Muslims are required to observe five daily prayers starting from puberty (girls are exempt during menstruation).Salah involves standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting, reciting the Qur’an, and praising God while facing the Ka‘bah in Mecca (Qiblah).
Each prayer must be performed at its designated time, determined by the sun's position, which varies significantly between winter and summer in the UK. The time frame for each prayer ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours, with an encouragement to pray as early as possible.
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The five daily prayers are Fajr, Zuhur, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha. Prayers can be performed anywhere that is free of impurities and distractions (e.g., statues and pictures).
Prayers can be done individually or in congregation, except for the Friday prayer, Jumu‘ah, which must be performed in a mosque.
Jumu‘ah replaces the Zuhur prayer on Fridays and is critical for fostering community spirit. Jumu‘ah typically occurs between 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM, depending on the season.
Foster carers should facilitate Jumu‘ah attendance for Muslim boys after puberty and encourage girls if they wish to attend.
To support a child in prayer, foster carers should provide:
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A water container for ablution.
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A prayer mat (used to ensure the place of prayer is clean).
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A clean space free from photographs, statues, and dogs.
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A prayer timetable calendar.
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A compass to ensure the prayer is directed towards the Ka‘bah (qiblah); in the UK, this direction is southeast.
