Salah
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
Salah is one of the fondation of islam. It was decreed by the Most Merciful to the Messenger of Allah since the beginning of the revelation when Allah, Exalted is He, says:
O you wrapped ˹in your clothes˺!
Stand all night ˹in prayer˺ except a little—
˹pray˺ half the night, or a little less,
or a little more—and recite the Quran ˹properly˺ in a measured way.
˹For˺ We will soon send upon you a weighty revelation.
It is worth noting that since islam did not start with the prophet Mohammad (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon Him), you will find remnants of some form of prayer with previous communities. Most of them have abandoned it. For example in Surah Myram19: 30- 32, Isah, Jesus(Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon Him) say:
He has made me a blessing wherever I go, and bid me to establish prayer and give alms-tax as long as I live,
and to be kind to my mother. He has not made me arrogant or defiant.
Quran: 19: 31-32
During the Night Travel of the Prophet(Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him) led the prayer with the other prophets(Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon All of Them) in Al Aqsa Mosque. Then, Allah, Exalted is He, decreed the number of prayers for the community to five(5) with the reward of 50(fifty).
Salah is a means of purification and leads to righteousness. It is to be established for Allah, Exalted is He, alone.
quran: 4:103
It is important to note that it must be offered all its requirements.
The Intention:
When ready to offer salah, make the intention. As for any action, the intention is what determine the reward of deeds according to this hadith of the prophet(ﷺ)
Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab:
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."Sahih al-Bukhari 1
Purification
Gusl
gusl is the ritual bath that must be taken after a major impurity such as mentruel periods, postpartum period, wet dreams, or intimate relations
Wudu
Wudu is the purification before prayer. It is an obligation for one to purify oneself before prayer with clean water or when they cannot find water or it is an inconvenience due to health or safety reasons(Please, check those conditions thoroughly) with clean earth(Tayammum).
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The prayer of a person who does Hadath (passes urine, stool or wind) is not accepted till he performs the ablution." A person from Hadaramout asked Abu Huraira, "What is 'Hadath'?" Abu Huraira replied, " 'Hadath' means the passing of wind."Sahih al-Bukhari 135
How to perform Salah
Tashahhud
Path to Gratitude.com
Attahiyyaatu lillaahi wassalawaatu , wattayyibaatu,
assalaamu 'alayka 'ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu,
assalaamu 'alaynaa wa 'alaa 'ibaadillaahis-saaliheen.
All greetings of humility are for Allah,
and all prayers and goodness.
Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah.
'Ash-hadu 'an laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu
wa 'ash-hadu 'anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasooluhu.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah,
and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?" He (ﷺ) replied, "You should supplicate:Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun, tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni
(O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me)."
[At-Tirmidhi].
Riyad as-Salihin 1195
Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying :
He who uttered these words:La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay in qadeer
(There is no god but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him. Sovereignty belongs to Him and all the praise is due to Him, and He is Potent over everything")."
[Sahih Muslim 2691].
Book 48, Hadith 38