Muslim Prayers Time Origin, Folklore and Symbolism

The 5 Muslim Prayers Time is known by the name of Salat and is believed to be the most important obligation which a Muslim devote must follow.

These Islamic prayers bring the individual close to God and also helps him or her to seek forgiveness from God.

People believe that these 5 prayers, which are done in 5 different hours of the day help the individual to unite his or her mind, body, and soul and aligns the life of the individual on the right track or path of life.  

Origin of Muslim Prayer Time

It is believed that the five Muslim prayer time was introduced by the messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad.

Origin of Muslim Prayer Time
Origin of Muslim Prayer Time

He is the one who said that these 5 prayers are the different offerings that one true follower of Islamic religion should constantly follow in their daily routines.

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Since then, this prayer has become a part and parcel of the life of every Islamic follower. Some of the followers perform these five prayers during the day without skipping even a single time.

This has given rise to a term which is known as Kattar Muslim, which in English means a Muslim who is a true devotee of Allah.

Voluntary Prayers

The Salah prayers are voluntary and can be done as many times as the individual likes and can also be done at any time of the day. There are various conditions or situations when one may wish to offer Salah prayers.

Voluntary Prayers
Voluntary Prayers

These prayers cannot be done at the time of sunrise, noon, or sunset. This is because the Salah prohibits the practice of Sun worship.

List of the prescribed period for the voluntary prayers is given below in the table:

NamePrescribed period (waqt)Voluntary before fardObligatoryVoluntary after fard
SunniShi’aSunniShi’a
Fajr
(فجر)
Dawn to sunrise should be read at least 10–15 minutes before sunrise2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu’akkadah2 Rakats2 Rakats2 Rakats
Dhur
(ظهر)
After true noon until Asr4 Rakats Sunnat-Mu’akkadah4 Rakats4 Rakats2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu’akkadah8 Rakats
Asr
(عصر)
Afternoon4 Rakats Sunnat-Ghair-Mu’akkdah4 Rakats4 Rakats8 Rakats
Maghrib
(مغرب)
After sunset until dusk2 Rakats Nafil3 Rakats3 Rakats2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu’akkadah2 Rakats
Isha (عشاء)Dusk until dawn4 Rakats Sunnat-Ghair-Mu’akkadah4 Rakats4 Rakats2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu’akkadah,
3 Rakats
2 Rakat
List of the prescribed period for the voluntary prayers

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The 5 Pillars of Faith

The Muslim religion is based on five pillars of faith. These are based on the five pillars of Islam, which involves the guiding tenets that all the brothers and sisters of the Muslim fraternity should follow in their life.

5 Pillars of Faith
5 Pillars of Faith

These five pillars are as follows:

1. Hajj

The first pillar is the Hajj which means that every Muslim should have a pilgrimage to Mecca which is considered to be the holiest city in the religion of Islam.

All the Muslims must take at least one trip in their lifetime to this particular holy place.

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2. Sawm

The second pillar is Sawm. This is a ritual that is performed by the followers of Islam tradition during the time of Ramadan.

Individually, these people perform fasting and spend the day without eating or drinking anything.

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3. Shahadah

The third pillar is the Shahadah which is the practice of reciting the fate of the Islamic profession, which is known by the name of Kalimah.

This Muslim prayer has a meaning that there is no god but Allah and Prophet Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.

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4. Salat

The fourth pillar of the Islamic faith is Salat. This prayer involves the practice of reciting the prayers daily and also looking after the fact that these prayers are properly observed and recited.

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5. Zakat

The fifth pillar of the Islamic faith is Zakat which means helping the poor section of the society and giving charity to these people.

The difference in Prayer Practices

There are a lot of differences in the practices which are done by the Sunni and Shia.

Difference in Prayer Practices
Difference in Prayer Practices

The Muslims have a belief that Prophet taught, practiced, & disseminated different rituals of worship in the whole community of the Muslims and made it a part and parcel of their lives.

These rituals became a perfectly practiced routine in the generations. The Muslims have shown on diversity in their practices from Times immemorial.

The Salah, which is practiced by one Muslim may be different from the one which is practiced by another.

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In some of the cases, the Hadith suggested that some of the diversity of practice was known and approved by the Prophet Muhammad himself.

The majority of the differences arise because of the different interpretations of the legal sources of Islam which are taught by different schools of law in Sunni Islam and differently treated by the legal traditions of Shia Islam.

Symbolism of Muslim Prayers Time

These prayers are considered to be a symbol of respect and gratitude from the side of the Islamic followers and devotees to the almighty Allah.

Symbolism of 5 Prayers
Symbolism of 5 Prayers

By reciting the prayers 5 times at five different intervals during the day, helps them to remain on the right track and also remember that God is present everywhere and is watching them.

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Muslim Prayer Method

Just like the other traditions and beliefs which are practiced by the people, followers of the Islamic religion must observe specific tradition and rituals as a part of their daily routines and prayers.

Muslim Prayer Method
Muslim Prayer Method

Before praying to Allah, Muslims must have a clear mind and body.

The teachings of the Islamic religion give the knowledge that the Muslims should engage in various rituals like washing of their hands, arms, legs, and feet. This practice is called Wudhu.

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It is also believed that before praying, the Muslim devotees must follow the proper dress code and dress modestly. When this practice is complete, the Muslims have to find a proper place to pray.

The majority of Muslims prefer praying at the mosque so that they can share their faith with the other Islamic followers. But one can also pray at any quiet place and can offer his or her praying.

It can be done in the corner of an office or home or could also be done in a quiet room in the house.

But the only clause which remains constant irrespective of the places is that the prayers should always be recited when facing the direction of Mecca, which is considered to be the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad.

Prayer in Congregation

The different prayer in congregation is considered to be having more social benefits rather than the spiritual benefits.

Prayer in Congregation
Prayer in Congregation

It is believed that when someone is praying in congregation, then the people stand in straight parallel rows, one person behind another person and conduct the prayer.

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The one who conducts such a prayer is known as the Imam. The Imam is also famous by the name of the leader.

The prayer in congregation is performed in the normal terms but it should be kept in mind that the congregation must follow the orders of the Imam and should be done in the same order in which he or she performs the Salah.

Rituals of Muslim Prayer

The different prayers of the Muslims are said while standing on a small platform which is also known as a prayer rug.

Rituals of Prayer
Rituals of Muslim Prayer

The prayers are always recited in the Arabic language by performing a series of gestures that are part of the tradition and are symbolic of the glory of Allah and the proclaimed devotion of Rak’ha.

This prayer is repeated two to four times depending upon the time of the day.

1. Takbir

Takbir is a practice where the worshipers stand and raise their hands to the shoulder level and chant Allahu Akbar, which means God is great.

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2. Qiyaam

Qiyaam is a practice in which the Islamic followers stand and faithfully cross their right arm over their left while keeping them at the chest level. In this position, they read the first chapter of the Quran.

3. Ruku

Ruku is a practice in which the worshippers bend towards the direction of Mecca and place their hands on the knees and then recite glory, To God the greatest three times.

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4. Sujud

Sujud is a Muslim prayer in which worshipers kneel with their palms and knees touching the ground. They recite glory be to God the highest three times.

5. Second Qiyaam

Second Qiyaam is a Muslim prayer in which the people stand and keep the arms at the sides and recite the prayers in which the glory of Allah is proclaimed.

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6. Tashahhud

Tashahhud is a Muslim prayer in which the devotees are initiated in a sitting pose while keeping their feet beneath them and the hands are kept on the laps.

If all the devotees are praying to Allah, then they have to conclude the prayer by giving a brief message of peace to one another. These Muslim people first turn to the right and then to the left while greeting each other.

They recite the lines peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah while greeting each other.

Time of Prayers

The Muslim community is always reminded to perform the daily calls of the prayers at the right times. This is known as Adhan.

Time of Prayer
Time of Muslim Prayers

These are delivered by Muezzin from the mosques who are considered to be the designated caller of prayer. During the process of calling the prayer, the Takbir and kalimah are recited by the Muezzin.

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In the initial times, these calls were made without using any amplification device like loudspeakers, but in the present scenario, the use of speakers has become famous so that the people can hear the prayers more clearly.

The time of the prayers are following the position of the sun in the sky:

1. Fajr

The first Muslim prayer is Fajr. This is a prayer that starts the day with the task of remembering God and is performed before the sunrise.

2. Dhuhr

The second Muslim prayer is known as Dhuhr and is done after the work of the day has begun. This is done to seek guidance from Allah.

3. Asr

The third Muslim prayer of the day is known as Asr and is done somewhere in the late afternoon.

Here, the devotees remember God for a few minutes and thank him for giving them meaningful lives.

4. Maghrib

The fourth Muslim prayer of the day is known as Maghrib. This is done just after the sunset.

Here, the Muslim people remember Allah for helping them pass the day in a well-planned manner.

5. Isha

The last Muslim prayer of the day is known as Isha which is done just before sleeping.

Here, the devotees remember the presence of the almighty and thank him for the guidance and Mercy which he is constantly providing to them.

Conclusion

The 5 Muslim Prayer Time in a day is a frequently searched topic on the internet. These prayers are based on the 5 pillars of Islam and should be followed by every Muslim devotee.

We have tried to cover the meaning and the correct pronunciation of the 5 Muslim prayers in this article.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Why is Prophet Muhammad considered to be the greatest by the Muslims?

Muslims consider Prophet Muhammad the greatest prophet of all time because his teachings have become the base of the Quran and he is also regarded as the messenger of God.

How many Rakats are present in the 5 daily prayers?

17 Rakats is present in the 5 daily Muslim Prayer Time.

How do Muslims pray 5 times a day?

The Muslims pray 5 times a day as Salat al-fajr: before sunrise, Salat al-zuhr: after the sun passes its highest, Salat al-‘asr: the late part of the afternoon, Salat al-maghrib: just after sunset, Salat al-‘isha: between sunset and midnight.