Why & How a Muslim Prays Five Times a Day

One of the main practices of faith by Muslim all over the world is prayer. Salah. It is one of the main foundations of the religion of Islam, and one who leaves this practice is not considered to be a Muslim.

Muslims pray five times a day, at various times of day which includes, The Fajr or dawn prayer. The dawn prayer is performed before sunrise each morning, and because the time of sunrise changes a little more than a second or two each day so does the prayer.

While one may pray standing, sitting or lying on ones side. It is preferable that one does best in what he is able to do, and so if he is able to stand, than he should stand.

The purpose is to provide one an opportunity to ask Allah(swt) for his mercy , his blessings, as well as forgiveness, and show ones Shukr( gratefulness) and appreciation.

The prophet (pbuh) said if you were to stand under flowing water and clean yourself five times per day, what your chances that you will remain unclean are slim. The prayer is the same, and serves a purpose of cleansings ones soul, and providing time to remember Allah (swt)

The prayer is performed in which a Muslim stands with the right hand grasping the left arm, with arms folding and beginning with the recitation of the opening chapter in The Quran. Al Fatiha. This part of the prayer is said in Arabic, and in a rhythmic pattern not silent but neither loudly. If the prayer is performed behind an Imam there is no need for the follower to speak out loud, but to follow along with the Imam. To say Ameen, after he says Ameen, to bow when he bows,etc.
After the Fatiha is recited, one may optionally recite another Surah or Ayah ( loosely translated, chapter or verses) from the Quran.

Next one bows in humility to his lord with hands on his knees and repeating Subhannah Rabbil Azeem. Glory be to Allah The Greatest, three times.
One than stands saying Allahu Akbar, Allah is the greatest, and than prostrates with ones face to the ground, showing absolution humility to Allah(God) and repeating Glory be to Allah(swt) The most high, three times.

Saying allahu Akbar, sitting up on the knees, and upon saying allahu Akbar again going back down into prostration on the face.

These actions conclude one rakah, for lack of a better word to translate I would say a completed unit. One would than stand and do another complete rakah, and completing it in the kneeling position and saying Assalamu Alaikum wa Rakmatullah over his right shoulder, and then again over the left. These words mean, may the peace and Blessings of Allah be upon you. And it is at this time that you are speaking to the angels that record your deeds that sit on your left and right.

The Fajr or Dawn prayer is two Rakah, Zhur or afternoon prayer is four Rakah, the mid afternoon, Asr prayer is said to be one of the most important prayers because it is in the middle of the day when people are most active and busy in worldly affairs, and stopping to take the time for your lord at this time really shows ones love, is four Rakah as well. The evening prayer, Maghrib in Arabic is shortened to three Rakah , some think because one is returning home from a journey and is tired and hungry and so Allah(swt) has given mankind ease. Lastly is the night prayer, Isha, and is four Rakah's.

There are other optional prayers that one may say in addition to these obligatory prayers, as well as short supplications that one may say throughout the day in which to remind them self of Allah's greatness, for example saying Bismillah (In the name of Allah) before one begins any action, whether it be eating, driving, reading, entering, or exiting a building etc.

The prophet (pbuh) said that anything worth doing begins with In the Name of Allah

NOTE:
SWT-Subhanahu wa ta'ala, meaning glorious and exalted is he
PBUH- peace be upon him