What is Salah (salat)?Salah (salat) is the Arabic term for the ritual prayer that is obligatory for Muslims to perform five times a day. It forms one of the five pillars of Islam.
The five prayers are:FajrThis takes place at pre-dawn
DhuhrThis takes place just after the sun reaches its zenith
AsrThis takes place between noon and sunset
MaghribThis takes place just after sunset
IshaThis takes place during the night/at night-time
Aside from the five obligatory prayers, Muslims may offer Sunnah and Nafl Salah.
The Sunnah Salah (prayers) are ones in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to habitually offer as voluntary worship at specified times and places.
Nafl Salah are voluntary prayers that a Muslim may offer at any time as a form of extra Ibadah (worship).
Why is Salah important?Salah is an integral part of the lifestyle of a Muslim. Through prayer, Muslims are required each day to ponder on the verses of the Qur’an, the Shahadah (the declaration of faith), and Allah’s attributes.
Muslims across the world unite in prayer at five specified times each day in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, as a means of connecting to Allah and their purpose in life – to remember and worship Him