under the breath. The purpose of making the niyyah is to differentiate salah from ordinary routine actions, marking it as an act of worship ('ibada) rather than a mechanical action ('ada).

The person praying begins in a standing position known as Qiyam, although people who find it difficult to do so may begin while sitting or lying on the ground. This is followed by raising the hands to the head and recitation of the takbir, an action known as the Takbirat al-Ihram . The hands are then lowered, and may be