Salah is the daily prayer enjoined upon all Muslims as one of the five Pillars of Islam. It is performed five times a day by all Muslims. Muslims pray or, perhaps more correctly, worship five times throughout the day:
The prayers consist of recitations from the Quran in Arabic and a sequence of movements: standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting.
All recitations and movements express submission, humility, and homage to Allah. The various postures Muslims assume during their prayers capture the spirit of submission; the words remind them of their commitments to Allah. In the course of the day, Muslims dissociate themselves form their worldly engagements for a few moments and stand before Allah.
Allah, the Exalted mentions in the Quran: “O you who believe! When you intend to offer the prayer, wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of Janaba (i.e. had a sexual discharge) purify yourself.” (Quran 5:6)
Prior to obligatory or voluntary prayer a person must assure that he is in a state of cleanliness, he does this by performing either Wudu (often translated as ablution) or Ghusl (a full bath). Wudu rids the body of minor impurities, and Ghusl cleanses the body of major impurities