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Salah

''Salah'' (, also spelled ''salat'') is the practice of formal worship in Islam, consisting of a series of ritual prayers performed at prescribed times daily. These prayers, which consist of units known as ''rak'ah'', include a specific set of physical postures, recitation from the Quran, and prayers from the Sunnah, and are performed while facing the direction towards the Kaaba in Mecca (''qibla''). The number of ''rak'ah'' varies depending on the specific prayer. Variations in practice are observed among adherents of different ''madhahib'' (schools of Islamic jurisprudence). The term ''salah'' may denote worship in general or specifically refer to the obligatory prayers performed by Muslims five times daily, or, in some traditions, three times daily.

The obligatory prayers play an integral role in the Islamic faith, and are regarded as the second and most important, after shahadah, of the Five Pillars of Islam for Sunnis, and one of the Ancillaries of the Faith for Shiites. In addition, supererogatory ''salah'', such as Sunnah prayer and Nafl prayer, may be performed at any time, subject to certain restrictions. ''Wudu'', an act of ritual purification, is required prior to performing ''salah''. Prayers may be conducted individually or in congregation, with certain prayers, such as the Friday and Eid prayers, requiring a collective setting and a ''khutbah'' (sermon). Some concessions are made for Muslims who are physically unable to perform the ''salah'' in its original form, or are travelling.

In early Islam, the direction of prayer (''qibla'') was toward Bayt al-Maqdis in Jerusalem before being changed to face the Kaaba, believed by Muslims to be a result of a Quranic verse revelation to Muhammad. Provided by Wikipedia