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Salah The Muslim
Prayer is the second of the five Pillars of Islam.
After announcing of Shahadah,
which is the declaration of the Islamic Faith, comes the Salah,
the Muslim Prayer.
Shahadah is the first part
of Iman, which is the first of the five Pillars of Islam.
It represents the theory of the Islamic belief, while Salah
is one of the practical Pillars of the Islamic Faith.
There are two concepts of
the Islamic Faith:
(1) Iman—The acceptance
and belief in God, His Angeles, His Messengers, His Books
and the Last Day, the Day of Resurrection.
(2) Ritual Actions---The implementation
of God’s Commandments.
Iman and Ritual Actions complement
each other. Iman must be supported by Ritual Actions and deeds.
As Prayer is one of the actions
required of Muslims, so it must be performed at its fixed
times. Prophet Muhammad said:
“The performance
of prayers at its time is one of the actions dearer to God.”
Muslims pray towards Mecca
and perform the Salah, the prayer, five times a day at appointed
times. This is in the early morning before the sunrise, at
midday, in the afternoon, in the evening after the sunset
and at nightfall. The Qur’an states (20:13o)
“…And celebrate
the praise of your Lord before sunrise and before sun setting,
yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and
at the sides of the day…”
Each prayer is approximately
two minutes. This is done to remember God and to be thankful
for all He gave us. This continuous reminder keeps the conscience
alive and functional. This is achieved in part by the recital
of a passage from the Qur’an, kept by heart, which is
forming a part of the daily Muslim prayer.
These recitations of different
passages from the Qur’an bring to mind the basic Islamic
teachings and remind Muslims of their obligations to God with
regard to their attitude and behaviour towards other people.
The expression of submission
to the will of God, with the individual’s entire being,
is also shown through the bodily postures of the prayer, which
consist of standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting, repeated
in the appointed times of each prayer.
Salah also teaches self-discipline
through performing it regularly, purifies the heart and prevents
temptation toward wrong doings and evil. Qur’an says:
“…And be
constant at prayer, for prayer restrains man from evil and
wrongful deeds…” (29: 45)
All the Messengers of God
and their descendants were commanded to establish the ritual
of Prayer.
After Abraham settled his
wife Hajr and their son Isma’il in Mecca, he prayed
for them as the Qur’an says:
“Our Lord, I
have settled a part of my offspring in a valley without
cultivation by the Sacred House, in order, O our Lord that
they may keep up prayer …Our lord, make me keep up
prayer and my offspring too.” (14: 37-40)
The Qur’an tells us
that Isaac and Jacob were asked to establish prayer:
“We made them
leaders who guided people by Our Command, and We revealed
to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer.”(21:
73)
And to the Children of Israel
came the call from God to worship Him:
“Remember that
We made a solemn covenant with the Children of Israel: you
shall serve none but God. And do good to your parents and
keep up prayer.” (2: 83)
“And certainly God
made a covenant with the Children of Israel… and God
said:
Surly I am with you,
if you keep up prayer.” (5: 13)
Isma’il commanded his
people to observe prayer as the Qur’an tells us:
“And mention
Isma’il in the Book. Surely he was truthful in promise
and he enjoined on his people prayer.” (19: 54-55)
Luqman advised his son to
establish prayer as Qur’an stated:
“O my son, keep
up prayer and enjoin good and forbid evil.” (31:17)
Moses heard the voice of God
saying:
“O Moses, surely
I am your God… I am Allah, there is no deity but I,
so worship Me, and keep up prayer for My Remembrance.”
(20:11-14)
Mary was asked to worship
God as the Qur’an tells us:
“O Mary, worship
your Lord devoutly and humble yourself and bow down (in
prayer) with those who bow down (in prayer).” (3:43)
Jesus told his people:
“I am indeed
a servant of Allah. He has given me the Book and made me
a Messenger- and He has enjoined on me prayer and almsgiving
as long as I live.” (19:30-31)
Mohamed, the Prophet of Islam,
reminded the Muslims again and again of the importance of
prayer and called it a pillar of the religion.
Prayer is considered as the
foundation of the Islamic Faith. It is obligatory for all
adult Muslims, men and women. It is the direct link between
the believer and God. It should be performed with attention,
concentration, clear mind and a present heart.
The worshipper can perform
the Salah alone or with one’s fellow worshippers. But
Salah al Gom’ah, Friday prayer, and prayer on feasts,
must be performed with the other members of the congregation.
An Imam, leader, from among
the present worshippers, whose function is to synchronize
the recitation and movements of the worshippers, leads the
congregational Salah.
Any Muslim may lead the Salah
as Imam, provided his recitation of the Qur’an is correct.
The Imam, standing on the pulpit, also delivers a sermon before
the congregational Salah on Friday, in addition to the leading
of the prayer and the other duties.
So, performing prayers regularly
serves as a repeated reminder to the Muslims of their relationship
with the creator. Its purpose is to remind us that we belong
not only to ourselves but also to God. No matter how faithful
or conscientious we may be, such reminder is still essential.
(Continued
in Salah - the second of the five pillars of Islam Pt 2...)
| Authors Details: Fathy
Fares C/o spiritual.com.au |
(The
five pillars of Islam)
(Iman
- the first of the five pillars of Islam...)
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