Salat is the name for the
obligatory prayer which are performed five times a day, and
are a direct link between the worshiper and God.
There is no hierarchical authority in
Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a learned
person who knows the Qur'an, chosen by the congregation.
These five prayers contain verses from the Qur'an, and are
said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal
supplication can be offered in one's language. Prayers are
said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and
thus determine the rhythm of the entire day.
Although it is preferable to worship
together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere,
such as in fields, offices, factories and universities.
Visitors to the Muslim world are stuck by the centrality of
prayer in daily life.
The `Five Pillars' of
Islam