Salat facts for kids

The four main salat postures and associated prayers and recitations.

Ṣalāt is the practice of prayer in Islam. It is one of the five most important duties for Muslims. To perform Salat, a person's mind must be in a state of ritual purity, which comes from ritual ablution, (wuḍūʾ).

For Sunni Muslims, salat must be performed at five periods each day. These periods are measured according to the movement of the Sun. The call to prayer is essential before every obligatory prayers. The holy prophet said: "The one who responds to Azan out of faith and seeking Allah's pleasure will be admitted to paradise."

Images for kids

Various prescribed movements in salah, which collectively constitute a rak'ah. From left to right: rukū', qiyām/i'tidal, sujūd, takbīr and qu'ūd/julūs.
Women praying in Najaf, Iraq on Eid al-Fitr
Though not a mandatory part of the course, most Muslims supplicate after completing salah.
A Sunni Muslim (left) and Shia Muslim (right) performing the Friday prayer in Tehran. Some Sunnis perform salah with the hands clasped ("qabd"), while Shia offer salah with their hands at their sides ("sadl").
A turbah or mohr is a small piece of soil or clay, often a clay tablet, used during salah to symbolize earth.
Bosniaks praying in an open field, ca. 1906
Evening praying at the Lahti Mosque in Lahti, Finland
President Joko Widodo of Indonesia (front row, fourth from left) joining prayer in congregation with Vice President Jusuf Kalla (third from left), other cabinet members, and other worshippers.
Friday prayer for Muslims in the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Salat facts for kids

Images for kids

See also