The command
God made prayer an obligation for believers at fixed times:
فَإِذَا قَضَيۡتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمٗا وَقُعُودٗا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمۡۚ فَإِذَا ٱطۡمَأۡنَنتُمۡ فَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتۡ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ كِتَٰبٗا مَّوۡقُوتٗاWenn ihr das Gebet vollzogen habt, dann gedenkt Allahs stehend, sitzend und auf der Seite (liegend). Wenn ihr in Ruhe seid, dann verrichtet das Gebet (wie üblich). Das Gebet ist den Gläubigen zu bestimmten Zeiten vorgeschrieben.
And its first purpose is the remembrance of God:
إِنَّنِيٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعۡبُدۡنِي وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكۡرِيٓGewiß, Ich bin Allah. Es gibt keinen Gott außer Mir. So diene Mir und verrichte das Gebet zu Meinem Gedenken.
The five times
- Fajr: from true dawn until sunrise.
- Dhuhr: after the sun passes its zenith.
- Asr: the afternoon, until shortly before sunset.
- Maghrib: right after sunset.
- Isha: after twilight fades, extending to around midnight.
Times differ by city and season; see the prayer-times page for your city.
What it does for the believer
أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهَرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسًا، هَلْ يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ؟ قَالُوا: لَا يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ، قَالَ: فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ، يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِنَّ الْخَطَايَاTell me: if there were a river at the door of one of you, and he bathed in it five times every day, would any dirt remain on him? They said: No dirt would remain. He said: That is the likeness of the five prayers; through them God erases sins.
How is prayer performed?
Prayer is performed after wudu, facing the Kaaba, with standing, bowing, prostration and recitation of Al-Fatihah and other verses. A step-by-step guide is on the Wudu & Prayer page.
Häufige Fragen
Must I pray in a mosque?
Prayer is valid in any clean place. Men are strongly encouraged to pray in congregation at the mosque; women may pray at home or at the mosque.
What if I cannot yet recite in Arabic?
Start with what you know and remember God as you can, learning gradually; God knows your effort.
Texte und Übersetzungen werden von Gelehrten geprüft.