Learn about Salah

Salah, also known as Salat, is the ritual prayer performed by Muslims as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is an essential act of worship and a fundamental part of a Muslim’s daily life. Salah is prescribed in the Quran and is obligatory for every adult Muslim who is of sound mind and body.

Salah is performed five times a day at specific times: before sunrise (Fajr), midday (Dhuhr), mid-afternoon (Asr), just after sunset (Maghrib), and in the evening (Isha). These times are determined based on the position of the sun.

The prayer involves a series of physical and verbal acts of worship, including standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. Before beginning the prayer, Muslims perform ablution (wudu), a ritual purification of the body.

During Salah, Muslims recite verses from the Quran and supplications in Arabic while facing the Kaaba in Mecca, the holiest site in Islam. The prayer serves as a direct connection between the worshipper and Allah (God), promoting spiritual growth, mindfulness, and a sense of discipline.

Salah is not only a means of fulfilling religious obligations but also serves as a way for Muslims to maintain a strong relationship with Allah, seek guidance, and cultivate a sense of inner peace and tranquility in their daily lives. It also fosters a sense of community, as Muslims often gather in mosques to perform prayers together, especially during congregational prayers on Fridays and during special occasions.

The guides linked on this page provide a comprehensive explanation of the salah and the purification (wudu) or ablution that is performed prior to the salah as well as the rulings for attending Friday prayers (jumu’ah).