Preparation

Cleanliness and dress

Islam advises that the salat be performed in a ritually clean environment ^{[Qur'an 5:6]}. When praying, the clothes that are worn and the place of prayer must be clean. Both men and women are required to cover their bodies (awrah) in reasonably loose-fitting garments. The well-known saying or hadith by al-Nawawi that "purity is half the faith" illustrates how Islam has incorporated and modified existing rules of purity in its religious system.