Salah

For other uses, see Salah (disambiguation).

"Salat" redirects here. For other uses, see Salat (disambiguation).

The four main salat postures and associated prayers and recitations.

Salat ("Muslim prayer", صلاة or gen: ṣalāt; pl. صلوات ṣalawāt), called in some languages by the Persian-derived term namaz (Persian: نماز‎‎) is one of the Five Pillars in the faith of Islam and an obligatory religious duty for every Muslim. It is a physical, mental and spiritual act of worship that is observed five times every day at prescribed times. In this ritual, the worshiper starts standing, bows, prostrates, and concludes while sitting on the ground. During each posture, the worshiper recites or reads certain verses, phrases and prayers. The word salah is commonly translated to prayer but this definition might be confusing. Muslims use the words "Dua" or "Supplication" when referring to the common definition of prayers which is "reverent petitions made to God."

Salat is preceded by ritual ablution. Salat consists of the repetition of a unit called a rakʿah (pl. rakaʿāt) consisting of prescribed actions and words. The number of obligatory (fard) rakaʿāt varies from two to four according to the time of day or other circumstances (such as Friday congregational worship, which has two rakats). Prayer is obligatory for all Muslims except those who are prepubescent, menstruating, or are experiencing bleeding in the 40 days after childbirth. Every movement in the salat is accompanied by the takbir except the standing between the ruku and sujud, and the ending which has a derivation of the Muslim greeting As-salamu alaykum.

Terminology

Salat (ṣalāt) is an Arabic word whose basic meaning is "bowing, homage, worship, prayer." In its English usage, the reference of the word is almost always confined to the Muslim formal, obligatory worship described in this article.

Translating salat as "prayer" is not usually considered precise enough, as "prayer" can indicate several different ways of relating to God; personal prayer or supplication is called duʿāʾ (Arabic: دُعَاء, literally "invocation") in Islamic usage.

Muslims themselves use several terms to refer to salah depending on their language or culture. In many parts of the world, including many non-Arab countries such as Indonesia, the Arabic term salat or salah is used. The other major term is the Persian word namāz (نماز), used by speakers of the Indo-Iranian languages (e.g., Kurdish, Urdu, Hindi), as well as Turkish, Russian, Chinese, Bosnian and Albanian. In North Caucasian languages, the term is lamaz (ламаз) in Chechen, chak (чак) in Lak and kak in Avar (как).

Purpose and importance

Bosniaks praying in an open field, ca. 1906

The chief purpose of salah is to act as a person's communication with and remembrance of God. By reciting "The Opening", the first sura (chapter) of the Quran, as required in daily worship, the worshiper can stand before God, thank and praise Him, and ask for guidance along the "Straight Path".

Under the Hanbali School of thought, a person who doesn't pray five times a day is an unbeliever. The other three Sunni schools of thought say that the person who doesn't pray five times a day is an unholy sinner. Those who prescribe to the Hanbali view cite a hadith from Sahih Muslim that states that prayer is a dividing line between a believer and a non-believer.

In addition, daily worship reminds Muslims to give thanks for God's blessings and that submission to God takes precedence over all other concerns, thereby revolving their life around God and submitting to His will. Worship also serves as a formal method of dhikr or remembering Allah.

Muslims believe that all prophets of Allah offered daily prayers and were humble in submission to the Oneness of Allah. Muslims also believe that the main duty of the prophets of Allah is to teach mankind to humbly submit themselves to Oneness of Allah, the God.

In Quran, it is written that: "For, Believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened, and put (all) their trust in their Lord;"

"To those whose hearts, when God is mentioned, are filled with fear, who show patient perseverance over their afflictions, keep up regular prayer, and spend (in charity) out of what we have bestowed upon them."

Salah is also cited as a means of restraining a believer from social wrongs and moral deviancy.

According to a hadith in the collection Sahih Bukhari, Muhammad considered salah "the best deed".

The importance of the Salah was further demonstrated by Muhammad who on his deathbed and in the pangs of death would announce: الصَّلاةَ ، الصَّلاةَ وَمَا مَلَكَت أَيْمَانُكُم. "The Salah, [I remind you of] the Salah; and [to treat well] those who are in your power."

Conditions

Yemeni prayer during North Yemen Civil War.

At the bottom of the central nave of the prayer hall there is a niche (the mihrab) indicating the qibla. This compulsory act of worship is obligatory for those who meet these conditions:

• are Muslim
• are of sound mind
• have reached the age of puberty (beginning at age seven is recommended).

Elements that make salah valid:

• Confidence of the time of worship.
• Facing the qibla, with the chest facing the direction of the Kaaba. The ill and the old are allowed leniency with posture.
• Covering the awrah
• Clean clothes, body, place of prostration.
• Ritual purity (wudu, tayammum, ghusl)
• Praying in front of a sutrah is recommended.

The place of worship should be clean. In a few cases where blood is leaving the body, salah is forbidden until a later time. Women are not allowed to pray during their menses and for a period after childbirth.

Preparation

Cleanliness and dress

Islam advises that salah be performed in a ritually clean environment. When worshipping, the clothes that are worn and the place of prayer must be clean. Both men and women are required to cover their bodies (awrah) in reasonably loose-fitting garments. The well-known adage or hadith by al-Nawawi that "purity is half the faith" illustrates how Islam has incorporated and modified existing rules of purity in its religious system.

Ritual ablution

Women at Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta washing, wudu

Main articles: Wudu, Tayammum, and Ghusl

Before conducting salah, a Muslim has to perform a ritual ablution. The minor ablution is performed using water (wudu), or sand (tayammum) when water is unavailable or not advisable to use for reasons such as illness. Wudu is performed by Muslims according to the instructions of God given in the Quran:

"O you who believe! when you rise up to prayer, wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles; and if you are under an obligation to perform a total ablution, then wash (yourselves) and if you are sick or on a journey, or one of you come from the privy, or you have touched the women, and you cannot find water, betake yourselves to pure earth and wipe your faces and your hands therewith, Allah does not desire to put on you any difficulty, but He wishes to purify you and that He may complete His favor on you, so that you may be grateful."

— Qur'an, sura 5 (Al-Ma'ida), ayat 6

More specifically, wudu is performed by Muslims by washing the hands, mouth, nose, arms, face, hair (often washing the hair is merely drawing the already wet hands from the fringe to the nape of the neck), ears, and feet three times each in that order. (It is not obligatory to wash the hair three times, once is sufficient, and men must also wash their beard and mustache when washing the face).

Call to prayer

A muezzin calling the adhan.

Main articles: Adhan, Muezzin, and Iqamah

"Adhan" is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the one known as the muezzin for the five obligatory prayers, traditionally from a tower called a minaret. A second call immediately before praying, known as the Iqama, is for the assembled Muslims in the prayer area to line up for the beginning of the prayers.

Intention

Main article: Niyyah

The person should be conscious and aware of the particular salah that is being offered, whether it is obligatory, if it is a missed (qadha) worship, performed individually or among the congregation, a shortened traveller's worship etc. The explicit verbalization of this intention is not required. The person should think his worship to be the Last Worship so that he may perform the best he can.

How to conduct salah

Main article: Rakat

Each salah is made up of repeating units or cycles called rakats. The number of rakats for the five daily worship can be found below.

People who find it physically difficult can perform Salah in a way suitable for them. A basic rakat is made up of these parts.

Standing

Men standing in prayer in Indonesia.

A Muslim raises his hands to recite Takbeeratul-Ihram in prayer

Main article: Standing in salah

• If this is the first rakat, the prayer is commenced by the saying of the takbir, which is اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ (transliteration "allāhu 'akbar", meaning God is Great). The hands are raised level with shoulders or level with top of the ears, with fingers apart and not spaced out or together. This is done before, with or after the takbir. Both arms are placed over the chest, with the right arm over the left.
• If this is the first rakat, a supplication praising God is said such as

سُبْحَاْنَكَ اَلْلّٰھُمَّ وَ بِحَمدِکَ وَ تَبَارَکَ اسْمُکَ وَ تَعَاْلٰی جَدُّکَ وَ لَا اِلٰہَ غَیْرُكَ

Subhaanak-Allaahumma, wa bihamdik, wa tabaarakasmuk, wa ta'aalaa jadduk, wa laa ilaaha ghayruk.

• The recitation of the Quran begins by asking refuge with God from the accursed devil by reciting

أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّـيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ

a^cūdhu bi-llāhi min ash-shayṭāni r-rajīm.

• Surah Al-Fatiha is recited as follows:

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ ﴿١﴾الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

b-ism illāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm (In the name of God, the entirely merciful, the especially merciful). (1) Alhamdu lillahi rabbi al-^cālamīna (2) Ar-rahmani ar-rahīmi (3) Māliki yawmi ad-dīni (4) Iyyāka na^cbudu waiyyāka nasta^cīnu (5) Ihdinā aṣ-ṣirāta al-mustaqīma (6) Ṣirāta al-ladhīna an^camta ^calayhim ghayri al-maghdūbi ^calayhim walā aḍ-ḍāllīna

• For the first or second rakat only, the recitation of Al-Fatiha is followed with a recitation from any other section from the Quran of choice.
• The takbir is said again and the hands are raised as previously described and the next position, bowing or ruku', begins.

Bowing

Bowing in prayer.

Main article: Ruku'

• The palms are placed on the knees. Ideally, fingers are spaced out and the back is erected at an angle at which poured water may not fall from it.
• Some of many types of remembrances of God are recited for this situation such as سبحان ربى العظيم (transliteration subḥāna rabbī al-^caẓīm, meaning "Glory to my Lord, the Most Magnificent") three times or more.

Second standing

• I'tidal is the standing again after ruku'. The back is straightened and the hands are raised as in takbir as mentioned before but saying سمع الله لمن حمده (transliteration sami^ca allāhu li-man ḥamidah, meaning "Allah listens and responds to the one who praises him.")
• Some of many praises to God are said for this situation such as ربنا لك الحمد (transliteration rabbanā wa-laka al-ḥamd, meaning "O our Lord! And all praise is for You.")
• The takbir is said and the hands can be raised as mentioned before as the next position, prostration, begins with hands reaching the ground before knees.

Prostration

Muslims in prostration in Syria.

Main article: Sujud

• As much of the ground must be felt by the nose as the forehead. The elbows are raised and the palms are on level with either the shoulders or the ears, with fingers together.
• Some of many types of remembrances of God are recited for this situation such as سبحان ربى الأعلى وبحمده (transliteration subḥāna rabbī al-'a^clā wa-bi-ḥamdih meaning "Glory to my Lord, the Most High Most Praiseworthy") three times or more.
• The takbir is said again and the hands can be raised as mentioned before while the next position, kneeling, begins.

Sitting

Main article: Sitting in salah

Men sit and pray in Kosovo

• While sitting, either the left foot is placed along the ground with the right foot upright or both feet are kept upright.
• Some of many types of remembrances are recited for this situation such as rabb 'ighfir lī, rabb 'ighfir lī (meaning "O my Lord, forgive me! O my Lord, forgive me!")
• The takbir is said again and the hands can be raised as mentioned before as the second prostration begins.

Second prostration

• Second prostrations are done exactly as the first time.
• The head is raised and the takbir is said again and the hands can be raised as mentioned before. For every second and last rakat only you would go to the sitting position again. Otherwise, the standing position begins again for the start of a new rakat.

Second sitting

See also: Tashahhud and Taslim

• If this is the second raka'ah, sitting is done as before. If this is not part of the second raka'ah, then the left thigh is leans against the ground and both feet are protruding from the right side with the right foot either upright or along the ground. The left palm leans on the left knee.
• The right index finger is pointed towards the qibla.
• The Tashahhud is recited: التَّحِيَّاتُ لله وَ الصَّلَوَاتُ وَ الطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبيُّ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَ عَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إلهَ إلا اللهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ ورَسُولُهُ

At-tahiyyatu lillahi wa 's-salawatu wa 't-tayyibatu. As-salamu `alayka ayyuha'n-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu `alayna wa `ala `ibadillahi's-saliheen. Ashadu an la ilaha illa Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan `abduhu wa rasuluh.

(All the salutations, prayers and good things are for Allah. Peace be on you O Prophet, and the blessings of Allah, and His grace and blessings. Peace on us and on all the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that none but Allah is worthy of worship and bear witness that Muhammad is the Servant and Messenger of Allah.)

• Greetings on Muhammad are recited:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Allahumma salli `ala Muhammadin wa `ala ali Muhammadin kama sallaita `ala Ibrahima wa `ala ali Ibrahima Innaka hameedun Majid Allahumma barik `ala Muhammadin wa `ala ali Muhammadin kama barakta `ala Ibrahima wa `ala ali Ibrahima Innaka hamidun Majeed.

(O Allah, send grace and honour on Muhammad and on the family and true followers of Muhammad, just as you sent Grace and Honour on Ibrahim and on the family and true followers of Ibrahim. Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family and true followers of Muhammad, just as you blessed Ibrahim and the family and true followers of Ibrahim. Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great.)

• If this is not the last raka'ah, a new raka'ah begins by standing up again with the takbir and the hands can be raised as mentioned before.
• If this is the last raka'ah, the greetings of taslim are said to the right such as السلام عليكم ورحمة الله (transliteration "As-Salaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullaah," meaning "May Allaah grant you peace and security, and may His Mercy be upon you") and then similarly to the left.

Performing the Taslim
	Reciting the salam facing the right direction	Reciting the salam facing the left direction

Differences in practice

Shia Muslims praying in Grand Mosque of Nishapur, Iran

The Islamic worship practiced by one Muslim may differ from another's in minor details, which can affect the precise actions and words involved. Differences arise because of different interpretations of the Islamic legal sources by the different schools of law (madhhabs) in Sunni Islam, and by different legal traditions within Shia'ism. In the case of ritual worship these differences are generally minor, and should rarely cause dispute. Muslims believe that Muhammad practiced, taught, and disseminated the worship ritual in the whole community of Muslims and made it part of their life. The practice has, therefore, been concurrently and perpetually practiced by the community in each of the generations. The authority for the basic forms of the Salah is neither the hadiths nor the Qur'an, but rather the consensus of Muslims. Differences also occur due to optional (recommended rather than obligatory) articles of prayer procedure, for example, which verses of the Quran to recite. A 2015 Pew Research Center study found that women are two percent more likely than men to pray on a daily basis.

Shia Muslims, after the end of the prayer, raise their hands three times, reciting Allah hu akbar and Sunnis just look at the left and right shoulder saying salams. Also Shias in the second Rakat often read "Qunoot", which for Sunnis is often done after salah.

In each of the positions, the Muslim usually needs to consider these, which may vary between schools and gender :

• Position of legs and feet.
• Position of hands, including fingers
• Place where eyes should focus
• The minimum amount of adhkar/recitation, depending upon whether the worshipper is Imam or following the Imam or praying alone.
• Loudness of recitation : audible, or moving of lips, or just listening

Steps that are compulsory or necessary in the 5 daily prayers

Steps : Schools	Maliki	Shafi	Hanbali	Hanafi	Salafi/ Wahhabi	Shia/ Imami
Position of feet	Men do not join feet but women do .	recommended during congregation to join the feet with each other		People do not join feet with each other	If congregation, people have to join feet with each other	Men do not join their feet together whereas women do
Focus of eye	At Sajdah	At Sajdah		At place of Sajdah	At place of Sajdah	At the muhr (holy stone) they are praying on, which is at the place of Sajdah.
Start. Takbiratul Ihram	Hands raised till shoulders or Ear-lobes.	Start with niyah (intention) inside the heart. The takbir performed with hand raised till ear-lobes for men and till shoulders for women		Starts with Allahu Akbar.Hands raised till ear-lobes.	Starts with Allahu Akbar. Hands raised till shoulders or ear-lobes. Palms of hands straight, and facing the Kaaba.	Starts with Allahu Akbar. Hands raised till ear-lobes or till shoulder.
Position of hands	Hands on thighs or by their sides.	Above navel and under chest		Men – at or under navel, women – on chest	Hands of both men and women on chest	Hand are on the thighs or on their side
Sana		Allahu akbar kabiran walhamdulillahi kathiran wa subhanallahi bukrotan wa asila. Also sunnat to add Tawajjuh: (Wajjahtu wajhiya lilladzii fatharas-samaawaati wal ardha...., and so on.....)	Sunnat hence necessary	Sana (Subhanak Allahumma wabihamdika watabaara kasmuka wata'aalaa jadduka wa laa ilaaha ghayruk)	Sunnat hence necessary
Audhubillah		recommended and imam read in silent (Sirr)		Recommended but not required
Bismillah	Makruh to read Bismillah as considered not part of Fathiha	Bismillah is read loudly before every surah including Fatihah except surah At-Taubah by the imam during congregational prayers in read-aloud Salahs (eg; Fajr, Maghrib, Isha, Friday prayer, Taraweeh, Eid prayer, etc)	Considered part of Fatiha but imam reads in Sirr (silently)	Not considered part of Fatiha. Recommended to read anyway.	read silently (sirr)	Necessary with every Sura (except Sura Tawba) whether in Salah or not.
Sura Fatiha	Important in first two rakaats.	Compulsory in every rakaat except for ma'mum that cannot catch up imam in Qiyam		Compulsory in every Rakaat.	Compulsory in every Rakaat. After every Ayat, there should be a pause	Compulsory in 1st 2 Rakaats
End of Fatiha		Aameen (loudly during congregation)		Aameen (quietly)	Aameen (loudly, along with muktadies)	Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin (first ayat of Sura Fatiha)
More recitation	Sura Ikh-las should be recited once a day in Salah.			In every Rakaat (except 3rd and 4th Rakaat of Fard Salahs), some parts of the Quran is to be recited	Optional.	Sura Ikhlas is to be recited at least once a day in Salah. If Sura Fil or Quraish is recited, then they are to be recited together in 1 Rakah. Same with Sura Inshira and Tin.
Loudness		Varies by prayer: Fajr: Loud, Dhuhr: Silent, Asr: Silent, Maghreb: Loud, Isha: Loud, Optional prayers: Silent.		In congregation of the morning prayer and the first two rak'ahs of maghrib and 'isha' prayers, recitation of Quran is to be loud.	Varies by prayer: Fajr: Loud, Dhuhr: Silent, Asr: Silent, Maghreb: Loud, Isha: Loud, Optional prayers: Silent.	Varies by prayer: Fajr: Loud, Dhuhr: Silent, Asr: Silent, Maghrib: Loud, Isha: Loud.
Qunut	Sunnat in Fajr prayer before ruku' and imam recites in Sirr (silent)	Sunnat in Fajr prayer after ruku' and imam should recite it loudly (jahr) also sunnat in Witr prayer in 15 last night of Ramadan	Sunnat in Witr Prayer	Sunnat in Witr prayer		Optional. It is recited in the second rak'ah after the recital of the surahs and before ruku'.
End of Prayer	Taslim	Taslim (moving of head from right to left)		Taslim (moving of head from right to left)	Like Hanafi	Raising the hand three times and reciting Allahu Akbar.

Note: Shias do not recite Sura Ikhlas in one breath.

Types of prayers

Prayers may be classified into four categories of obligation: fard, wajib, sunnah, and nafl.

Fard As-salah

The fard as-salat are the five compulsory daily prayers, the Friday prayer (jumu'ah), and the funeral prayer (janazah). Nonperformance of fard as-salat renders one a non-Muslim according to the Hanbali Sunni School, while for the other Sunni schools it renders one a sinner. The denial of its compulsory status, however, is agreed upon by all Sunni schools to render the denier outside the fold of Islam. Fard prayers (as with all fard actions) are further classed as fard al-ayn (obligation of the self) and fard al-kifayah (obligation of sufficiency). Fard al-ayn are those actions that are obligatory on each individual; he or she will be held to account if the actions are not performed. Fard al-kifayah are actions obligatory on the Muslim community at large, so that if some people within the community carry it out no Muslim is considered blameworthy, but if no one carries it out all incur a collective punishment.

Men are required to perform the fard salat in congregation (jama'ah), behind an imam when they are able. According to most Islamic scholars, performing prayers in congregation is mustahabb(recommended) for men, when they are able, but is neither required nor forbidden for women.

The five daily prayers

Display showing prayer times in a Turkish mosque.

I. Fajr, II. Zuhr, III. Asr, IV. Maghrib, V. Isha

Muslims are commanded to perform prayers five times a day. These prayers are obligatory on every Muslim who has reached the age of puberty, with the exception being those who are mentally ill, too physically ill for it to be possible, menstruating, or experiencing postnatal bleeding. Those who are ill or otherwise physically unable to offer their prayers in the traditional form are permitted to offer their prayers while sitting or lying, as they are able. The five prayers are each assigned to certain prescribed times (al waqt) at which they must be performed, unless there is a compelling reason for not being able to perform them on time. These times are measured according to the movement of the sun. These are: near dawn (fajr), after midday has passed and the sun starts to tilt downwards / Noon (zuhr), in the afternoon (asr), just after sunset (maghrib) and around nightfall (Isha). Under some circumstances ritual worship can be shortened or combined (according to prescribed procedures). In case a ritual worship is not performed at the right time, it must be performed later.

Some Muslims offer voluntary prayers (sunna rawatib) immediately before and after the prescribed fard prayers. Sunni Muslims classify these prayers as sunnah, while Shi'ah consider them nafil. The number of rakats for each of the five obligatory prayers as well as the voluntary prayers (before and after) are listed below:

Name	Prescribed time period (waqt)	Voluntary before fard		Obligatory	Voluntary after fard
		Sunni	Shi'a		Sunni	Shi'a
Fajr (فجر)	Dawn to sunrise, should be read at least 10–15 minutes before sunrise	2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu'akkadah	2 Rakats	2 Rakats	—	2 Rakats
Zuhr (ظهر)	After true noon until Asr	4 Rakats Sunnat-Mu'akkadah	4 Rakats	4 Rakats	2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu'akkadah	8 Rakats
Asr (عصر)	Afternoon	4 Rakats Sunnat-Ghair-Mu'akkdah	4 Rakats	4 Rakats	-	8 Rakats
Maghrib (مغرب)	After sunset until dusk	-	3 Rakats	3 Rakats	2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu'akkadah	2 Rakats
Isha (عشاء)	Dusk until dawn	4 Rakats Sunnat-Ghair-Mu'akkadah	4 Rakats	4 Rakats	2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu'akkadah, 3 Rakats Witr	2 Rakats

Sunni Muslims also perform two rakats nafl (voluntary) after the Zuhr and Maghrib prayers. During the Isha prayer, they perform the two rakats nafl after the two Sunnat-Mu'akkadah and after the witr prayer.

Table notes

Jumu'ah

Main article: Jumu'ah

Jumu'ah at Kaohsiung Mosque, Taiwan.

Salat al-Jumu'ah is a congregational prayer on Friday, which replaces the Zuhr prayer. It is compulsory upon men to perform it in congregation, while women may perform it so or may perform Zuhr salat instead. Salat al-Jumu'ah consists of a sermon (khutba) given by the speaker (khatib) after which two rakats are performed. There is no Salat al-Jumu'ah without a khutba.

Wajib salat

Wajib As-salat are compulsory, non-performance of which renders one a sinner. However, the evidence of the obligation is open to interpretation, with some of the madhab saying it is obligatory while others saying it is optional. To deny that a fard salah is obligatory is an act of disbelief while denying the obligation of a wajib salat is not disbelief. There are some who believe that as the 5 prayers are obligatory, it automatically renders all other prayers optional.

Sunnah salah

Main article: Sunnah salah

Though not a mandatory part of the course, most Muslims supplicate after completing salah.

Sun'nah sal'ah are optional and were additional voluntary prayers performed by Muhammad — they are of two types — the Sunnah Mu'akkaddah, those practiced on a regular basis, which if abandoned cause the abandoner to be regarded as sinful by the Hanafi School and the Sunnah Ghair Mu'akkaddah, those practiced on a semi-regular practice by Muhammad about which all are that their abandonment doesn't render one sinful.

Certain sunnah prayers have prescribed waqts associated with them. Those ordained for before each of the fard prayers must be performed between the first call to prayer (adhan) and the second call (iqama), which signifies the start of the fard prayer. Those sunnah ordained for after the fard prayers can be performed any time between the end of the fard prayers and the end of the current prayer's waqt. Any amount of extra rakats may be offered, but most madha'ib prescribe a certain number of rakats for each sunnah salah.

Nafl salah

Main article: Nafl salah

Nafl salah (supererogatory prayers) are voluntary, and one may offer as many as he or she likes almost any time. There are many specific conditions or situations when one may wish to offer nafl prayers. They cannot be offered at sunrise, true noon, or sunset. The prohibition against salah at these times is to prevent the practice of sun worship.

Salat-al-Witr

Main article: Witr

Witr is performed after the salah of Isha (dusk). Some Muslims consider witr wajib while others consider it optional. It may contain any odd number of rakats from one to eleven according to the different schools of jurisprudence. However, Witr is most commonly offered with three rakats.

To end prayers for the night after Isha, the odd numbered rakats must have the niyyah of "wajib-ul-Lail", which is mandatory to "close" one's salah for that day.

Shi'ahs offer this as a one rakat salah at the end of salatul layl (the night prayer), which is an optional prayer according to some shi'ah scholars, and a wajib (obligatory) prayer according to others. This is to be prayed any time after Isha, up until fajr. The best time to pray it is the last third of the night (the night being divided into three, between maghrib and fajr of that night). It is considered highly meritorious by all shi'ah Muslims, and is said to bring numerous benefits to the believer, mainly gaining proximity to Allah. There are various methods of salatul-layl's performance, including shorter and longer versions, in the longer version the believer must perform 8 nawafil salah, in sets of 2 rakats each, then they must pray a 2 rakats salah called 'salatul shafa'ah' this is to include surah nas after surah fatihah in the first rakat and surah falaq after surah fatihah in the secound rakat, and unusually no qunut (a du'ah recited before going into ruku' of the second rakat of most prayers performed by shi'ahs) It is after this that the believer performs salatul witr, it's long method being - Starting with takbiratul ehram, then surah fatihah, then surah ikhlas, then surah falaq, then surah nas, then the hands are raised to recite qunut, upon which the believer can recite any du'a, however there are many recommended du'as for this purpose. Within qunut, the believer must pray for the forgiveness of 40 believers, then further prayers are read where the believer asks for forgiveness for himself a certain number of times using specified phrases and amounts of times to repeat those phrases. The believer then completes the salah in the usual way, by completing his qunut, reciting takbir whilst rasing his hands, going into ruku' and reciting the usual phrase for that, then returning up right and reciting takbir whilst doing so and upon being upright recites 'sami allahu liman hamida' (verily Allah has heard the one who has praised him) thereupon the believer recites takbir whilst raising his hands and goes into sajda. He recites the proscribed phrase in sajda rises, recites takbir whilst rising and then again whilst returnin to sajdah, then rises with takbir again and recites tashahud and salam, thus ending this prayer. It is then optional to recite certain other du'as and dhikr (remembrance of Allah through certain phrases and some of his names being repeated) It is then recommended to perform and sajdah ash-shukr (prostration of thanks) and to then recite ayatul kursi (verse of the throne) and then perform another sajdah ash-shukr.

Eid

Main article: Salat al Eid

Women praying in Najaf, Iraq in Eid ul-Fitr

Eid salah is performed on the morning of Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha. The Eid prayer is most likely an individual obligation (fard al-ayn) and Niyyah for both Eid salah is made as Wajib, though some Islamic scholars argue it is only a collective of the obligation(fard al-kifayah). It consists of two rakats, with seven (or three for the followers Imam Hanafi) takbirs offered before the start of the first rakat and five (or three for the followers of Imam Hanafi) before the second. After the salah is completed, a sermon (khutbah) is offered. However, the khutbah is not an integral part of the Eid salah. The Eid salah must be offered between sunrise and true noon i.e. between the time periods for Fajr and Zuhr.

Istikhaarah

Main article: Salaat-ul-Istikhaarah

Salat al-Istikhaarah is a prayer performed when a Muslim needs guidance on a particular matter, such as whether they should marry a certain person. In order to perform this salah one should pray a normal two rakats salah to completion. After completion one should say a du'a called the Istikhaarah du'a. The intention for the salah should be in one's heart to pray two rakats of salah followed by Istikhaarah. The salah can be performed at any of the times where salah is not forbidden.

The salah must be performed in the Arabic language.

Qada

In certain circumstances one may be unable to perform one's prayer within the prescribed time period (waqt). In this case, the prayer must be performed as soon as one is able to do so. Several Ahadith narrate that Muhammad stated that permissible reasons to perform Qada Salah are forgetfulness and accidentally sleeping through the prescribed time. However, knowingly sleeping through the prescribed time for Salah is deemed impermissible.

Qasr and Jam' bayn as-Salaatayn

When travelling over long distances, one may shorten some prayers, a practice known as qasr. Furthermore, several prayer times may be joined, which is referred to as Jam' bayn as-Salaatayn. Qasr involves shortening the obligatory components of the Zuhr, Asr, and Isha prayers to two rakats. Jam' bayn as-Salaatayn combines the Zuhr and Asr prayers into one prayer offered between noon and sunset, and the Maghrib and Isha prayers into one between sunset and Fajr. Neither Qasr nor Jam' bayn as-Salaatayn can be applied to the Fajr prayer.

There is no reference to Qasr during travel within the Qur'an itself; the Qur'an allows for Qasr when there is fear of attack, but does not forbid it for travel in non-hostile circumstances.

Sajdah of forgetfulness

Main article: Sujud Sahwi

During the ritual salat prayer, if a person forgets to do one of the actions of prayer he can make up for certain actions by performing two sujud at the end of the prayer. This can only be done if specific types of actions are forgotten by the person praying.

Tahiyyatul masjid

Upon entering the mosque, "Tahiyyatul masjid" may be performed; this is to pay respects to the mosque. Every Muslim entering the mosque is encouraged to perform these two rakats.

Prayer in congregation

Friday prayer for Muslims in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Prayer in congregation (jama'ah) is considered to have more social and spiritual benefit than praying by oneself. When praying in congregation, the people stand in straight parallel rows behind one person who conduct the prayer, called imam, and face the qibla. The imam is usually chosen to be a scholar or the one who has the best knowledge of the Qur'an, preferably someone who has memorised it (a hafiz). In the first row behind the imam, if available, would be another hafiz to correct the imam in case a mistake is made during the performance of the salah. The prayer is performed as normal, with the congregation following the actions and movements of the imam as he performs the salah.

Standing arrangement

For two people of the same gender, the imam would stand on the left and the other person is on the right. For more than two people, the imam stands one row ahead of the rest.

When the worshippers consist of men and women combined, a man is chosen as the imam. In this situation, women are typically forbidden from performing this role. This point, though unanimously agreed on by the major schools of Islam, is disputed by some groups, based partly on a hadith whose interpretation is controversial. When the congregation consists entirely of women and pre-pubescent children, one woman is chosen as imam. When men, women, and children are praying, the children's rows are usually between the men's and women's rows, with the men at the front and women at the back. Another configuration is where the men's and women's rows are side by side, separated by a curtain or other barrier, with the primary intention being for there to be no direct line of sight between male and female worshippers, following a Qur'anic injunction toward men and women each lowering their gazes (Qur'an 24:30–31).

Conducting

The prayer commences with the imam saying “Allahu akbar” out loud. For the five daily prayers, the imam would read the surah fatiha and a following section of the quran out loud only for the first two rakats of Fajr, Maghrib and Isha. To move between positions, the imam would say “Allahu akbar” out loud, such as when going to the bowing position, except when standing up again from the bowing position, when the imam would say “SamiAllahu liman hamidah” out loud. The prayer is concluded with the imam saying the taslim out loud.

When joining a congregation prayer late after missing rakats, the worshipper would join with the rest of the group. However, when the taslim is said at the end, he or she would not say the taslim but would instead stand up and continue for the number of rakats missed. If he or she joined after the bowing stage of a rakat, then he or she would have considered to have missed that rakat.

Quranist Salah

The concept of Quranist Salah Timings has been discussed in Hujjat Allah Al-Baligha (Arabic/Urdu) by Shah Waliullah. He said that there are 3 Salah timings (prayers) instead of the 5 Salahs (prayers).

The number of regular Salah mentioned by their respective names in Arabic in the Qur'an are three as follows:

1. Ṣalāt Fajr (Dawn Prayer)
2. Aṣ-Ṣalāt al-Wusṭā ( The Middle Prayer)
3. Ṣalāt ^cIshā' (Night Prayer)

The other Salah normally prayed by most Muslims are not explicitly mentioned in Qur'an by specific Arabic terms. Most Muslims pray them by giving reference to the Hadith of Muhammad, and the consensus of Muslims, whereas Quranists may only pray the 3 times mentioned.

Salah timings according to Quranists and other minorities

Salah timings of Qur'an are mentioned, in particular three salah times are described and that they are recorded in a written document. The Qur'an states that you should interrupt any activity you were previously doing to pray, as this betters the individual. Also noted is the volume at which the salah should be uttered, somewhere in between spoken aloud and spoken in a low tone.

The time for performing Fajr (Dawn) Prayer starts when the first thin ray of light is observed in the sky and ends at the first "taraf" (terminal) of the day, or sunrise

The time for performing middle or Salat Al-Wusta can be observed from the moment the sun begins its descend from its highest point in the sky (duluk al shams) until sunset but before the darkness of the night (ghasaq al-layl) starts to set in.

'Duluk ash-shams' can also mean 'sunset.' It literally means 'the rubbing of the sun.' The most accepted meaning is that this means the apparent rubbing of the sun with the horizon at sunset. Although, the meaning of a declining noon sun can also be found in Classical Arabic sources. Literally, it can imply a meaning of both sunset and dawn in its meaning of a sun making apparent contact i.e. 'rubbing' with the horizon.

The Qur'an, if we take the understanding of 'a declining noon sun' implies that the time of the Middle prayer ends with sunset.

Some Quranists however believe that there are only two Salah, dawn and dusk including the times of night close to these two periods; which is Based on the Qur'an (24:58). Some groups like Ahl Al-Quran and The Submitters believe that the 5 Salah as they are practiced by Muslims today were passed down from Abraham generationally through the Arabs and the Children of Israel, to then be inherited by those who adopted the Qur'an (and rejected by most Jews and Christians), as a ritual of the religion of Abraham.The emphasize on constantly mentioning of God in holy books, is believed to be about the believers' righteous endeavors and not just performing Salah. For instance, in (51:56) when God states: "I did not create the jinn and the humans except to worship Me;" worshiping God could not mean just performing the prayer ritual all day long. "Quranist" claims are based on dropping all reference to the traditions of Muhammad that clarify both the timings and names of the five salah as well as the detailed descriptions of the conditions to perform them, in contravention of the Islamic scholarly tradition, both Sunni and Shia.

See also

• Al Ghaffar
• Al-Afuw
• Dua
• Sabr (Islamic term)
• Tasbih

Further reading

• How to pray according to Shi'a Ja'fari School of law

External links

• Video lectures on prayers
• Determining time of Salat anywhere