The ritual prayer is an obligatory act of worship upon every believer, male or female. Allaah has commanded the Muslims to establish the prayer dutifully and perfectly. He has enjoined it on the believers at fixed times. Allaah‘s Messenger PBUH mentioned the prayer immediately following the two testimonies of Islamic faith. Hence, those who do not perform the prayer are disbelievers deserving of capital punishment, while those who fall into shortcomings concerning it and treat it lightly are sinners.
THE VIRTUE OF THE PRAYER
The prayer has a tremendous importance and virtue that carries a great reward with Allaah. Establishing the five prayers on time is the best deed with which Allaah blots out evil deeds. Indeed, the pillar of Islaam,as the Prophet mentioned in an authentic Hadeeth, is prayer. The first thing that Allaah's servants will be taken to account for on the 'Day of Judgement will be their prayer. If they performed it properly giving it proper attention and concentration, and fulfilling its prerequisites and obligations, the rest of their deeds will be acceptable to Allaah.
THE TIMES OF PRAYER
There are five daily prayers that Allaah has made obligatory on every Muslim man and woman. Allaah says:
“Verily prayer (Salah) is enjoined on the believers (to be performed) at fixed times." [Qur'an 4:103]
The prayers and their times are as follows:
1. Fajr or the early morning prayer; it consists of two Raka'ahs (prayer units). It begins with approximately an hour and twenty minutes before sunrise and ends at sunrise.
2. Dhuhr, the noonday prayer; it consists of four Raka'ahs. Its time begins immediately after the sun passes its zenith (high noon) and lasts until the late afternoon, when the shadow of an object is equal in length to the height of the object itself.
3. Asr, the late afternoon prayer; it consists of four Raka'ahs. Its time begins from the moment the shadow of a vertical object is equal in length to the height of the object itself (the midpoint between the time of Dhuhr and sunset). Its prescribed time lasts until sunset.
4. Maghrib, or the sunset prayer; it consist of three Raka'ahs. Its time begins immediately after the sun has set, and it ends when the red glow in the sky has disappeared and the sky is completely dark.
5. 'Ishaa, or the night prayer; it consists of four Raka'ahs. Its time begins after the disappearance of the reddish glow in the sky after sunset (about an hour and twenty minutes after sunset), and it lasts until the middle of the night. The middle of the night is not necessarily midnight (12 a.m). Rather, it is the midpoint of time between the sun's setting (Maghrib) and when the sun first begins to rise (Fajr). This time fluctuates throughout the year in most places.
Instructional Video here:
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