Practices in IslamPrayer

Muslims believe that there is only one God – Allah. This belief is called Tawhid and it is expressed in the Shahadah. Muslims believe that only Allah is worthy of worship. Worshipping anything or anyone else amounts to shirk, which is the greatest sin and means holding anything to be equal or above Allah.

The five daily prayers (Salah)

Salah refers to five prayers that Muslims perform every day. Each of the five prayers is performed at a specific time of day:

Prayer is seen as daily communication with Allah. Salah encourages self-discipline and keeps Muslims in close contact with Allah. This gives them the strength to remain committed to living a good and purposeful life. The Qur’an says:

Praying the same set prayers to the same routine as Muslims all over the world is a sign of solidarity with all other Muslims. It shows that everyone is equal.

Preparing for prayer

Before praying, Muslims prepare by performing an important set of actions so that all of their focus can be on God:

1. Ablutions, which means ritual washing called wudu, which Muslims perform so that they are spiritually clean.
   • Mosques have washrooms where this washing can be performed. The ritual involves washing faces, hands and feet under running water.
   • If water is not available, sand or dust can be used as a sign of spiritual washing.
2. Facing the city of Makkah (Mecca), called qiblah. In a mosque, the mihrab marks the direction of prayer. If prayer is not taking part in a mosque, a compass on a prayer mat can be used to show the right direction.
3. Niyyah means making a conscious intention to pray. Prayer starts with a declaration of niyyah, showing that the worshipper is making an intentional effort to set time aside to communicate with God.

Rak’ahs (actions)

Each prayer cycle, or rak’ah, includes saying “Allahu akbar”, which means “God is great”, multiple times. Muslims also recite the first surah of the Qur’an during each prayer cycle.

The Qur’an instructs Muslims to keep Allah in mind when they have finished praying: Once the prayer is over, disperse throughout the land and seek the bounty of Allah. And remember Allah often so you may be successful (Surah 62:10).

Salah – differences between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims

Shi’a Muslims combine some prayers, such as the midday and afternoon prayers. Therefore, they may only pray three times a day. Sunni Muslims only combine prayers if they have a good reason to – for example, if they are travelling.

Shi’a Muslims also often use natural elements when praying – for example, some place a piece of clay at the spot where their head rests. The movements that Sunni and Shi’a Muslims make during prayer can also differ. For example, Shi’a Muslims pray with their hands by their sides, whereas Sunni Muslims pray with their hands either folded or by their sides.