Salam (Peace) Dear Questioner,

 

Thank you for your question and for joining this Ask About Islam Live Session.

 

Mo Farah was kneeling with his hands open and pointed to the sky after he won his second Gold medal. He was also seem prostrating with his head on the ground at other occasions.

 

Initially, Muslims pray to God or thank God, Allah is Arabic, in several ways. The two most important ones are the five daily prayers and supplications.

 

During the five daily prayers, a Muslim prostrates to the ground, called Sujud. These prayers are standard for all Muslims worldwide.

 

This means that there are specific things to read and do that are required and there are optional words that we may add. These optional words are called supplication, dua in Arabic. This means that we may ask God for whatever we wish. Supplication is confined to the Sujud and/or the end of the prayer.

 

However, supplication can be said at any time otherwise and it could be simply praises to God, without specifically asking anything from Him. For example, a Muslim might recite in Arabic or in his/her own language:

 

“Allahumma Lakalhamdu wa Shukru Ala Niamikal-Adhima“

 

Translation: “O God or O Allah! Praise and thanks be to You for Your great blessings [upon us]”

 

I am assuming that when Mo Farah prostrated and at another occasion kneeled raising his hands to the sky, he was simply thanking God for His blessings upon him. Similar to the supplication above but in his own words. Those words could have been: “Thank you God!”

 

You might see other Muslim athletes doing the same. This is simply a way of thanking God for their victory because it is only God who gave them the strength and He is the One who blessed them with their talent.

 

God made it possible for them to pursue their dreams by making all the different worldly means available to become who they are today.

 

I hope this help answer your question.

 

Salam and please keep in touch.