The Muslim prays five times a day, this is called salaah.

It is supposed to be a direct channel for communication with god. The prophet (s.a.w) of Islam has stressed upon its importance, as being one of the five pillars of Islam in his teachings. Salaah is a unique experience in enlightening the soul and its flavour can be gauged by anyone who has offered it, especially in a congregation.

The components, which complete the whole experience of salaah, are:

1. Firm belief that god is almighty and controls everything

2. A longing for gaining the rewards of salaah in the world and in the hereafter.

3. Proper knowledge (since it is bad to worship your creator

in a defective way )

4. Proper intention of offering salaah only to please god (not to impress people)

A mediation is an artificially designed mode of soothing one's mind but salaah is a program which we believe has a divine sanction. Therefore, a comparison between the two is futile. It pains me to tell you that in my country, the whole idea of mediation has been taken over by people who are guided solely by the greed for money.

Word meanings:

s.a.w = may peace be upon the prophet

Flavour = pleasure/taste

Hereafter = the eternal life after death