A Muslim is required to perform Salaat (prayers) five times per day. The prescribed times are as follows:
FAJR..........between dawn and sunrise
ZUHR..........a little after mid-afternoon
ASR...........from mid-afternoon to sunset
MAGHRIB.......immediately after sunset until first light disappears
ISHA..........at night when it is completely dark
The salaat is made up of rakat or cycles. Each rakah is almost a repeat of the others, so learning how to pray is not complicated.
When Allah commanded us to pray five times a day, the number of rakat or cycles of these prayers were prescribed as follows:
FAJR..........2 rakat
ZUHR..........4 rakat
ASR...........4 rakat
MAGHRIB.......3 rakat
ISHA..........4 rakat
These rakat are fard or obligatory. We must do them or be in error.
Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) prayed extra prayers which are called nafil. We are encouraged to perform these sunnah prayers (Sunnah are the practices of the prophet(pbuh)).
We must be in a state of purity to perform salaat. This means complete ablution (ghusl) or partial ablution (wudu). Ghusl or bath is required after having sexual relations or seminal discharge. Females must also perform ghusl after giving birth or after menses are finished.
WUDU
Before performing salaat one must have wudu. Making wudu is a ritual cleansing which takes a few minutes, but puts a Muslim in a state of mind which allows him to focus on Allah. If your wudu is not broken, it is not necessary to perform the ablution again before the next prayer. Things that break the wudu are:
Expelling any bodily waste from the anus or private parts
Sleeping
Losing consciousness because of illness, drugs, etc.
Touching the private parts with the palm of one's hand
Every act of worship must begin with a conscious intention (An-Niyyah). It is said silently. Say "I intent to peform ablution for the sake of Allah."
"A'dhu billahi mina shaitanir rajeem. Bishmillahir rahmanir raheem."
"I seek refuge from the accursed satan. In the name of God, most gracious, most Merciful."
Then perform the first act: Wash the hands
Next clean the teeth with finger and rinse mouth, gurgling water
Sniff a small amount of water in nose ans squeeze out with right hand
Wash the face (from hairline to chin, from ear to ear)
Wash the arms, including hands, to above the elbows. Do right arm first, then the left
Wipe part of the hair which does not go beyong the area of the head. Wipe the ears inside and out
Wash the feet to above the ankles, right foot first OR wipe the top of the socks of the right foot with the right hand and top of the socks of the left foot with the left hand
