Practices - EduqasCharacteristics of prayer

Rak’ahs

In Islam, prayer often takes the form of cycles of movement, called rak’ahs. Each cycle involves saying “Allahu akbar”, which means “God is great”, multiple times. It also includes recitation of the first surah of the Qur’an.

Prayer at home

Fulfilling the obligation of Salah at home is a big part of family life for many Muslims. Meals and other family activities are often scheduled to fit around prayer times. At home, families tend to pray together – men and women, adults and children. Some Muslim families have a room set aside especially for prayer.

Prayer in the mosque

In the mosque, men and women pray in separate rooms. They perform the cycle of movements (rak’ahs) in a sequence. This involves bowing and kneeling as well as prostration and reciting praises to God.

Jummah

Jummah is a communal prayer held on a Friday just after noon at the mosque. Praying together is meant to develop a feeling of unity among the Muslim community.

The imam gives two sermons and a series of rak’ahs are performed. Men are obliged to go to Friday midday prayers except if they are ill or too old to attend. Women do not have to go to Friday prayers at the mosque and instead may choose to pray at home.