Salah

• Shi'a prayer


  • 3 times a day (17 sequences)
• Sunni prayer


  • 5 times a day (17 sequences)
• Salah


  1. Offered in Arabic and from memory, using set prayers from the Qur'an, Sunnah & Hadith

  2. Proper Salah must start with 'wudu' (ritual washing and cleansing - physical and spiritual)

  3. Establishing 'niyyah' (right intention)

  4. Men should, as far as possible, offer Salah in a mosque

  5. Salah can also be offered at home, by men and women
• Qibla


  The direction of Mecca, which Muslims face when they pray, wherever they are
• Salah usually begins with

  The Takbir: 'Allah is the greatest'
• Rak'ahs and recitations


  • Carried out 5 times every day for Sunni Muslims
  • Shi'a Muslims can combine to 3 times daily
• Both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims total 17 sequences of prayer each day by way of rak'ahs and recitations (movements and words)
• Each sequence (rak'ah)


  • Has a number of different physical positions
• Sujud


  Kneeling down with the forehead touching the prayer mat (wooden block for Shi'a) which shows total submission to God - the idea of bowing down / prostrating
• Each physical position includes saying aloud a Qur'anic
• Jummah prayer


  Friday prayers
• Jummah prayer


  1. Congregational prayers at the mosque at noon on Friday

  2. Adhan is called

  3. Wudu is performed

  4. Imam delivers a sermon (khutbah) on an issue relevant to the community
• Jummah prayer


  • Best attended of the week
  • Compulsory for Sunni Muslim men
  • Believed to have great rewards
  • Not necessary for Shi'a Muslims in the absence of the twelfth imam
• Jummah prayer


  • Allows Muslims to learn from the imam and worship together, developing community
  • Helps to bring about the forgiveness of sins
• Prayer at home


  • Salah can be performed at home
  • Muslims may perform extra prayers (nafl, sunnah) at home
  • More personal and a time for opening up to God
• Du'as


  • Said by families before mealtimes
  • To break fasts
  • At special occasions (e.g. Eid)
• Why prayer is important for Muslims


  • It is one of the five pillars, emphasising that it is essential
  • Prayer is established by Muhammad and instructed by the Qur'an
  • It is a way of establishing a direct and lasting relationship with God
  • It helps Muslims attain taqwa (God-consciousness) and is a reminder of the importance of God as the focus of their lives
  • It helps Muslims to avoid sin, including shirk, and to focus on God
  • The first question a Muslim will be asked on the Day of Judgement is about Salah - prayer is important in order to achieve Paradise
  • Prayer at the mosque strengthens the community - ummah