Salah

Salah, also called namaz, is the second pillar of Islam and the daily duty of all Muslims above baligh (mature) age. Salah plays a vital role in the Islamic faith and in this guide we will explore the most important aspects of the second pillar of Islam, including the importance of salah, when you should perform salah and what benefits salah can provide.

Salah is the second pillar of Islam and a special form of worship after Shahadah (profession of faith). It is an obligatory form of prayer performed five times a day everyday that was revealed in the Holy Qur’an and taught to us by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

There are many verses in the Holy Quran that Allah tells us about the importance of prayer.

salah involves a series of physical movements – standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting. It also includes the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an in Arabic along with a number of Dua’s (supplications).

A Muslim will face the direction of the Kaaba, the sacred house of Allah in Mecca, whenever he performs his prayer. All these physical movements, recitations and supplications are done to show humility and submission to Allah.

The reason Muslims pray at all has to do with what Islam considers the purpose of life – to worship Allah alone. Shortly after Muhammad (PBUH) became a prophet, performing salah (worship) was one of the first commandments given to him by Allah.

Almighty Allah tells us in the Holy Qur’an that mankind was created for one reason and reason only: that is to worship Him.

Salah is the second pillar of Islam and is a critical part of the Muslim faith. One of the biggest differences between a believer (Muslim) and a disbeliever (non-Muslim) is salah. Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Between Islam and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of prayer (Salah).”

Why do Muslims pray 5 times a day?
This question is quite common and many people do not know the real reason where the number five came from. When Muhammad (peace be upon him) became a prophet at the age of forty, one of the first things he learned was how to pray. Allah sent the angel Gabriel (Jibreel) to teach him to perform wudu (ablution) and perform salah.

About 11 years after the beginning of the prophecy, a miraculous journey took place in which the angel Gabriel took Muhammad (peace be upon him) to the seventh heaven. During this event, Allah commanded him and the Muslims to specifically pray five times a day. This event was recorded in the Holy Qur’an and we also have authentic narrations from the Prophet (PBUH) himself that he undertook this journey.