Salah

For other uses, see Salah (disambiguation).

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

Salat or Salah or Muslim Prayer. Main Postures, Recitations, and Prayers

Women praying in Najaf, Iraq in Eid ul-Fitr

Men praying in Grand Mosque of Nishapur, Iran

Salāt ("prayer", Arabic: صلاة ṣalāh or gen: ṣalāt; pl. صلوات ṣalawāt) is the practice of ritualistic prayer in Islam as opposed to dua, which is the Arabic word for supplication. Its importance for Muslims is indicated by its status as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

is preceded by ritual ablution and usually performed five times a day. It 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.

Various views

Under the Hanbali School of thought, a person who doesn't pray 5 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.

For Muslims of the Sunni and Mustaali Ismaili persuasions obligatory salat is prescribed at five periods of the day. These 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 or ẓuhr), 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. The process last roughly 15-20 minutes.

Terminology

Salat (ṣalāh) 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 dua (literally "call") in Islamic usage.

Muslims themselves use several terms to refer to salat depending on their language or culture. In many parts of the world, including many non-Arab countries such as Indonesia, the Arabic term salat is used. The other major term is the Persian word namāz (نماز), used by speakers of the Indo-Iranian languages (e.g., Kurdish, Urdu), as well as Turkish, Russian (in an Islamic context), Chinese, Bosnian and Albanian.

Purpose and importance

Bosniaks praying in an open field, ca. 1906

Men praying on a street in Amman, Jordan.

The chief purpose of salat 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".

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.

In the 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."

Salat 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 salat "the best deed".

Men praying at a mosque in Indonesia.

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 look after the women.” His Companions described the scene saying, “The majority of the Messenger of Allah's advice – when death came to him – was ‘The Salah; and to look after the women.’ to the extent that his chest would be repeating these words, and his tongue ceased to express them.”

People who find it physically difficult can perform Salat in a way suitable for them. To perform valid Salat, Muslims must be in a state of ritual purity, which is mainly achieved by ritual ablution, (wuḍūʾ), according to prescribed procedures.

Differences in practice

Shi'a Muslims funeral prayers in 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 do not necessarily 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 Salat 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.

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 Rakak often read "Qunoot", which for Sunnis is often done after salat.

Conditions

View of the worship hall of the Great Mosque of Kairouan, considered as the oldest mosque in the Western Islamic World.

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 salat 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, salat is forbidden until a later time. Women are not allowed to pray during their menses and for a period after childbirth.

Preparation

Men making ablution in Istanbul, Turkey.

Cleanliness and dress

Islam advises that salat 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

Main articles: Wudu, Tayammum, and Ghusl

Before conducting salat, 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).

Intention

Main article: Niyyah

The person should be conscious and aware of the particular salat 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 salat

Main article: Rakat

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

Muslims in prostration in Syria.

A Muslim turns his head towards the right performing the Taslim, marking the end of his prayers.

Each salat is made up of a repeating unit or cycle called a rakat. The number of rakats for the five daily worship can be found below.

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

A basic rakat is made up of these parts.

Standing

Main article: Standing in salat

• 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 Greater). 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. One who wants to show respect will hold their hands there for about a few 5 extra seconds extending 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 bihamdika, wa tabaarakasmuka, wa ta'aalaa jadduka, wa laa ilaaha ghayruka.
• Muslims then ask refuge with Allah from the accursed devil by reciting أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّـيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ which is transliterated into Latin script as a^cūdhu bi-llāhi min ash-shayṭāni r-rajīm.
• The recitation of the Quran begins with بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ b-ism illāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm.
• Surah Al-Fatiha is recited as follows:

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 ﴿٧﴾) (1) Alhamdu lillahi rabbi alAAalameena (2) Alrrahmani alrraheemi (3) Maliki yawmi alddeeni (4) Iyyaka naAAbudu waiyyaka nastaAAeenu (5) Ihdina alssirata almustaqeema (6) Sirata allatheena anAAamta AAalayhim ghayri almaghdoobi AAalayhim wala alddalleena (7)

• If this is the first or second rakat, 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, ruku', begins.

Steps that are compulsory or necessary in the 5 daily prayers

Steps : Schools	Maliki	Shafi	Hanbali	Hanafi	Salafi/ Ahle Hadith	Shia/ Imami
Position of feet				People do not join feet with each other	If congregation, people join feet with each other	Men do not join their feet together whereas women do
Focus of eye				At place of Sijda	Like Hanafi	At the muhr they are praying on
Start. Takbiratul Ihram		Start with Niyah (intention). The takbir performed with hand raised till ear-lobes for male and till shoulders for female		Starts with Allaahu Akbar.	Starts with Allaahu Akbar. Hands raised till shoulders or ear-lobes. Palms of hands straight, and facing Kaaba.
Position of hands	Hands should be hanging freely	Above navel and under chest		Males - at navel. Females-on chest	Hands of both males and females at chest	Hand are on the thighs or on their side.
Sana.(Subhnaka Allahumma wabihamdika watabaara kashmuka wat ala zadduka wa laa ilaaha gairuook)		Allahu akbar kabiran walhamdulillahi kathiran fa subhanallahi bukrotan wa asila. Also sunat to add Tawajjuh (Wajjahtu wajhiya..)		Sunnat	Sunnat. Necessary	N/A
Auzobillah		Sunat and imam read in silent (Sirr)			To ward off Shaitan(Satan and evil presences).
Bismillah	Makruh to read Bismillah as considered not part of Fathiha	Part of Fatiha and obligitory. Imam should read loudly in night prayer (Mahgrib, Isya and Far)	Considered part of Fatiha but imam read in Sirr (silently)		To indicate that the words of the holy Quran are not yours, but the words of Allah. (In the name of Allah.)	Necessary with every Sura (except Sura Tawba) whether in Salah or not.
Sura Fatiha		Compulsory in every rakaat except for ma'mum that cannot cath 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	Aameen (loudly, along with muktadies)	Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin (first ayat of Sura Fatiha
More recitation				In every Rakaat (except 3rd and 4th Rakaat of Farz Salahs), some parts of the Quran is to be recited	Optional.	Sura Ikh-las 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				In congregation of the morning prayer and the first two rak'ahs of maghrib and 'isha' prayers, recitation of Quran is to be loud.	In the following prayers: Fajr: Loud. Dhuhr: Silent. Asr: Silent. Maghreb: Loud. Isha: Loud. Optional prayers: Silent.	In the following prayers the Suras are recited: Fajr: Loud. Dhuhr: Silent Asr: Silent. Maghrib: Loud. Isha: Loud.
Qunut	Sunat in Fajr prayer before ruku' and imam recites in Sirr (silent)	Sunat in Fajr prayer after ruku' and imam should recites it loudly (jahr) also sunat in Witr prayer in 15 last night of Ramadan	Sunat in Witr Prayer	Sunat in Witr prayer		Optional. It is to be done in the second rak'ah after the recital of the surahs and before ruku'.

Note:

Shias do not recite Sura Ikhlas in one breath.

Bowing

Main article: Ruku'

• The palms are placed on the knees, with fingers spaced out. 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.

I'tidal and stopping

• 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 unlike the previous takbirs, the hands are not raised as the next position, prostration, begins with hands on the ground before knees.

Prostration

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 are not raised as mentioned before while the next position, kneeling, begins.

Sitting

Main article: Sitting in salat

Men sit and pray at the mosque in Kosovo

• While sitting, the left foot is placed along the ground with the right foot upright. One can also sit with both feet upright as it is also Sunnah of Rasolullah SallAllah-o-Alaih-e-Wasallam

• 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 are not raised as mentioned before as the second prostration begins.

• during the second sitting of the second as well as the last rakat one recites the at-Tahiyyat:

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. 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. While reading "Ash hadu ... `abduhu wa rasuluh." A person should raise the index finger of his right hand slightly and return it to its previous position after he has finished saying it. In the last rakat one concludes the prayers with Salawat Ibrahimiyyah:

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 Sayyidina Muhammadin wa `ala ali Sayyidina Muhammadin kama sallaita `ala Sayyidina Ibrahima wa `ala ali Sayyidina Ibrahima Innaka hameedun Majid Allahumma barik `ala Sayyidina Muhammadin wa `ala ali Sayyidina Muhammadin kama barakta `ala Sayyidina Ibrahima wa `ala ali Sayyidina 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."

Second prostration

• Second prostrations are done exactly as the first time.

• The head is raised and the takbir is said again and the hands are not raised as mentioned before. If this is either the second or last rakat, the sitting position begins again. Otherwise, the standing position begins again with the start of a new rakat.

Prayer in congregation

Women's prayer hall in Khadija Mosque, Berlin

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 the chosen imam, facing qibla. The imam, who leads the congregation in salat, 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 salat. The prayer is performed as normal, with the congregation following the actions and movements of the imam as he performs the salat.

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.

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).

Types of prayers

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

Fard As-salah

Friday prayer for Muslims in Dhaka, Bangladesh

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.

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	2 Rakats Sunnat-Ghair-Mu'akkdah	3 Rakats	3 Rakats	2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu'akkadah	2 Rakats
Isha (عشاء)	Dusk until dawn it is makrooh to pray Isha after midnight (not true: Ishaa prayer must be performed before midnight and may not be delayed, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The time of ‘Isha’ is until midnight” (narrated by Muslim, al-Masaajid wa Mawaadi’ al-Salaah, 964), source: http://islamqa.info/en/10125)	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 salat 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 salat

Main article: Sunnah salat

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 salat.

Nafl salat

Main article: Nafl salat

Nafl salat (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 salat at these times is to prevent the practice of sun worship.

Salat-al-Witr

Main article: Witr

Witr is performed after the salat 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 salat for that day.

Shi'ahs offer this as a one rakat salat 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 salat, in sets of 2 rakats each, then they must pray a 2 rakats salat 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 salat 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

Men praying during Ramadan at the Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan.

Muslim males can be seen attending Khutbah as part of the Eid-ul-Adha prayers. Photo taken at Barashalghar union of Comilla's Debidwar upazila.

Eid salat 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 salat 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 salat is completed, a sermon (khutbah) is offered. However, the khutbah is not an integral part of the Eid salat. The Eid salat 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 salat one should pray a normal two rakats salat 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 salat followed by Istikhaarah. The salat can be performed at any of the times where salat is not forbidden.

The salat must be performed in the Arabic language.

Qada

The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb performing Salat.

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 Salat are forgetfulness and accidentally sleeping through the prescribed time. However, knowingly sleeping through the prescribed time for Salat 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

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.

Quranist Salat

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

The numbers of regular Salat mentioned in the Qur'an are five as follows:

1. Ṣalāt Fajr (Dawn Prayer)
2. Aṣ-Ṣalāt al-Wusṭā ( The Middle Prayer)
3. Ṣalāt ^cDhuhr' (Midday Prayer)
4. Ṣalāt ^cMaghrib' (Sunset Prayer)
5. Ṣalāt ^cIshā' (Night Prayer)

According to Quranists, the three leftover Salat are not mentioned in Qur'an by their specific Arabic terms. Therefore, they should be prayed giving reference to Hadith of Muhammad.

Salat timings according to Quranists and other minorities

Salat Timings of Qur'an are mentioned, in particular three salat 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 salat 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 Salat, dawn and dusk including the times of night close to these two periods.

Some groups like Ahl Al-Quran and The Submitters believe that the 5 Salat 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 Quran (and rejected by most Jews and Christians), as a ritual of the religion of Abraham.

"Quranist" claims are based on dropping all reference to the traditions of Muhammad that clarify both the timings and names of the five salat 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

References

• Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albani, Muhammad (1993). The Prophet's prayer described (1st ed.). Malaysia: Al-Haneef Publications. p. 15.

Further reading

• Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaani. The Prophet's Prayer Described. University of Southern California Muslim Students' Association. Retrieved 3 January 2007.
• "How to Perform the Daily Prayers" (PDF). Al-Islam.org. Retrieved 3 January 2007. How to pray according to Shi'a Ja'fari School of law

External links

• Video lectures on Prayers
• Instruction of Prayers
• Prayer Tutorial, Prayer Times and Qibla directions
• E-Book: Salaah - A Detailed Guide to Prayer
• Step by Step Namaz Guide
• iPhone app "alQibla" for worldwide prayer timings and qibla direction from anywhere on earth
• Determining time of Salat anywhere
• Salat presentation in video, including how to perform salat in detail
• Worldwide prayer time calculation
• Java library to calculate prayer time
• Salaah: Complete interactive online guide