Salah & its Significance (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Salah & its Significance

Salah

• Salah (prayer) is the second pillar of Islam for Sunni Muslims and one of the Ten Obligatory Acts for Shi’a Muslims

• It is considered to be the most important way of worshipping God

• It occurs five times daily; just after dawn, just after midday, late afternoon, just after sunset and after dark

• The different prayers are given different names

  • Fajr - just before sunrise

  • Zuhr - just after midday

  • Asr - late afternoon

  • Maghrib - just after sunset

  • Isha - between sunset and midnight

The five times of prayer

• All Muslims pray towards Mecca and perform Rak’ah during the prayers such as prostration (bowing) before God to show submission

• Adhan literally means ‘announcement’ in Arabic and refers to the Islamic call to prayer that takes place five times a day in some countries

• There are specific actions that take place during Muslim prayer

  • While standing, Muslims recite the first chapter from the Quran

  • While bowing, Muslims say in Arabic; ‘Glory be to my Lord who is the greatest’ three times. This bowing position show they believe God to be great

  • Returning to an upright position, they make a recitation praising God

  • They kneel with their forehead, nose, hands, knees and toes touching the floor

  • This is called prostration shows complete obedience to God

  • They recite ‘How perfect is my Lord the most high’

  • Muslims then sit reciting ‘God is greatest’ and after pausing for a few seconds, they repeat ‘God is greatest’

Positions of prayer - Rakah

Significance of Salah

• All Muslims pray towards Mecca indicating that this is the holiest place for Muslims meaning that they are physically and mentally focusing on a place associated with God

• Part of performing Rakah during the prayers involves prostration (bowing) before God to show submission which reminds them that God is more important than they are

• Prayer can bring the ummah together especially during Jumu'ah

• It can also help Muslims in non-Muslim countries not to feel isolated from the wider ummah as they pray in the same direction as their Muslim brothers and sisters from all over the world

• Prayer was also commanded by Allah is Muhammed’s (pbuh) night journey

• It allows Muslims to build a personal relationship with God particularly through Du’a

• It follows the command in the Qur’an to ‘exalt (god) with praise of your Lord and be those who prostrate to him’ (Qur’an 15: 98)

• Prayer keeps Muslims in close contact with God and encourages moral and spiritual discipline

  • This prevents Muslims from committing shirk and increases Taqwa

  • It is an expression of solidarity and reminds Muslims that everyone is equal

Prayer Preparations & Recitations

Preparation for Prayer

• Muslims must prepare themselves for prayer by spending a few moments reflecting on their Niyyah (intentions)

• They must also spiritually cleanse themselves before prayer

• This is achieved by a ritual washing called Wudu, following special instructions so they do it in the right order

  • The ritual involves washing faces, hands and feet under running water

  • Mosques have special rooms for this and running water is used

  • In the desert a dry wash of sand and dust can be used. This is called tayammum

  • It allows Muslims to fully concentrate on prayer

Ritual washing - Wudu

• During prayer Mulsims must be facing the holy city of Mecca

  • Mosques have a Mihrab, on the Qiblah wall, which shows the direction they face when praying

  • Some Mosques have carpets which have the pattern of prayer mats facing Mecca on them

  • A special compass can also be used to find the direction