Salaah in Islam is a unique institution. It brings man closer to Allah SWT by harmonising his mental attitude with physical posture. In salaah, a Muslim submits himself completely to his Creator. After the worshipper has done the ablution and after the adhan and iqamah are said, the salaah is begun. Each salaah comprises a number of rak'aat (Single; Rak'at) or units, two, three or four, according to which salaah it is.

Prayer (salaah) is the most important pillar of Islam. Indeed it is the dividing line between Islam and infidelity. Salaah is a duty incumbent on every Muslim, male or female, who has attained the age of maturity and has a sound mind. There are numerous verses in the Holy Qur'an commanding Muslims to observe salaah regularly. Allah swt says:

"Guard the prayers strictly, especially the middle prayer (i.e., 'Asr) and stand up in prayer to Allah with true devotion."

Al Baqarah 238

"Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at stated times."

An Nisa 103

The Messenger of Allah PBUH constantly reminded the community, of the importance of salaah and warned them of the consequences of neglecting it.

In a hadith, the Prophet PBUH asked his Companions: Tell me, if one ofyou had a river at his door and took a bath in it five times a day, would there remain any dirt on your body?" The Companions replied: "No, no dirt would be left on your body."

The Prophet PBUH said: "This is theexample of the five prayers by which Allah SWT washes away the sins."

Bukhari and Muslim

The Prophet PBUH said in yet another Hadith: "The dividing line between a believer and the disbeliever is the negligence of prayer." Muslim

In another report the Messenger of Allah PBUH said: "The first thing about which a person will be asked on the Day of Judgement will be the salaah." Abu Dawud and At Tirmidhi

From a study of the traditions of our Holy Prophet PBUH we learn that Rasulullah PBUH denounced the giving up of salaah as the way of the unbelievers.

He is reported to have said: "That which separates a believer from infidelity is simply the Salaah." "He has no share in Islam who does not offer Salaah".

Rasulullah PBUH sounded a note of warning to Muslims that if they gave up salaah their conduct would be associated with that of the unbelievers. What a great act of virtue and felicity it is to offer salaah regularly and how disastrous it is to neglect it, is beautifully summarised in the following prophetic words:

"Whoever will offer the salaah properly and regularly, it will be for him on the Last Day a source of light, a proof of his faith and a means to salvation. (On the other hand) Whoever will not offer it carefully and regularly it will be for him neither a source of light, nor a proof of faith, nor a means of salvation, and the end of such a person will be with Qarun, Fir'aun, Haman and Ubai-bin-Khalaf."

The ignominy and disgrace that the defaulters of salaah will be subjected to on the Day of Judgement, has been described in the Holy Qur'an:

"The day that the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but they shall not be able, their eyes shall be cast down - ignominy will cover them, seeing that they had been summoned afore time to bow in adoration while they were hale and healthy (and had refused)". Al Qalam 42

According to the above Qur'anic verse, mankind will be summoned to bow down in adoration before Allah SWT on the Last Day. Only the fortunate ones, who had during their lifetime made it a practice to be regular in their salaah, will find no difficulty in bowing down. Those who, in spite of being healthy and strong, had not observed salaah in this world, will discover to their dismay that their backs had suddenly

grown stiff, with the result that they will remain standing with the infidels unable to prostate before their Lord and Creator. Such will be the humiliation and disgrace for the defaulters of Salaah! May Allah SWT save us from such ignominy!

GENERAL REMARKS ON PRAYERS

As already pointed out, the Muslim's mind should always be occupied with the remembrance of Allah SWT and his tongue be busied with utterances of praise and glory of Him. Besides the above mentioned forms and occasions of salaah, there are a number of other occasions where salaah is strongly recommended by Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Among other such occasions are: heavy rainstorms; drought and shortage of rain; lunar or solar eclipse. At times like these, the Muslim is advised to engage in prolonged salaah, two or more units. It should be noted that there are special ways to perform salaah at the time of an eclipse or drought.

There are other occasions when the Muslims utter certain supplications without the prescribed forms of the ordinary prayers. In such utterances one expresses gratitude to Allah SWT and appreciation of His favours, hope in Him and reliance upon His aid, remembrance of Him and prayer for His mercy. Among occasions like these are: the birth of a child; the ceremony of marriage; going to and rising from bed; leaving the house and returning to it; entering and leaving the toilet; starting a journey or entering a city; when riding or driving; boarding a ship or aircraft; distress; on seeing one's reflection in a mirror; after a bath or ablution; when receiving the first fruits of the harvests; when visiting a graveyard. On such occasions the Muslim is advised to remember Allah SWT with appropriate utterances expressing his feelings and thoughtfulness.

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