Numerous hadiths attest to its excellence and to its being an individual duty, and its obligatory character is one of the self-evident teachings of Islam. Whoever denies this obligation has apostatized from the faith; he is to be asked to repent—if he does, his repentance is accepted, but if he refuses, he is to be put to death by unanimous agreement of the Muslims.

In the Arabic language the word ṣalāh originally means “supplication.” Allah the Exalted says: wa-salli ʿalayhim—“pray for them” (Qur’an 9:103), that is, supplicate on their behalf.

In the law it denotes specific words and actions that begin with the declaration of Allah’s greatness (the takbīr) and conclude with the salutation of peace (the taslīm).

It is so called because it contains continual supplication: the worshipper is never without a prayer of worship, praise, or request. Ṣalāh was made obligatory on the Night of the Ascension, before the Hijrah: five prayers in every day and night, each incumbent upon every legally accountable Muslim once its appointed time has entered.

Allah Most High says: “Indeed, the prayer has been enjoined upon the believers at fixed times” (Qur’an 4:103), meaning that it is obligatory at the times the Messenger of Allah specified by his words and actions.

He also says: “They were commanded only to worship Allah, devoting the religion sincerely to Him as upright monotheists, and to establish the prayer” (Qur’an 98:5);

and, in many places in His noble Book, “Establish the prayer” (e.g., Qur’an 2:43);

and: “Say to My servants who believe that they should establish the prayer” (Qur’an 14:31).