Why do muslims spend so much time on the floor praying? instead of with their families?

Question

My partner has an aunty who converted to muslim a few years ago... she prays 5 times a day, on the floor... she has detached herself from the family... the family dont believe there is a God, they dont believe there isnt a God either... perfect prey for prechers i spose... anyway... the question im really asking is, why choose to pray 5 times a day, on the floor like some kind of slave to God, and not spend that time with the family where things really matter? Is it Gid's wish to have a family in a state on non-communication 5 times a day? Whats wrong with just the one prayer a day? Will God punish her if she misses a prayer? Will God punish her for spending more time with her family and less time on the floor? Any muslims, please feel free to educate me because i need to understand. I dont want to offend anyone and i apologise if i have. Thank you.

PS Im an athiest, and totally open to new ideas if people would just stop blasting me for my personal beliefs

Answer 1

Don't listen to all these guys. To judge you for such a question is just as bad as what they accuse you of.

They are supposed to give thanks to God several times day. To them, God is first. It is just another religion that interferes with day to day life, just a little more then some others.

Answer 2

Each pray takes 5 minutes so that is a maximum of 25 minutes a day. She is hardly detatching from her family for the sake fo 25 minutes a day and 5 of those is when the rest of her family is asleep in bed. I am a muslim my parents and siblings are not and it does not affect our relationship in any way. Its a coffee break amount of time, its a chatting to your neighbour amount of time, its a walking the dog amount of time. Do people that spent this time doing these things away from there family every day considered as detatching from there loved ones? of course not dont be silly. Can her family not give her 5 minutes to pray? does she need to be with them 24 hours a day to be a good communicator with her family? We pray in differnt positions. Standing, bowing and then on the floor. This is just a symbol to show that Allah is the highest above all. This is how all muslim pray. We are clean when praying and the floor we pray on must be clean when praying you make it sound like she is lying face down on the floor like a crazy person. At the end of the day we are all responsible for ourselves and on judgment day her family is of no help to her and she is doing the best thing she can. Her faimly should support her and be happy she is doing something positive with her life. Would they be more happy if she spent that 25 minutes at a bar drinking alcohol and eyed up by strange men or being at home being peaceful and praying to Allah giving thanks and praise to him? I know which one i would prefer my daughter doing.

Answer 3

I am not Muslim but the answer is pretty obvious to me. When you pray you are in communication with God. And you are devoting a certain amount of time per day to this communication, if you have others around you there is a distraction, There fore you are not there in body mind and soul, When we pray we are supposed to share our hearts and souls with God, Could you do that with your friends and family and worldly things going on. I for one can not. I need solitude and time to prepare my self for this. as for the 5 times a day, how often do you think of the one who means the most to you probably more than 5 times I would think. I do not believe that this unusual, nor do I find any thing wrong with the way others practise their religious beliefs.

Answer 4

pray to god is part of islam and its part of any religion in the world including christianity
and the muslims dont spend all their time praying its only five times a day which totally could be an hour a day.
and if u think this hour is a time away from family (so u need a break with your self)
normal human spends more than an hour a day in private( taking a shower, sleeping, using internet..a lot of things which is away from family).
i hope you got the answer

Answer 5

May the peace, blessings and mercy of God be upon you

We as Muslims, are loyal and subservient to our Creator. Praying 5 times a day, takes about 5 minutes a prayer so about 30 minutes a day you spend praying to our Creator and gaining good deeds. But we should not be neglectful of our family, if her family is atheist and she is a good practicing Muslim I can see why she chooses not to mingle with them as much.

We pray 5 times a day because it is the best deed that we can do while we are alive.

Please watch this animation about Muslim prayer, maybe it will open your eyes as to what she is saying and doing.

http://www.islamicfinder.org/prayer/index.html

When you pray alot it protects you from the temptations of this life and allows you do have a good connection with the All-Mighty. Who do you think he is more likely to forgive on the Day of Judgment, those who believed but didn't pray, those who consistently prayed, or those who disbelieved completely.

Peace Be With You

Answer 6

You sound very ignorant.I hope it's because you really are clueless about different religions, but it sounds as if you are being rude and antisemitic.. Praying once a day is okay if your religion or pastor prescribes that. Muslims pray five times a day because they are Muslim. Do you really believe that God will punish her for doing what she believes in?It's the same as asking," will God punish them for not believing in him?" I am not Muslim but I lived around them for a year. Do you think any higher power (if there is more than one) would take how you prayed or how many times a day you prayed as a manner of deciding heaven or hell? Some people are so juvenile."Slave to God"???? If that's how you judge religion...my oh my.

Answer 7

praying 5 times a day is not that big of a deal. the required prayer doesn't take that long--only 5 to 10 minutes. if someone chooses to pray extra, thats their choice. you cant blame praying for families getting further apart; thats on the people and their choice.

Answer 8

I think your aunt is skewed in her worship. The bible as well as the Quran state that family is important and must be cherished and upheld. If she is neglecting her family for prayers then she has not studies the greater meaning in the Muslim faith. You should and can help her by studying the books of worship with her, not to convert your faith but so that you can help her better understand the meaning of worship and family. It just seems that she is confused about things and some support will do her and her kin a world of good. Good Luck.

Answer 9

People devoted to what they believe will do some extreme habits as far as what others think. But to them it's there love and devotion and faith that drives them. Try to be patient with family and by spending time with them; they can give you insight into where and what they are doing. Everyone fears being rejected. Do you see?

Answer 10

And the difference between once a day a five times a day is? I'm assuming you would do it 10 times a day if it was written in your book, and accuse the muslims of being a bunch of godless slackers.

Answer 11

it's a lil offensive, no hard feelings though sister,
let me see if i can help you understand.
As a Muslim woman... It's is REQUIRED! of me or any Muslim to pray five times a day. now it is against the Islam for one to cut all family ties. Allah will not punish her for serving him, but your friend might want to consider AT LEAST say hi to them. KEEP THE TIES OPEN. Allah will reward her for keeping prayer, and He will reward her for keeping in touch with her family. this is just how we pray. we are closest to Allah on the floor. it's as if we are coming to him humblly. we lower ourself as far as we can... (and that's too the floor) so that we are most low, and He is Most High. i hope this helps.
btw if you'll excuse me i too have to go be on the floor now. lol