The Second Pillar of Islam - Salah

The Second Pillar of Islam - Salah

Salah is the name given to the formal prayer in Islam. Salah is one of the obligatory rights of the religion, to be performed five times a day by Muslims.

The importance of the Salah can be understood by the following Quraniv Verses and Hadiths:.

" Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve" [2:227] Noble Quran

On the authority of Abu 'Abd al-Rahman 'Abdullah bin 'Umar bin al-Khattab, radiyallahu 'anhuma, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, say: "Islam has been built upon five things - on testifying that there is no god save Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger; on performing salah; on giving the zakah; on Hajj to the House; and on fasting during Ramadhan." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Salah is performed five times a day:

at dawn (Fajr), noon (Dhuhr), in the afternoon (Asr), at sunset (Maghrib) and nightfall (Isha'a)
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Numbers of Rakats in 5 Daily Prayers (Salat, Salah)
Salat al-Fajr (2+2)
Morning Twilight Prayer

2 Rakat Sunnat (Compulsory)
2 Rakat Fard (Compulsory)
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Salat al-Dhuhr (4+4+2+2)
Noon Prayer

4 Rakat Sunnat (Essential)
4 Rakat Fard (Compulsory)
2 Rakat Sunnat (Essential)
2 Rakat Nafl (Optional)
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Salat al-Asr (4+4)
Afternoon Prayer

4 Rakat Sunnat (Optional)
4 Rakat Fard (Compulsory)
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Salat al-Maghrib (3+2+2)
Evening Twilight Prayer

3 Rakat Fard (Compulsory) [Raka’ah] Fard (compulsory, non-performer is sinner)
2 Rakat Sunnat (Essential)
2 Rakat Nafl (Optional)
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Salat al-Isha'a (4+4+2+2+3+2)
Night Prayer

4 Rakat Sunnat (Optional)
4 Rakat Fard (Compulsory)
2 Rakat Sunnat (Essential)
2 Rakat Nafl (Optional)
3 Rakat Witr (Compulsory)
2 Rakat Nafl (Optional)
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Salat al-Jum’ah (4+2+2+4+2+2)
Friday Noon Prayer

4 Rakat Sunnat (Essential)
2 Sermon/khutba (Compulsory)
2 Rakat Fard (Compulsory)
4 Rakat Sunnat (Essential)
2 Rakat Sunnat (Essential)
2 Rakat Nafl (Optional)
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The importance of Salah

Prophet Muhammad said:
"Our Lord (glorified and exalted be He) descends each night to the earth's sky when there remains the final third of the night, and He says: "Who is saying a prayer to Me that I may answer it? Who is asking something of Me that I may give it him? Who is asking forgiveness of Me that I may forgive him?" Hadith Qudsi 35

Prophet Muhammad was asked: "Which of the actions is best?" He replied: "Observing prayer early in its period." Abu Dawud 2: 426

Prophet Muhammad said: "The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgement is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." At-Tabarani

Prophet Muhammad said: " If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?" The people said, "No filth would remain on him whatsoever." Prophet Muhammad then said, "That is like the five daily prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them." Sahih al Bukhari, Muslim

Prophet Muhammad said: "Salah is a pillar of the religion (Islam). He who establishes it, establishes religion; and he who destroys it, destroys religion."

The Prophet pbuh says that:" Salaat is the pillar of deen and the foundation of Islam. He who upholds salah has upheld Islam and he who leaves salah has left behind religion." (al-baihaqi)

Salah (prayer) is second pillar of Islam. Such is that importance of salah that unlike any other commandment, Allah called the Prophet (pbuh) to the heavens to proscribe him with the five daily prayers. Initially, the commandment was for fifty prayers a day, but fearing that this would become a burden to the Ummah, the Prophet (pbuh) requested for it to be brought down to just five. Despite this, the rewards for keeping the prayers are as if we had prayed all fifty.

The daily prayers are a way for us to keep a close connection to our Creator. It is through Salah that we can get our suplications answered and our needs fulfilled. When the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) were in need, they would turn to Allah in prayer. Salah is a way for us to show a commitment to our faith. Everytime we pray Salah, we renew our commitment to Allah and relieve ourselves from the pressures of our daily lives.

Once the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) shook a dry branch of a tree briskly so that all the leaves of the branch fell off. Thereupon, the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) observed: ‘The sins of those who say prayers drop off as the leaves of this dry branch fell off.’ Then the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) recited this Ayat of the Quran: ‘Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Lo! Good deeds annul ill deeds. This is a reminder for the mindful.’ (11:114)” [Musnad Ahmad]” .

Salah is thus the main path towards spiritual purification. It is through Salah that we can gain self-discipline and good qualities. For example, in prostration (sajda) we submit our will to Allah in all humbleness. We also purify our hearts. The prophet (pbuh) once asked his companions “Tell me if there was a river at the door step of one of you in which you washed 5 times a day would any of your dirt remain?” When he received the reply that none of it would remain he then said “That is like the 5 daily prayers, with which Allah wipes out our sins.” (agreed upon)

The last thing that Prophet Muhammad (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. If our record on salah is good then insha Allah the rest of our reckoning will be made easier. The importance of Salah was emphasized in the Quran about 500 times, so all Muslims should be aware of how central Salah is to our faith. Indeed, the Prophet (pbuh) said that “Salah is the only distinction between a believer and a non-believer.” (Muslim) So imagine of the status of that person who misses his prayer? What distinction does that person has from the non-believers?

A companion of Prophet (pbuh) came to him one day and asked him “What is the thing that Allah loves most?” Muhammad (pbuh) replied “The thing that Allah loves most is when his people pray salah on time.” (Bukhari)

Despite this, so many of us miss Salah completely or do not make Salah on time. There is no excuse for this. Alhamdulillah, we even have prayer rooms at our universities. Imagine how Allah, the most merciful, appreciates when his servant turns to Him in prayer, interrupting all worldly duties. Whoever does Salah, Allah makes his day easier and facilitates his needs in this world and also in the hereafter.

Another habit Muslims should have is to make Salah wherever they are. So even at work, or when we are out, we should not miss the Salah. The ground in which we pray Salah, even if in the streets, will be a witness for us in the day of judgement. The Prophet (pbuh) used to say that the Salah was the light of his eyes. Once Salah becomes regular in our lives we begin to understand the meaning of this saying of the Prophet (pbuh). Salah becomes such a basic part of our lives that we feel empty without praying to the extent that we find relief in Salah.

Finally, some of us may have missed Salah in the past and may have not recovered those prayers thinking that missed prayers do not really matter. Salah becomes obligatory to all Muslims once they reach puberty. Therefore it is important that we calculate those prayers that we have missed and make up for them. We will be accountable in the day of judgement for every prayer that we miss and there is a severe punishment for missing the Salah. Unfortunately, many fail to pray particularly the night and morning prayers (Fajr and Isha). Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “And if they only knew what was in the prayers of ‘Isha’ and Subh [fajr], they would come to them even if they had to crawl.” (Bukhari/Muslim)
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The purpose of Salah is primarily to act as an individual's communication with God.
It enables one to stand in front of God, thank and praise Him, and ask for Him to show one the "right path" (as mentioned in surah al-Fatihah which is recited in every prayer).
In addition, the daily ritual prayers serve as a constant reminder to Muslims that they should be grateful for God's blessings. It ensures that every Muslim prioritises Islam over all other concerns, thereby revolving their life around God and submitting to His will. Prayer also serves as a formal method of remembering God.

“The true believers are those who feel a fear in their hearts (of the consequences of violating the commands of Allah) when Allah is mentioned. And when His Revelations are recited to them, they find their faith strengthened. They do their best and then put their trust in their Lord.” Quran 8:2

“To those whose hearts when Allah is mentioned, are filled with fear, who show patient perseverance over their afflictions, keep up regular prayer, and spend (in charity) out of what We have bestowed upon them.” Quran 22:35