Salah

• Rak'ahs


  The Arabic term for the movements which Muslims perform during prayer
• Wudu


  The term for the ritual washing or ablutions that should be performed before prayer
• Fajr


  Sunrise prayers
• Asr


  Noon prayers
• Zuhr


  Afternoon prayers
• Maghrib


  Sunset prayers
• Isha


  Night time prayers
• Prostrations


  The act of kneeling and putting one's head to the floor; forms an aspect of the movements which Muslims make during prayer
• Makkah


  Holiest city in Islam, and is the direction of prayer
• Jummah


  The word for Friday prayers in the Mosque which male Muslims are expected to attend
• Mosque


  The Muslim place of worship where communal Friday prayer takes place
• Mihrab


  • A niche in a wall that indicates the direction of Makkah. Found in the qiblah wall
• Mosques


  • Two special rooms set aside for washing, one for men and one for women
• Mihrab


  • A niche in a wall that indicates the direction of Makkah. Found in the qiblah wall.
• Rooms for washing


  • Two special rooms set aside for washing, one for men and one for women.
• What Muslims do when they pray (Rak'ahs)

  1. While standing, recite the first chapter from the Qur'an

  2. While bowing, say in Arabic 'Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest' three times

  3. Returning to an upright position, make a recitation praising God

  4. Kneel with forehead, nose, hands, knees and toes touching the floor, recite 'How perfect is my Lord the most high'

  5. Sit while reciting 'God is the greatest,' and after pausing prostrate and then repeat 'God is the greatest'
• Sunni and Shi'a practice of Rakah's

  Shi'as touch their heads to something akin to a block of clay during prostrations, whereas Sunnis will touch their head to the floor
• Sunni Muslims pray


  At five set times during the day, worked out from the times of sunrise and sunset
• Shi'a Muslims pray


  They combine the midday and afternoon prayers and the sunset and night prayers, so they pray three times a day
• Wudu


  A form of spiritual preparation/purification to allow Muslims to fully focus on God in their prayers
• Muslims follow in the footsteps of the prophet Muhammad, and as part of the preparation they must have the right intention (niyyah) to pray
• Salah


  • A direct contact between the individual and God, so their understanding of God is personal to them and not based on other people's ideas which could be wrong
  • The believer focuses on the feeling of being in God's presence, this is sometimes described as a feeling of 'awe and wonder' (taqwah) at the greatness of God
• Salah is not significant/important

  Not everyone can have this kind of prayer experience so they do not feel the presence of God through prayer. A study of creation can bring about an understanding of god as creation is a sign from God. The Qur'an as the inspired word of God is his presentation of himself to humans, so an understanding of God can come from reading what he says about himself. God will help those who read the Qur'an to feel his presence so they can understand him.
• Jummah prayer


  • It is a weekly gathering that cannot be performed at home, giving opportunity for people to meet and socialise
  • It includes a sermon which gives the Imam an opportunity to discuss the issues faced by the congregation and remind Muslims of their obligations and duties to God
• Jummah prayer is not significant/important

  Salah is part of the five pillars and performed daily, it is more important as the five daily prayers are mentioned more frequently in the Qur'an. In a hadith the prophet Muhammad said salah will be the first thing to be questioned on Judgement Day, hence showing its importance. It is a daily reminder, whereas Jummah is a weekly one.
• The Qur'an: '"Your Lord says, 'Call on Me and I will answer you.'" Muslims believe that Allah answers their prayers in the way that he knows is best for them because God is omniscient.'
• Muhammad (pbuh): '"cleanliness is half of faith." This means that Muslims must be clean and wear good clothes before they present themselves before God.'
• The Qur'an: '"when the call is proclaimed for the Salah on Jummah, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business." This is a specific instruction to Muslims to leave their businesses and attend the mosque for prayer.'