Salah was the first command in Islam, it was the last will of the Prophet (SAW), and it is the first act that we will be judged by on the Day of Judgement.

Importance of Salah in the life of every Muslim:

 

1. Salah is an act of worship: It is not a custom. It is not a ritual. It is very special. It has no equal. It has no alternative. There are no excuses, even when you are ill, on a journey or even in a war.

 

2. Salah is the second and most important pillar of Islam.

 

3. Salah is a practical sign of obedience to the commands of Allah. It is the practical proof of our faith in Allah and Islam.

 

4. Salah is the only distinction between a Mo’min and a non-Mo’min.

 

5. Salah reminds you of Allah (SWT), when you get up in the morning, it reminds you three more times when you are busy during the day, and once again before you go to bed.

 

6. Salah is a direct contact or link between the worshipper and Allah with no earthly intermediaries. It is the Me’raaj of a Mo’min.

 

7. Salah builds a strong defence against evils which exist around us. It is said in the Holy Qur’an that, surely, Salah keeps you away from indecency and evil. This is why the prayer is described as “remembrance” to Allah (SWT).

 

8. Salah wipes out our sins: Prophet Muhammad (SAAWS) once asked his companions “Tell me if there was a river at the door step of one of you in which you washed 5 times a day would any of your dirt remain?” When he received the reply that none of it would remain he then said “That is like the 5 times Salah, with which Allah (SWT) wipes out sin.

 

10. Salah was the last will of the Prophet (SAAWS). As his soul departed he said with his last breaths: As-Salah, As-Salah.

 

11. Salah is the first thing that a person is judged by on the Day of Judgement. If it was good, the rest of all his deeds will be good. But if it was poor, the rest of all his deeds will be poor.

 

Allah says in Quran:

 

“Pray to me and I will hear your prayer” Quran ( Quran 40:60).

Salah is obligatory on every Muslim. Among all the wonderful benefits of praying, here is why Prayer is so important a deed in Islam:

Allah Is With Those Who Pray

 

“Oh ye who believe! Seek help with perseverance and prayer: for God is with those who patiently persevere (Quran 11:153)

 

Prayer Leads to Taqwa

 

“This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guidance for those who have taqwa; who believe in the unseen, and who establish Salah, and spend out of what we have provided for them” (Quran 2: 2-3)

Prayer Is a Believer’s Deed

“The believers, men and women, are protecting friends of one another; they enjoin good and forbid evil, and they establish Salah, and give Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them, and surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Quran 9: 71)

 

Prayer Results in Allah’s Blessings

 

“So whatever you have been given is but (a passing) enjoyment for this worldly life, but that which is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord. And those who avoid the great sins and lewdness, and when they are angry, they forgive. And those who answer the Call of their Lord, and perform the Salah, and who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation, and who spend of what We have bestowed on them.” (Quran 42:36-38)

 

Prayer Reward in Akhirat

 

“Truly, those who believe and do righteous deeds, and perform Salah, and give Zakah, they will have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Quran 2:277)

Prayers Keep You In Connection With the Almighty

 

“When have finished performing the Salah, remember Allah standing, sitting, and reclining, but when you are free from danger, perform the Salah. Surely, Salah is enjoined on the believers at fixed times.” (Quran 4:103)

 

Command of Allah to Observe Prayers

 

“Guard strictly the Salah, especially the middle Salah. And stand before Allah with obedience.” (Quran 2:238)

 

Prayers Are A Way To Seek Allah’s Help

 

“Oh you who believe! Seek help through patience and Salah. Truly, Allah is with those who are patient.” (2:153)

 

Importance of Friday Prayer

 

“Oh you who believe! When the call is made for the Salah on Friday, come to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is better for you, if you only knew! And when the Salah has ended, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allah, and remember Allah much so that you may be successful.” (Quran 62:09-10)

 

Prayer Prevents From Satan

 

“Shaytaan desires only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from Salah. So will you then not abstain

(from these evils)?” (Quran 5:91)

 

Prayer Saves from Troubles

 

“Recite that which has been revealed to you of the Book, and perform Salah. Verily, Salah prevents from lewdness and evils. And indeed, the remembrance of Allah (by you) is greatest. And Allah knows what you do.” (Quran 29:45)

 

Only Those Who Pray Can Be Your Good Friends

 

“Indeed, your protecting friend (Wali) is none other than Allah, His Messenger, and the Believers who establish Salah, and give Zakat, and bow down (in prayer). (Quran 5: 55)

 

Prayer and Women

 

“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform Salah, and give Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove uncleanness from you, Oh people of the House, and to purify you with a thorough purification.” (Quran 33:33)

 

Not Observing Prayer Is a Hypocrite’s Act

 

“Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He who deceives them; When they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness, only to be seen by men; and they do not remember Allah but a little.” (Quran 4:142)

 

Leaving Prayer Causes Kufr

 

“(And remain always) turning to Him (only), and be fearful and dutiful towards Him, and perform Salah and be not of those who commit Shirk.” (Quran 30: 31)

 

Leaving Prayers Destroys A Nation!

 

“Then, there came after them a generation who gave up Salah and followed lusts; so they will be thrown in Hell.” (Quran 19: 59)

 

The importance of Salah in Hadith

 

Narrated AbuHurayrah (RAA) Rasulullah (SAW) said: Five prayers and from one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer is an expiation (of the sins committed in between their intervals) if major sins are not committed. (Sahih Muslim Book 2, Number 0448)

 

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on him?” They said, “Not a trace of dirt would be left.” The Prophet added, “That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 1, Book 10, Hadith # 506)

 

Narrated Uthman ibn Affan (RAA) Rasulullah (SAW) at the time of our returning from our prayer told us (certain things pertaining to purification).

He said: I do not know whether I should tell you a thing or keep quiet. We said: Rasulullah, tell us if it is good and if it is otherwise, Allah and Messenger (SAW) know better. Upon this, he said: A Muslim who purifies (himself) and completes purification as enjoined upon him by Allah and then offers the prayers, that will be expiation (of his sins he committed) between these (prayers). (Sahih Muslim Book 2, Hadith # 0444)

 

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah (RAA) Rasulullah (SAW) said: The similitude of five prayers is like an overflowing river passing by the gate of one of you in which he washes five times daily. Hasan said: No filthiness can remain on him. (Sahih Muslim Book 4, Hadith # 1411)

 

May Allah make us amongst those who are steadfast in their Salah.