Salah

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Salah (Arabic: صَلاة, romanized: ṣalāh, lit. ‘prayer’), also known as namāz (Persian: نماز‎) and also spelled salat, are prayers performed by Muslims. Facing the qibla, the direction of the Kaaba concerning those praying, Muslims pray first standing and later kneeling or sitting on the ground, reciting from the Qur’an and glorifying and praising Allah as they bow and prostrate themselves in between. Salah is composed of prescribed repetitive cycles of bows and prostrations, called Rakat (sing. rak’ah). The number of rak’ahs, also known as units of prayer, varies from prayer to prayer. Ritual purity and wudu are prerequisites for performing the prayers.

The daily obligatory prayers collectively form the second of the five pillars in Islam, observed five times every day at prescribed times. These are Fajr (observed at dawn), Zuhr prayer (observed at noon), Asr (observed late in the afternoon), Maghrib (observed at dusk), and Isha (observed after sunset). Salah can be performed either in solitude or collectively (known as jama’ah). When performed in jama’ah, worshippers line up in parallel rows behind a leader, known as the imam. Special prayers are exclusively performed in the congregation, such as the Friday prayer and the Eid prayers, and are coupled with two sermons each, delivered by the imam.

Training

Etymology

Ṣalāh ([sˤɑˈlɑː] صلاة) is an Arabic word that means to pray or bless. The word is used primarily by English speakers only to refer to the five obligatory prayers of Islam.

Outside the Arab world, the most widespread terms are the Persian word namāz (Persian: نماز) and its derivatives. It is used by speakers of the Indo-Iranian languages (e.g. Persian and some languages of South Asia), as well as by speakers of the Turkic and Slavic languages. In Lak and Avar, chak (чак) and kak (как) are used, respectively. In Malaysia and Indonesia, the term solat is used, as well as a local term, sembahyang (meaning “communication”, from the words sembah – worship, and hyang – god or deity).

In the Quran

The noun ṣalāh (‏صلاة‎) is used 82 times in the Qur’an, with about 15 other derivatives of its triliteral root ṣ-l. Words connected to salah (such as mosque, wudu, dhikr, etc.) are used in approximately one-sixth of Qur’anic verses. “Surely my prayer, and my sacrifice and my life and my death are (all) for God”, and “I am Allah, there is no god but I, therefore serve Me and keep up prayer for My remembrance” are both examples of this.

Religious Significance

The primary purpose of a salah is to act as a person’s communication with Allah. Purification of the heart is the ultimate religious objective of Salah. Via namaz, a believer can grow closer to Allah and in turn strengthen their faith. Just as humans physically require food and supplement to stay healthy and alive, the soul requires prayer and closeness to God to stay sustained and healthy. In short, it spiritually sustains the human soul.

Tafsir of the Qur’an can give four reasons for the observation of salah. First, to commend God, God’s servants, together with the angels, do salah (“blessing, salutations”) Second, salah is done involuntarily by all beings in Creation, in the sense that they are always in contact with God by Him creating and sustaining them. Third, Muslims voluntarily offer salah to reveal that it is the particular form of worship that belongs to the prophets. Fourth, salah is described as the second pillar of Islam.

Gestures and Postures

Various prescribed movements in Salah, which collectively constitute a rak’ah. From left to right: Rukū’, qiyām/i’tidal, sujūd, takbīr and qu’ūd/julūs.

Each Salah is made up of repeating units known as rakat (Arabic: رَكَعَات sing. rak’ah). Each prayer may consist of two to four Rakat. Each rak’ah consists of specific movements and recitations. On the major elements, there is consensus, but on minor details, there may be different views. Between each position, there is a very slight pause. The Takbir is recited between each position.

Beginning

The intention, known as niyyah, is a prerequisite for salah, and what distinguishes real worship from ‘going through the motions. Some authorities hold that intention suffices in the heart, and some require that it be spoken, usually under the breath.

The person praying begins in a standing position known as qiyam, although people who find it difficult to do so may begin while sitting or laying on the ground. This is followed by the raising of the hands to the head and recitation of the takbīr, known in combination as takbīrat al-iḥrām or takbīrat at-taḥrīmah (consecratory takbir). From this point forward one praying may not converse, eat, or do otherwise halal things. One then lowers their hands.

Common Elements of Each Rakat

Still standing, the next principal act is the recitation of Al-Fatiha, the first chapter of the Quran. This chapter takes the form of a supplication. In the first and second Rakat, another portion of the Qur’an is recited following the Fatiha. This is followed by saying Allah O Akbar and raising the hands to the ear lobes(Rafah yadain) followed by Rakooh which is bowing from the waist, with palms placed on the knees (depending on the madhhab, rules may differ for women). While bowing, those praying generally utter words of praise under their breath, such as سبحان ربي العظيم (lit. “Glory be to my Lord, the Most Magnificent”), thrice or more. As the worshipper straightens their back, they say سمع الله لمن حمده (lit. “God hears the one who praises him.”) and ربنا لك الحمد (rabbanā laka l-ḥamd, “Our Lord, all praise be to you.”).

Yemeni Muslim in sujūd, performing salah in the desert during the North Yemen Civil War (above). Syrians in sujūd performing salah in jama’ah behind an imam (below).

This is followed by saying Allah O Akbar and raising the hands to the ear lobes and then the worshipper kneels and prostrates with the forehead, nose, knees, palms, and toes touching the floor, saying سبحان ربى الأعلى (lit. “Glory be to my Lord, the Most High”). After a short while in prostration, the worshipper very briefly rises to sit, then returns to the ground a second time. Lifting the head from the second prostration completes a rak’ah. If this is an odd (first or third) rak’ah, one returns to a standing position and begins another rak’ah. If an even (second or fourth) unit, the worshiper proceeds to sit and recite the tashahhud, salawat, and other prayers. Many schools hold that the right index finger is raised when reciting the Salawat. If the worshipper then intends to finish their prayer, they perform the taslim (illustrated below) or continue with a new rak’ah. Mistakes in salah are believed to be compensated for by prostrating twice at the end of the prayer, known as sujud sahwi.

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