Prayer (SALAH)

Salah is the name for the prayers that are performed five times a day and are a direct link between the worshipper and Allah. There are no intermediaries between Allah and the worshipper. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam such as priests. Prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Quran and is generally chosen by the congregation.

The Adhaan is the Islamic call to prayer and is recited aloud by a person called the Muedhin. The call is usually made from a minaret of a mosque five times a day summoning the faithful to mandatory (Fard) prayers. There is also a second call known as Iqaama that summons Muslims to line up for the beginning of the congregational prayers.

Prayers are performed at dawn (Fajr), midday (Dhuhr), late afternoon (Asr), sunset (Maghrib) and nightfall (Isha) and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. In fact, visitors to the Muslim world are quite often struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life. The five prescribed prayers contain verses from the Quran and are recited in Arabic. However, personal supplications can be offered in one's own languageand at any time. Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost everywhere.

Fajr: as long as the sun has not risen.

Dhuhr: when the sun passes the meridian and man's shadow is the same as his height as long as the time for the afternoon prayer has not come.

Asr: as long as the sun has not become pale.

Maghrib: as long as the twilight has not ended.

Isha: is up to the middle of the average night.