Salaad

Salaad (also Salaadda or Salaat, Arabic: الصلاة) is a religious observance that Muslims perform at fixed times each day. It is one of the pillars of Islam, consisting of recitation (Qur'anic verses and supplication) and prescribed physical movements performed in an orderly sequence.

The five obligatory daily prayers are: Subax (dawn), Duhur (midday), Casar (afternoon), Magrib (sunset), and Cishe (night). The timing of each depends on the movement of the sun, causing prayer times to vary by location and season. There are also optional prayers (naafilo) and special prayers such as the Friday prayer (Jumuah), the festival prayers (Eid), and the funeral prayer.

Preconditions

Before prayer, the worshipper must be in a state of ritual purity (wudu'—ablution with water of certain body parts) or tayamum (purification with clean earth or sand) if water is unavailable or health considerations prevent it. The clothing and prayer space must be clean, the body must be covered appropriately, and the worshipper must face the qibla—the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca.

Structure of prayer

Prayer begins with intention and takbir (pronouncing 'Allahu akbar'). This is followed by recitation of Surat al-Fatiha (the opening chapter) and other verses, then bowing, prostration, and sitting. The sequence of these movements is called a rakca (unit); each prayer has a fixed number of rakas—two for Subax, four for Duhur, four for Casar, three for Magrib, and four for Cishe. Prayer concludes with taslim (the closing salutation).

The call to prayer and congregational prayer

Prayer time is announced by the adhan, called out by a muezzin from the mosque. In congregational prayer, an imam leads while others stand in rows behind and follow the movements. The Friday prayer is preceded by a sermon and is typically held in a large mosque.

Concessions and differences

Islamic law permits concessions in certain circumstances: during travel, the four-unit prayers can be shortened, and it is permissible to combine two prayers. The ill may pray sitting or lying down. Different schools of Islamic jurisprudence (such as Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) and Shi'a practice differ on certain details such as hand placement or specific supplications, but the basic structure is the same.