What is the Importance of Salah (Prayer) in Islam (Quran and Hadith)?

Author

Sherein Al-Basyuni

24/2/2024

Table of Content

Salah (prayer) is compulsory worship for every Muslim that they should perform five times every day as one of the pillars of Islam. The importance of Salah is crucial due to its physical and spiritual cult at the same time that make the believer in a state of connection with Allah.

Salah is an obligatory worship in Islam. It has a high status in religion as it’s the second pillar of Islam. Its importance lies in many virtues such as gaining rewards, preventing committing abominations, strengthening faith, and expiating sins.

Salah, the Islamic prayer, holds immense significance in the life of a Muslim, serving as a fundamental pillar of faith and spiritual practice. Its importance is deeply rooted in the teachings of both the Quran and the Hadith, where it is highlighted as a means of purification, reassurance, and guidance for believers.

Through Salah, Muslims seek closeness to Allah, expiation of sins, and protection from temptations. The Quran emphasizes Salah as a source of strength in facing hardships and adversity, while also rewarding believers for their dedication to prayer and righteous deeds.

Similarly, the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) underscores the virtues of Salah, portraying it as the most virtuous deed, the key question on Judgment Day, and even equating certain prayers with the rewards of Hajj and Umrah. Overall, Salah occupies a central position in Islam, symbolizing the bond between the believer and their Creator, and serving as a cornerstone of faith and spirituality.

But why is Salah the most important worship for Muslims?

Check out the virtues and benefits of it.

What is the Importance of Salah in Islam?

The importance of Salah in Islam extends far beyond its physical actions; it serves as a cornerstone of faith, morality, and spiritual well-being for Muslims worldwide. Each aspect of Salah plays a vital role in nurturing the believer's relationship with Allah and fostering personal growth and moral development.

Firstly, Salah serves as a powerful means of spiritual purification, cleansing the soul of sins and transgressions. Through the act of prostration and sincere repentance, believers seek forgiveness for their shortcomings and strive to purify their hearts and minds. By regularly engaging in Salah, Muslims renew their commitment to righteousness and strive to lead lives free from moral blemishes.

Moreover, Salah offers a profound sense of reassurance and tranquility to the believer, providing a sanctuary of peace amidst the challenges and uncertainties of life. In the midst of adversity and hardship, the act of turning to Allah in prayer brings solace and comfort, reminding believers of His unwavering love, mercy, and protection. Through Salah, Muslims find refuge in the divine presence, finding strength and resilience to face life's trials with courage and faith.

Furthermore, Salah serves as a catalyst for spiritual growth and moral excellence, nurturing the believer's piety and devotion to Allah. Through regular engagement in prayer, Muslims deepen their connection to the divine and cultivate a profound reverence for His commandments. By adhering to the discipline of Salah, believers strive to embody the virtues of humility, gratitude, and compassion in their daily lives, seeking to emulate the example set forth by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Additionally, Salah acts as a shield against the temptations and distractions of the world, preserving the believer's faith and integrity in the face of adversity. Through the practice of Salah, Muslims fortify themselves against the lures of materialism, egoism, and moral decay, remaining steadfast in their commitment to righteousness and virtue. By seeking refuge in prayer, believers find strength and resilience to resist temptation and uphold their moral principles, thereby safeguarding their spiritual well-being.

Ultimately, Salah serves as a divine compass that guides believers along the straight path of righteousness and piety. Through the disciplined practice of Salah, Muslims align themselves with the divine will and strive to live lives of purpose, integrity, and moral excellence. By seeking guidance and inspiration in prayer, believers embark on a journey of spiritual enlightenment and fulfillment, finding solace, strength, and direction in their unwavering devotion to Allah.

Read: What to Say Salah in Arabic?

Importance of Salah in the Quran

The importance of Salah in the Quran is in the following verses:

1. Dealing with hardships

Turning to Salah beside patience helps believers to deal with adversity and temptations they face in life.

According to the Quran, Allah says {And seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is a burden except for the humble} (Al-Baqarah, 2:45)

Also, in the same earlier surah, Allah repeats his urge to turn to Salah {O believers! Seek comfort in patience and prayer. Allah is truly with those who are patient} (2:153)

2. Preventing from indecency

True prayer is the one that strengthens the faith and protects the believer from committing abominations.

{Indeed, prayer should deter ˹one˺ from indecency and wickedness} (Al-A’nkabut 29:45)

3. Gaining rewards

Salah is one of the virtuous deeds that has rewards for the believers who perform it daily according to the following verse:

{Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve} (Al-Baqarah 2:277)

4. A trait of believers

The believers who do good deeds perform prayers regularly:

{But those of them well-grounded in knowledge, the faithful ˹who˺ believe in what has been revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ and what was revealed before you—˹especially˺ those who establish prayer—and those who pay alms-tax and believe in Allah and the Last Day, to these ˹people˺ We will grant a great reward} (An-Nisa 4:162)

Read: How to Pray Salah In Islam?

Importance of Salah in Hadith

Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) mentioned the importance of Salah in the following hadiths:

1. Expiating sins

Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said:” When the time for a prescribed prayer comes, if any Muslim performs ablution well and offers his prayer with humility and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin; and this applies for all times.”

Also, 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 (peace and blessings be with him) then said, "That is like the five daily prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them.” (Al-Bukhari)

2. The most virtuous deed

When a man asked prophet Muhammed (PBUH) about the most virtuous deed. He said the most virtuous deed is “the prayer”. When the man repeated his question three times the messenger of Allah repeated his answer (Al-Albani).

3. Closeness to Allah

When you prostrate to Allah while praying, you become nearest to your lord. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said:” A slave becomes nearest to his Rubb when he is in prostration. So increase supplications while prostrating.” (Muslim)

4. A deed dearest to Allah

Performing prayer on time is the dearest deed to Allah. When Abdullah ibn Masud asked prophet Muhammed (PBUH): “Which deed is the dearest to Allah?” He replied, “To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times.”(Sahih al-Bukhari)

Read: How to Pray Salah For Females?

5. The most important deed on Judgement Day

On judgement day, the believers will first be questioned about the prayer. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said:

“On the Day of Judgment, a slave will be questioned about his prayers first. If his prayers are good, his other deeds will be good, too. If his prayers are bad, his other deeds will be bad, too.”(Tabarani)

6. A prayer equals Hajj and Umrah

Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) indicated the importance of the Fajr prayer congregation as whoever performs it and sits to remember Allah until sunrise, it’ll equal Hajj and Umrah.

He said: “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two rak’ahs, will have a reward like that of Hajj and ‘Umrah, complete, complete, complete”(Al-Tirmidhi)

7. The second pillar of Islam

Salah is the second pillar of Islam that comes after Shahada (profession of faith). Prophet Muhammed (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 prayers, paying the Zakah, making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadan” (Bukhari)

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