2 Salah(formal prayer)
Prayer is probably the central practice that shapes the daily routine and consciousness of a Muslim. There are two words in Arabic that can be translated as ‘prayer’ in English. The word ‘du'aa’ means supplication; you ask God to fulfill a specific need of this life or the hereafter. This action is such a fundamental part of the relationship between the worshipper and his Creator and the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Du'aa is worship.” The Quran orders the Prophet to tell the disbelievers,
“My Lord would not concern Himself with you but for your prayer.”
The other word for prayer, ‘salaah’ originally meant the same thing as du'aa. However, it came to have a more specific meaning in Islam. It is a series of postures in which Qur’an is recited and Allah is praised and supplicated. The primary purpose of salaah is to instill God-consciousness in the individual. Allah said in the Qur’an:
“Establish prayer for My remembrance.”
Remembrance of God nurtures the heart. It is the true means of happiness. God said,
“Verily, it is by the remembrance of Allah that hearts find contentment.”
When the heart falls into neglect of God, Satan establishes control over it. Sins become attractive and faith weakens. Remembrance of God is the antidote. That is why the Quran says,
“Establish regular prayer: for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life).”
Muslims pray five times a day. The prayers are scheduled at times that people fulfill some physical need. Prayer at such times prevents people from becoming overly focussed on their immediate worldly needs. It is a reminder that God is the Provider, the Sustainer and Fulfiller of all our needs. The first prayer comes about an hour before sunrise. It is a time when the body wants to keep sleeping. To overcome inertia in order to stand and remember the Creator requires a struggle against one’s self. To do so on a daily basis is very effective training for the self to submit to the will of God. The second prayer comes around the time one would stop work to eat lunch. In addition to feeding one’s body, one should also feed one’s soul. The third prayer comes around the time people are taking tea or heading home from work. The fourth prayer is at a time when most people are eating dinner. The fifth prayer is at a time when one is winding down, getting ready to sleep.
When I first started learning about Islam, the regular prayer was one of the most attractive aspects of the religion to me. I had had a feeling for some time that I needed to do something to acknowledge my indebtedness to God for giving me life and to express gratitude to Him for sustaining me. The Islamic form of prayer immediately struck me as an answer to this need.