Teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan

Postures Used in Prayer

1. Du' -- joining both hands and holding them before the face, which, morally, expresses modesty, respect, and desire for some gift from above -- that is, from God. Philosophically, it is to return the vibrations of the prayer, or of the breath. Its spiritual meaning is that the prayer is to the self, and thus it is offered to oneself by spreading the hands before one's own eyes, through which peeps out the consciousness, in other words, the sight of God.

2. Salat -- placing the thumbs at the back of the lobes of both ears, with the palms of the hands spread out. This posture means the awakening of the ears to listen to the prayer recited by the self, paying no attention to all else.

3. Nuzuri -- standing upright, with the right hand folded over the left. This morally, expresses respect. Philosophically this expresses the helplessness of the mortal self before God Almighty. Spiritually, it represents the union of the two linked and formed in one; the symbol of which is the crescent, and the face in the midst is illustrated as a star.

4. Ruku -- standing bent, with both hands resting upon the knees and the head bent towards the ground, morally expresses the recollection of one's sins and repentance thereof in shame. Philosophically it is the surrender of our animal existence to the angelic. And spiritually it symbolizes the lower and higher part of the body uniting in one, making the syllable called Mim, the manifestation.

5. Nishast -- sitting resting on the knees, with the legs turned inwards, the weight on the left leg, the right leg free, the foot resting on the great toe, the hands upon both knees, morally expresses the dependence upon one, by sitting on the left leg and keeping the right foot leaning on the great toe. Philosophically it teaches balance. And, spiritually, the ankle upon which the person sits presses against the root of life's plant, upon which the illumination of the mystic depends.

6. Sajj dah -- lying on the ground, leaning on the great toes of both feet, knees, elbows, chin, and forehead touching the ground, is morally expressive of complete humility. Philosophically it relates the complete surrender of the mortal self before the immortal being. And spiritually it creates the picture of death to all organs of the body, lying upon the ground, and thus freeing the soul from its mortal prison.

7. Salaam -- turning the head first to the right, and then, after a short pause, to turn it to the left, standing in the posture of Nuzuri, or sitting in the posture called Nishast, morally expresses the bowing before the God of the North and South pole. Philosophically it expresses two points of one line, God and man. And spiritually it symbolizes witnessing God's Presence all around.