Five times every day, over 1.8 billion Muslims around the world stop what they are doing — at work, at home, while travelling — and pray.
This is Salah (صلاة): the Second Pillar of Islam, and one of the most distinctive and defining acts of Muslim worship. Understanding Salah is central to understanding Islam — and to understanding the rhythm of life at any mosque, including Warragul Mosque.
What Is Salah?
Salah (also written Salat, and known as Namaz in Urdu and Persian) is the obligatory prayer that Muslims perform five times each day at set times.
The word comes from the Arabic root s-l-w, which carries meanings of connection and communication — reflecting that prayer is understood as a direct conversation with God.
The Quran mentions Salah over 90 times and consistently pairs it with Zakat (charitable giving) as the two most central acts of worship. It is not optional for an adult Muslim who is mentally capable and physically able.
The Five Daily Prayers
Each of the five prayers has a name, a time window, and a number of rak'ahs (prayer units):
| Prayer | Time | Rak'ahs |
|---|---|---|
| Fajr | From first light of dawn until sunrise | 2 |
| Dhuhr | After the sun passes its midday zenith until mid-afternoon | 4 |
| Asr | From mid-afternoon until just before sunset | 4 |
| Maghrib | Just after sunset until the sky darkens | 3 |
| Isha | After full darkness until midnight (or dawn) | 4 |
Prayer times change daily because they are calculated from the position of the sun. A mosque in Warragul will have slightly different prayer times than a mosque in Melbourne, and both will have different times in January versus June. Most Muslims use prayer time apps or mosque timetables to track current times.
At Warragul Mosque, you can find today's prayer times at binai.org.au/prayer-times.
What Happens During Salah?
Each prayer consists of a set number of rak'ahs — units of prayer that follow a fixed sequence of movements and recitations:
1. Standing (Qiyam) The worshipper stands facing the Qibla (the direction of Mecca) and recites Surah al-Fatiha — the opening chapter of the Quran — followed by another passage from the Quran.
2. Bowing (Ruku) The worshipper bows at the waist with hands on the knees, reciting Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem — "Glorified is my Lord, the Greatest."
3. Standing after bowing Returning upright, the worshipper recites Sami Allahu liman hamidah — "God hears those who praise Him."
4. Prostration (Sujud) The worshipper places the forehead, nose, both hands, both knees, and the toes of both feet on the ground — the position of deepest submission to God. Subhana Rabbiyal A'la — "Glorified is my Lord, the Most High" — is recited.
5. Sitting (Jalsa) A brief sitting position between the two prostrations of each rak'ah.
6. Final sitting (Tashahhud) After completing all rak'ahs, the worshipper sits and recites the Tashahhud — a declaration of faith and blessings upon the Prophet — before ending the prayer by turning the head right and left and saying As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah — "Peace and mercy of God be upon you."
The entire prayer for four rak'ahs typically takes 5–10 minutes.
Before Salah: Wudu
Before performing Salah, Muslims must be in a state of ritual purity — achieved through wudu (ablution). This involves washing the hands, mouth, nose, face, forearms, wiping the head and ears, and washing the feet.
If you visit a mosque, you will see the wudu area near the entrance. For a full explanation of how wudu is performed, see our guide: What is Wudu?
Congregational Prayer vs. Individual Prayer
Salah can be performed individually — at home, at work, outdoors, anywhere clean. But praying in congregation (Jama'ah) carries a significantly greater reward in Islamic tradition: the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that prayer in congregation is 27 times better than prayer alone (Hadith, Bukhari).
This is why mosques exist: to provide a space for the Muslim community to pray together. At Warragul Mosque, all five daily prayers are held in congregation. On Fridays, the Dhuhr prayer is replaced by Jummah — the Friday congregational prayer that includes a sermon. Learn about Jummah →
Why Five Times a Day?
Non-Muslims often ask why Muslims pray so many times. The tradition traces back to the Isra wal Miraj — the Night Journey — in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was transported to Jerusalem and then ascended to the heavens, where God commanded fifty daily prayers. On the advice of the Prophet Musa (Moses), the Prophet Muhammad returned repeatedly to negotiate, and the number was reduced to five — while the spiritual reward of fifty was maintained.
From a practical standpoint, the five prayers mark the natural turning points of the day: before the world wakes, at the midday pause, in the late afternoon, at sunset, and in the evening. They function as regular anchor points that orient a Muslim's consciousness back toward God throughout daily life.
Salah and Non-Muslims
If you visit Warragul Mosque during a prayer time, you are welcome to observe. You are not expected to participate or to understand the Arabic recitations. The atmosphere during prayer is quiet and focused — people in rows, moving in unison, prostrating together.
After the prayer, the atmosphere immediately becomes social and warm, with greetings and conversation. It is usually the best time to introduce yourself, ask questions, and chat with community members.
Related guides: What is Wudu? · What is Jummah prayer? · Five Pillars of Islam · Visiting a mosque for the first time · Prayer times at Warragul Mosque
Warragul Mosque, 72 Victoria Street, Warragul VIC 3820. All five daily prayers held in congregation. Operated by BINAI, ABN: 16 723 284 175.