Salah is the pillar of Islam - The Muslim Guide

What is the Salah?

Salah (salat) is the Arabic term for the ritual prayer that is obligatory for Muslims to perform five times a day. It forms one of the five pillars of Islam.

The names of the five daily prayers are as follows:

Fajr (Morning)
This takes place at pre-dawn
Dhuhr (Noon)
This takes place just after the sun reaches its zenith
Asr (Evening)
This takes place between noon and sunset
Maghrib (Afternoon)
This takes place just after sunset
Isha (Night)
This takes place during the night/at night-time

Aside from the five obligatory prayers, Muslims may offer Sunnah and Nafl Salah.

The Sunnah Salah (prayers) are ones in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to habitually offer as voluntary worship at specified times and places.

Nafl Salah are voluntary prayers that a Muslim may offer at any time as a form of extra Ibadah (worship).

Why is Salah important?

Salah is an integral part of the lifestyle of a Muslim. Through prayer, Muslims are required each day to ponder on the verses of the Qur’an, the Shahadah (the declaration of faith), and Allah’s attributes.

Muslims across the world unite in prayer at five specified times each day in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, as a means of connecting to Allah and their purpose in life – to remember and worship Him.

Salah times are appointed to times of the day that depend on the position of the sun. Since parts of the world experience daylight and night differently, it is important to follow the prayer times where you are situated. An authority will usually gather and publish the prayer time in your area for the public’s ease.

And seek help through patience and Salah (prayer), and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]
(Surah Bakara:45 / 2:45 Quran)
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and Salah (prayer). Indeed, Allah is with the patient.
(Surah Bakara:153 / 2:153 Quran)
Your ally is none but Allah and [therefore] Allah's Messenger (Prophet Muhammad) and those who have believed - those who establish Salah (prayer) and give zakat, and they bow [in worship].
(Surah Maide:55 / 5:55 Quran)
Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from Salah (prayer). So will you not desist?
(Surah Maide:91 / 5:91 Quran)
Say, "Indeed, my Salah (prayer), my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.
(Surah En'am:162 / 6:162 Quran)
And establish Salah (prayer) at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.
(Surah Hud:114 / 11:114 Quran)
Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish Salah (prayer) for My remembrance.
(Surah Taha:14 / 20:14 Quran)
So be patient over what they say and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and during periods of the night [exalt Allah] and at the ends of the day, that you may be satisfied.
(Surah Taha:130 / 20:130 Quran)
And rely upon the Exalted in Might, the Merciful, Who sees you when you arise for Salah (Prayer), And your movement among those who prostrate.
(Surah Sura:217-219 / 26:217-219 Quran)
Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book (Quran) and establish Salah (prayer). Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.
(Surah Ankebut:45 / 29:45 Quran)
Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah (Quran) and establish Salah (prayer) and spend [in Allah's cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a profit that will never perish -
(Surah Fatir:29 / 35:29 Quran)
He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself, And mentions the name of his Lord and prays (Salah).
(Surah A'la:14-15 / 87:14-15 Quran)
Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish Salah (prayer) and give zakat will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
(Surah Bakara:277 / 2:277 Quran)
But those who hold fast to the Book (Quran) and establish Salah (prayer) - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of the reformers.
(Surah Araf:170 / 7:170 Quran)
The ones who establish Salah (prayer), and from what We have provided them, they spend.
(Surah Enfal:3 / 8:3 Quran)
But if they repent, establish Salah (prayer), and give zakat, then they are your brothers in religion; and We detail the verses for a people who know.
(Surah Tevbe:11 / 9:11 Quran)
And those who are patient, seeking the countenance of their Lord, and establish Salah (prayer) and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good - those will have the good consequence of [this] home -
(Surah Rad:22 / 13:22 Quran)
Who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts are fearful, and [to] the patient over what has afflicted them, and the establishers of Salah (prayer) and those who spend from what We have provided them.
(Surah Hac:35 / 22:35 Quran)
And establish Salah (prayer) and give zakat and obey the Messenger (Prophet Muhammad) - that you may receive mercy.
(Surah Nur:56 / 24:56 Quran)
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Allah in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish Salah (prayer) and to give zakat. And that is the correct religion.
(Surah Beyyine:5 / 24:5 Quran)