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The Importance of Salat (Prayer)
Salat,
ritual prayer, is obligatory on every adult Muslim, and children
should be taught how to perform the prayers at the age of seven.
They may be encouraged to begin them at a younger age, and they
should be told to perform them at the age of ten.
The delay of a ritual prayer beyond its designated period
without a valid or legitimate reason is prohibited. The Prophet
(SAWS) said:
"Any Muslim who performs an obligatory prayer after having done
its ablution (Wudu' in Arabic, i.e., the ritual washing of
certain parts of the body), bowing
and prostration will have his previous sins erased as long as he
keeps away from committing major sins. This applies throughout
one's lifetime."
Denial of Salat (prayers) as an obligatory act of worship
constitutes apostasy from Islam, while neglecting it is an act
of infidelity. Salat was ordained obligatory when the Prophet
(SAWS) was conveyed to the seventh heaven on a miraculous trip.
It will be the first thing about which man is questioned on the
Day of Resurrection.
Not only is Salat obligatory, it must also be performed at five
prescribed times every day. The following are the five daily
prayers:
1. The Dawn Prayer (Salat-ul-Fajr): It consists of two
obligatory units, (two Rak'at in Arabic). Two optional units of
prayer (Sunnah) precede the Dawn Prayer. The period of this
prayer is from the crack of dawn to sunrise.
2. The Noon Prayer (Salat-uth-Thuhr): It is comprised of four
obligatory units. It is preceded by four optional units (in two
groups of two) and followed by two optional units. It is
performed after the sun passes its zenith until the second half
of the afternoon, 'Asr in Arabic.
3. The Afternoon Prayer (Salat-ul-'Asr): This prayer is four
obligatory units and is performed when the length of the shadow
of a vertical stick equals the length of the stick. The prayer
period lasts until just before sunset. One may perform four
optional units before the obligatory units.
4. The Evening Prayer (Salat-ul-Maghrib): It consists of three
obligatory units, followed by two optional ones. The Evening
Prayer may be performed soon as the sun sinks below the horizon
until dusk has ended.
5. The Night Prayer (Salat-ul-'Isha'): This last of the five
daily prayers consists of four obligatory units. It may be
preceded by two optional units and followed by two, then three
or one (Witr) optional units. It is performed after it has
become completely dark until the crack of dawn, but it is
preferable to perform it before midnight.
The obligatory prayers may be performed alone or preferably in a
congregation led by a leader (Imam). The call to prayer (Adhan)
is made at the beginning of every prayer period.
To perform prayer, one must be in the state of ritual purity
obtained after an ablution (Wudu'). The ablution includes
washing the hands, rinsing the nose and the mouth, washing the
face and the arms, wiping the head with wet hands and washing
the feet.
Prayer is one of the greatest pillars of Islam. It is the first
act of worship for which man is answerable on the Day of
Reckoning. If Allah accepts an Individual's prayer, then He
accepts the rest of his good deeds as well.
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