Calories burned during Islamic prayer (Salat)

Salat involves physical movements (standing, bowing ruku, prostration sujood, and sitting), which increase energy expenditure compared to passive sitting. The calorie burn depends on:

1. Calorie Burn During Salat

Duration: Each prayer takes 5–10 minutes (longer for Sunnah/Nafl prayers).
Intensity: Gentle muscle engagement during transitions (e.g., rising from sujood).
Frequency: 5 daily prayers (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha).

MET Value for Salat

Salat is comparable to light yoga or stretching (MET ≈ 2.0–2.5).
Using the formula:
[\text{Calories burned} = \frac{\text{MET} \times \text{Weight (kg)} \times 3.5}{200} \times \text{Duration (minutes)}]

Example Calculation (Per Prayer):

Fajr (10 minutes):

[\frac{2.5 \times 78 \times 3.5}{200} \times 10 ≈ 34 \text{ kcal}.]

Total for 5 prayers: ~80–130 kcal/day (varies by duration and effort).

2. Factors That Increase Calorie Burn

Extended Sunnah/Nafl prayers: Adding voluntary prayers increases duration.
Slow, mindful movements: Deeper muscle engagement burns more calories.
Taraweeh (Ramadan): Longer prayers can burn 150–250 kcal/session.
Walking to the mosque: Adds 3–5 kcal/minute (depends on distance).

3. Comparison to Other Activities

Activity	Calories Burned (10 mins)
Salat (moderate)	25–35 kcal
Sitting quietly	12–15 kcal
Walking (3.5 km/h)	40–50 kcal
Light stretching	30–40 kcal

4. Long-Term Impact

Daily total: ~80–130 kcal burned from Salat.
Monthly: ~2,400–3,900 kcal (equivalent to 0.3–0.5 kg fat loss/year if diet is maintained).
Holistic benefits: Improves flexibility, mindfulness, and stress reduction (indirectly supports fat loss).

5. Maximizing Calorie Burn During Salat

Engage muscles: Tighten your core during ruku and sujood.
Add light weights: Wear ankle/wrist weights (1–2 kg) for resistance.
Pray on a yoga mat: Incorporate stretches before/after prayer.

Key Takeaway

While Salat isn’t a high-intensity workout, it contributes to your daily NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) and overall wellness. For significant fat loss, pair it with: