Yoga and meditation are popular ways to relieve stress and achieve an internal balance nowadays.  What’s interesting is that Islam, regarded by many as violent and backwards, stresses internal peace first and foremost.  It’s sad that when people think of peace and enlightenment they do not think of Islam- rather they will think of Budhism or other religions or spiritual philosophies instead.  Yet what makes Islam unique is that it is a religion and not a spiritual fad.  Islam is a balance of body, mind, and soul, a balance of private and public life, a balance of individual freedom and social welfare, a balance of belief, speech, and action.  The only thing missing is for Muslims to practice their religion.

Attune Your Heart to Your Lord

Therefore one should look at the prayer, which is the central act of worship and which is the first thing a Muslim is asked to perform and account for after his/her faith.  The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam warned us many times to guard it and in Islam we learn that if you rectify your prayer, it is a means of rectifying all your deeds.  In Islam a Muslim prays 5 times throughout the day, which reflects the important status of remembering Allah at all times and remaining God-concious. 

And the starting point of all this is the heart- when you pray you should remember that you are formally and ritualistically communicating with your Creator and it is not a random act of robotic motions.  Even in yoga and in various other modern spiritual techniques they stress the fact of clearing your mind of materialistic attachments (the stuff of life) and in focusing on and chanting beautiful mantras.  What better thing to think about and focus on than the Islamic phrases such as “God is the greatest”, “All praise is for God”, and “Free of all imperfections is God”? (as opposed to “ooohhhmmmm")

Give Your Bones a Rest

The prayer in Islam actually requires for you to achieve tranquility - physically as well as mentally - for it to even count!  Many people forget this and go through the motions quickly, unthinkingly, and full of stress (thinking about the stuff of life) so what benefit was the prayer?  It is mentioned in a hadith that a Muslim might pray and only receive half, a third, or even a tenth of the credit.  Therefore, don’t think of the prayer as another chore but a getaway from your stressful life.  The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam used to describe it as “the coolness” of his eyes.

While instructing a person who prayed “badly” (hastily) he said:

No one’s prayer is complete unless he...stands up straight, then says: “Allaah is the Greatest” and prostrates such that his joints are at rest. [Abu Dawood]

You should also take care to make sure all your movements are smooth, perfect, beautiful (if you’ve ever seen the practice of Tai-Chi then you should see the difference between that and someone who barely touches the ground in his/her prostration). 

Heed the Prophet’s statement:

I am commanded to prostrate on 7 bones: the forehead and the nose, the 2 hands [palms], the 2 knees, and the 2 feet. [Muslim]

He also announced:

He who does not complete his rukoo’ and sujood,his prayer is void. [Abu Dawood]

Poetry of Motion

Abu Hurairah radhi’allaahu ‘anhu said:  My beloved friend, Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam forbade me to perform postures of prayer copying the picking of a rooster (signifying fast performance of the bowings and risings of prayer), moving the eyes around like a fox and the sitting like a monkey (to sit impatiently on thighs). [Ahmad]

The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam also said:

The worst thief is the one who steals from his own prayer. People asked,"Messenger of Allah! How could one steal from his own prayer?” He said: By not completing its rukoo’ and sujood. [At-Tabarani]

Let’s put it this way, if you see someone make a bunch of ridiculously fast movements you won’t get the impression they are achieving spiritual meditation or tranquility- you will just think they are crazy. 

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alahi wa sallam actually condemned this behavior, saying about the same man whom he was instructing:

If this man dies while praying in this manner, he would die upholding a religion other than the religion of Muhammad.

Compare this to the beautiful example of the gently swaying trees and the calm and tranquil liquid movements of the sea.  For when the prayer is performed with contemplation and care, is a work of art.