Theory and Practice of Muslim State in India c7.s3.1

c7.s3.1

In every religion prayers have a place of importance. In Islam their place is much more important as they are said as many as five times during the day. In Islam, the liturgical mosque service is known as *Salat*. *Salat* is Arabic: its equivalent in Persian and Urdu is namaz. The following are the times of prayer: (i) *Fajr ki namaz*, *Salat-ul-fajr*, or morning prayer, is said from 5 a.m. to sunrise. (ii) *Zuhur ki namaz*, *Salat-uz-zuhr*, or midday prayer, between 1 and 3 p.m. (iii) *Asr ki namaz*, *Salat-ul-asr*, or afternoon prayer, from 4 to 4.30 P.m., or till sunset. (iv) *Maghrib ki namaz*, *Salat-ul-maghrib*, or sunset prayer, at 6 p.m. (v) *Isha ki namaz*, *Salat-ul-Isha*, or prayer when night has closed, at bed time, between 8 p.m. and midnight. These five times of prayer are obligatory(*farz*). Besides these are others known as 'traditional' (*sunnat*) and supererogatory(*nafl*) which are observed by more religious and devout persons.¹⁰³