The Second Pillar of Islam - Salah

Salah is the name given to the formal prayer in Islam. Salah is one of the obligatory rights of the religion, to be performed five times a day by Muslims. The importance of the salah can be understood by the following ayah and hadith. 002.277

Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

On the authority of Abu 'Abd al-Rahman 'Abdullah bin 'Umar bin al-Khattab, radiyallahu 'anhuma, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, say: "Islam has been built upon five things - on testifying that there is no god save Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger; on performing salah; on giving the zakah; on Hajj to the House; and on fasting during Ramadhan."  [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Salah is performed five times a day: at dawn (fajr), noon (dhuhr), in the afternoon (asr), at sunset (maghrib) and nightfall (isha'a)

Rakahs of Salah Chart
Fajr	Dhuhr	Asr	Maghrib	Isha
2 Sunnah	4 Sunnah	4 Sunnah	----	4 Sunnah
2 Fard	4 Fard	4 Fard	3 Fard	4 Fard
	2 Sunnah		2 Sunnah	2 Sunnah
	2 Nafl		2 Nafl	2 Nafl
				3 Witr
				2 Nafl