2nd Pillar: Salat §  Prayer draws people closer to Allah,

promotes discipline and purity §  Prayers in a mosque at midday Friday §  Prayers are always said facing the holy

city of Mecca §  Purifies and focuses the mind and hearts

on Allah §  Salat begins with washing (wudu) §  Prayers are made on mats that have an

arch on them, which is pointed to Mecca

Wudu (means “making pure” 1.  Worshipper announces his intention to worship Allah with

a pure heart (niyyah) 2.  Hands are washed three times 3.  Mouth is rinsed three times 4.  Nostrils are washed three times. The face is then washed

three times 5.  Arms are washed as far as the elbows three times 6.  Top of the head, the ears and the back of the head are

washed 7.  The feet are washed as far as the ankle three times 8.  The shoes are left outside before entering the mosque to

pray

*if no water is available, sand is used.

Rak’ah: Prayer position

§  To perform salat, Muslims follow a sequence of movements

§  Involves standing, bowing or kneeling face down on floor (called prostration)

§  Each cycle of movements is called rak’ah

§  Before prayer sequence begins, Muslims must make their devotion to Allah clear by reciting the Shahadah