Prayer (Salah)
Muslims observe five formal prayers each day. The timings of these prayers are spaced fairly evenly throughout the day, so that one is constantly reminded of God and given opportunities to seek His guidance and forgiveness.
Muslims observe the formal prayers at the following times:
- Fajr (pre-dawn): This prayer starts off the day with the remembrance of God; it is performed before sunrise.
- Dhuhr (noon): After the day's work has begun, one breaks shortly after noon to again remember God and seek His guidance.
- 'Asr (afternoon): In the late afternoon, people are usually busy wrapping up the day's work, getting kids home from school, etc. It is an important time to take a few minutes to remember God and the greater meaning of our lives.
- Maghrib (sunset): Just after the sun goes down, Muslims remember God again as the day begins to come to a close.
- 'Isha (evening): Before retiring for the night, Muslims again take time to remember God's presence, guidance, mercy, and forgiveness.
Purpose and importance
The chief purpose of prayer in Islam is to act as a person's communication with
God. By reciting "The Opening", the first chapter of the Qur'an, as required in
all prayer, the worshipper can stand before God, thank and praise Him, and to ask
for guidance along the Straight Path.
In addition, the daily prayers remind Muslims to give thanks for Allah's blessings
and that Islam takes precedence over all other concerns, thereby revolving their
life around Allah and submitting to His will. Prayer also serves as a formal method
of remembering Allah.
In the Qur'an, it is written that:
The true believers are those who feel fear in
their hearts (of the consequences of violating the commands of God) when God 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.
To those whose hearts, when God 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.