Salah

Question 1

What does salah mean?

Answer 1

Prayer- 2nd pillar of Islam

Question 2

Why is salah important?

Answer 2

An expression of faith and a communication with god
Not direct contact as he is transcendent and infinite and there’s epistemic distance
A calling out to god and a physical act of submission
It is ibadah (obedience/ worship of god)

Question 3

It is fard?

Answer 3

Yes you must pray 5 times a day
The night of ascent
When muhammed was taken on a mystical journey where he met the prophets, was taken to heaven and negotiated the number of prayers each day
You can be excused if you are ill or a child or you catch it up after

Question 4

What is the preparation before prayer?

Answer 4

1. Wudu
2. Purity of clothes- no animal or human excrement
3. Purity of place of prayer- remove shoes, use prayer mats
4. Modesty of dress- men from naval to knee, women whole body except feet hands and face

Question 5

What is wudu?

Answer 5

Ritual washing
Purifies the body- nose mouth ears face head arms up to elbows feet
Full body wash if you’ve had sex period or childbirth (ghusl)

Question 6

How do you pray?

Answer 6

Men and women separate to avoid distraction
In Arabic as it’s the direct word of god, reflects equality and the ummah
Face Mecca, the qibla wall indicates this
Must have niyat

Question 7

What is takbir?

Answer 7

Set formulas for glorifying god, recognition that god is great
Entering the state of prayer

Question 8

What is rakah?

Answer 8

Prayer movement

Different prayers have different numbers of movements

Question 9

What does sujud mean?

Answer 9

Prostrate

Palms, knees, toes, forehead and nose must be the only body parts touching the ground

Question 10

What is tashahud?

Answer 10

Asking allah for blessings for those around you
Then the shahadah
The angels on your shoulders (turning left and right)

Question 11

What is Salam?

Answer 11

Asking for blessings on muhammed and the prophets from the angels on your shoulders

Question 12

What is the adhan?

Answer 12

Call to prayer
Contains the shahadah
Muezzin calls it

Question 13

When do you pray?

Answer 13

Daybreak
Noon
Afternoon
Sunset
Evening

Question 14

What are Jummah prayers?

Answer 14

Friday prayers

Question 15

Why is Friday special?

Answer 15

Selected by allah as a special day
Adam was created on a Friday
A Hadith says Friday prayers are special
Day of judgement will be a Friday

Question 16

What happens at Jummah prayers?

Answer 16

40 males for a congregation
At midday
Imam leads but doesn’t have a special status as shirk
Imam delivers sermon called khutbah which has a moral theme relevant to the community
Congregation stands shoulder to shoulder to keep the devil out

Question 17

What do women do at Jummah prayers?

Answer 17

Traditionally pray at home but there are some female imams

Amina Wadud has delivered Friday prayers at the oxford Muslim centre

Question 18

What extra prayers are there?

Answer 18

Tahajjud- in the nighttime
Nafila- can be anytime, a drop in the ocean compared to the 5 main
Du’a- cry out, very personal form of private devotion
Tasbih- glorify, associated with tasbih beads for the names of allah
Wird- Sufi prayer, reflective chanting