The second pillar of Islam is Salaat. Muslims all over the world pray 5x a day. The time of day to pray are at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night fall. Each Salat is performed facing while facing the Kaaba.
Salat is compulsory but some flexibility in the specifics is allowed depending on the circumstances.
For example, in the case of sickness or a lack of space, a worshipper can offer salat while sitting, or even lying down, and the prayer is shortened when travelling.
The Salat must be performed in the Arabic language to the best of each worshipper’s ability. All prayers should be conducted within the prescribed time period and with appropriate number of units (raka’ah). As stated in the Qur’an Salat “restrains [one] from shameful and evil deeds”.
So in a nutshell our Salaat is a means to which Muslims regularly purify the body and soul of arrogance, hypocrisy and shirk (associating others in worship with God) each day. In the Qur’an it says of the Salaat:
“And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: for those things that are good remove those that are evil: be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord).”
(Qur’an, 3:114)
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