Salah

Question 1

purpose

Answer 1

• is to adore to god, confess for sins and ask for forgiveness
• thank Allah and ask for help (supplication)
• it also follows footsteps of Muhammad and unites the ummah
• ‘guard strictly the 5 obligatory prayers’

Question 2

preparing for prayer

Answer 2

• wudu- ritual washing
• they perform this so that they are spiritual clean
• mosques have washrooms where this washing can be performed
• it involves washing faces, hands and feet under running water- if this is not available sand or dust can be used instead (tayammum)

Question 3

facing Mecca

Answer 3

• in a mosque the mihrab masks the direction of prayer
• if prayer is not taking place in a mosque a compass on a. prayer map can be used
• the mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque which indicates the direction of mecca
• Muslims should face this way when praying
• the qibla is the term for the direction of the kava

Question 4

niyyah

Answer 4

• conscious intention of prayer
• prayers start with a declaration of niyyah showing the worshipper is among an intentional effort to set time aside to communicate with god

Question 5

rakahs

Answer 5

• cycle of movement in prayer is called rakahs
• each cycle involves saying Allah akbar which means god is great
• it also involves the recitation of the first Surah of the Quran

Question 6

adhan

Answer 6

• muslim call to prayer
• recited by a muezzin to announce
  one of the the 5 daily prayers
• serves as a spiritual reminder of faith and establishes communal routine for muslims
• unites the ummah

Question 7

qibla

Answer 7

• the direction of Mecca used by muslims to direct where they pray
• creates unit between muslim community globally

Question 8

prayer at home

Answer 8

• families tend to pray together- shoes are removed and heads are covered
• they will know the direction of Mecca using a qibla compass
• might be connected to local mosque radio so that they can hear the adhan

Question 9

prayer at mosque

Answer 9

• men and women pray separately to avoid distraction
• take off shoes upon entering
• separate wudu rooms
• have a qibla niche (mihrab) to show them direction
• perform cycle of movements in a sequence- shoulder to shoulder (uniting ummah)
• jumah- communal prayer on Friday

Question 10

night journey

Answer 10

• Muhammad went from Mecca to jerusalem and then ascended from a rock in Jerusalem into heaven on a winged horse
• he went past previous prophets including Adam, Jesus, Ibrahim (shows his authority as the ‘seal of prophets’
• stood in presence of god
• allah told him to pray 50 times but he negotiated to 5

Question 11

general

Answer 11

• in islam, there are 5 obligatory prayers performed at a specific times each day
• this encourages self- discipline and keeps muslims in close contact with muslims (Taqwa)

Question 12

more about jummah prayers

Answer 12

• develop unity in umma
• men have to go
• women may stay at home
• imam gives 2 sermons and rak’ah are performed
• on Friday because in the Quran it states ‘the best day in the sight of god is friday’