Why Muslims Pray 5 Times a Day and What It Means to the Islamic Faith

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Learn the importance of Salah to followers of Islam

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• Why Do Muslims Pray 5 Times a Day?
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• The Timing of the 5 Prayers
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• Muslim Prayer Movements
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• The Five Pillars of Islam
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• Video

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More than a billion Muslims in the world pray five times a day. Prayer is central to Islamic belief. Praying five times a day not only gives Muslims a way to honor their religious duty, but it also cleanses their soul of wrongful actions and gives them a chance to talk to and honor Allah (God). Praying with other Muslims, all facing the same direction from all around the world, gives them an important sense of community, and daily prayer is one of the Five Pillars or the central beliefs of the Islamic faith. Keep reading to learn more.

Things You Should Know

• Muslims pray five times a day because it was written in the Qu’ran, the text that’s believed to be the Word of Allah and the sacred scriptures of Islam.
• Daily prayers provide Muslims with spiritual renewal and a chance to communicate directly with Allah. They also give them a sense of community.
• Muslims pray just before dawn, at midday, in the late part of the afternoon, just after sunset, and between sunset and midnight.

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Section 1 of 4:

Why Do Muslims Pray 5 Times a Day?

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   Muslims have a religious duty to pray five times a day. Praying five times a day (called Salah or Salat) comes from the story of Isra and Mi’raj. In the story, the Prophet Muhammad travels from Mecca to Jerusalem to heaven in one night. In the end, Allah tells him to pray five times a day.

   • In Islam, the Prophet Muhammad is believed to be the last in a long line of prophets, including Moses and Jesus, and was chosen to be the messenger of Allah. His sayings are written in the Hadith, where the story of Isra and Mi’raj are.
   • When Muhammad first reaches heaven, Allah tells him to pray 50 times a day. When he descends down to earth, Moses tells him to go back and ask for a reduction. Muhammad travels back and forth 9 times until the number is reduced to five.
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   Daily prayers purify Muslims and provide spiritual rejuvenation. Muslims use time in prayer to reflect on their actions earlier in the day, seek forgiveness for sins, and renew and rejuvenate their spirit. Allah knows what you do, so prayer is a way to take away wrongful or immoral actions from their record before Allah weighs their good deeds against their sins after death.

   • For example, the first prayer allows them to reflect on what they did yesterday and ask for forgiveness for what they’ve done or ask for strength before they start their day.
   • Daily prayers are also important because they allow Muslims to follow in the footsteps of the prophets and give their gratitude to Allah.
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   Praying five times a day teaches Muslim children discipline. Children are usually required to pray when they reach seven years old and pray five times a day by the time they reach ten years old. Praying five times a day reinforces the importance of prayer and a deep love for Allah.

   • Children can also come to Friday prayer (Jum’ah), which happens midday during regular prayer time.
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   Praying five times a day promotes submission to the will of Allah. By being constantly reminded of Allah throughout the day, Muslims are reminded of what’s important in life and not to stray from the path.

   • The word “Islam” directly means “submission to the will of Allah,” and “Muslim” means “one who submits to the will of Allah.”
   • Salah can take place anywhere, not just in a mosque, which is also a reminder that Allah created everything.
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   Praying five times a day gives Muslims a sense of community. Salah, or daily prayer, is one of the five basic rituals for all members of the Islamic community who are able to perform them. All able-bodied Muslims engage in Salah at around the same time each day, which connects Muslims to each other all over the world and gives them a sense of community.

   • The prayer timetable gives Muslims the rhythm of their day. In some countries, Muslims even have a call to prayer from the mosques five times each day.
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Section 2 of 4:

The Timing of the 5 Prayers

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   The five prayers take place at dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset, and night. Specific prayer times for each Muslim depend on where they are in the world and the position of the sun in the sky. The five prayers include:

   • Fajr (Salat al-Fajr): Pray at dawn or any time before sunrise.
   • Dhuhr (Salat al-Zuhr): Pray midday, after the sun passes its highest peak.
   • Asr (Salat al-’Asr): Pray in the late part of the afternoon.
   • Maghrib (Salat al-Maghrib): Pray at dusk or just after sunset.
   • Isha (Salat al-’Isha): Pray after dark, between sunset and midnight.
   • Although Muslims are expected to pray five times a day, they might perform more prayers in a day. For example, if they’re asking for forgiveness, they may pray an additional time.
   • If you’d like to find the times of prayer for your area, you can use an online Salah calculator.
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   The timing of the five daily prayers comes from the Qu’ran. The Qu’ran is the holy text that’s believed to be the Word of Allah and the sacred scriptures of Islam. The specific five times of prayer can’t be found explicitly in the Qu’ran, and there’s been debate about whether it says to pray three times or five. Here are the passages that are believed to outline the times of the five daily prayers:

   • “Establish prayer O Prophet at both ends of the day and in the early part of the night.” (Surah 11:114)
   • “Observe the prayer from the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night and the dawn prayer, for certainly the dawn prayer is witnessed by angels. And rise at the last part of the night, offering additional prayers, so your Lord may raise you to a station of praise.” (Surah 17:78-79)
   • “So glorify Allah in the evening and in the morning—all praise is for Him in the heavens and the earth—as well as in the afternoon, and at noon.” (Surah 30:17)
   • “And glorify the praises of your Lord before sunrise and before sunset. And glorify Him during part of the night and after the prayers.” (Surah 50:39)
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Section 3 of 4:

Muslim Prayer Movements

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   Takbir Muslims begin prayer by raising their hands to their ears and glorifying Allah. To pray in Islam, devotees begin by facing the Holy Kaaba in Mecca (Makkah al Mukarrama) and making an intention to pray. While standing, they raise their hands next to their ears and shoulders and say “Allāhu Akbar,” meaning “Allah is great.”

   • During prayer, it’s forbidden to move around, fidget, or let your eyes wander. Muslims pray like they’re in the presence of Allah and must be in a state of complete concentration.
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   Qiyaam Muslims place their right hand over their left and recite prayers. While standing, they place their hands over their chest, their belly, or between the two with their right hand resting over their left. Then they recite the Istiftah Du'a (opening prayer), the Surah Al-Fatiha (the first chapter in the Qu’ran), and any other chapter.
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   Ruku Muslims then say “Allāhu Akbar” and bend so that their back and neck are almost level with the ground, creating a relaxed 90° angle. While bowing, they say “Subhanna Rabbiyal Adheem” or “Glory be to Allah, the Most Great” three times.
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   Qiyaam (Brief) While moving their body into a standing position with their arms beside them, they say “Samiallah Huliman Hamidah,” which means, “Allah hears those who praise him. When they reach the standing position, they say “Rabana Walakal Hamd,” or “To Allah belongs all praise.” Before going into the next movement, they say “Allāhu Akbar.”
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   Sujud Muslims place their palms, knees, toes, and noses on the ground. While facing the ground, Muslims repeat “Subhanna Rabbiyal A'laa,” meaning “Glory be to Allah, the Most High” three times.

   • The word “Sujud” means “to prostrate,” or to lie on the ground with your face downward.
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   Sitting Briefly Muslims say “Allāhu Akbar” as they move to the sitting position and pause for a few seconds. They can either say a short prayer or stay silent. As they move back into Sujud, they say “Allāhu Akbar.”
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   Sujud Muslims go into Sujud once more, with their palms, knees, toes, and noses touching the ground, and say “Allāhu Akbar.” The end of the second Sujud completes a unit (a rak’ah) of prayer. To complete a second unit, they say “Allāhu Akbar” and follow the movements from the first Qiyaam until they reach the Sujud again.

   • Each of the five Salahs has its own number of units. For example, Fajr, the shortest prayer, has two units.
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   Tashahhud After saying “Allāhu Akbar,” Muslims return to the sitting position and recite a set number of prayers in Arabic. They repeat a declaration of faith, raising the index finger on their right hand. They ask Allah to bestow blessings and peace on Prophet Muhammed, ask for forgiveness and mercy, and ask Allah to bless them until judgment day.
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   End of Prayer To end the prayer, Muslims turn their face to the right and say “Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu,” meaning “Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.” They then turn their face to the left and repeat the same line.

   • The Salah is directly mentioned in the Qu’ran 67 times, but references to prayer appear hundreds of times.
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Section 4 of 4:

The Five Pillars of Islam

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   The Five Pillars are the core beliefs and practices of Muslims. All members of the Islamic community are expected to follow these five tenants, which include the five daily prayers:

   • Profession of faith (Shahadah): This pillar refers to the belief that “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” Followers of Islam recite this phrase to become a Muslim and it’s frequently written in Arabic architecture and objects, including the Qu’ran.
   • Daily prayers (Salat): Muslims pray five times a day facing the direction of Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammed, and where the Ka’ba (or Kaaba) holy site is located.
   • Giving alms or charity (Zakat): Although this pillar isn’t defined in the Qu’ran, Muslims believe they are meant to share their wealth with those less fortunate and often donate a fixed portion of their income to community members in need.
   • Fasting during Ramadan (Sawm or Saum) During Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims refrain from eating or drinking from dawn to dusk. This practice is not only to show gratitude for all that Allah has provided, but it’s a reminder of the religious duty to help those who are in need.
   • Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) All Muslims who are able to have to visit Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least once in their lives. During the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, millions of Muslims from all over the world visit the Ka’ba, pray, and walk around the cube structure seven times.

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