Salah is the second of the five pillars of Islam and is considered an act of worship. It is also known as Prayer or Salat, where Muslims are required to pray five times a day, which is believed to help them connect with Allah and strengthen their spiritual foundation. Performing Salah is a part of the daily lives of a muslim, as it allows them to seek guidance and ask for forgiveness at certain times of day. One must ensure to focus and concentrate while performing Salah to feel the presence of Allah. Scroll down below to learn more about Salah, the steps for performing it and how it helps a person connect directly to Allah.
Earlier, Muslims were commanded to pray fifty times a day, but through the mediation of Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him), it was reduced to five times a day. Later, Salah was turned into an obligatory act by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in the 7th century. During the Prophet’s night journey, Al Isra’ wal Miraj, he rose to the heavens to meet early prophets and received the command to pray. Since then, Salah has become a core element in the life of every Muslim, symbolising it as a connection between them and Allah.
Significance of Performing Salah
Salah is a crucial part of the daily lifestyle of Muslims, as through prayer, they establish a direct connection with Allah by reciting verses from the Holy Quran, the Shahadah, and Allah’s attributes. Not only does it help one connect with Allah, but it also helps in the purification of the soul, strengthens faith in Allah, attains mental peace, and much more.
Performing Salah helps in attaining Allah’s eternal blessing, as it is stated in Surah Ash-Shura 42:36-38 “فَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَمَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ وَالَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ” meaning that Whatever you have been given is enoyment for this worly life, but the life with Allah is better and more lasting for those who rely on Allah. Those who avoid the great sins and lewdness, and when they are angry, they forgive. Those who have responded to their Allah and established prayer, and whose affairs are determined by consultation among themselves and who spend of what We have bestowed on them.
Benefits of Performing Salah
At the time of performing Salah, besides gaining spiritual growth, you also get many other benefits in terms of the social, mental and physical states. Scroll below to learn about the benefits of performing salah.
Spiritual Benefits
- You will find a divine connection being developed between you and Allah while praying the namaz five times a day.
- You will find your moral ground strong, which will protect you from committing any sins.
Social Benefits
- Praying in Jama’ah (congregation) helps strengthen the bond with the community, fostering support, unity, and friendship.
- Create moral awareness by praying namaz five times a day in a regular manner to share the spiritual responsibility with others.
Mental Benefits
- Performing Salah helps in reducing stress, depression and anxiety and helps you focus on the present.
- Performing Salah enables you to find emotional stability and achieve a sense of relief.
Physical Benefits
- During Salah, your whole body functions, providing exercise that is beneficial for posture, blood circulation and flexibility.
- Your nervous system gets relaxed while breathing deeply during praying, while prostrating and bowing.
Conditions for Performing the Salah
In order to perform the Salah, certain conditions must first be met. Here are the nine conditions that must be met before starting the Salah.
- The first condition is Islaam and not to be a disbeliever (Kufr), and one must have faith in Allah.
- The second condition is Aql (Sanity), as Allah will not consider the deeds performed by an insane person.
- The third condition is Tamyeez (Age of Maturity), as once a child reaches the age of 7 years, he/she shall start praying.
- The fourth condition is Raf’-ul-Hadath (Uplifting Ritual Impurity) by purifying themselves through Tahaarah, that is, free from every ritual impurity.
- The fifth condition is izaalat-un-Najaasah (Removing Filth), ensuring that you pray in a clean body, clean garments and in a clean space.
- The sixth condition is Sitr-ul-’Awrah (Covering the Awrah), meaning to cover the body parts while praying. For men, their body from the navel to the knee must be covered, and as for women, their entire body must be covered, except for their face.
- The seventh condition is Dukhool-ul-Waqt (Entrance of the Proper Time), signifying the importance of offering prayers within a specific time interval.
- The eighth condition is Istiqbaal-ul-Qiblah (Facing the Ka’bah), which is followed by Muslims around the world, signifying their unity and prayer, as they face that direction.
- The ninth condition is An-Niyyah (The Intention), which signifies the purpose behind the prayer, which must be directed towards Allah.
Steps for Performing the Salah
To perform the Salah, a series of steps must be followed to offer your prayers to Allah. Here are the steps to perform the Salah:
Step 1: Make your intention to pray
Step 2: Lift your hands till your ears and say “Allahu Akbar”, meaning Allah is the Greatest.
Step 3: Keep your hands over your naval, placing your right hand over your left hand.
Step 4: Focus your eyes straight at the ground and read a dua.
Step 5: Recite the opening chapter from the holy Quran, Surah Al-Fatiha, starting with “A’auodu billaahi minash-shaytaanir rajeem”.
Step 6: Bow down to perform the ruku, and while bowing down, say “Allahu Akbar”. Once completely bent, say “Subhanna rabbeeyal adheem” three times.
Step 7: Stand up, bring your hands close to your ears and say “Samee Allahu leeman hameeda”
Step 8: Perform the sujud and while kneeling, say “Allahu Akbar”
Step 9: While in Sujud, say the phrase “Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem” three times.
Step 10: Rise up and sit for a moment, ask for forgiveness from Allah, or you can also say a dua.
Step 11: Again, perform sujud
Step 12: Return to standing position
Step 13: Perform Tashahud after completing two rakah.
Praying to Allah following the correct steps, you shall fear nothing on the day of judgement, as quoted in Surah Baqarah 2:277 “إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ”, meaning Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds and established prayer and given zakah will have their reward from their Allah. Also, they will have no fear to concern them, nor will they grieve.
5 Daily Prayers of Islam
Muslims pray five times a day, and each Salah is made up of rakahs, also referred to as units of prayer. There is a part when you are standing, a part when you recite from the Quran, a part when you bow down and a part when you make sujud. Based on the time of offering Salah, the rakah differs.
| Fajr | Dawn | Two rakah |
| Dhuhr | Morning | Four rakah |
| Asr | Between noon and sunset | Four rakah |
| Maghrib | After sunset | Three rakah |
| Isha | Night | Four rakah |
Conclusion:
Thus, Salah is seen to be a crucial part in the daily lives of Muslims that helps them connect to Allah. Praying five times a day within the allocated timeframe will help in completing the Salah properly. Also, do not forget to consider the nine conditions for performing the Salah. Praying during Umrah is also regarded as a sacred act, which is recommended to be done at least once in a lifetime. Check out our Umrah packages or get one customised by contacting our travel expert.
FAQs
The five obligatory daily prayers are referred to as Salah.
The nine conditions of Salah are Islaam, Sanity, Age of Maturity, Uplifting Ritual Impurity, Removing Filth, Covering the Awrah, Entrance of the Proper Time, Facing the Ka'bah and the Intention.
Yes, it is mandatory to perform Salah five times a day.
