 34 sajdas offered daily in five
>prayers.
>
>Position of Sajda is also said to be a good treatment
>for the retroversion of uterus, a disease of women.
>Most of us do not know that the position of Sajda is
>an excellent exercise for men (for manpower). It may
>be a good information to the Viagra dependents. While
>getting up from Sajda the perinneal muscles are one of
>those muscles which have to pull the trunk back to
>sitting position and they contract actively.
>
>Similarly while standing up from Sajda the perennial
>muscles are again actively mobilised and this gives
>much strength to the muscles important for manpower.
>
>The unique position of Sajda also has positive effects
>upon the back muscles as while going into Sajda and
>getting up from it the back muscle contract actively
>and they become stronger.
>
>Probably it is because of this reason that a person
>who is regular in prayers will uncommonly get
>backache.
>
>After performing Sajda either the musalli stands up or
>he sits to pray Attahiyyat. In this position the
>person sits calmly while his hands rest at his thighs
>which are folded backwards. This is much similar to
>the relaxation position of Yoga and has soothing
>effect upon one's health and mentation.
>
>Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to elongate the
>position of Rukuu (bending) and Sajda positions and he
>(pbuh) advised to do so. In the light of the above
>facts it is appropriate to say that from medical point
>of view as well this advice is a golden rule for
>health.
>
>Finally it must be reminded that prayer is not meant
>to be an exercise. However there are a lot of medical
>advantages associated with it. Still the best blessing
>is the peace of mind, which a person derives by the
>accomplishment of his duty to Allah by fulfilling an
>obligation.


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