Salah: The Islamic Practice of Ritual Prayer

Perhaps the most important ceremonial duty of the five required for all Muslims(Farah 135), Salah is very imperative in keeping a Muslim in close connection with Allah. It is considered the "supreme act of righteousness"(Farah 135) in the Islamic faith. Prayer is an important aspect of almost every major religion, but Muslims take the practice especially seriously, praying five times a day and undergoing various rituals and cleansing processes(Farah 137) before they are deemed presentable before Allah.

There are several differences in prayer between Islam and other religions.

Since I am most familiar with Christianity and since it shares some Old Testament roots with Islam, I will specifically compare and contrast Islamic and Christian prayer practices. One main difference is the style and content of prayer. In Salah, Muslims usually go to a public place and partake in Quran readings, which are memorized, and which ends with the reading of the Fatihah, the first chapter of the Quran(Farah 135).

Additionally, Salah consists of shahadah, "short verses and confessions of faith", as well as “benediction or petition for the prophet, and brief praises"(Farah 135).

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Although most of the Salah is more ritualistic and focused on recitation, there is allotted a brief time to seek Allah's guidance and help, known as dua(Farah 135). This is starkly contrasted with the prayers of the Psalmist David, which consisted of constant praises and communication with God rather than rituals or recitations. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, Christians were encouraged to be in constant communication with God, because Jesus now acted as the mediator between God and mankind.

Christians were told to pray wherever and whenever possible, as opposed to the five strictly structured sessions required of Muslims everyday. Another difference is in the mood and submittance in prayer. Salah is conducted in peaceful and solemn way, with Muslim worshippers focusing on humbly adoring Allah(Farah 140). The prayer that must be recited five times daily also reflects this style of complete serenity and humility. It goes as follows: "God is great(4x). I bear witness that there is no god but God(2x). I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God(2x). Come to prayer(2x). Come to contentment(2x). There is no god but God(2x)."(Farah 135)

The five times each day that this must be recited are at subh, when it is light before sunrise, zuhr, immediately after noon, asr, between 3PM and 5PM, maghrib, after sunset but before complete darkness, and isha, when it is dark(Farah 137). Although Christians are called to be humble and reverent before God, they often express extreme emotion during prayer, whether brokenness or joy, rather than peaceful serenity, although this is not completely uncommon. Also, Christians are called to reverently cry out to God in complete honesty and relentless begging.

David is often seen questioning God in prayer, wondering why He has seemingly abandoned him and turned His back on him. Multiple parables in the New Testament compare God to a judge being bugged by a citizen until he finally gives into their demand, reflecting how God loves to answer prayers when Christians pray fervently and passionately. One final difference between Islamic and Christian prayer is the state the believer must be in before their God. In Islam, Muslims must not have even a hint of hadath, or defilement, on them when approaching Allah in Salah(Farah 137).

If a Muslim has a defilement prior to prayer, they are required to undergo Ablution, a cleansing method(Farah 137). Ablution comes in two forms: ghusl, required after janabah, or great defilement, and wudu, required after lesser defilement(Farah 137). The Muslim must obtain legally pure water and cleanse themselves from head to toe in order to be accepted before Allah, otherwise their prayer is not heard(Farah 137). They then must find a templum, or sanctuary, in which they will face towards Mecca during prayer(Farah 138).

Muslims also most often acquire a mat of some sort to cover the ground below them while they are praying(Farah 138). Although these practices of cleanliness are not at all present in Christianity, there were similar rituals practiced in the Temple by priests in the Old Testament. For instance, Aaron the priest was given many instructions that he must follow before approaching God in the temple, involving cleansing himself and The five times each day that this must be recited are at subh, when it is light before sunrise, zuhr, immediately after noon, asr, between 3PM and 5PM, maghrib, after sunset but before complete darkness, and isha, when it is dark(Farah 137). Although Christians are called to be humble and reverent before God, they often express extreme emotion during prayer, whether brokenness or joy, rather than peaceful serenity, although this is not completely uncommon.

Also, Christians are called to reverently cry out to God in complete honesty and relentless begging. David is often seen questioning God in prayer, wondering why He has seemingly abandoned him and turned His back on him. Multiple parables in the New Testament compare God to a judge being bugged by a citizen until he finally gives into their demand, reflecting how God loves to answer prayers when Christians pray fervently and passionately. One final difference between Islamic and Christian prayer is the state the believer must be in before their God.

In Islam, Muslims must not have even a hint of hadath, or defilement, on them when approaching Allah in Salah(Farah 137). If a Muslim has a defilement prior to prayer, they are required to undergo Ablution, a cleansing method(Farah 137). Ablution comes in two forms: ghusl, required after janabah, or great defilement, and wudu, required after lesser defilement(Farah 137). The Muslim must obtain legally pure water and cleanse themselves from head to toe in order to be accepted before Allah, otherwise their prayer is not heard(Farah 137). They then must find a templum, or sanctuary, in which they will face towards Mecca during prayer(Farah 138).

Muslims also most often acquire a mat of some sort to cover the ground below them while they are praying(Farah 138). Although these practices of cleanliness are not at all present in Christianity, there were similar rituals practiced in the Temple by priests in the Old Testament. For instance, Aaron the priest was given many instructions that he must follow before approaching God in the temple, involving cleansing himself and