Prayer and the Call to Prayer

The five daily prayers performed by Muslims are central to the practice of Islam. After performing ablutions, a physical preparation in which parts of the body such as the face, arms and feet are washed, the prayer begins and includes set movements and recitations from the Qur’an in its original form of Arabic. One cycle of prayer is called a rakah, and varying numbers of rakah are performed for each of the prayer times.

Prayer in Islam involves the body, mind, and soul in an act of remembrance and surrender amidst the business of every day affairs. It is a few minutes apart from the concerns of everyday worldly life that can infuse other activities with a sense of peace and purpose. As for the congregational setting of prayer, Muslims stand in line shoulder to shoulder which symbolizes the equality of all believers.

The timing of the prayers is calculated according to the movement of the sun: for example, the noon prayer time begins when the sun has just passed its zenith at one’s location. Therefore, the timing for these prayers change with the change of seasons in accordance to where one is located on the globe. Thus, there is not even a single moment without a prayer being made throughout the world. To remind people of the prayer times, the call to prayer (adhan), is recited in Arabic aired from the minaret. This is done by the muazzin who is chosen for the task based on recitation skills and good character. The very first muazzin was Bilal, an Ethiopian black Muslim, a companion to the Prophet Muhammad who was known for his beautiful voice.