Inside Muslim prayer
What happens in Muslim prayer?
The short answer
About 30 seconds to read
Muslims pray five times a day: at dawn, just after midday, in the afternoon, at sunset and at night. Each prayer is a short sequence of standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting, while reciting the Qur’an and words of praise in Arabic.
Before praying, Muslims wash, face toward the Kaaba in Mecca, and set aside everyday concerns for a few minutes. Prayer is a regular return to God throughout the day: a time for gratitude and humility, and a reminder to live well.
Why Muslims pray
Lo! I, even I, am Allah, There is no Allah save Me. So serve Me and establish worship for My remembrance.
Context: God speaking to Moses, in the Qur’an’s account of Moses being called to prophethood. Pickthall often translates the Arabic word for prayer, salah, as “worship”.
The Qur’an describes prayer as remembrance of God, as a help in hard times alongside patience, and as something that restrains people from wrongdoing.
Sources:Qur’an 2:45Qur’an 29:45
The five daily prayers follow a set form. Muslims also make personal prayers of request, called du‘a, at any time, in their own words.
Source:Qur’an 2:186
Five times a day
- Fajr: at dawn, before sunrise
- Dhuhr: after the sun passes its highest point
- ‘Asr: in the afternoon
- Maghrib: just after sunset
- ‘Isha: at night
Source:Britannica, “Salat”
Because the times follow the position of the sun, they shift through the year. The Qur’an speaks of prayer at fixed times and at points across the day and night; the detailed pattern of five daily prayers comes from the practice of the Prophet Muhammad.
Sources:Qur’an 4:103Qur’an 11:114Qur’an 17:78Britannica, “Salat”
Muslims can pray anywhere clean: at home, at work or in a mosque, alone or together. Praying together has special merit. On Fridays, the midday prayer is replaced by a congregational prayer that includes two sermons.
Sources:Qur’an 62:9Britannica, “Salat”
Islam makes allowances for circumstances. The Qur’an permits shortening prayer on a journey when there is fear of attack; when ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab asked the Prophet about shortening prayer in safe times, the Prophet called it a charity from God to be accepted. The Prophet told a man who was ill to pray standing if he could, sitting if he could not, and lying on his side if he could not sit. Schools of Islamic law differ on when two prayers may be joined together. A report in Sahih Muslim describes the Prophet joining the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers, when he was neither travelling nor in danger. Some Muslims regularly join these prayers, while others do so only when travelling or in similar need.
Sources:Qur’an 4:101Sahih Muslim 686aSahih al-Bukhari 1117Sahih Muslim 705a
Preparing to pray
- Washing (wudu). The Qur’an instructs believers to wash their faces, their hands and arms up to the elbows, wipe their heads, and wash their feet before prayer. If no water can be found, they may use clean earth instead.
- Facing the Kaaba. Wherever they are in the world, Muslims face toward the Kaaba, the ancient house of worship in Mecca that the Qur’an associates with Abraham and Ishmael. This direction is called the qiblah.
- A clean place and a calm mind. Many Muslims use a prayer mat. The aim is to set aside everyday concerns and stand before God attentively.
Inside a prayer
Each prayer is made up of a set number of units, each called a rak‘ah. The Prophet taught a man who was praying hastily to do each part calmly. Together, the reports describe this sequence:
- Standing. The prayer begins with the words Allahu akbar, “God is greater”. The worshipper recites Al-Fatihah, the opening chapter of the Qur’an, and often another passage.
- Bowing (ruku‘). Bending forward calmly, with the head level with the back.
- Standing again, fully upright.
- Prostration (sujud). Placing the forehead on the ground, then sitting briefly, then prostrating a second time. The Qur’an links prostration with drawing near to God.
- Sitting. After every second unit and at the end of the prayer, the worshipper sits and recites the tashahhud, a testimony of faith.
- Closing. The prayer ends with the greeting of peace, called the taslim.
Sources:Sahih al-Bukhari 756Qur’an 96:19
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, The Beneficent, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment, Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help. Show us the straight path, The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.
Context: Al-Fatihah, “The Opening”, is recited in every unit of every prayer. Muslims recite it in Arabic many times each day.
Blessings on Muhammad and Abraham
While sitting, after the tashahhud, Muslims ask God to bless the Prophet Muhammad and his family, just as He blessed Abraham and the family of Abraham. The wording was taught by the Prophet when his Companions asked how to invoke blessings on him. It links daily Muslim prayer to Abraham, whom Jews, Christians and Muslims all honour.
How practice varies
Muslim prayer is recognizably the same around the world, but details differ between the schools of Islamic law. The main Sunni schools are the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i and Hanbali; most Shi‘i Muslims follow the Ja‘fari school. Differences include where the hands are placed while standing, some of the words recited, and when prayers may be combined. Each tradition bases its practice on its own reading of the sources.
Because practice varies, a local mosque or a trusted teacher is the best guide for anyone learning to pray.
Visiting a mosque
Many mosques welcome visitors, and some hold open days. Customs vary, so it helps to contact the mosque beforehand. Generally, visitors remove their shoes before entering the prayer hall and dress modestly. You are welcome to sit quietly at the back and watch; no one will expect you to take part.
Sources for this page
Quotations are marked and linked. Summaries are in our own words. How we choose and cite sources.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah Taha (20)
Verse 20:14
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah (2)
Verse 2:45
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah Al-‘Ankabut (29)
Verse 29:45
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah (2)
Verse 2:186
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Reference
“Salat”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah An-Nisa (4)
Verse 4:103
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah 11
Verse 11:114
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah Al-Isra (17)
Verse 17:78
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah Al-Jumu‘ah (62)
Verse 62:9
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah An-Nisa (4)
Verse 4:101
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Hadith
Sahih Muslim, hadith 686a
Sunnah.com reference: muslim:686a
Summarized in our own words. Arabic text and a full English translation are available at the link.
Narrated by Ya‘la ibn Umayyah, who asked ‘Umar about Qur’an 4:101.
Hadith
Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith 1117
Sunnah.com reference: bukhari:1117
Summarized in our own words. Arabic text and a full English translation are available at the link.
Narrated by ‘Imran ibn Husain, who was unwell and asked the Prophet how to pray.
Hadith
Sahih Muslim, hadith 705a
Sunnah.com reference: muslim:705a
Summarized in our own words. Arabic text and a full English translation are available at the link.
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah Al-Ma’idah (5)
Verse 5:6
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah (2)
Verse 2:144
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah (2)
Verse 2:127
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Hadith
Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith 757
Sunnah.com reference: bukhari:757
Summarized in our own words. Arabic text and a full English translation are available at the link.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah. The Prophet teaches a man to say “Allahu akbar”, recite from the Qur’an, bow, stand straight, prostrate and sit, each with calm.
Hadith
Sahih Muslim, hadith 498
Sunnah.com reference: muslim:498
Summarized in our own words. Arabic text and a full English translation are available at the link.
Narrated by ‘A’ishah. Describes the Prophet beginning prayer with “Allahu akbar”, reciting the tashahhud after every two units, and ending with the greeting of peace.
Hadith
Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith 756
Sunnah.com reference: bukhari:756
Summarized in our own words. Arabic text and a full English translation are available at the link.
Narrated by ‘Ubadah ibn as-Samit. A prayer without Al-Fatihah is not valid.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah Al-‘Alaq (96)
Verse 96:19
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Qur’an
Qur’an, Surah Al-Fatihah (1)
Verses 1:1–7
Quoted from M. M. Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Parenthetical words are Pickthall’s. Modern translations can be compared on Quran.com.
Hadith
Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith 3370
Sunnah.com reference: bukhari:3370
Summarized in our own words. Arabic text and a full English translation are available at the link.
Narrated by ‘Abdur-Rahman ibn Abi Laila from Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah. Gives the wording of the prayer of blessings on Muhammad and the family of Abraham.
Reference
“How should we invoke the blessings of Allah upon you?”, Encyclopedia of Translated Prophetic Hadiths (sunnah.global)
Gives the wording of the prayer of blessings on Muhammad and the family of Abraham, graded authentic and agreed upon, with an explanation that it is said after the tashahhud greeting in prayer. It records Muslim wording; it does not claim that earlier prophets used this prayer.
Reference
“Pillars of Islam”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Also notes that Shi‘i Muslims affirm these practices but often teach the essentials of the faith using a different framework.
Further reading
- “Salat”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
- “Pillars of Islam”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Also notes that Shi‘i Muslims affirm these practices but often teach the essentials of the faith using a different framework.