Salah (Prayer) Overview

Salah, also called Namaz among non-Arab Muslims, is a fundamental act of worship in Islam and one of the Five Pillars, which form the core beliefs and practices of the faith:

1. Shahada (Profession of faith)
2. Salah (Prayer)
3. Zakat (Charity)
4. Sawm (Fasting)
5. Haj (Pilgrimage)

Salah is obligatory for adult Muslims and is performed five times daily, with each prayer time aligned to specific positions of the Sun:

1. Fajr: Dawn, before sunrise
2. Dhuhr: Midday, after the Sun passes its highest point
3. Asr: Late part of the afternoon
4. Maghrib: Just after sunset
5. Isha: Between sunset and midnight

Jumuah (Friday Prayer)

On Fridays, Muslims perform a special congregational prayer known as Jumuah instead of Dhuhr. This includes a sermon (Khutbah) and emphasizes the importance of community worship.

Adhan: The Call to Prayer

The Adhan is a call to prayer recited by a muezzin from the masjid (mosque) to announce each of the five daily prayer times. Its purpose is to remind and invite Muslims to gather for prayer.

The Adhan includes these phrases:

• Allahu Akbar (God is great)
• Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah (I bear witness that there is no God except the One God)
• Ashadu anna Muhammadar Rasool Allah (I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God)
• Hayya’ ala-s-Salah (Hurry to the prayer)
• Hayya’ ala-l-Falah (Hurry to success)
• Assalatu khairum-minan-naum (Prayer is better than sleep) – for Fajr only
• La ilaha illallah (There is no God except the One God)

Significance: The Adhan serves as a daily reminder of God and invites Muslims to unite in worship.

Wudu (Ablution)

Wudu is the act of purifying oneself through washing specific parts of the body before Salah. It prepares Muslims both spiritually and physically for prayer.

Rakats in Salah

Each Salah consists of rakats—units of prayer that include specific movements and recitations:

• Fajr: 2 rakats (Fard)
• Dhuhr: 4 rakats (Fard)
• Asr: 4 rakats (Fard)
• Maghrib: 3 rakats (Fard)
• Isha: 4 rakats (Fard)

Additional prayers:

• Jumuah: Special Friday noon prayer in place of Dhuhr
• Tahajjud: Voluntary prayer performed in the early morning
• Tarawih: Evening prayer during Ramadan, offered with Isha
• Eid Prayers: Performed on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha