How Muslims Pray

In Islam, Muslims pray to One God without associating any partners with Him. The obligatory prayers are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam and there are no priests. In addition to the obligatory prayers, Muslims may supplicate and glorify God at any time. It is commendable in Islam to be in a habit of unceasingly glorifying God and supplicating to Him.

We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but God

In prayer, every muscle and bone of the body joins the soul and the mind in the worship and glory of God (Glorified and Exalted is He).

Please click here for step by step beginners guide to performing obligatory Islamic prayers which explains how to pray morning prayer (2 rakah), noon (4 rakah), afternoon (4 rakah), evening (3 rakah) and night prayer (4 rakah).

muslim kids praying

Offering of prayers is obligatory upon every Muslim who is sane, mature and in the case of women, free from menstruation and confinement due to child birth. Some requirements must be met in order for the prayer to be valid. These include but are not limited to:

* Performing ablution - cleaning the body, clothes and ground used for prayer.
* Clothing - one must be covered in the manner according to his gender.
* Facing the Ka'ba (referred to as the Qibla)
* Intention - to mentally say that you're attempting to pray and gain its benefits."

Prayers are required at least five times a day. Other obligatory prayer include the Friday congregational prayer, Eid prayers and the funeral prayer. Times of the five daily obligatory prayers:

-Fajr - Before sunrise.
-Zuhr - After the sun begins to decline from its zenith .
-Asr - Mid-afternoon.
-Magrib - Just after sunset.
-Isha - night.

In addition one is also encouraged but not required to perform prayers during the day and night. Prayer should be offered in its due time, unless there is a reasonable excuse. Delayed obligatory prayers must be made up. In addition to the prescribed prayer, a Muslim expresses gratitude to God and appreciation of His favours and asks for His mercy all the time. Especially at times of, childbirth, marriage, going to or rising from bed, leaving and returning to his home, starting a journey or entering a city, riding or driving, before or after eating or drinking, harvesting, visiting graveyards and at time of distress and sickness.[1]

Purpose of the prayers

"The purpose of the daily prayers of Muslims is primarily to act as an individual's communion with Allah. It enables one to stand in front of God, thank and praise Him, and ask for Him to show one the "right path" (as mentioned in surah al-Fatihah which is recited in every prayer). In addition, the daily ritual prayers serve as a constant reminder to Muslims that they should be grateful for God's blessings. It ensures that every Muslim prioritises Islam over all other concerns, thereby revolving their life around God and submitting to His will. Prayer also serves as a formal method of remembering God.

In the Qur'an it is mentioned that:

"The true believers are those who feel a fear in their hearts (of the consequences of violating the commands of Allah) when Allah is mentioned. And when His Revelations are recited to them, they find their faith strengthened. They do their best and then put their trust in their Lord." [Qur'an 8:2]

and also:

To those whose hearts when Allah 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� [Qur'an 22:35]

Call to the Prayers

A Call is made from the mosque, indicating that it is time for the obligatory prayer. There are five obligatory prayers in a day. On hearing the Call, people start preparing themselves for the prayer. Appearing below is the transliteration and translation of what a caller to the prayer says.

Click here for 17 different adhan ( athan ) recitations by famous reciters (Mu'adhdhins) in MP3 format

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
[God is the greatest, God is the greatest]
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
[God is the greatest, God is the greatest]
Ashadu an la ilaha ill Allah
[I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but God]
Ashadu an la ilaha ill Allah
[I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but God]
Ashadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullah
[I bear witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God]
Ashadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullah
[I bear witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God]
Hayya'alas salah [Come to prayer,]
Hayya'alas salah [Come to prayer,]
Hayya'alal falah [Come to success,]
Hayya'alal falah [Come to success,]
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
[God is the greatest, God is the greatest]
La ilaha ill Allah
[There is no deity but God.]"

What do Muslims say and do?

Muslims stand before God by making the intention to pray, leaving all other chores and concerns aside.

While standing

While standing, the first chapter of the Quran is recited. This chapter can be translated as follows.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee (alone) we worship and Thee (alone) we ask for help. Show us the straight path. The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray. (1:1-1:7)

After the first chapter, any other passage from the Quran is recited. Following is a translation of one such passage.

Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah is He on Whom all depend. He begetteth not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him. (112:1-112:4)
While bowing

Muslims then bow to God and glorify Him. This glorification can be translated as follows:

Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty


While Prostrating

To express complete submission and humility before God, Muslims then prostrate and place their foreheads on ground. According to the prophetic traditions, at this moment of humility, the worshipper is closest to his/her Lord. While prostrating, Muslims glorify God as follows:

Glory be to my Lord, the most High.

Other than glorifying God, it is also a moment for Muslims to ask God for His forgiveness, mercy, blessings and bounties. Muslims then sit for a few seconds and prostrate one more time before standing up again.

Depending on the time of the prayer, Muslims repeat this cycle once, twice or thrice in each prayer.

While sitting

In the end (and also in the middle for some prayers) Muslims sit as shown in this page. At this point they testify before God that there is none worthy of worship but Him and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His slave (meaning creation that is subject to it�s Lord�s commands at all times) and His Messenger. Muslims then ask God to send His peace and blessings on His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) as He did on Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). The translation is as follows.

All service is for Allah and all acts of worship and good deeds are for Him. Peace and the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you O Prophet. Peace be upon us and all of Allah�s righteous slaves. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
O Allah exalt Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad, just as you exalted Abraham and the followers of Abraham. Verily you are full of praise and majesty. O Allah send blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as you sent blessings on Abraham and upon the followers of Abraham. Verily you are full of praise and majesty.

At the very end, Muslims turn their face to the right and the left, sending God's Peace on those surrounding them. This greeting of peace can be translated as follows.

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah

With this greeting, the obligatory prayer ends."[3]

Dress Code

When praying, the clothes that are worn and the place of prayer must be clean. Men and women each are directed to cover their bodies (aurah) in reasonably loose-fitting garments. When in prayer, women must cover their heads. In accordance with tradition, many men choose to wear a kufi cap or other headcovering for prayer which is used also to secure the hair from covering the forehead. During 'sujud' the forehead should be in contact with the floor and not covered by hair.

Cleanliness

Before conducting prayers, a Muslim has to perform a ritual ablution.

The minor ablution is performed using water (wudu) or clean sand or dust (tayammum) when water is not available. In Sunni Islam, wudu' consists of washing the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, forehead and hair, ears and feet three times each in that order. Tayammum consists of wiping only the hands and face with sand or dust. Wudu is considered to cleanse a Muslim in a permanent fashion, such that he does not have to re-perform it for each solat (unless he commits an act that breaks his wudu). Tayammum however has to be re-performed before each salat.

The major ablution ( ghusl ) is required when a person has had sexual intercourse, ejected semen, has had menstrual bleeding or is a new convert to the faith. Ghusl may also be performed voluntarily especially before Friday prayers.

Types of salat (Salat is the word for Prayer in Arabic)

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

Fard salats are compulsory, non-performance of which renders one a non-Muslim according to the Hanbali Sunni School, 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.

Wajib salats are compulsory, non-performance of which renders one a sinner and the denial of its obligatory nature renders one a 'fasiq' a transgressor whose witness would not be accepted in an Islamic court. There are some who believe that as the 5 prayers are obligatory, it automatically renders all other prayers optional.

Sunnah salats are optional and were additional voluntary prayers performed by Muhammad�they are of two types�the 'Sunna Muakaddah', 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 Muakkadah' those practiced on a semi-regular practice by Muhammad which all are agreed upon that its abandonment doesn't render one sinful.

Nafl salats are optional and regarded as extra prayers which bring more reward.

Fard salat

The fard salat are the five compulsory daily prayers, the Friday prayer (Jumu'ah) and the funeral prayer (Janazah). 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 which 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 salat in congregation is obligatory for men, when they are able, but is neither required nor forbidden for women.

The five daily prayers

Muslims are commanded to perform salat five times a day. These prayers are obligatory on every Muslim above the age of puberty, with the exception being those who are mentally ill, too physically ill for it to be possible, menstruating, or experiencing post-partum 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 laying, as they are able. The five prayers are all given certain prescribed times (waqt) in which they must be performed, unless there is a compelling reason for not being able to perform them on time. Additionally, Alawi's pray, too.

Some Muslims offer voluntary prayers immediately before and after the prescribed fard prayers. Sunni Muslims classify these prayers as sunnah, while Shi'a Muslims consider them nafil.

The number of raka'ah for each of the five obligatory prayers as well as the voluntary prayers (before and after) are listed below:

Name Prescribed time period Voluntary before fard
Fard
Voluntary after fard
Sunni Sunni
Fajr
Dawn to sunrise
2 Raka'ah
2 Raka'ah
-
Dhuhr
After true noon until Asr
4 Raka'ah
4 Raka'ah
2 Raka'ah
Asr
See footnote [1]
4 Raka'ah
4 Raka'ah
-
Maghrib
After sunset until dusk
3 Raka'ah
3 Raka'ah
2 Raka'ah
Isha'a
Dusk until dawn
4 Raka'ah
4 Raka'ah
2 Raka'ah
+ 3 Raka'ah Witr

 

[1] According to Imam Abu Hanifa, "Asr starts when the shadow of an object becomes twice its height (plus the length of its shadow at the start time of Dhuhr)." For the rest of Imams, "Asr starts when the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length (plus the length of its shadow at the start time of Dhuhr)." Asr ends as the sun begins to set.
Jumu'ah

Salat al-Jumu'ah is a congregational prayer performed on Friday which replaces the dhuhr prayer. It is compulsory upon men to perform it in congregation, while women may perform it so or may perform dhuhr salat instead. Salat al-Jumu'ah consists of a sermon (khutba) given by the speaker (khatib) after which two raka'ah are performed. There is no Salat al-Jumu'ah without a khutba. Giving a khutba is task assigned specifically to men, and women cannot perform this task. This does not imply superiority of men to women, but it is done in compliance with what Muslims have been commanded to do by God.

Janazah (Click here for How To pray Funeral Prayer - Salatul Janazah)

Salat al-Janazah is a prayer performed at a Muslim funeral. It is classed as fard al-kifayah. It does not follow the pattern of other salat in that there are no raka'ah. Instead it consists of four takbirs performed in the standing position, with various Qur'anic verses and supplications read between each.

Exceptional Circumstances

Dr. Muhammad Hedayetullah, a scholar in comparative religion, in his ground-breaking book Dynamics of Islam (2006) that asserts to identify Islam as a religion of flexibility and adaptabilty catering to the specific needs of the faithful at his/her specific situations, stresses that even though salah is compulsory, important flexibility in the specifics is allowed depending on the circumstances: For example, in the case of sickness or a lack of space, a worshipper can offer salah while sitting, or even lying down, and the prayer can be shortened when travelling. 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. These prayers performed after the prescribed waqt are called qada. It is not permissible to deliberately miss performing the salat within its waqt with the intention of performing it afterwards.

Qasr and Jamak

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 jamak. Qasr involves shortening the obligatory components of the Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha'a prayers to two raka'ah. Jamak combines the Dhuhr and Asr prayers into one prayer offered between noon and sunset, and the Maghrib and Isha'a prayers into one between sunset and Fajr. Neither Qasr nor Jamak 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 only when there is fear of attack.

Wajib salat

The wajib salat are considered compulsory and not performing them is considered a sin.
Witr

Witr is performed after the salah of isha'a. Some Muslims consider Witr wajib while others consider it optional. It may contain any odd number of raka'ah from one to eleven according to the different schools of jurisprudence. However, Witr is most commonly offered with three raka'ah. It is preferable to perform Witr in the latter part of the night, but it is much better to perform it at the beginning of the night than not at all.

To end prayers for the night after Isha'a, the odd numbered raka'ah must have the niyyah of "Wajib-ul-Lail", which is mandatory to "close" one's salat for that day.

Eid (Click here for How To pray Eid-ul-Adha ( Eid ) Prayer)

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), though some Islamic scholars argue it is only a collective obligation (fard al-kifayah). It consists of two raka'ah, with seven takbirs offered before the start of the first raka'ah and five 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 dhuhr.

Sunnah salat

Sunnah salat are those prayers that are performed to emulate the practices of Muhammad. Sunni Muslims also perform sunnah prayers for extra reward.

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 raka'ah may be offered, but most madha'ib prescribe a certain number of raka'ah for each sunnah salah.

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

Prayer in Congregation

Prayer in congregation (jama'ah) is considered to have more social and spiritual benefit than praying by oneself. When praying in congregation, the musallees 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.

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).

Quranic Salat

The numbers of regular daily prayers �Salat� mentioned by their respective names in Arabic as a �term� in the Quran are three as follows:

1- Salat Fajr (Dawn Prayer), (Sura Al-Nur 24:58).

2- Al-Salat Al-Wusta or or The Middle Prayer, (Sura Al-Baqarah 2:238) and (Sura Al-Isra 17:78).

3- Salat Ishaa (Night Prayer), (Sura Al-Nur 24:58).

The following three �Salat� which are not mentioned in �Quran� by their names as a �term� in Arabic are as:

1- Salat Dhuhr

2- Salat Asr

3- Salat Maghrib

Although, the words Dhuhr, Asr and Maghrib are used in Quran but not as a Term defining Salat. In Sura Al-Nur 24: 58, the word �noon� is used but not as a Salat Time or as a Salat Al-Dhuhr but rather than as a Time of Privacy/Rest Time. For references and proof of the fact stated above, read the following verses in the Quran in Arabic & English.

(Sura Al-Baqarah 2:238).

Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind). (Sura Al-Baqarah 2:238).

(Sura Al-Isra 17:78).

Establish regular prayers - at the sun�s decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony. (Sura Al-Isra 17:78).

(Sura Al-Nur 24: 58.).

O ye who believe! let those whom your right hand possess, and those of you, who have not reached puberty, ask leave of you at three times before coming into your private apartments -before the Morning Prayer (Salat Al-Fajr), and when you lay aside your clothes at noon (in summer) and after the night Prayer (Salat Al-Esha). These are the three times of privacy for you. At other times there is no blame on you nor on them, for some of you have to attend upon others and to move about freely according to need. Thus does Allah make plain to you the Signs; for Allah is All-Knowing, Wise. (Sura Al-Nur 24: 58.).

Salat Timings of Quran

alat Timings of Quran are mentioned in the following verses:

In Quran 11:114, three Salat Times are described at both ends of the day, and at night.

And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night. (Sura Hud (11), 114. Translation by Yusuf Ali).

"You shall observe the contact prayers at both ends of the daylight, that is, during the adjacent hours of the night". (11:114).

(Sura Hud: 11:114).

"You shall observe the Salat (Contact Prayers) at the ends of the day, and zulufann min al-layl." (11:114).

(Sura Taha: 20:130).

Therefore, be patient in the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify your Lord before sunrise and before sunset. And during the night glorify Him, as well as at both ends of the day, that you may be happy. (20:130).

(Sura Qaf: 50:39).

(Sura Qaf: 50:40).

Therefore, be patient in the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify your Lord before sunrise, and before sunset. (50:39). During the night you shall meditate on His name, and after prostrating. (50:40).

(Sura Al-Isra 17:78).

Establish regular prayers - at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony. (Sura Al-Isra 17:78).

Further "Verily, Prayers are enjoined upon the Believers at times assigned in a written document.� (Quran 4:103/4:104 in some translations).

"O you who believe, when the Salat is announced on Friday, you shall hasten to the commemoration of God, and drop all business. This is better for you, if you only knew. Once the prayer is completed, you may spread through the land to seek God's bounties, and continue to remember God frequently, that you may succeed." (62:9-10).

And neither speak thy Prayer aloud nor speak it in a low tone but seek a middle course between. (Sura Al-Isra (17) verse 110 Translation by Yusuf Ali).

For the usage of the word "Esha" (evening) see: 12:16; 79:46.

The times of Dawn & Evening Prayers are defined above. The 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 the darkness of the night (ghasaq al-layl) starts to set in, which is at sunset.

"You shall observe the Salat (Contact Prayer) from when the sun declines from its highest point up till the 'ghasaq al-layl' (the darkness of the night)." (17:78).

"You shall observe the contact prayer when the sun goes down until the darkness of the night. You shall also observe the Quran at dawn. Reading the Quran at dawn is witnessed." (17:78).

The Verse 38:32 implies that the time of the Middle prayer ends with sunset.

The Fajr (Dawn) Prayer starts when the first thin ray of light is observed in the sky.

"The white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn." (2:187).

The time for the dawn prayer is also given in the Quran with the words.

" ..and at dawn as the stars fade away." (52:49).

The Dawn prayer ends at the first �taraf� (terminal) of the day which is sunrise (11:114).

From the above cited verses Quran Alone group says that there are Three Salat Timings in the Quran. Whereas Ahle Hadith group proves from the same cited verses that there are Five Salat Timings.
Salat Asr and Quran

l-Salat (Salah) Al-Wusta, or the Middle Prayer, is mentioned in Quran as follows:

(2:238)

It is to be noted that the Asr daily prayer is not mentioned by name in the Qur'an at 2:238 as claimed at [1] but the middle prayer (Al-Wusta).

The Asr daily prayer is mentioned in the following Hadith along with many others as:

Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam from al-Qaqa ibn Hakim that Abu Yunus, the mawla of A'isha, umm al-muminin said, "Aisha ordered to write out a Qur'an for her. She said to him, 'When you reach this ayat, let me know, 'Guard the prayer carefully and the middle prayer and stand obedient to Allah.' When I reached it I told her, and she dictated to me, 'Guard the prayers carefully and the middle prayer and the asr prayer and stand obedient to Allah.' Aisha said, 'I heard it from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.'" (Al-Muwatta, Hadith No. 8.8.26).

From the above Hadith ('Guard the prayers carefully and the middle prayer and the asr prayer and stand obedient to Allah.) it is clear that middle prayer (Al-Wusta) and the Asr are not the same prayer.

The following Ahadith described that The Prophet (s.a.s) did NOT teach his Companions what to recite in Zuhr and 'Asr prayers. [2].

Narrated Abu Ma'mar: We asked Khabbab whether Allah's Apostle used to recite (the Qur'an) in the Zuhr and the 'Asr prayers. He replied in the affirmative. We said, "How did you come to know about it?" He said, "By the movement of his beard." (Sahih Bukhari, Book 12: Characteristics of Prayer, Volume 1, Number 713).

Narrated Abu Ma'mar: I asked Khabbab whether the Prophet used to recite the Qur'an in the Zuhr and the 'Asr prayers. He replied in the affirmative. We said, "How did you come to know that?" He said, "From the movement of his beard." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 12, Number 727).

Contact Prayers in Biblical Passages

Contact Prayers in Biblical passages are striking.

"And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded." (1 Samuel 20:41).

"As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." (Psalms 55:16-17) (PS: crying aloud apparently means praying with passion).

"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did afortime." (Daniel 6:10)." [2]

References: [1], [2], [3]