SALAH
The Islamic Prayer
Salah is the second pillar of Islam. It consists of a series of movements and words repeated several times. Each series or cycle of this movement is called a raka’a (or 'bowing'). In salah, chosen passages of the Quran are recited. It is the duty of every adult Muslim to perform five daily prayers, individually or in congregation. For salah to be acceptable to God, it should be performed at the proper times, in purity, and facing the Qibla, the direction of the Kabah. These five obligatory prayers have to be observed at fixed times. Prayers which are missed at the correct times should be made up afterwards.
Prayer as a general duty or service is frequently enjoined in the Quran. Prayer is the second of the five fundamental principles or pillars of practical devotion in Islam. It is a devotional exercise which every Muslim is required to engage in five times a day
Prayers remind us five times daily that we are accountable to a God who is watching us.
The five daily prayers are:
• Early morning prayer: Two raka’as; — between dawn and sunrise.
• Noon prayer: Four raka’as, between noon and mid-afternoon.
• Late afternoon prayer: Four raka’as; — between the time when the
shadow begins to be equal, until the setting of the sun.
• Sunset prayer: Three raka’as; — between sunset and early evening.
• Evening prayer: Four raka’as; — from the disappearance of twilight
until dawn, but preferably before midnight.
In addition, every Friday there is a congregational salah. The Friday prayer brings together large numbers of people from different neighbourhoods. This increases their sense of community. This prayer has to be performed in congregation in a mosque, and consists of two raka’as, preceded by a sermon.
Other exceptional prayers are those that are performed on the occasion of festivals. On the morning of the festivals of Eid Al-Azha and Eid Al-Fitr, there are special prayers of two raka’as. The whole community gathers together in a special prayer ground.
According to a hadith, the Angel Gabriel came and performed salah five times, at the right times of the day and night. The Prophet joined the Angel in prayer to learn it from him.
Salah is performed in the following manner: First of all, the believer performs ablutions. Then, he stands in the direction of the Kabah, in Makkah. He holds up his hands and says aloud:
God alone is great.
Then, he submits himself to the will of His Lord. After praising God by reciting some passages from the Quran, he begins to feel God's majesty. Then, he prostrates touching his forehead to the ground. Prostration is an acknowledgement of the majesty of God.
One who performs his prayer in its true spirit cannot be forgetful of God when his prayer is over.
Muslims have been advised in the Quran to be steadfast in their prayer (THE QURAN 29: 45), for prayer keeps away indecency and evil. When the Prophet of Islam was asked about this verse, he said: If a person does not keep himself away from indecency and evil his prayer is not really prayer at all.
How does prayer become the means for inculcating these virtues in the faithful? It is because prayers remind us five times daily that, we are accountable to a God, who is watching us.
One who performs his prayer in its true spirit cannot be forgetful of God when his prayer is over. Prayer is a manifestation of the fact that one’s heart is full of the fear of, and love for, God. And so, if one prays in the true spirit of prayer, one’s prayer will surely fend off indecency and evil.
The aim of prayer is to enjoin upon believers to think of God, to bring people closer to God, to keep them from indulging in indecent and forbidden activities, to purify the heart, develop the mind, to comfort the soul and to demonstrate obedience to the Creator.
The Prophet once asked his Companions, “Tell me, if any of you had a rivulet before his doors and bathed five times a day therein, would any dirt remain on his body?” The Companions replied, “Certainly not.” The Prophet then explained that, in the same manner, the five daily prayers as ordered by God will erase all minor sins.
Prayer is a manifestation of the fact that one’s heart is full of the fear of, and love for, God.
Prayer is frequently enjoined in the Quran, while the appointed times and the mode of saying prayers were clearly prescribed by the Prophet, exemplified in the manner he himself practiced them.
The Quran says:
Say your prayers morning and evening, and during parts of the
night; surely good makes amends for evil. This is a reminder
for people who pay heed.
(THE QURAN 11: 114)
Believers are under the obligation to say
their prayers at the appointed hours.
(THE QURAN 4: 103)
The actual spirit of salah is the remembrance of God. The purpose of human life according to Islam is to worship God. However, there are other demands of life as well, which do not allow people to be engaged in worship twenty four hours a day. That is why it has been arranged that every day for a certain period of time, one should be able to spare time from one’s daily engagements and engage in the worship of God.
The time-bounded prayers are intended to refresh our remembrance of God, so that even when we are engaged in worldly activities we should remember God constantly. In this way, our entire life will be coloured in the hue of divine worship. Besides, salah is also a very effective means of moral training. It instils modesty and self-discipline, which are the root of all noble qualities.