Salah
Salah (other terms and spellings exist) (
Arabic: صلاه , Old (Qur'an) Arabic: صلوة ) is one of the
Five Pillars of Islam. It refers to the five daily
prayers that Muslims offer to
Allah (
God). Being a Pillar of Islam, it is compulsory (''
fard) for every Muslim.
Under some circumstances, Muslim males are obliged to perform Salah in congregation, behind an
Imam. At other times it may be performed individually. Outside of the daily salaat there are special prayers offered on
Fridays (Al-Jumah الجمعه),
Eid ul-Fitr and
Eid ul-Adha.
The call to prayer (''
adhan) announces the time of prayer; when far from a
mosque, the time can be inferred from the position of the sun in the sky.
The five prescribed daily prayers are:
#
Fajr (dawn prayer)
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Dhuhr (mid-day)
#
Asr (afternoon)
#
Maghrib (sunset)
#Isha'a (night)
It is essential that all prayers be conducted at their precise times. This observance is especially stressed for the Asr prayer, as there is a
sura in the Qur'an named
Al-Asr.
However, prayers can be said later if missed; for example, when the time for night prayer has arrived, one can still comply with, say, the afternoon and sunset prayers.
Prayer can only be conducted after the Muslim has a valid
Wuduu (a ritual
ablution). In wuduu, the Muslim washes his face, teeth, nose, arms and feet three times in a particular order. When no water is available, sand may be used.
The prayer starts by stating which prayer one is currently praying, and by reciting the first
sura of the Qur'an (
Al-Fatiha - The Opening), followed by a few short verses. Then, the Muslim kneels and says something and stands upright again, only to reach the prayer mat and sit on his legs. He places his hands and face on the mat and sits up, repeating this once more before standing up and repeating the entire sequence. Each such action is called a rakah; there are two in Fajr, four for Duhr and Asr, three for Maghrib, and again four for Isha. In each position, something is being said.
Then, the Muslim greets his right
angel by saying "Peace be upon you", and then his left angel. Muslims believe there is one angel on each shoulder, the one on the left noting every sin you commit, and the one on the right noting every good deed. Prayer removes a sin.
Apart from the five daily prayers, there are also the prayers of Sunneh, which are between the other prayers' times and an early prayer (between midnight and Fajr) where two or more rakahs may be performed.
External links
nl:salat
Category:Five Pillars of Islam