Salah (Prayer)
The Islamic ritual prayer, performed five times daily.
Salah (Arabic: صلاة) is the Islamic ritual prayer and constitutes the second of Islam's five pillars. Salah is obligatory for all adult Muslims and must be performed five times a day at specific times: Fajr (dawn prayer), Dhuhr (noon prayer), Asr (afternoon prayer), Maghrib (sunset prayer) and Isha (night prayer).
The prayer begins with a niyyah (intention) and consists of a set number of rak'ah (prayer cycles), which vary depending on which prayer is being performed. During the prayer, one recites Surah Al-Fatiha and other verses from the Quran, performs ruku (bowing) and sujud (prostration with the forehead touching the ground).
Salah is a direct connection between the believer and Allah. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The first thing a person will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer." Prayer purifies the soul, strengthens faith and reminds the believer of Allah's greatness and presence in daily life.
For the prayer to be valid, one must be in a state of ritual purity (wudu), face the Qibla (the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca), and pray within the correct time interval.
Related terms
Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast)
The Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan's fasting.
Masjid al-Aqsa (The Farthest Mosque)
The third holiest mosque in Islam, in Jerusalem, connected to the Prophet's nocturnal journey.
Qalb Salim (The Pure Heart)
The pure, sincere heart — the ultimate goal of prayer and worship.
Taqlid (Following a School of Law)
The practice of following a qualified scholar's legal opinions without necessarily knowing the evidence.
Salat al-Hajat (Prayer of Need)
A voluntary prayer performed when one has a specific need or wish.
Tabi'in (The Successors)
The generation of Muslims who met the Prophet's companions but did not themselves meet the Prophet.