The movements of the Islamic prayer ritual or salat are carried out many billions of times around the world every day.
Ideally performed five times a day, they are one of the five pillars of Islam and involve a range of postures and movements that include bowing, sitting and kneeling.
Their key importance is, of course, as acts of faith, but researchers have found that they appear also to offer physical benefits.
A study published earlier this year has indicated that the movements could relieve the symptoms lower back pain, a condition that an estimated 65 per cent of UAE residents have or are at risk of developing.
One of the authors of the study, Professor Mohammad Khasawneh of the department of systems science and industrial engineering at Binghamton University in New York, said the movements can be thought of as “physical therapy for treating lower-back pain”.
“Flexion movements can redistribute the stresses and hence reduce the lower-back pain,” he said.
To better understand the forces involved, the researchers used a computer program and ran simulations based on an average Asian person and an average American person.
“Computer modelling allows us to identify the flexion movement (based on knee and back angle) that will result in the lowest stress on the lower back from a pure biomechanical perspective,” said Prof Khasawneh.
In redistributing forces around the lower back, the prayer movements have much in common with some yoga movements.
Especially beneficial to those with back problems is the kneeling prayer posture, which increases the elasticity of joints. People can alter the normal position to make themselves more comfortable.
“For those with lower-back pain, we found changing the angles of the knees and the back can reduce the forces on the lower back,” said Dr Faisal Aqlan, the first author of the study and an assistant professor of industrial engineering at Penn State University. Dr Aqlan completed his PhD at Binghamton.
“Try to have an angle [of the knee and back] that feels comfortable, and keep doing the movements. You can think of it as physical therapy.”
As a follow-up to this study, which was published in the International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, the scientists are hoping to use cameras and sensors to analyse actual people as they carry out the prayer movements. This should give them a better understanding of the potential real-world benefits.
Their work is one of the latest contributions to a diverse field looking at the potential benefits, both physical and mental, of religion.
Over the decades the subject has attracted the attention of researchers ranging from engineers, as in this prayer-movements study, to psychiatrists.
It appears that interest in the field is growing at an exponential rate. A 2010 review by Professor Harold Koenig of the departments of medicine and psychiatry at Duke University Medical Centre in North Carolina, found that there were 1,200 data-based studies on the subject published between 1872 and 2000. In the decade from 2000 to 2010 alone, 2,100 such papers were released.
About four-fifths of the studies identified by Prof Koenig, who is also an adjunct professor at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, concerned mental health.
Having a religious belief was associated with being better able to cope with adversity, including serious illness, and — when averaged across the many studies published — was linked to higher levels of optimism, and lower rates of depression and anxiety.
Some researchers have suggested that religious beliefs, by giving people a way to see their existence as part of an overarching narrative that gives things that happen a purpose, can be helpful in overcoming setbacks such as bereavement or the loss of a job.
Andrew Clark, a professor at the Paris School of Economics who has researched the subject and presented findings at an academic conference, said “there is most certainly a correlation” between mental well-being and religious observance.
Indeed, he said that many of the people he spoke to when looking into the issue in Europe were “convinced” that religion was good for both physical and mental health. However, teasing out cause and effect is not easy.
“Whether religion makes you happy, or happy people get religious — that’s a difficult question … I don’t think we have a particularly good answer to that for the moment,” he said.
Also, it is difficult to determine to what extent it is the religious belief in itself that improves mental well-being, or the shared activities that go with it. Studies have found that people who regularly attend religious services typically report greater life satisfaction and other mental well-being benefits.
“Religion in some sense is like any kind of social capital where you mix with others with a community purpose,” said Prof Clark.
He said there appears to be a return from doing things you enjoy or believe in with others who are keen to do those same things.
Psychological and social benefits were cited by Prof Koenig as a potential reason why being religious offers a dividend in physical health. Other factors, such as the promotion of healthy behaviour and the discouragement of potentially harmful activities, among them using tobacco or consuming alcohol, could also be at play.
On top of potential benefits to the individual, Prof Clark has also identified a possible upside to wider society, although he cautioned that producing actual experimental results to prove or disprove hypotheses in this field was difficult.
While religions can be associated with conflict, he said they tended to promote positive types of behaviour, such as treating others well and not stealing. Even individuals who are not religious may be helped by such “spillover benefits”.
“Even if you don’t believe yourself, you may find it more beneficial to live in a religious society,” he said.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
AGUERO'S PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD
Apps: 186
Goals: 127
Assists: 31
Wins: 117
Losses: 33
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Intercontinental Cup
Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
The specs
Price: From Dh180,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 320hp @ 5,700rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.7L / 100km
MATCH DETAILS
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum (14), Oxlade-Chamberlain (52)
Genk 1
Samatta (40)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
RESULTS
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MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Manchester City transfers:
OUTS
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Jesus Navas (all released)
INS
Ederson (Benfica) £34.7m, Bernardo Silva (Monaco) £43m
ON THEIR WAY OUT?
Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho
ON THEIR WAY IN?
Dani Alves (Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
SPECS
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Match info
Manchester United 1 (Van de Beek 80') Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 7', Zaha pen 74' & 85')
Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
LIST OF INVITEES
Shergo Kurdi (am)
Rayhan Thomas
Saud Al Sharee (am)
Min Woo Lee
Todd Clements
Matthew Jordan
AbdulRahman Al Mansour (am)
Matteo Manassero
Alfie Plant
Othman Al Mulla
Shaun Norris
