Importance and Blessings of Salah (Prayer)- According to Quran & Sunnah
There are five pillars of Islam; Salah is one of them and most important Pillar of Islam. When someone prays, he is known to be Muslim because he is worshipping Allah Almighty who is his Creator and the Lord of everything in this world and Hereafter too. Salah is an Arabic word its basic meaning is to worship or praying. It’s obligatory on every Muslim to pray five times in a day on time. In Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: “Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers… If you fear, pray on foot, or riding.” (Quran 2:238-9)
Muslims are required to pray five times a day. Being a Muslim, it is obligatory for us to offer Salah five times a day regularly. The prayers spread throughout the day at dawn, around noon, afternoon, sunset, and in the evening. Salah is the major form of worship. It is an obligation upon a Muslim and a Muslim is to offer no excuse when it comes to offering Salah. The establishment of Salah is one of the major topics upon which the Quran has emphasized more than anything else.
If someone wants to be a Muslim or true believer then he has to offer Salah. Messenger of Allah Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Between a man and unbelief is the nonperformance of the Prayer” (Muslim).
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish Regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without the doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do.” (Quran, 29:45)
Muslims must use prayers as a means of invocation and ask Allah Almighty for help and assistance in any difficulty. In Quran, Allah Almighty says: “O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (Quran, 2:153)
Piety or righteousness is the prime objective which a Muslim has to achieve in this life. All the instructions, constraints, freedom, rights and education provided by Islam are with the objective that a Muslim becomes pious and moves on the righteous path. In this regard, prayer has a great role to play as it promotes Taqwa or piety in the follower. In Quran, Allah Almighty says: “This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guidance for those who have Taqwa: who believe in the unseen, and who establish Salah, and spend out of what we have provided for them.” (Quran, 2:2-3)
In another hadith Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever keeps on performing Prayers (in its due time), it will be a light, a proof, and redemption for him on the Day of Judgment. Otherwise, he will be assembled with Pharaoh, Qarun Haman, and ‘Ubai Ibn Khalaf.” (Ahmad)
The whole purpose of our existence is to worship Allah, yet we are disobeying our Creator every day. In Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: “Then, there has succeeded them a generation who have given up prayer and have followed their desires. So, they will be thrown into Hell. Except those who repent and believe, and work righteousness.” (Quran 19:59-60)
In another verse of Holy Quran Allah says about those who missed prayers: “(the people in Hell will be asked) What has caused you to enter Hell? They will say: We were not of those who used to pray…” (Quran 74:42-43)
The Prophet (SAW) said about those who are being lazy in their prayers, “On the Day of Resurrection the feet of the son of Adam will not move away till he is questioned about five matters: on what he spent his life; in doing what he made his youth pass away; where he acquired his property, and on what he spent it; and what he did regarding what he knew.”
The Salah plays the role of reminder throughout the day to help keep believers mindful of Allah Almighty in the daily stress of work, family, and distractions of life. Prayer also strengthens faith, dependence on Allah, and puts daily life within the perspective of life to come after death and the last judgment that will not be going to end ever.
A Muslim must realize that above anything, Salah is an obligation and every Muslim has to fulfill his or her obligation.
