What is Salah? (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)

The Nature & Purpose of Salah for Muslims

The History and Significance of Salah

• Salah is the second of the Five Pillars of Islam and one of the Ten Obligatory Acts for Shi’a Muslims

• It is the compulsory prayer that takes place five times each day

• The Qur’an teaches Muslims about Salah

• ‘What is certain’ in this context means death, so this passage calls on believers to worship Allah for their entire lifetime

• This passage also mentions bowing down to Allah, which is a key element of performing Salah

• All of the prophets taught about worship, and the Prophet Muhammad showed Muslims how they should pray

The Purpose of Salah for Muslims

• Muslims believe that through Salah they can communicate directly with Allah

• Therefore praying five times a day can deepen their relationship with Allah

• They will also pray to seek help if they are troubled

• They will pray to help to improve their behaviour

• Praying five times a day is obligatory for all adults to show their commitment to their faith

• Children are encouraged to participate and develop the practice of prayer, they will learn to pray from a very young age as they grow up in the Muslim faith

• The Prophet Muhammad said that the first question Allah will ask his followers in the akhirah (afterlife) will be about Salah

How Salah is Performed

The Timing of Salah

• Muslims will perform Salah at set times of the day, because the Qur’an teaches

• These times are: just after dawn, just after midday, late afternoon, just after sunset and after dark

• In practice, life and work commitments make it difficult always to observe all of these times, and therefore some prayers can be combined (Shi’a Muslims commonly do this)

The times of Salah

Ablution in Preparation for Salah

• It is important to be clean for Salah, so Muslims will perform wudu, or ablution

• This is a process of ritual washing. Believers will clean their hands, feet and face

• While they do this, they will reflect on their Niyyah (intentions) for their prayer

• This process prepares Muslims both physically and spiritually for Salah

The Process of Salah

• Muslims will face the city of Makkah for Salah, because it is where the Ka’aba is located

• This direction of prayer is called qiblah

• During prayer, Muslims perform a set sequence of movements called a rak’ah as they pray

  •  Movements in the sequence include

    • Standing (qiyam)

    • Bowing (ruku’)

    • Prostrating (sajdah)

    • Kneeling (qa’dah)

Salah Prayer Sequence

• Muslims recite set prayers in Arabic from the Qur’an, Sunnah, and Hadith

Performing Salah at the Mosque

• Salah can be done anywhere, but most Muslims pray either in the mosque or at home

• Because the mosque is dedicated to offering prayer, it is a peaceful place to perform Salah, and it is easy to perform Wudu

• Salah at the mosque is considered to carry more blessings

  • The Hadith says ‘Prayer with the congregation is 27 times better than prayer performed by oneself’

• It also creates unity between believers and strengthens their bonds

• There are strict rules about Salah at the mosque

  • Muslims must enter calmly

  • Cover their heads 

  • Remove their shoes

  • Switch off electronic devices such as phones

  • Remain silent after greeting other worshippers with the greeting ‘peace be upon you’

• The adhan (call to prayer) signals the start of Salah

• An imam leads the prayer

• There is a mihrab (niche) in the wall to show which direction worshippers should stand to face Makkah

• The worshippers will stand in rows, shoulder to shoulder

• Men and women do not pray together, they have separate prayer areas

Performing Salah at Home

• Prayer can be performed anywhere, as long as wudu is performed, and the place is clean

• Many Muslims perform Salah at home, and in some places women do not ever attend the mosque and always pray at home

• The Prophet Muhammad encouraged followers to pray in their houses

• Praying at home can help children to learn about prayer

Jummah Prayer

• Jummah prayer is the most important prayer of the whole week

• It takes place in the mosque each Friday

• All Muslims try to attend Jummah, a special service where the imam will offer a sermon and there is the opportunity for sins to be forgiven

Divergent Understanding of Salah in Islam

• Both Shi’a and Sunni Muslims offer daily prayers, but there are some differences in how they happen

Divergent Understanding of Salah