Salah, or prayer, is considered one of the most significant and fundamental worship in Islam. The importance of prayers in Islam can be realized from the fact that no other type of worship is mentioned as frequently in the Quran as Salah is. In some verses, Allah orders His servants to offer and establish it; in some others, He mentions the Prophets who observed it strictly, while in some other verses, He refers to the Salah as a unique characteristic of the believers.
Why is Salah (5 Daily Prayers) important in Islam?
In the very beginning of the very second Surah of the Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah states: “This is the Book, there is no doubt in it, a guidance to the God-fearing. Those who believe in Unseen and establish Salah.” (Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 3). Note that Allah mentions the establishment of the prayer immediately after the belief in the Unseen, which indicates that offering prayer is the most important worship after Iman (Faith) in Islam. In another verse, Allah suggests offering prayer as a way to success and happiness. He says: “Indeed, those who believe and commit good deeds, establish prayer and give Zakah, shall have their rewards with their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor will they grieve.” (Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 277). We can find out the importance of Salah in Islam from the Prophetic traditions. The Companion Abdullah ibn Masood (May Allah be pleased with him) reports that I asked the Prophet (PBUH) about the dearest deed to Allah. He replied: “Offering Salah in its time”. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 527). After reflecting deeply on this hadith, we can conclude the virtue of prayer. Because the Prophet (PBUH) has called it the most loving deed to Allah. And because Allah loves prayer among all actions of His servants, He will begin the reckoning with this deed on the Day of Judgment. So, if the prayer of a Muslim is perfect, which means it is offered on time and with all its rules and guidance, all his deeds will be valid and he will have the permission to Jannah (Eternal Paradise).
Rewards to Offering Salah (Prayers)
One of the incredible merits of prayer is that it arouses the mercy of Allah and forgives sins. Allah says in His book: “And establish prayer at both ends of the day and in the early hours of the night. Verily, good deeds remove bad deeds.” (Surat Hud, verse 114). It is reported by Abdullah ibn Masood that a man kissed a woman. He came to the Prophet (PBUH) and told him that he had committed such a bad action. The above verse was revealed. (when the Prophet recited this verse to him) The man said: Is it for me. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “No, it is for all of my Ummah.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 526). Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) recounts that the Prophet (PBUH), once upon a time, asked the Companions: “If there is a stream near the door of anyone of you, and he bathes in it five times a day, will any dirt remain on him?” the Companions replied: No single trace of dirt will remain. The Prophet then said: “That is the example of five times prayers. Allah erases evil deeds with it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 528). So, after reading the verse and these two hadiths, did you recognize the importance of prayer in Islam? I myself have realized that how significant it is for my Deen (Religion) and Dunya (This Life). However, keep in mind that according to mainstream scholars, the five-time prayers erase only minor sins. For the major sins, one must repent sincerely to Allah and make the commitment not to repeat that bad deed again.
Spiritual Benefits to Offering Salah (Prayers)
Neglecting Salah Lacks the Blessing of Allah
A true believer will always seek the beauty and blessing of his life in getting closer to Allah. He always thinks of getting rid of the sins and all other resistance that creates a distance between him and the Glorious Self of Allah. In fact, sins destroy the human heart and mind, damaging this world and the Hereafter of sinner. The greatest thinker and philosopher of the fifth Hijri century, Imam Al-Ghazali (May Allah have mercy on him), comments that sins are like junk foods that secretly destroy the heart and body of a human, while he doesn’t even know it. As a result, restraining from sins blesses your life, while committing sins drowns you in the ocean of filth and the baleful net of the devil.
After understanding it, please keep in mind that here comes the next importance of Salah in Islam. That is the only way to restrict sins is by offering Salah. This is not the idea of a philosopher or a scholar. Indeed, this is the decree of the Creator of the worlds. The Almighty says: “And observe Salah, verily, Salah restrains (People) from shameful and evil acts.” (Surat Al-Ankabut, verse 45). In addition, If you have wronged yourself, and have burdens of sins, Salah can remove all the sins, as we proved it with the Quranic verses above. Furthermore, offering prayer is the peace of life and a remedy for all types of heart (Soul) diseases. Salah is the cure for tension, stress, and grief. The Prophet (PBUH) states that the coolness of my eyes is laid down in Salah. (As-Silsilatu As-Sahiha lil Al-Albani, 7/984). Salah is a way of getting provisions; a provision of knowledge and wealth. Salah is the peace and beauty of life, without which life always feels empty. Allah states: “And one who turns away from My Zikr (including Salah), shall have a straitened life, and We will raise him blind on the Day of Judgment.” (Surat Taha, verse 124)
Click Here To Start Learning Arabic Today With Expert Resources & Support (10% Coupon Code:
2379Y )
Health Benefits to Offering Salah (Prayers)
Not that Salah is an obligation from Allah and offering it connects you with the Creator, it also has many physical and medical health benefits. Several acts and positions during Salah, such as the Qiam (Standing), Ruku’ (bowing), Tashahhud (sitting), and Sujud (prostration), have been proven to have excellent physical benefits. For example, the position of Ruku’ is considered to be a perfect healing related to backache and vertebral column diseases. Also, it reduces the risk of nerve compression and enhances the spine’s flexibility in healthy people. Furthermore, studies suggest that the Sujud position is helpful in reducing the lower back pain. It also helps in spinal distraction, neural glides and lengthening of the nerves. Specialists add that Sujud is the sole gesture in which the head is lower than the heart which allows the heart to pump blood to the nerve system much better than it could in normal situation. This aids in stimulating the brains frontal cortex. There are many other physical and spiritual benefits of every act of the prayer. Describing all that needs much time and a special book. However, a true believer always considers it as an obligation from his Creator and a means of connection with Him. He believes that this is the command of his Master and the love with his Master requires him to follow the commands of his Master without investigating its benefits and harms. If you are a new Muslim and would like to learn how to establish the Prayer correctly then read the “How to perform Prayers” section in my Islamic Prayers Guide
Is Neglecting or Leaving Salah a Major Sin
Since we have learned about the importance and benefits of Salah in Islam, we can easily point out that offering Salah is a sign of Iman (Faith) and Islam. One who is used to leaving prayer repeatedly should fear losing Iman. Because in many verses of the Quran, Allah has mentioned good deeds and prayer after believing in Him, which concludes the importance of prayer in Islam. For example, Allah states: “And the believers believe in what is revealed to you and what was revealed to (those) before you, as well as those who establish Salah and pay Zakah, and those believing in Allah and the Last Day, to them we shall give a great reward.” (Surat An-Nisa, verse 162). Furthermore, in another verse, Allah says: “Observe prayer and don’t be among those who commit Shirk.” (Surat Ar-Rum, verse 31). In the commentary of this verse, Imam Ibn Jarir At-Tabari (May Allah have mercy on him) writes that this means don’t be amongst the Kufar (Disbelievers) and those who associate partners with Allah by leaving the Fard (Obligatory) deeds such as Salah and by committing sins. Because associating partners with Allah and neglecting His commands are the actions of a Kafir (Disbeliever) and heathens. So, if a Muslim, too, leaves prayer and other Fard deeds, he is carrying out the actions of a Kafir. Then, if his deeds are similar to the deeds of a Kafir and those who associate partners with Allah, there is no guarantee of completion in his Iman. In one other verse of the Quran, Allah states: “Then, woe to the performers of Salah, those who are neglectful of their Salah.” (Surat Maa’un, verses 4-5). The scholars write that the word neglectful, or Sahun in Arabic, refers to those who are heedless in offering Salah. Offering it or not offering it is equivalent for them. They don’t perform prayer, or if they do, they perform it late and with deficiency. The Companion Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Between disbelief and belief is the neglecting of prayer.” (Jami’ Tirmidhi, 2619). In another narration, it is mentioned that between the servant and the disbelief or Shirk lies neglect of prayer.” Furthermore, Abdullah ibn Shaqiq states that the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) didn’t consider the neglect of any other deeds as disbelief except the Salah. (Jami’ Tirmidhi, 2622). All these narrations indicate that leaving Salah without any valid reason is an action of Kafir and polytheists.
Because of these Prophetic traditions, the Companion Ali ibn Abi Talib, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (in one narration), Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak and Is-haq ibn Rahuya (May Allah be pleased with them all) postulate that leaving Salah intentionally and without any valid reason is Shirk or disbelief and that person would be considered as a Kafir. Some other scholars, on the other hand, including Imam Shafi’i, argue that neglecting Salah is a major sin and the person who leaves it intentionally is considered a Fasiq, not a Kafir. He must be asked to repent. So, if he does, and starts offering prayer, Allah may forgive him. Or if he refuses to repent, he will compensate for it in the Akhirah. The same type of idea is narrated from Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah have mercy on him). He thinks that neglecting Salah is a major sin, not Kufr (Disbelief).
Consequences of Neglecting or Leaving Salah in the Akhira (Next Eternal Life)
As mentioned earlier, he who leaves Salah is considered a Kafir according to some scholars. Other scholars, although, don’t consider him a Kafir, they still suggest that the person who neglect Salah must repent and start offering it as soon as possible. However, if they don’t repent, they will taste severe punishment in Akhirah. Indeed, the punishment of Akhirah is higher than any punishment of Dunya. Allah says: “Then after them, came the successors who neglected Salah and followed their desires. So, they will soon face (the outcome of their) deviation.” (Surat Maryam, verse 59). The Prophet (PBUH) said: “He who doesn’t secure the prayer, will be raised with Pharaoh, Haman, Qarun, and Ubai ibn Khalaf on Day of Judgment.” (Musnad Ahmad), which means he will see the same punishment as they will experience.