Prayer (Salat)
The importance of prayer in Islam is great as it is the foremost duty of the Muslims and the chief of the pillars on which the structure of Islam stands. It is the second pillar of Islam. It is the distinguishing feature between a Muslim and a non-Muslim. The holy Prophet (PBUH) said:
"what stands between a man and disbelief is the abandonment of salat."
And again:
"Know that among your duties, prayer is the best."
A unique service that the Prophet rendered to humanity was that he made prayer to Allah not only the foundation stone of the individual development of a man but also the basis of a vast brotherhood of humanity.
The first revelations were in the following order:
"To read and write; to warn the people and declare the Greatness of Allah; and to pray to Allah not only during the day-time but also during night. "
The Quran says:
"Keep up prayer from the declining of the sun till the darkness of the night and during a part of the night, keep away from sleep by means of prayer."
The object of prayer is to remember Allah. It is therefore, the chief reason why prayer was dearest to the Prophet (PBUH),as he said:
"Prayer has been made a coolness for my eyes."
He declared prayers to be the pillar of Islam and said:
"He who gives up prayer has indeed disbelieved."
The Quran mentions prayer many times and has laid the greatest emphasis on it; therefore, the sin of giving up prayer is great as also praying carelessly or with absent mind:
"Woe to the praying ones who are heedless of their prayers." (107:4,5)
Observance of prayer five times a day is compulsory. Basically, it consists of recitations from the holy Quran and glorification of Allah accompanied by various postures, such as standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting. Through these postures, Muslims express submission, adoration and humility to Allah. The self-discipline which is needed to perform salat regularly and at proper times, to perform the ablution which precedes prayer and to carry on these prayers in the early morning when sleep is so attractive, during the busy day light hours when one is pre-occupied with work and other activities, and at night when one is tired and wants to sleep re-affirms the human being's total dependence on his Creator and his position as His slave.
the Holy Prophet ( PBUH ) exhorted his followers to offer their prayers as if they were standing in front of Allah, looking at Him. In prayer, the Divine presence is to be felt as a reality:
"You should worship Allah, as if you see Him; if you do not see Him, he surely sees you. "
Prayer is further meant to seek help as well as the guidance from Allah. This seeking of help and guidance is linked up in the daily prayers of the Muslims:
"You alone do we serve and of You do we seek help. Guide us on the right path."(1:4-5)
In the Holy Quran, prayer is referred to as a sustenance for the human soul so that the human who does not pray to Allah must be regarded as spiritually dead.
Prayer protects one from sins and shameful deeds. Prayers purifies him and brings him closer to Allah. The Quran says:
"Establish prayer, for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds."
This continuous reminder keeps the conscience alive, functioning in a proper manner. Without the regular performance of prayer, it is likely to become inactive and easily corrupted. It will be obvious that prayer once a week or even one or twice a day, does not fulfill this purpose and is only a partial and insufficient expression of the human being's relationship with his Sustainer, who in the words of the Quran is "nearer to him than his jugular vein."
The three conditions of the believers as given in the Holy book are: "Those who believe in the Unseen, and keep up prayer and spend out of what we have given them." (2:2-3)
It will be seen that belief in Allah, the Great unseen, is immediately followed by the keeping up of prayer, thus showing that by means of prayer, belief is turned into a certainty of Divine existence. This is again followed by spending out of what Allah has given to man, for the benefit of others, in charity. Thus, faith in Allah is translated into practice by prayer, which in turn, leads to the service of humanity. According to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), self development of a man depends upon the prayer:
"Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers." (23:1).
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) further explained what the Holy Quran taught. On one occasion, he thus addressed his Companions: "tell me, if there is a stream at the door of one of you in which he washes himself five times a day, what do you say, will it leave any dirt on him?"
And on receiving the reply that it would not, he added:
" This is the likeness of five prayers with which Allah washes away all faults."
"when one of you", said the Prophet (PBUH), "says his prayers, he holds confidential intercourse with his Lord."
A Muslim is required to pray at the prescribed time wherever he maybe. but it is preferable and meritorious to pray in congregation with his fellow Muslims if possible. This gathering of all Muslims living in the same locality five times daily, is a step towards the establishment of healthy social relations.
Salat is the central point of the life of a Muslim, without which he could not be able to maintain a strong and a vital link with his Lord or continue his inner struggle against wrong doing or temptation. Because of all these aspects, Salat is the principal means whereby the Muslim keeps n mind the limited and temporary nature of this world's life and the certainty of death and life to com. thus, he is able to maintain a sense of balance and proportion between the needs and claims of this world and the hereafter.