PILLAR OF RELIGIOUS LIFE SALAT (PRAYER) PILLAR OF RELIGIOUS LIFE

OUTLINE Introduction Importance of Prayer The times of the Five Daily Prescribed Prayers Kinds of Prayer Adhan ( The Call to prayer ) Prophetic Sayings on SALAT Verses from the Holy QUR’AN

SALAT (Prayer), Pillar of Religious Life Since there is just the Creator and the Creation, there can only be one type of relationship between them ; this relationship is worship and prayer… The prescribed prayer prevents one from committing indecencies and other kinds of evil deeds (29:45). "The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their glorification. Truly, He is All-Clement, Most Forgiving." (17/44 )

Salat is the name for the daily prescribed prayers performed five times a day and the Jumu’a (Friday) prayer. It is the most important type of worship, for it displays a person’s sincerity and loyalty to God. In the words of God’s Messenger, it is the pillar or main support of religious life.

Importance of Prayer In prayer, there is comfort for the soul and mind. Nor is it difficult for the body With the right intention, all the deeds and conduct of one who prays become like worship. In this way, his little lifetime is spent for the sake of the eternal life in the other world An hour is enough for the prayers in a day. 23 hours for this world and 1 for here after and it is very profitable trade… By saying “You alone do we worship” and repeating “God is the Greatest” one becomes universal

Who is it applicable to? Prayer is obligatory upon every sane Muslim who has reached the age of puberty. Only women having their menstrual period or post-children bleeding do not perform it. No Priests There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person (Imam) who knows the Qur'an, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Qur'an, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's own language.

Where is it performed? It is permissible to pray at home, at work, or even outdoors however , it is meritorious to perform it with another or with a group. Friday Prayers The noon congregational prayer of Friday afternoon is mandated to be a collective and must be said in a Mosque, and is preceded by a sermon (Khutba).

The Meaning of SALAT (Prayer) Each salat stands for praising, glorifying, and feeling grateful to God. We glorify Him by saying subhan Allah (Glory be to God) by word and action in awareness of His Majesty. We exalt and magnify Him by saying Allahu akbar (God is the Greatest) through word and action in awareness of His Perfection. We offer thanks to Him by saying al-hamdu lillah (All Praise be to God) with our heart, tongue, and body, in awareness of His Grace. From this we conclude that the heart of prayer consists of glorification, exaltation, praise, and thanksgiving. Thus, these three phrases are present in every part of the prayers, in all the actions and words.

The times of the Five Daily Prescribed Prayers Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Establish the prayer at the beginning and the end of the day, and in the watches of night near to the day. Assuredly, good deeds wipe out evil deeds. This is advice and a reminder for the mindful who take heed. (Qur’an 11:114)

Five Times a Day The time of Fajr (the early morning) was appointed for the morning prayer. The time of Zuhr (just past midday) The time of ‘Asr (afternoon) The time of Maghrib (sunset) The time of ‘Isha (nightfall)

The Meaning of Different Prayer Times Each prayer time is the opening of a significant turning point, so also is each a mirror to Divine disposal of power and to the universal Divine bounties within that disposal. Thus, more glorification and extolling of the All-Powerful One of Glory have been ordered at those times, and more praise and thanks for all the innumerable bounties accumulated between each of the times, which is the meaning of the prescribed prayers

Kinds of Prayer Obligatory. The five daily prescribed prayers and the Jumu'a (Friday) prayer. Necessary (wajib). The 'Iyd (religious festive days) prayers and the with prayer Sunna (those performed or advised by the Prophet). Those performed before or after the daily prescribed prayers .Supererogatory and rewarded . Salat al-ishraq (performed some three quarters after sunrise), Salat al-duha (forenoon or broad daylight prayer, Salat al-awwabin (performed between the evening and late evening prayers), Salat al-tawba (performed before asking God to forgive us),etc…

An Audience with God Having faith, believers see in every event a door to the wealth of God’s Mercy, and knock on it via supplication. Realizing that their Lord and Sustainer controls everything, they take refuge in Him and place their trust in Him, and demonstrate their weakness and helplessness, humility and poverty by bowing humbly with the rest of the creation, saying: “Glory be to my Lord, the Mighty. ”. Prostrating in awareness of the undying Beauty and Grace of His Essence, His unchanging sacred Attributes, and His constant everlasting Perfection, they proclaim, through detachment from all that is not Him, their love and servanthood in wonder and self-abasement.

Adhan ( The Call to prayer ) The Adhan calls Muslims to prayer Even if one is performing the prayer alone, he or she is strongly advised to make it before beginning to pray. Words of Adhan; Allahu akbar (God is the Greatest) Ashhadu an la ilaha illa’llah (I bear witness that there is no deity but God) Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasululu’llah (I bear witness that Muhammad is God’s Messenger); Hayya ‘ala’s-salah (Come on, to prayer) Hayya ‘ala’l-falah (Come on, to salvation) Allahu akbar (God is the Greatest) La ilaha illa’llah (I bear witness that there is no deity but God)

Prophetic Sayings on SALAT "The five (daily) Salat (prayers) and the Friday (prayer) to the Friday (prayer) expiate whatever (minor sins) may be committed in between, so long as major sins are avoided.'' The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) asked his companions, "Say, if there were a river at the door of one of you in which he takes a bath five times a day, would any soiling remain on him?'' They replied, "No soiling would left on him.'' He (PBUH) said, '' That is the five (obligatory) Salat (prayers). Allah obliterates all sins as a result of performing them.''

Verses from the Holy QUR’AN “Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of God is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And God knows the (deeds) that ye do.” (Qur’an 29:45) “Glory be to God whenever you reach evening and whenever you rise in the morning. All praise is for Him in the heavens and on Earth in the late afternoon, and whenever you reach the noon.” (Qur’an 30:17-18)

SOURCES QURAN-I KERIM HADITH S OF MUHAMMED (PBUH) Daylami, al-Firdaws www.islam-usa.net www.dislam.org www.prayer4u.org