Al-Salat vs. Supplication

The Quran uses multiple words for different forms of supplication. Each word has a specific meaning and root associated with it.

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning	Root
نَادُوا	nādū	Call	ن د ي
ادْعُوا	id’ʿū	Invoke or Implore	د ع و
اعْبُدُوا	uʿ’budū	Serve or Worship	ع ب د
صَلُّوا	ṣallū	Pray or Bless	ص ل و
ٱذْكُرُوا۟	a-udh'kurū	Commemorate	ذ ك ر
سَبِّحُوا۟	sabbiḥū	Glorify	س ب ح
الصَّلَاةَ	l-ṣalata	The Contact Prayer	و ص ل

This shows that the Salat (Contact Prayer) is different than other forms of supplication and, as we will see, comes with specific requirements that are not imposed on the other forms of prayer or supplication.