Importance of Salah (Prayer, Namaz) in Islam
Salah is second most important pillar of Islamic religion among its five basic props. It is a way of worship Muslims perform five times a day in their spells. In this article we will come to know about the importance of Salah in Islam and in the lives of Muslims.
Importance of Salah in Quran
Salah is an Arabic word that means, connection, entreaty, prayer, supplication or invocation. But mostly the word “Salah” refers to the five obligatory prayers that are performed by Muslims in a day.
When it comes to offering Salah, there is no justification or excuse to skip any of a Salah from the five obligatory prayers in a day. Allah Says in Quran,
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا ١٠٣
Translation,
“When the prayers are over, remember Allah, whether you are standing, sitting or lying down. But when you are secure, establish regular prayers. Indeed performing prayers is a duty on the believers at the appointed times”
(Quran 4: 103)
In the above mentioned ayah, it is obvious that just offering Salah is not important. Rather Allah Almighty instructed us in the Quran to say prayer in its proper time. As the Moazan calls for prayer in the form of Adhan, we should rush to the mosque to say prayer in assemblage.
The basic purpose of Salah is to communicate with Allah Almighty. We seek closeness with Him when we bow and prostrate (sujood) during Salah. It heals our physical and spiritual pains. Offering Salah is the best source to purify your soul. And when a person leaves Salah he becomes a soulless person.
Before offering Salah we purify ourselves physically. We wash our hands, face, mouth, arms and feet. This physical purification is called “partial ablution” or “wudhu”. After physical purification, the words we recite during Salah give us spiritual purification.
According to Quran,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ١٥٣
Translation
“O believers, seek comfort in patience and prayer, Allah is truly with those who are patient”.
Salah clarifies the nature of the Islamic faith and religion. It leads us to Taqwa. Allah says in Quran,
ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ٣
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ٤
Translation
“Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer and donate from what we have provided them. And who believe in what has been repealed to you, O Prophet. And what was revealed before you, and have sure faith in hereafter”.
Taqwa is when we believe in the world hereafter. We have a strong faith that we will be answerable for every good or bad deed we have been doing in this world. Surely good deeds give us rewards in this world as well as in the life after death.
According to Quran,
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ٢٧٧
Translation
“Indeed those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakat will have their reward with their Lord. And there will be no fear concerning them nor they will grieve”.
Importance of Salah in Hadith
With reference to the importance of Salah, Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWW said once,
“On the day of judgment, a person will be asked regarding Salah first”.
(Nasai. P. 652, Hadith 3997)
Prophet Muhammad SAWW used to say salah whenever he SAWW faced any difficulty. According to a hadith,
“Whenever the Prophet (PBUH) faced a serious affair, he turned to salah as soon as possible”.
(Musnad Ahmed)
It means that when we pray Salah and then make dua, our supplications are answered quickly. Because saying prayer in any sadness or happiness is one of the most favorite worship of Allah Almighty.
In the Quran and Hadith, we see that offering Salah has been highlighted many times. This form of worship has been given special significance. May Allah SWT give us courage to offer Salah five times a day. Ameen