SALAT IN DETAIL :

Perhaps the most well-known Muslim practice among those who don't adhere to the religion of
Islam is ritual prayer, or salat, which is performed five times a day: at dawn (al-fajr), midday (al-
zuhr), afternoon (al-'asr), sunset (al-maghrib) and evening (al-'isha). Salat is one of the five
pillars of Islam.

Prayer is always directed in the direction (qibla) of the Ka'ba shrine in Mecca. A prayer mat,
sajjada, is commonly used during salat. Salat may be performed individually, but it carries
special merit when done with other Muslims. The focal prayer of the week is the midday prayer
at the mosque on Fridays.

Salat must always be preceded by ablutions (wudu') of ritually washing the face, hands, and feet.
This can be done with sand when water is not available. (Quran 5:6; also 2:222, 4:43.) At the
five appointed times, a muezzin announces a call to prayer (adhan), traditionally from a mosque's
minaret. The words of the shahada feature heavily in the call to prayer:

In modern times, the muezzin is usually heard on the radio. One can also utilize a service such as
the "salat pager," which sends a reminder to the believer's pager as prayer times approach.

When performing salat at the mosque, worshippers are aligned in parallel rows behind the prayer
leader (imam), who directs them through the rak'as (prescribed postures and recitations).

Islamic prayer begins in a standing position and moves through several simple postures until the
supplicant is kneeling. (IslamicVoice.com has an illustrated guide to the rak'as, with an emphasis
on the health benefits of the postures.) Specified recitations are said in each posture.

The content of prayer is glorification of God, recitations of the Qur'an, and blessings on the
Prophet. Salat concludes with the taslima (greeting), "Peace be upon you," even when praying
alone.

In addition to the regular prayer times, special congregational prayers take place just after noon
on Fridays and mid-morning on the two major Islamic holidays. Individual devotional prayers,
though not obligatory, are encouraged, especially during the night (tahajjud).

Quranic verses
[2:43] You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and
bow down with those who bow down.

[The Quran 2:3-5] who believe in the unseen, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and from our
provisions to them, they give to charity. And they believe in what was revealed to you, and in
what was revealed before you, and with regard to the Hereafter, they are absolutely certain.
These are guided by their Lord; these are the winners.