Omar Suleiman

And so it really is, I think, the most intimate moment that you get with God and the deepest part of the prayer.

The word masjid,

which is mosque in Arabic means place of sujood, place of prostration.

So think of the rest of prayer as an introduction to that particular part of the prayer where you really immerse yourself.

Not that you shouldn't be immersed in your prayer throughout, but when you're in sujood, when you're in prostration, that's where you're really closest and most connected to God.

So we do that.

And so some prayers are two units.

Well, the first prayer of the day, which is before sunrise, the earliest prayer, is two units.

The second prayer, which is around noon, is four units.

And then afternoon, another four units.

And then the sunset prayer is three units.

And then the evening prayer is four units.

So each prayer has a different number of units to it and some voluntary prayers that surround it.

When you come back up, you express also a form of greeting towards God and channeling your prayers and your blessings towards God.

You reiterate the Shahada, which is the first pillar of Islam.

I testify that there's only one God and that Muhammad is his servant and messenger.

And then you read what's called Salah Ibrahimiya, which is the Abrahamic prayer.

So you send peace and blessings upon Muhammad and his family and Abraham and his family.

Abraham peace be upon him is really at the core of this religion.

And so at the prayer, at the end of the prayer, you send peace and blessings and prayers upon, again, both Muhammad and his family and Abraham and his family.