A Woman wearing a Headscarf, c. 1723

An Introduction to Praying

Praying is a way to connect to the higher power, Alaha. Every prayer should be held at home or in a Jyoist Kaniisadda, if no Jyoist Kaniisadda is available, you should ask to pray in private at the closest church. Praying is an essential part of being a Jyoist, as it will grant you access to heaven. These are the most common prayers you should practice. (Be warned, you should learn some Ghanwua, as most prayers will be in this language.)

Daily Prayers

• Daily prayers consist of thanking Alaha for meals, waking prayers, midday prayers. and sleeping prayers. In total, this is six prayers.
  • The waking prayer goes as follows. Eaziza E’la, ‘Ushuraka eala  iiqzaak’ biqa washihitya waqurdat hdha alsaba. (Then you should add what you would like to accomplish in common.). Aymn.
  • The Breakfast prayer goes as follows. Eaziza E’la, ‘ashkuuruki eala iieytiley hdha ali’iifitara li’teamamiin waeleyti, Aymn.
  • The Midday prayer goes as follows. Eaziza E’la, ‘ataman tahq m ‘Iem ‘uznja fi saea alyuqzazat haataa alan. (Then you should add what you haven’t accomplished yet in common.). Aymn.
  • The Dinner prayer goes as follows. Eazizaun E’la, ‘askhrak eala hadhma altaeama wam ‘anzjathaza alyawm waeyitliyi wabayt wa’yu shay’ akjr ‘aetabiruh amraan mfrwghaam minuh. Aymn.
  • The Sleep prayer goes as follows. Eaziza E’la, ‘adea ‘a ‘unanm jydhaha allalayatq wa’aan astyaqiza ghdana kama faealat alyawm ; kaymyria min alaquat, waqadirat, wadawafae

Special Prayers

• Special Prayers shouldn’t be practiced everyday, and should only be spoken in common. These usually include weddings, births, and deaths.
  • The Wedding prayer goes as follows. Dear Alaha, I am praying to you today to bless my union to (Name of Soon-to-be Spouse), Aymn.
  • Post-Birth prayer goes as follows. Dear Alaha, I am praying to you today to bless my child, (name of child). Aymn.
  • The Death prayer goes as follows. Dear Alaha, I am praying to you today to give (name of deceased one) a better life in Heaven. Aymn.

“Di suna yufir haya.”

The Seyami antiquity is a foregoing spattered in arrogance and hatred; but most unfittingly with what is aforesaid: modesty. Their roots are entwined with Canonistic and Tribal belief, yet they remain utterly disparate, in comparison to their Common foremen. 

 ፩ - Origins

Eons prior when the Farfolk kindred were all but disjointed, disparate communities flourished with a success unbeknownst to others. But they were tactless and self-centred. They wished not to associate themselves with broodings akin - though, trade alliances were formed, but were inaugurated for one’s own betterment, opposed to overall advancement. Therefore, ties were thin, which made war all the more wonted for some. Ghanyah was a formidable Farfolkian nation, however, their destructive habits caused them to fall under the control of another - and for almost a hundred years they assimilated and all of their tribes simply broke apart. As foreigners plagued their lands, many families simply left - however old beliefs died out - and with influences from two very dominant beliefs mixed with their own strongwilled beliefs and the inability to find sanctuary in their attempted assimilation - the religion of Jyoism was formed. First known as Jyoist Canonism.

 ፪ - Pillars

At first glance, the Religion practiced by the Seyami could be described as canonism, a feverous and ultimately more zealously followed comparative. However, though possessing similarities- even the same name -it is not Canonism as commonly recognised. This form of worship is wont viewed as a heretical barbarism, for the religious constituents that form this theology are questionable. It is known as ‘’ and its God as ‘Alaha’ but instead of Alaha being represented as a formless overseer - an ancestral foreman that resides within the seven skies - he is the sun. The all-seeing, life-giving, and life-taking sun; an entity viewed as ultimately more powerful than a distant ancestor of humanity who sits within his kingdom of thin air and ‘trickery’, as it is referred to by the Seyami.

The Five Pillars

The ideology of Jyoism consists of five basic principles; the backbone and basis of the Religion. Although there are five pillars, the doctrines of these pillars are somewhat disparate to those of the Canonist notions. 

1. Amr-bil-Maroof - To enjoin what is right

2. Nahil anil munkar - Forbidding what is wrong 

3. Adura - Prayer, the method of which is determined by the Sayin-Alufa, Alufa or Imam 

4. Idanimọ - To attain recognition from Alaha or the Sayin-Alufa, through rigorous worship. 

5. Jehad - Meaning to ‘strive’ or ‘struggle’ [against non-believers.]

Amr-bil-Maroof and Nahil Anil Munkar

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The Amr-bil-Maroof and Nahil Anil Munkar, is the principle of enjoining what is good and just, and recognising what is permitted and not. Most Seyami Jyoists know of what is wrong and what is right, and typically adhere to these guidelines. Those who are witnessed sinning are encouraged, through penance, to stop in their wrongdoing and continue the thoroughfare to paradise, or Semayata to where they may meet Alaha and reside within his kingdoms if they lead the rest of their life well. 

“The sun- Alaha -has the ability to give warmth and life to all beneath its glower, to grow crops and raise animals, but it also has viciousness in its principles. But it is not viciousness; it is correction of sin, for the sun can also take life, shrivel your crops, remove water from its bed, and scorch the skin from your back. This is how The Almighty corrects the sin of humanity. Lead a life of goodness and Alaha will repay you, do not, and you will experience hellfire.” - Damiabi the Prophet 

Adura

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Adura does not possess a definitive translation, it is rather a principle of prayer, and how Alaha should be praised. Based on environmental and tangible factors, the Religious leaders of the Seyami determine how and what Alaha should receive: whether it be oral prayer, or sacrifice, or an offering of food. Prayer is to be performed thrice per day: once in the morning to encourage the Sun to rise, once in the afternoon so that the sun may sustain its fullest glower and once in the late afternoon to ensure that the day lasts its fullest. 

Idanimọ

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Recognition by Alaha or the Sayin-Alufa is an ultimate goal for Seyami, but requires a painful and extensive ritual for it to occur. Idanimo is undertaken close to death, and includes a dyad of dubious practices which only the most strong-willed are able to complete successfully:

The elderly man or woman will lock himself or herself within a chamber stowed deeply in the confines of the Mescit (Place of worship) and pray from day break to noon. They will then consume a meal of seeds and dates, swallow a quick sip of poisonous hemlock and rest briefly. When they awaken they will continue in their worship, repeat the aforesaid doings and sleep once more. These actions will be performed until the hemlock had taken its toll and the practicer had succumbed to its toxicity. It is said that once the ritual had been completed, the individual was going to meet Alaha and live with him in his Golden Kingdom upon the clouds, swathed in his radiance. Many believers who have done such a ritual are considered saints within the religion and all it’s followers.

Jehad

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Jehad means, in a literal sense, to ‘struggle’ or to ‘strive’ against non-believers and dark beings. 

Jehad is an ideology divided into twain: Lesser Jehad and Greater Jehad. Typically Greater Jehad is the preferred method, wherein the individual takes arms against the aforesaid dark creatures and heretics, though Lesser Jehad is equally esteemed. Lesser Jehad is the practice of conversion through preaching and writing, a comparative favoured by pacifists and scholars for its diplomacy. 

Place of Worship

The Mescit

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The Mescit is the holiest place for a Seyami-Jyoist, bar the sun itself, and houses within it the embodiment of Alaha: the Sayin-Alufa, the highest religious preacher, and most esteemed member of Seyami Society.

A large Mescit during a time of Seyami Prominence

As Mescits are places of worship, those within the Mescit are required to remain respectful to those in prayer. Loud talking within the Mescit, as well as discussion of topics deemed disrespectful, is forbidden in areas where people are praying. In addition, it is disrespectful to walk in front of or otherwise disturb people in prayer. The walls within the Mescit have few items, except for possibly Seyami calligraphy, so people in prayer are not distracted.  Seyami are also discouraged from wearing clothing with distracting images and symbols so as not to divert the attention of those standing behind them during prayer. In many Mescits, even the carpeted prayer area has no designs, its plainness helping worshippers to focus.

All Mescits have rules regarding cleanliness, as it is an essential part of the worshippers' experience. Jyoists before prayer are required to cleanse themselves in an ablution process known as Mọ (Meaning Cleanliness). However, even to those who enter the prayer hall of a Mescits without the intention of praying, there are still rules that apply. Shoes must not be worn inside the carpeted prayer hall and the arms, hands and feet must be thoroughly washed. 

Religious Hierarchy 

Sayin-Alufa

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The Sayin Alufa is upon the highest rung of the religious and social hierarchy: they are the wisest,  most reputable individual, and importantly the foreman of the Seyami sodality. It is stated that they are the handpicked prophets of Alaha, messengers of the Almighty Sun and protectors of the Sunmen, who are tasked with preaching important Sermons and performing funerary rights on deceased Seyami. Above all, however, they must give the word of God. When death is an imminent prospect for an elderly Sayin, Alaha will decide through them who his next prophet shall be. If the Sayin is killed before a decision can be made, Alaha will, through external means, present his choice. Like the High Pontiff, the Sayim-Alufa is the speaker of Alaha on earth, and for a ruler to have close relations, their reign affirmed by, and to be coronated by such a being would mean that Alaha himself has blessed and vindicated them.

Alufa 

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The man closest to the Sayin-Alufa, whom is enjoined with scribing what the Sayin preaches, preaching sermons himself, healing the sick, and most importantly learning from his superior, as it is possible that he will surpass him when the Sayin-Alufa joins Alaha in heaven. 

Imam alharb 

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Meaning A well-versed Imam who has been personally noticed by the Sayin-Alufa, giving him the power to coronate, marry and divorce, lead blessings, etcetera.

Imam

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A man well versed in the teachings of Alaha, who preaches wonted and ordinary sermons within the Mescit. The Imam also teaches Apostles the ways of Alaha and his preachings. 

Apostle

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Students of the Imam, who are learning the fundamentals of religion in Seyami society - men who wish to advance spiritually, opposed to monetarily or otherwise.  

Credits all to @Corporatocracy – I just changed some terms and pictures around.