Salah" is an Arabic word whose basic meaning is "connection".

In its English usage the reference of the word is almost always confined to the Muslim formal, obligatory prayer described in this article. Translating "salah" as "prayer" is not usually considered precise enough, as "prayer" can indicate several different ways of relating to God.

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, or dhikr [1].

In the Qur'an, it is written that: "The true believers are those who feel fear in their hearts 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." [Quran 8:2]

"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."
[Quran 22:35]

Prayer is also cited as a means of restraining a believer from social wrongs and moral deviancy.
[Quran 29:45]

The Ahadith provide further details; as for example, when the Qur'an refers to three daily prayers (suras 11:114; 17:7879; 30:1718 and possibly 24:58), while the five daily prayers stipulated by the later Ahadith have been adopted by Muslims.

The compulsory prayer is obligatory for those who meet these three conditions:[8] are Muslim are of sound mind are adult and have reached puberty (beginning at age seven is recommended

Confidence of the time of prayer. Being unsure invalidates even if the time turns out correct.[citation needed] Facing the qibla, with the chest facing the direction of the Ka'ba. The ill and the old are allowed leniency with posture. Covering the awrah [10] Clean clothes, body, place of prostration. Ritual purity (wudu, tayammum, ghusl) Praying in front of a sutrah.[11]

Covering the awrah Clean clothes, body, place of prostration Ritual purity (wudu, tayammum, ghusl) Praying in front of a sutrah.

Islam advises that the prayers be performed in a ritually clean environment [Quran 5:6]. When praying, the clothes that are worn and the place of prayer must be clean. Both men and women are required to cover their bodies (awrah) in reasonably loose-fitting garments. The well-known adage or hadith by al-Nawawi that "purity is half the faith"[15] illustrates how Islam has incorporated and modified existing rules of purity in its religious system.

The person should be conscious and aware of the particular prayer that is being offered, whether it is obligatory, if it is a missed (qadha) prayer, performed individually or among the congregation, a shortened traveller's prayer etc. The explicit verbalization of this intention is not required, though it can be helpful. The person should think his prayer to be the Last Prayer so that he may perform the best he can.

Rakah
Each prayer is made up of a repeating unit or cycle called a raka'ah. The number of raka'ahs for the five daily prayers can be found below. A basic raka'ah is made up of these parts.

If this is the first raka'ah, the prayer is commenced by the saying of the takbir, which is ( transliteration "Allahu-akbar", meaning God is Greater). The hands are raised level with shoulders or level with top of the ears, with fingers apart and not spaced out or together. This is done before, with or after the takbir. Both arms are placed over the chest, with the right arm over the left.[17] If this is the first raka'ah, a supplication praising God is said such as

SubhaanakAllaahumma, wa biham-dika, wa tabaarakasmuka, wa ta'aalaa jadduka, wa laa ilaaha ghayruka

O Allaah! I declare You far removed from above all imperfection, and that You deserve all Praise. Blessed is Your Name. Your Majesty (Glory and Might) is Exalted., and there is no true God Worthy of Worship Except

Muslims then ask refuge from God from such as A'oodhu billaahi min ash-Shaytaan-ir-Rajeem.

The recitation of the Quran begins with Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem.[20]

If this is the first or second raka'ah, the recitation of Al-Fatiha is followed with a recitation from any other section from the Quran of choice.

The takbeer is said again and the hands are raised as previously described and the next position, ruku', beginS

Ruku

The palms are placed on the knees, with finger spaced out. The back is erected at an angle at which poured water may not fall from it.[23]

The back is straightened and the hands are raised as in takbir as mentioned before but saying ( transliteration "Sami' Allaahu liman hamidah", meaning "Allah listens and responds to the one who praises him").[25] Some of many praises to God are said for this situation such as ( transliteration "Rabbanaa wa lakal-hamd", meaning "O our Lord! And all praise is for You").[26] The takbir is said and the hands are either raised or do not raised as mentioned before as the next position, prostration, begins with hands on the ground before knees.[27]

As much of the ground must be felt by the nose as the forehead. The elbows are raised and the palms are on level with either the shoulders or the ears, with fingers together.[28] Some of many types of remembrances of God are recited for this situation such as (transliteration "Subhaana Rabbee al-A' laa" meaning "Glory to my Lord, the Most High Most Praiseworthy") three times or more. [29] The takbir is said again and the hands are either raiser or not raised as mentioned before while the next position, kneeling, begins.

While sitting, either the left foot is placed along the ground with the right foot upright or both feet are kept upright. Some of many types of remembrances are recited for this situation such as Rabbi-ghfirlee, Rabbi-ghfirlee (meaning "O my Lord, forgive me! O my Lord, forgive me!"). [31] The takbir is said again and the hands are either raised or not raised as mentioned before as the second prostration begins

Second prostrations are done exactly as the first time.[31] The head is raised and the takbir is said again and the hands either raised or not raised as mentioned before. If this is either the second or last raka'ah, the sitting position begins again. Otherwise, the standing position begins again with the start of a new raka'ah.

If this is the second raka'ah, sitting is done as before. If this is not the second raka'ah, the left thigh is placed on the ground and both feet are protruding from the right side with the right foot either upright or along the ground. The left palm leans on the left knee.

At-tahiyyatu lillahi wassalawatu wat-tayyibatu was-salamu 'alayka ayyuha Annabiyyu warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu Assalamu 'alayna wa 'ala `abadillahi assaliheena Ash-hadu anna la ilaha illa Allah Wa Ash-hadu anna Mohammmedan 'abduhu warasuluhu.

"Allaahumma salli 'alaa Sayidina Muhammadin wa 'alaa ali Sayidina Muhammadin Kamaa sallaita 'alaa Sayidina Ibraaheema wa 'alaa ali Sayidina Ibraaheema Innaka hameedun Majeed Alaahumma baarik 'ala Sayidina Muhammadin wa 'alaa ali Sayidina Muhammadin Kamaa baarakta 'alaa Sayidina Ibraaheema wa 'alaa ali Sayidina Ibraaheema Innaka hameedun Majeed,

O Allah, bless our Muhammad and the people of Muhammad as you have blessed Abraham and the people of Abraham. O Allah, be gracious unto Muhammad and the people of Muhammad As you were gracious unto Abraham and the people of Abraham. Surely you are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious

Salat al-Jumu'ah is a congregational prayer on Friday which replaces the dhuhr prayer. It is compulsory upon men to perform it in congregation, while women may perform it so or may perform dhuhr salat instead. Salat alJumu'ah consists of a sermon (khutba) given by the speaker (khatib) after which two raka'ah are performed. There is no Salat al-Jumu'ah without a khutba.

Wajib As-salat are compulsory, nonperformance of which renders one a sinner. However the evidence of the obligation is open to interpretation, with some of the madhab saying it is obligatory while others saying it is optional. To deny that a fard salah is obligatory is an act of disbelief while denying the obligation of a wajib salah is not disbelief. There are some who believe that as the 5 prayers are obligatory, it automatically renders all other prayers optional.

Sun'nah sal'ah are optional and were additional voluntary prayers performed by Muhammad they are of two types the Sun'nah Mukkaddah, those practiced on a regular basis, which if abandoned cause the abandoner to be regarded as sinful by the Hanafi School and the Sun'nah Ghair Mukkaddah, those practiced on a semiregular practice by Prophet Muhammad about which all are that their abandonment doesn't render one sinful. Certain sunnah prayers have prescribed waqts associated with them. Those ordained for before each of the fard prayers must be performed between the first call to prayer (adhan) and the second call (iqama) which signifies the start of the fard prayer. Those sunnah ordained for after the fard prayers can be performed any time between the end of the fard prayers and the end of the current prayer's waqt. Any amount of extra raka'ah may be offered, but most madha'ib prescribe a certain number of raka'ah for each sunnah salah.

Nafl salat (supererogatory prayers) are voluntary, and one may offer as many as he or she likes almost any time. There are many specific conditions or situations when one may wish to offer nafl prayers. They cannot be offered at sunrise, true noon, or sunset. The prohibition against salat at these times is to prevent the practice of sun worship.

Witr is performed after the salah of isha'a

In certain circumstances one may be unable to perform one's prayer within the prescribed time period (waqt). In this case, the prayer must be performed as soon as one is able to do so. Several Ahadith narrate that Muhammad stated that permissible reasons to perform Qada Salah are forgetfulness and accidentally sleeping through the prescribed time. However, knowingly sleeping through the prescribed time for Salah is deemed impermissible