Allah (SWT) has said in the Noble Qur'an: "I have
not created the jinn and humankind for any other
purpose except that they should worship Me."
(Noble Qur'an 51:56)
It is clear from the above verse of Noble Qur'an that
the purpose of our birth and of our life is no other
than that of the worship of Allah (SWT). There are
many acts of worship (Ibadah, Ibadat) in Islam, and
Salah is one of the most important obligatory acts.
Salah (Salat, Namaz) is the ritual prayer practiced by
Muslims in supplication to Allah (SWT). The term is
commonly used to refer to the five daily prayers,
which are compulsory upon all mature Muslims.
Salah (Salat, Namaz) is considered the most important
act of worship (Ibadah, Ibadat) in Islam and its importance
is such that under very few circumstances it can be omitted.
Salah (Salat, Namaz) strengthens the foundations of our faith.
It prepares a person to live the life of goodness and
obedience to Allah (SWT), and it builds courage and
determination. Every time we perform Salah, we renew
our commitments to Allah (SWT) and we rid ourselves
from worldly pressures five times a day.
According to a Hadith a companion of Holy Prophet Mohammad
(pbuh) came to him one day and asked him "What is the thing
that Allah (SWT) loves most?" Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)
replied "The thing that Allah (SWT) loves most is when his
people pray Salah on time."
Salah (Salat, Namaz) is a practical sign of obedience to
the commands of Allah (SWT). Its importance has been
emphasized about 500 times in the Noble Qur'an.
Once Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) shook a dry branch
of a tree so that all of the leaves of the branch fell off
than the Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said "The sins of
those who pray Salah, drop off as the leaves of this branch
fell off."
Before Salah, we make Wudu. Wudu (Ablution) is a unique
way of cleansing certain parts of our body so we are clean
before bowing down to the one who created us,
who created the universe the one and only Allah (SWT).
The Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) once asked his
companions "Tell me if there was a river at the door step
of one of you in which you washed five times a day
would any of your dirt remain?"
When Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) received the reply
that none of it would remain he then said "That is like
the five times Salah, with which Allah (SWT) wipes out sin.
The last thing that Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) emphasized
at his deathbed was Salah. He also said the first thing we will
have to answer about on the day of judgement is Salah.
While in Salah one communicates with Allah (SWT) and
experiences his presence. That's why a Hadith says:
Salah is the Meraj of a Momin(Namaz is called as Meraj-ul-Momineen).
The Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) also said "The key to Heaven
is Salah. The key to Salah is Purification."
"Namaz is a pillar of Religion. If Namaz is accepted all other deeds
are accepted. If Namaz is rejected then all other Deeds
are rejected."
(Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh))
