Islamic
Spiritual Tradition
Adventures

Prayer (salat)  -Background for 1st Adventure
There are 5 time periods per day for prayers and Muslims are encouraged to pray at least 3 times a day (bydoubling up if needed). Prior to prayers, a ritual cleansing or wudu is performed by rinsing the hands, face, neck, ears, arms and feet with water (or just the physical motions, if no water) three times.

The prayer times are determined by the sun (first light, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, etc.) so times vary with country, season and city.

Determine your times. The Islamic Finder website can help find the times for your city. It will attempt to guess your location but you can specify USA, Canada, Australia, etc. Print out your times on a printer and set daily alarms or appointments as reminders. -or - 
Find your times on a smartphone. If you have a smartphone, you can download an app (Prayer Times, Muslims Prayer Times, or Muslim Pro) from the above website, that will remind you at each time daily with a "call to prayer," or other sound. 

-------------------------------- A Daily Cleansing Routine --------------------------------

• Using these definite prayer times and routines as inspiration, add to your own daily cleansing and healing routines done at these regular times.
• Cleanse yourself ( hands, face, ears, neck, arms and feet three times). 
  Then cleanse your environment, or add your daily upkeep cleansing, etc.
• In place of a prayer, do AHMs, OMs, or slowly chant or say your key word or phrase for the day 4-5 times, or use 
  "I am that I am" or "I am grateful for all my blessings" or "I am filled with Spirit" 4-5 times.  Follow inspirations. Keep it compact, observe insights.
• Regroup daily what you are learning about consistency, spiritual discipline, maintaining a cleansed environment, etc. 
• How much more cleansed and in-tune do your find yourself each day?
  Your personal experiences will give you true feelings that help build a bridge to this tradition.

Expand your relating through a food adventure! Consciously eat some foods that are common in the geographic regions of large Muslim populations like figs, fig bars, dates, apricots, olives, candied almonds, lamb, etc. Visit markets or restaurants to connect with the spiritual atmosphere.

  Whole Foods stores have Turkish Apricots

Turkish Coffee is a strong boiled Eastern coffee (same as Greek coffee) that is made by grinding beans as fine as possible. It is then boiled in a traditional Turkish coffee pot like this one from Seattle Coffee Gear.or Turkish Coffee World.  
Learn how to make your own Turkish Coffee at Indigo Traders or Turkish Coffee World. and wikiHow 
-or- find a restaurant that serves it.

Persian Tea and Moroccan Mint (Tao of Tea, Republic of Tea) are favorites and available in both local and import markets.

Halal foods: these are foods allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines. This mostly notably refers to meat from allowed animals (no pork). Animals must be slaughtered according to guidelines which are quite humane. Halal foods can be found in many Middle Eastern grocers or markets, even halal turkeys for Thanksgiving. 

Find Halal Markets or Restaurants: search for ones described as halal or Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Moroccan, Persian, Turkish, Lebanese or Indonesian.
At these markets you will discover many imported food items and some local bakery breads and sweets. The market may have food to go. Buy some imported jam or dried fruit to take home. Be adventurous. Find local halal restaurants and markets at zabihah.com  or with a local Google search.

Restaurants can offer a complete experience. This menu shows pictures and prices of Middle Eastern foods from Lebanon and Syria. Lunches are less expensive and you may find authentic Turkish coffee on the lunch menu.

Regroup your experiences in the markets, restaurants and while eating to build bridges with this spiritual tradition.