| Salat is one of
the five pillars of Islam, it is a most important constituent
of the faith. It is prayer of a very high level. The Holy
Quran repeatedly enjoins the offering of salat and indeed
declares it to be a fundamental trait of a believer. The
benefits of salat are countless. The Holy Quran says:
|
| "And enjoin
Prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not
for provision; it is We that provide for thee. And the end is
for the righteous". |
| |
| Salat strengthens
man's spiritual faculties. It is the best way to form a
relationship with one's Creator. It purifies one's spirit, and
through it, constant remembrance of Allah delivers one of the
self that incites to evil. |
| |
| God created man
to worship Him and salat is the most excellent kind of
worship. |
| |
| The Holy Quran
also says: |
| "Recite that
which has been revealed to thee of the Book, and observe
Prayer. Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and
manifest evil, and remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest
virtue. And Allah knows what you do." (29:46) |
| |
| Abu Hurairah, may
Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy
Prophet, peace and blessings be on him, say: |
| "Tell me if
one of you had a stream running at his door and he should take
a bath in it five times every day would any dirt be left upon
him? He was answered: No dirt would be left on him. The Holy
Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) observed: This is the
case of the five prayers. Allah wipes out all faults in
consequence of them." (Bukhari) |
| |
| As for the
punishment of not observing the salat, all matters of reward
and punishment rest solely with Allah. |
| |
| Jabir, may Allah
be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet,
peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say: |
| "Giving up
prayer is tantamount to disbelief and associating partners
with Allah." (Muslim) |
| |
| Five Daily
Prayers |
| Salat, the
obligatory Muslim prayer, is said at appointed time fixed in
relation to the sun's position. The time of Fajr, the morning
prayer begins at dawn and ends just before sunrise. The time
of Zuhr, the midday prayer, begins after the sun has crossed
the zenith point and has begun to decline. The Asr prayer is
said when the sun has further advanced in decline, in the late
afternoon. The time of the Maghrib prayer begins immediately
after sunset. It lasts till dusk. The Isha prayer can be said
after dusk has finally disappeared, giving way to darkness of
the night.
Fajr Zuhr Asr
Maghrib Isha' |
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