Qur’an by topic

Qur’an verses about prayer (salah)

Seek help through patience and prayer. The verses that command salah, guard it, and point to its times.

· 7 ayat

Salah is commanded throughout the Qur’an. It is joined to patience as a source of help, described as restraining immorality, and fixed to times of the day. Each verse is shown in Arabic with the Saheeh International translation and a short note on what it says. For how to pray step by step, see Niyat's prayer guide.

The verses

1. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:45)

وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ

And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]

Seek help through patience and prayer; it is hard except for the humbly submissive.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/2/45
2. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:238)

حَٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَٰنِتِينَ

Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.

Guard the prayers, and the middle prayer, and stand before Allah in devout obedience.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/2/238
3. Surah Ta-Ha (20:14)

إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ

Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.

Said to Musa at the valley: worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/20/14
4. Surah Al-'Ankabut (29:45)

ٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ

Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.

Prayer restrains from immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/29/45
5. Surah An-Nisa (4:103)

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا

And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.

Prayer has been decreed on the believers at specified times.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/4/103
6. Surah Hud (11:114)

وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ طَرَفَىِ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْحَسَنَٰتِ يُذْهِبْنَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّٰكِرِينَ

And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.

Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night; good deeds remove misdeeds.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/11/114
7. Surah Al-Isra (17:78)

أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًۭا

Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.

Establish prayer from the decline of the sun to the darkness of night, and the recitation at dawn, which is witnessed.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/17/78

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Frequently asked questions

Where does the Qur’an mention the prayer times?

Qur’an 4:103 says prayer is decreed at specified times. Verses such as 11:114 and 17:78 point to its times across the day and night.

What does the Qur’an say prayer does?

Qur’an 29:45 says prayer restrains from immorality and wrongdoing, and 2:45 says to seek help through patience and prayer.

How many times is salah mentioned in the Qur’an?

The noun salah appears 83 times by Niyat's word count, which lists every verse.

Read the full Qur’an with translation and audio in Niyat.

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