Abstract
Physical inactivity remains one of the major contributors to the global burden of non-communicable diseases, while poor adherence to conventional exercise programmes continues to challenge health promotion efforts. Within this context, culturally embedded practices that integrate movement, attention, and meaning may offer more sustainable alternatives. Culturally embedded practices that integrate movement, attention, and meaning may offer alternatives to conventional structured exercise that are more likely to be sustained over time, because they are woven into existing daily routines and personal meaning. Islamic prayer (Salaah) is one such practice, involving repeated sequences of standing, bowing, prostration, and sitting, coordinated with recitation, breath regulation, and focused awareness. Although preliminary work has suggested that Salaah may influence flexibility, balance, musculoskeletal function, and psychological regulation, the neurophysiological effects of prayer remain insufficiently explored and to integrate these findings into a preliminary explanatory model linking the physiological and experiential dimensions of Salaatul-Tasbeeh, intended to inform practitioners and future researchers.” More specifically, Salaatul-Tasbeeh, a voluntary Islamic prayer characterised by repetitive glorification phrases and sustained attentional engagement, has not previously been examined in a comprehensive scientific manner. The present thesis was therefore developed to investigate Salaatul-Tasbeeh as a culturally embedded mind-body practice, with specific attention to its neurophysiological, neuromuscular, proprioceptive, functional, and experiential effects in sedentary Muslim males.