Importance of Salah

The importance of performing Salah and its virtues

Salah (prayer) is obligatory on every Muslim. Allah ﷻ mentions the importance of Salah in many verses in the Qur’aan. Allah ﷻ says:

فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا (سورة النساء: ١٠٣ )

“Establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers, a decree of specified times.” [Soorat an-Nissa:103]

حَـٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَـٰنِتِينَ (سورة البقرة: ٢٣٨ )

“Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle [i.e., ‘asr] prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient. [Soorat al-Baqarah: 238]

The Prophet ﷺ ranked the Salah as the second of the five pillars of Islam. It is a duty that is incumbent on every Muslim, male and female who has attained the age of puberty and has a sound mind.
Prayer purifies the soul, qualifies the Muslim for salvation in this life and the Hereafter and prevents him from doing evil deeds and immoral acts. Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan:

ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ (سورة العنكبوت :٤٥ )

“And establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing.” [Soorat al-Ankaboot: 45]

The prayer has a tremendous importance and virtue that carries a great reward with Allah The Prophet ﷺ said:

(مسلم) بين الرجل وبين الشرك والكفر ترك الصلاة

“Between the man and disbelief is the abandonment of the prayer.” Muslim

The hadeeth mentioned above further illustrate the absolute importance that has been attached to Salah. It is an act of worship that shows the true essence of Islam. Salah pronounces the greatness of Allah ﷻ and gives salutations of peace to all.

إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ ( سورة طه: ١٤ )

Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance. (Soorat Taahaa :14)

Many verses in the Qur’aan and many ahaadeeth carry a stern warning for those who abandon or delay the prayer from its correct time. Allah says:

فَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ (٤ ) ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ (سورة الماعون : ٤ , ٥)

“So woe to those who pray. [But] who are heedless of their prayer.” [socrat al-Maa’bon:4,5]

Allah ﷻ warns those who are unconcerned ir they miss prayers when no one sees them.
Allah ﷻ further cautions those who do not pray at the prescribed times as well. This is an indication of the importance of the Salah.
The hadeeth of the Prophet ﷺ also outlines the importance of the Salah to a Muslim. The Prophet said:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنْ نَهَرَا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسًا مَا تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ يُبقِي مِنْ دَرَتِهِ قَالُوا لَا يُبقِي مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْئًا قَالَ فَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ يَمْحُو اللَّهِ بِهِ الْخَطَايَا (مسلم)

“The Holy Prophet Mohammed ﷺ once asked his companions “Tell me if there wase a river at the door step of one of you in washed five times a day would any of your dirt remain?” When Holy Prophet Mohammad ﷺ received the reply that none of it would remain he then said “That is like the five times Salah, which Allah wipes out sin.” [Muslim]

The ahaadeeth and verses that have been included clearly show the importance that Allah ﷻ and the Prophet ﷺ attach to the Salah. A Muslim will never gain the satisfaction of Allah ﷻ
unless he/she performs Salah at its given time. The Salah is also an act of worship that guarantees success in the Hereafter for the believer. As the hadeeth mentions, the sins of a Muslim will also be eradicated if he tums to prayer five times a day. It is clear the regular performance of Salah will lead to complete happiness in this life and in the Hereafter.

Salah (prayer) is obligatory (compulsory) on every Muslim.

Learning from the lesson

Salah is one of the most important pillars of Islam.
Muslims are wamed not to neglect the Salah.
Salah, performed with correct ablution and sincerity will erase all sins, except for major ones
Salah cleanses a Muslim spiritually.
A Muslim will be asked about his Salah first on the Day of Judgment.