text: The actions and ablutions that accompany the obligatory prayers changes based on the prayer (there are three obligatory prayers - one of which needs to be said every day).  What is consistent across the board is that there is a need to do ablutions - washing one's hands and face - before saying the prayer.  Almost everything else is different.  Finally, we are told there is a wisdom to these actions that is not obvious.\n\nShort obligatory prayer:\n1.  Perform ablutions\n2.  Face toward Baha'u'llah's burial site in Akka Israel.\n\nMedium obligatory prayer:\n1.  "Whoso wisheth to pray, let him wash his hands, and while he washeth, let him say"\n2.  "And while washing his face, let him say"\n3.  "Then let him stand up, and facing the Qiblih (Point of Adoration, i.e., Bahji, 'Akká), let him say"\n4.  "Let him, then, bend down, with hands resting on the knees, and say"\n5.  "Then, standing with open hands, palms upward toward the face, let him say"\n6.  "Let him, then, be seated and say"\n\nLong Obligatory Prayer\nThe number of things to list for the long obligatory prayer is quite long.  This list of the action required in order is below:\n\nLet him then kneel, and bowing his forehead to the ground, let him say:\n\nLet him then stand and say:\n\nLet him again raise his hands in supplication, and say:\n\nLet him then raise his hands, and repeat three times the Greatest Name. Let him then bend down with hands resting on the knees before God -- blessed and exalted be He -- and say:\n\nLet him then stand and raise his hands twice in supplication, and say:\n\nLet him then raise his hands thrice, and say:\n\nLet him then kneel and, bowing his forehead to the ground, say:\n\nLet him then seat himself and say:\n\nLet him then stand erect and say:\n\nLet him then repeat the Greatest Name thrice, and bend down with hands resting on the knees, and say:\n\nLet him then rise and say:\n\nLet him then repeat the Greatest Name thrice, and kneel with his forehead to the ground, and say:\n\nLet him then raise his head, and seat himself, and say:\n\n- Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 322