Sign up to access the complete lesson and track your progress!
Unlock This CourseFor Muslims, worship is a way of remembering Allah and showing thanks to him. It takes several forms: the set prayer called Salah, personal prayer called du'a, and remembering Allah, called dhikr. Each can be done at home or at the mosque. You have already seen the mosque building, so this lesson is about what Muslims do in worship and why.
Key terms:
Salah is the second pillar of Islam. Muslims believe it was commanded by Allah, and the Qur'an (4:103) says prayer is prescribed for believers at fixed times. Muslims pray five times a day:
The times follow the sun, so they change through the year. Many Muslims use a timetable from their mosque, or an app, to know them. Praying five times spreads the remembrance of Allah through the whole day. Many Muslims say it keeps them humble and disciplined, and reminds them that Allah is always close.
Each prayer is announced by the call to prayer, the adhan, which tells people it is time and invites them to come. Fajr has two rak'ahs, Dhuhr and Asr have four, Maghrib three and Isha four.
The Muslim first does wudu, washing the hands, mouth, nose, face and arms, wiping the head and washing the feet. The place and clothes must be clean, and the body is covered modestly. The Muslim makes the niyyah, deciding in the heart that this prayer is for Allah, and stands facing the qiblah, the direction of the Ka'ba in Makkah that you have met before.
Wudu shows that a person should come before Allah clean in body and mind. Facing Makkah shows the unity of Muslims, who all pray towards one place. The intention shows that worship is about sincerity, not just actions.
Each rak'ah follows the same pattern:
At the end of the prayer the worshipper sits and then turns the head to the right and then the left, saying the salam, a greeting of peace and Allah's mercy. Salah is said in Arabic, wherever the worshipper lives, which links Muslims around the world.
Du'a is personal prayer, in which a Muslim speaks to Allah in their own words and in any language. It is not fixed or timed. People use it to give thanks, ask for help, forgiveness or guidance, or pray for family. It can be done at any time, such as after Salah, before a test or an interview or during illness.
Dhikr means remembering Allah by repeating his names and short phrases, such as "Subhanallah" (glory to Allah), "Alhamdulillah" (praise be to Allah) and "Allahu akbar". Many Muslims count with prayer beads, often 33 or 99 beads. It can be done quietly alone or in a group, and it keeps Allah in mind between the five prayers.
Salah is compulsory and follows a fixed form. Du'a and dhikr are not compulsory in the same way, but they let Muslims worship more freely and personally.
Salah can be done in any clean place, so Muslims may pray in the home or the mosque, at work, in a park or while travelling.
A family sets aside a clean place and uses prayer mats. Families may pray together, which helps children learn to pray. It fits around work and daily life, and is private. Mosque prayer is encouraged for men but is not required of women, so for many women home is the main place of prayer. Many women do also go to the mosque, and it is a matter of choice.
At the mosque Muslims pray behind an imam, standing side by side in rows. It builds community and shows equality and unity. People can learn from each other, and a prayer said together feels shared and supported, and many Muslims value the extra reward they believe comes from praying with the congregation. Many Muslims go to the mosque especially for Fajr or Isha, or for special times such as Ramadan.
When is each used? A busy Muslim may pray Dhuhr and Asr at work, and Fajr and Maghrib at home with the family. Someone might go to the mosque in the evening to meet friends and the community. Du'a and dhikr may be said anywhere, in a bus queue or at a bedside. The best choice depends on time, health, age, work and family. The next lesson looks at the Friday prayer and the debate about praying alone or together.
Sunni and Shi'a Muslims share the same five prayers and the same pattern of bowing and prostration. A few details differ. Many Shi'a Muslims join Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha, so in practice they pray at three times a day, while most Sunnis keep five separate times, combining them only in situations such as travel or illness. Many Shi'a Muslims also rest their forehead on a small clay tablet of natural earth when they prostrate.
(a) Outline two features of Salah. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why prayer in the home is important for Muslims. [6 marks]
(c) "Prayer in the mosque is more valuable than prayer at home." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include: reference to teachings; other (divergent) points of view; your opinion/point of view using reasoned arguments. [10 marks]
(a) One feature is that Muslims pray five times a day (1), at set times from dawn to night, so Allah is remembered throughout the day (1). Another is that they perform set actions such as prostrating (1), which shows humility before Allah (1).
(b) Prayer in the home matters because Salah is one of the five pillars, and the home allows Muslims to fit the five prayers around work and daily life (1). A clean space and prayer mat can be kept ready (1). Families can pray together, so children learn to pray from their parents (1). For many women, home is the main place of prayer, so it lets them keep this pillar (1). Home prayer is private, so a person can feel close to Allah and use du'a in their own words (1). It also shows that worship is part of everyday life, not just a mosque activity (1).
(c) Plan: Agree: many Muslims believe praying with the congregation brings extra reward, and praying in rows behind an imam shows equality and unity; the community supports one another, and the imam can teach. Disagree: the Qur'an (4:103) stresses regular prayer at fixed times, not a place, and Salah can be done in any clean place, so the mosque is not required; home is easier for work, health and family, and is often the main place for women; what matters most is sincerity, so a prayer at home can be as valuable. Some Muslims would say both are needed for different reasons. Possible conclusion: mosque prayer has extra benefits for community, but because Allah hears sincere prayer anywhere, it is not more valuable in itself.
In an "explain why it is important" question, aim for three or four reasons and finish each with a "because" tied to a Muslim belief, not just a description of what Muslims do.