The Five Daily Prayer (The Second Pillar of Islam) – JSS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Salah (prayer) is the second pillar of Islam, the act of worship in which Muslims pray to Allah five times every day.

Behavioural objectives

1. Name the five daily prayers and state their times.
2. State the number of obligatory rak’ahs in each prayer.
3. List the conditions to meet before prayer.
4. Describe the basic steps of one rak’ah.
5. Explain why prayer is important in Islam.
6. State how travellers and sick people may pray.

Why is prayer important in Islam?

Prayer is important because Allah commanded it, the Prophet stressed it, and it brings many benefits to a Muslim.

What does the Quran say about prayer?

• Quran 4:103: “Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers at specified times.”
• Quran 2:238: “Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.”
• Quran 29:45: “Establish prayer, for prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing.”

What did Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) teach about prayer?

• Accountability: “The first thing a person will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment is prayer.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)
• Last advice: Near the end of his life he often urged: “Prayer, prayer, and what your right hands possess” (fair treatment of servants and dependents).

What are the benefits of prayer?

• Closeness to Allah: it builds a direct connection with Him.
• Peace: it brings calm to the heart and mind.
• Self-control: it helps a person resist temptation and avoid sin.
• Discipline: it gives order to daily life.
• Purpose: it reminds us why we were created.
• Unity: it brings Muslims together as a community.
• Exercise: the movements give regular physical activity.
• Punctuality: it teaches time management.

What are the five daily prayers?

The five daily prayers are Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha, and each has its own time and number of rak’ahs.

A rak’ah is one complete unit of prayer, made up of standing, bowing and prostrating.

What should be known about Fajr?

• Sunnah: 2 rak’ahs before the obligatory prayer.
• Feature: prayed in darkness or early light.
• Reward: the Prophet said, “Whoever prays the dawn prayer in congregation is as if he has prayed the whole night.” (Muslim)

What should be known about Zuhr?

• Sunnah: Sunnah rak’ahs before and after the obligatory prayer (the number differs by opinion).
• Feature: prayed in the heat of the day.
• Guidance: in very hot weather the Prophet advised delaying Zuhr until it is cooler. (Bukhari, Muslim)

What should be known about Asr?

• Sunnah: optional rak’ahs before it (2 to 4, according to different opinions).
• Feature: most scholars say it is the “middle prayer” in Quran 2:238.
• Reward: the Prophet said, “Whoever prays the two cool prayers (Fajr and Asr) will enter Paradise.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

What should be known about Maghrib?

• Sunnah: 2 rak’ahs after the obligatory prayer.
• Feature: the only daily obligatory prayer with 3 rak’ahs.

What should be known about Isha?

• Sunnah: 2 rak’ahs after the obligatory prayer, then Witr (1 to 3 rak’ahs).
• Feature: it may be delayed, but praying early is better.
• Reward: the Prophet said, “Whoever prays Isha in congregation is as if he has prayed half the night.” (Muslim)

What must a Muslim do before praying?

Before prayer a Muslim must be pure, wear clean covering clothes, face the Qiblah and pray at the right time.

What are the types of purification?

There are three types of purification: wudu, ghusl and tayammum.

• Wudu (ablution): washing set parts of the body with water.
• Ghusl (full bath): required after major impurity.
• Tayammum (dry ablution): using clean earth when water is not available.

What are the rules for place and clothes?

• Place: the place of prayer must be clean.
• Clothes: they must be clean and cover the awrah (the parts of the body that must be covered).
• Men: cover at least from the navel to the knees.
• Women: cover the whole body except the face and hands.

What is the Qiblah?

The Qiblah is the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah, which Muslims face when praying.

• Mihrab: a niche in the mosque wall that shows the Qiblah.
• Travelling: a compass or phone app can help find the Qiblah.

Why does the proper time matter?

• Before the time: a prayer prayed before its time begins is not valid.
• After the time: delaying a prayer beyond its time without a valid reason is sinful.

How is prayer performed?

Each prayer is made of rak’ahs, and each rak’ah follows a fixed order of actions and words.

What are the steps of one rak’ah?

1. Stand facing the Qiblah, make the intention and say “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest).
2. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah and another portion of the Quran.
3. Bow (ruku) and say “Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem” (Glory to my Lord, the Magnificent).
4. Rise and say “Sami’Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd” (Allah hears those who praise Him. Our Lord, praise belongs to You).
5. Prostrate (sujood) and say “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la” (Glory to my Lord, the Most High).
6. Sit between the two prostrations and say “Rabbi ighfir li” (My Lord, forgive me).
7. Prostrate a second time. This completes the rak’ah.

How does a prayer end?

1. Middle sitting: in prayers of 3 or 4 rak’ahs, sit for the Tashahhud (testimony of faith) after the second rak’ah.
2. Final sitting: sit for the Tashahhud and send peace and blessings on the Prophet.
3. Salam: turn the head right and then left, saying “Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah” (Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you).

What is the difference between Fard and Sunnah prayers?

• Obligatory (Fard): a prayer every Muslim must perform. Missing it without a valid reason is a sin.
• Sunnah: a recommended prayer that follows the Prophet’s example. It is not compulsory.

What are the rules for congregational prayer?

Congregational prayer (Jama’ah) is prayer performed together behind an Imam, and it is highly encouraged.

Why is praying together encouraged?

• Reward: the Prophet said, “Prayer in congregation is 27 times better than praying alone.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
• Unity: it strengthens brotherhood and community bonds.
• Discipline: it encourages punctuality.
• Men: they are strongly encouraged to pray in the mosque.

What is the role of the Imam?

• Leads: the Imam stands in front and leads the prayer.
• Qualities: he should be the most knowledgeable in the Quran and Islamic rulings.
• Recitation: he recites aloud in the prayers that are recited aloud.
• Followers: they copy his actions and do not go ahead of him.

What should a latecomer do?

1. Join the congregation in whatever position the Imam is in.
2. Pray with the Imam until he ends the prayer.
3. Stand up and complete the rak’ahs that were missed.

How do Muslims pray in special situations?

Islam makes prayer easier during travel, illness and danger, but the prayer must still be offered.

How do travellers pray?

• Combining: prayers may sometimes be joined (Zuhr with Asr, Maghrib with Isha).

How do sick people pray?

• Cannot stand: pray sitting.
• Cannot sit: pray lying down.
• Cannot bow or prostrate: use gestures.
• Water would cause harm: use tayammum.

How do Muslims pray in fear or danger?

• Different ways: the Quran allows the prayer to be performed in different ways.
• Turns: people may take turns praying while others keep watch.
• Extreme danger: prayer may be performed while walking or riding.

What should be done about missed prayers?

• Quickly: make them up as soon as possible.
• In order: pray them in the order in which they were missed.
• No skipping: every missed prayer must still be prayed.

What mistakes should be avoided in prayer?

The common mistakes in prayer are physical mistakes and mistakes of the mind.

What are the physical mistakes?

• Posture: not standing straight.
• Incomplete actions: not completing the bowing or prostration properly.
• Movement: moving about without need.
• Eyes: looking around instead of at the place of prostration.
• Speed: rushing through the prayer.

What are the mental mistakes?

• No concentration: praying without khushu’ (full attention and humility).
• Distraction: thinking about worldly matters.
• Hurry: praying only to finish quickly.
• No understanding: not knowing the meaning of what is recited.

How can a Muslim develop khushu’ in prayer?

Khushu’ is full attention and humility before Allah during prayer, and it can be developed before, during and after prayer.

What helps before prayer?

• Preparation: perform wudu properly and prepare your mind.
• Awareness: remember that you are about to stand before Allah.
• Place: choose a quiet spot with few distractions.
• Meaning: learn the meanings of what you recite.

What helps during prayer?

• Focus: think about the meaning of each statement.
• Presence: remember that Allah is watching you.
• Pace: take your time.
• Variety: recite different surahs after Al-Fatihah.

What helps after prayer?

• Du’a: make supplications.
• Reflection: think about how the prayer went.
• Calm: try to keep the peaceful feeling.
• Goals: aim to improve the next prayer.

What other prayers are there beyond the five daily prayers?

Other prayers include Jumu’ah, Eid, Taraweeh and Witr.

What is Jumu’ah prayer?

Jumu’ah is the congregational prayer that Muslims pray at noon on Friday in place of Zuhr.

• Congregation: it must be prayed together.
• Sermon: a khutbah is given before the prayer.
• Rak’ahs: 2 rak’ahs.

What are the Eid prayers?

• Occasion: prayed on the two annual Eid celebrations.
• Time: after sunrise.
• Rak’ahs: 2 rak’ahs with extra takbeers (saying “Allahu Akbar”).
• Sermon: a sermon follows the prayer.

What is Taraweeh prayer?

• Occasion: a special night prayer in Ramadan.
• Rak’ahs: usually 8 or 20, depending on the community.
• Time: after Isha.
• Recitation: long portions of the Quran are recited.

What is Witr prayer?

• Rak’ahs: an odd number, usually 1, 3, 5 or 7.
• Time: after Isha and before Fajr.
• Position: the last prayer of the night.

Evaluation

1. Name the five daily prayers and state their times.
2. State the number of obligatory rak’ahs in each prayer.
3. List the four things a Muslim must do before praying.
4. Describe the basic steps of one rak’ah.
5. How can a sick person pray if they cannot stand or prostrate?

Assignment

In your exercise book, draw a table of the five daily prayers with their times and obligatory rak’ahs, then write four benefits of prayer below it.