Practice · Prayer
The conditions of prayer
For the Salat to be valid, certain conditions must be met even before starting. Here are the six essential conditions, explained simply.
1. Ritual purity (Tahara)
Before praying, the Muslim must be in a state of ritual purity: having performed ablutions (wudu) or, in some cases, the full ritual bath (ghusl). The body, clothing and place must be free of impurities.
See the ablutions guide2. Covering the 'awra (dress)
A man must cover at least the area between the navel and the knees. A woman must cover her whole body except the face and hands. Clothing must be clean and modest.
3. Facing the Qibla
Prayer is performed facing the Kaaba in Mecca. If you do not know the exact direction, do your best to estimate it.
Find my Qibla with our tool4. Observing the prayer time
Each of the five prayers has a precise time window, determined by the position of the sun. Praying before the time enters makes the prayer invalid.
Check prayer times5. Intention (Niyya)
The intention is made in the heart, with no obligation to say it. It is about knowing which prayer you are performing and doing it for Allah alone.
6. Being Muslim, of sound mind and pubescent
Prayer is obligatory for every Muslim who has reached puberty and is of sound mind. Children are gently accustomed to prayer from the age of seven.
Continue learning
Once these conditions are met, discover how to perform the prayer step by step.