Have you ever wondered why the Muslims keep performing Salah that constantly, and daily?! Why is it so foundational in their life?! What such big difference does the Salah make for them?!
To those who don’t realize the due value and significance of Salah in Islam, Salah may seem just a daily ritual exercise for Muslims to do five times a day as a religious obligation. Yet, in reality, Salah is way beyond those physical movements!
Salah is actually crucial enough to be the second pillar of Islam -directly after Shahada- and even the evident distinction of the Muslims among the rest! So, of course, with such incomparable weight in Islam, Salah is divinely meant to make ‘that big difference’ in the Muslims’ life, lighting all their way into the hereafter!
Why is Salah So ‘Foundational’ in the Muslim’s life?
Without a doubt, as a Muslim, Salah is a part and parcel of your daily life; each day, you perform Salah five times -as Allah commanded you- at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening, throughout all your day, plus that kind of Salah that you perform voluntarily and occasionally, like that at night, hoping for more divine reward and forgiveness, or that for seeking Allah’s consult about certain choice, and other kinds.
It means that Salah is always here for the Muslims to spiritually communicate with their Creator, The Near, The All-Knowing, The All-Capable, in all times, through this inspiring act of worship, that can really change their life 100%, and as a result, their next life, too.
To understand how foundational Salah is in the Muslim’s life, we need to have a careful look at the key, meant roles of Salah:
1.The Second Pillar of Islam:
Salah is not only a regular act of worshipping Allah, but also one of the five, irreplaceable pillars of Islam that Muslims can’t live without! It comes directly after Shahada (testimony of faith). If we think deeper about Salah with its movements and timings, we realize that it is the first, apparent act of worship as a clear manifestation of abiding by the Islamic, meaningful rituals, not only by your heart and tongue- like that of Shahada- but also by all your limbs.
Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: “Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performing the Salah, paying the Zakah, performing Hajj to the House, and fasting in Ramadan” (Bukhari)
For its indispensable position in Islam, Salah is not optional for Muslims, as it is principal in Islam. Therefore, the five basic Salahs throughout the day -those of Fajr, Zhur, ‘Asr, Maghrib, and Ishaa- are Fardh (obligatory) on every sane, adult, capable Muslim to keep him balanced and firm on the path of Islam.
Allah, The Almighty, says: […Indeed, Salah has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.] [An-Nisaa: 103].
2.The Most Beloved Deed to Allah:
No doubt that every Muslim competes to do every act of obedience he can, so that Allah is pleased with Him, particularly the most special acts of worship to gain the maximum reward and to get closer to Allah, the Almighty, by doing those deeds which Allah loves the most.
Companions, for sure, didn’t miss the chance to ask the Prophet (PBUH) about the act which Allah cherishes the most; Abdullah once asked the Prophet (PBUH): ‘Which deed is loved the most by Allah?” He (PBUH) replied, ‘To perform Salah at their early stated times.’ Abdullah then asked, “What is the next (in goodness)?” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “To be good and dutiful to one’s parents.” Abdullah then asked, “What is the next?” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “To participate in Jihad for Allah’s Cause.”
Can you imagine how much Allah loves us to hurry to Him, to perform Salah on time?! Salah on time comes even before Jihad!
3.The Covenant, and the Distinction-Sign of the Muslims:
Salah is not only one of the explicit acts of obedience; it is also that divine Covenant, Islamic sign, and devotion-bond between the Muslim and His Lord, the Creator. We can say that Salah is essential for identifying Muslims, as by performing Salah, they maintain that bond with their Lord, keeping in touch with their Creator throughout this life, until meeting Him, Insha’Allah, in Paradise in the hereafter.
So, intentionally abandoning Salah, breaking that bond, and discarding that covenant lead to deviation and even disbelief; Buraida reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, “The covenant between them and us is Salah, so if anyone (intentionally) abandons it, he has become an infidel.” [Sahih].
For that, Allah, in His Noble Book, commands the Muslims to maintain Salah, for its devotion, and obedience virtues: [Maintain with care the Salah, and [in particular] the middle [i.e., ʿAṣr] Salah and stand before Allāh, devoutly obedient.] [Al-Baqarah: 238].
4.The Muslim’s Way to Get Calm:
Nobody can deny that life is hard, often getting on our nerves. Mostly, we get so upset, restless, and helpless. In hardships, we know well that we get frozen, and can’t figure out what to do, despite we try hard to keep patient and calm, to think and find a way out!
At those tough times, some may try the breathing techniques to calm down, or yoga classes, but, for the Muslims, Salah is what really calms them down; it is the help they need, asking their Lord to grant them patience, wisdom, and calm during the struggles.
Allah, The Almighty, says: [O you who have believed, seek help through patience and Salah. Indeed, Allāh is with the patient.] [Al-Baqarah: 153].
Also, Salah, indeed, enables us to cool off somehow, despite that innate, anxious nature of the human being: [Indeed, mankind was created anxious: When evil touches him, impatient, And when good touches him, withholding [of it], except the observers of Salah, Those who are constant in their Salah.] [Al-Ma’arij: 19-23].
5.A Purifier for the Muslim’s Soul:
As a spiritual connection to the Lord, Salah enlightens the mind and soul of the Muslim. It is like a purifier for him, increasing his goodness, faith, and mindfulness, and decreasing his evil whims, tendencies, and inclinations for the misdeeds, and wrongdoings.
That is stated clearly in the Book of our Creator, The One knowing us the best: [… and perform Salah. Indeed, Salah prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allāh is greater. And Allāh knows that which you do.] [Al-’Ankabut: 45].
6.Expiating the Sins Regularly:
In this world, “all children of Adam are sinners, yet the best of sinners are those who repent.” So, it is not always about not to commit the sins- as we already strive not to fall into them! – rather it is all about doing what it takes to expiate the sins committed, and doing, instead, the good deeds to make up for the wrong.
Out of Allah’s mercy, He gives us chances to wipe out our sins, like sincere repentance, du’a, Sadaqa, and so on. Indeed, Salah is on the top of them, as maintaining the five, Fardh Salahs throughout the day keeps us cleansed, as our sins get expiated regularly:
Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said: “If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?!” The people said, “No filth would remain on him whatsoever.”
The Prophet (PBUH) then said, “That is like the five daily Salahs: Allah wipes away the sins by them.” [Al-Bukhari].
7.Getting the Muslim the Closest to Allah:
In fact, we do each act of obedience and worship to get closer to Allah, The Almighty. True Muslims are always keen on seizing any opportunity to get nearer to their Lord, to get saved and reassured in this life and the next one. What about that opportunity to get the closest ever to Allah?! Yes! In Salah, while prostration, you become in the nearest position ever to your beloved Lord! Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said: “A servant becomes nearest to his Lord, when he is in prostration. So, increase supplications while prostrating.” (Muslim)
8.The Matchless Combo of Worship:
In Islam, every act of worship adds up to the Muslim’s growing faith and reward with Allah, the Almighty. Imagine how rewarding and virtuous Salah is, as it is the matchless combo of various acts of worship, all at once!
Think about it! While performing Salah, we are actually fasting (not eating nor drinking anything), remembering Allah (in each movement), reciting the Qur’an (Surah Al-Fatiha plus other ayahs), showing submission to The Lord (kneeling down and prostrating), making du’a (like in sujud), getting nearer to Allah (by doing what He commands), and so on…
9.First and Foremost, on the Judgement Day:
As Salah is the backbone of the Muslim’s evident faith and submission to his Lord, and that special mark differentiating him as a guided believer, away from the stray disbelievers, it is the first deed for which Allah, The Almighty, will call us to account:
“The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “The first of man’s deeds for which he will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection will be Salah. If it is found to be perfect, he will be safe and successful; but if it is incomplete, he will be unfortunate and a loser. If any shortcoming is found in the obligatory Salah, the Glorious and Exalted Lord will command to see whether His slave has offered any voluntary Salah so that the obligatory Salah may be made up by it. Then the rest of his actions will be treated in the same manner.”[At-Tirmidhi].
10.The Global Worship of All Creatures:
By performing Salah to Allah, the Muslim join the rest of the other creatures to exalt, and worship their Almighty Creator! Yet, our Salah may seem different than theirs. Still, in one way or another, all creatures submit and remembers Allah through Salah, whatever it is like:
[Do you not see that Allāh is exalted by whomever is within the heavens and the earth and [by] the birds with wings spread?! Each [of them] has known his [means of] prayer [Salah]and exalting [Him], and Allāh is Knowing of what they do.] [An-Nur: 41].
Conclusion:
Reaching those lines till this one, I think, by now, you have already understood well the actual value, the true significance, and the deep influence of Salah for the Muslims, and how it is certainly a game-changer, to them in their life, paving their way into the bliss of the hereafter.
Then, with all our hearts, let’s say, together, this beautiful du’a of our Prophet Ibrahim for us all, as his descendants; it is mentioned in the Qur’an:
[My Lord, make me an establisher of Salah, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.] [Ibrahim: 40].
