Sheik Yusuf Estes, Director of islamtomorrow.com, and National Chaplain WAMY, states: “Concerning the “benefits” which “science” has made clear that one derives from physical positions or movements one assumes in the salah (Prayer), you might note the following:
Standing up straight is a correct position for the spine.
Bowing at a right angle allows a flow of energy from the pituitary gland in the back of the head.
Placing the head on the ground in sujud (prostration) allows a large amount of blood to enter into the brain.
Sitting in the jalsah (sitting position) to say the Tashahhud with the back straight and focusing all one’s attention on the right finger while moving it helps in enhancing the concentration.
I recall back in the 1960’s a program on television called “Today Show”. It had a segment on overcoming a deficiency in proper mental development. The doctor, host as a guest speaker in the program, explained that in modern society, given the fact that people were not getting enough time during the early years of development as a baby to crawl on the ground, he had developed a special exposure and women would be crawling around on the floor doing this exercise which, according to how it was demonstrated on the show, meant their heads were hanging down. He said that this was a necessary part of the proper development of the brain and mental well being.
However, I don’t advise that you use this type of approach in your da`wah. The reason is that it is not established from the Qur’an or the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that you need to give scientific proofs to call people to Islam. Guidance is the main issue in calling to Islam. It is only Allah who guides and it is only Allah who misguides. So, explain Islam the same way that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did and then pray to Allah to guide them.
This can be clarified more further through the hadith narrated by Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Mu`adh to Yemen and said, “Invite the people to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I am Allah’s Messenger, and if they obey you to do so, then enlighten them that Allah has enjoined on them five Prayers in every day and night (in twenty-four hours), and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah has made it obligatory for them to pay the Zakah from their property and it is to be taken from the wealthy among them and given to the poor.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
Salah: Any Physical Benefit?
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