The prayers that are the second of the
Five Pillars of Islam, said five times a day.
The first prayer is said before dawn and the last after dusk. Times for prayer are signalled by a muezzin (caller). Prayer must be preceded by wudu (ritual washing) and may be said in any clean place, facing
qiblah, the direction of Mecca. Worshippers usually stand on prayer mats, with their heads covered. The salat, which are recited in Arabic, follow a fixed series of words and movements, known as
rak'ahs.
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