by: Mehren Javed
Prayer (Salah) is cast as one of the main pillars of Islam that greatly supports morality and faith development. It is a prayer devotion whose role is to unite the worshiper with Allah directly. In addition to “Shahada” or “the commonly upheld belief of Muslims,” Salat has been regarded as the worship itself in the religion of Islam. Its spiritual meaning does not betray its significance, as it is the rowing boat that sails to a believer’s spiritual destination through every high and low tide of his life.
The only real difference that we as Muslims may have from the non-Muslims is sticking to our prayers. The fact is that the middle act is not only a ritualistic operation. It is a somewhat strong declaration of faith and submission to Allah. As Muslims, we are commanded to perform Salah five times a day, at specific intervals: before the rooster crowed, at noon, at some point in the afternoon through sunset, and in the dark of the night. God's chosen people therefore mark this continuity by obeying his orders and regular prayers. These two actions indicate their faithfulness to God. The holy book the Quran and the major sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) both stress salat as one of the most important pillars of Islam. In Surah Al-Baqarah (Surah 2:238) that is Allah, the Almighty, who reminds us, “Allah! Celebrate your prayers, especially the late noontime prayer. This means standing up in the presence of Allah devout.”
The verse stresses that it is essential that we are punctual in praying but more than that we do it with a reverent spirit. Additionally, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), in many Hadiths, has emphasized the centrality of Salaat in bringing the purification of the soul and sustaining the contact of a person with Allah. Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) put in many Hadith a special emphasis on As-Salah in particular which helps the purification of the soul and sustains the connection of a person with Allah. The act of Salah is an act of purifying the mind and body of the believer. Like a shower scrubs the body clean, Salah whitens the soul, getting rid of bare lies and misbehavior. The task of prostration, or Sujood, for short, is the most significant in this said, it is considered a servant the nearest one can get to their Creator.
In addition, Salah indeed strengthens our relationship with Allah, by pointing out our total reliance on His guidance and mercy. In prostrating ourselves before God in prayer we admit to our frailties as humankind, and hence, affirm that only Allah cares about our weak selves and only He can provide salvation. As the words of the prophet Muhammad (peace upon be on him) indicate, “Salah is the key to paradise, and wudu (ablution) is the key to Salah.” The hadith clears up the significance of salah is the attainment of success and closeness to Allah.
Moreover, Salah is not just a means of getting blessings it is also a means of seeking forgiveness and repentance for our sins. It is through sincere and from-the-heart prayers that Muslims will be able to implore Allah, the Merciful One, for any misdeeds that they may have committed or for virtues they lack. As Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, “And when My servants ask you as to Me? Indeed, I am near. I answer the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Him.” This ayah signifies the unbounded compassion and uprightness of Allah, who is always ready to forgive those who repent. Besides that, Salah breeds in the believer qualities like discipline, diligence, and contemplation. When they pray the prayers according to the commands of Allah, and while their postures and movements are being attained with their intention and devotion, Muslims become calm and tranquil inside. Reflecting upon this, in a place of chaos such as the human world, mosques function as an atmospheric background offering realms of solitude babbled amid life disruptions. The operation of Salah does not contribute to the spiritual element of a Muslim only, but it also creates a kind of community spirit among believers.
The congregational prayers, together with Salah in Jama’ah, are the signs of solidarity and brotherhood among Muslims. Keen on them, Muslims come together and worship Allah as just one. The necessity of group participation to fulfill the communal part of Salah is what bridges the Muslims and also creates a feeling of belonging.
The essence of the power of Salah goes beyond a person to the whole of society in the community. Let us, the Muslims, be the ambassadors of the pillar of Salah and make all our daily activities a reflection of the pillars. Salah can be seen as an anchor, directing the path of morality elucidating integrity for the believers, and enabling them in the quest for moral and spiritual excellence. The words of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) “A Salat (prayer) is the first deed a slave will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment.” If a prayer is good then his other deeds will follow the same state. However, if his/her prayer is corrupt then his/her other deeds will follow the same state as well. It is Salah that holds the function of the cornerstone in the cube of Islamic faith and practice, which reflects the beautiful creations of devotion, humility, and subjugation to the will of God. The importance of it cannot be overstated because, in addition to its being a ritual practice it has an effect on the soul, maintains strong faith, and through this creates a healthy sense of community and solidarity among the believers. Pursuing salah, be it individual or congregational, is how we must strive to keep our inner self involved in upholding the religious principles for the fulfillment of our spiritual path and the ultimate success in this life and the afterlife.
The author can be mailed at mehrenbaba01@gmail.com
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