Salah (also salat in Urdu)
is the ritual prayer practised
by Muslims in supplication
to God. The term is commonly
used to refer to the five
daily prayers, which are
compulsory upon all mature
Muslims. Salah is considered
the most important act of
worship in Islam and its
importance is such that
under no circumstances can
it be omitted.
Salah is one of the Five
Pillars of Islam in Sunni
Islam and one of the ten
Practices of the Religion
in Shia Islam. In central
and south Asian languages
such as Persian, Urdu, Hindi
and Turkic languages it
is commonly known by the
term namaz.
The person performing salah
is termed a musallee while
the traditional prayer mat
used to perform the prayers
on is called a musalla.
Purpose
he purpose of
salat is primarily to
act as an individual's
communion with God. It
enables one to stand in
front of God, thank and
praise Him, and ask for
Him to show one the "right
path" (as mentioned
in sura al-Fatihah which
is recited in every prayer).
In addition, the daily
ritual prayers serve as
a constant reminder to
Muslims that they should
be grateful for God's
blessings. It ensures
that every Muslim prioritises
Islam over all other concerns,
thereby revolving their
life around God and submitting
to His will. Prayer also
serves as a formal method
of God's remembrance.
In the Qur'an it is mentioned
that:
"The true believers
are those who feel a fear
in their hearts (of the
consequences of violating
the commands of God) when
God is mentioned. And
when His Revelations are
recited to them, they
find their faith strengthened.
They do their best and
then put their trust in
their Lord." (8:2)
and also:
"Whose hearts are
filled with fear (of the
consequences of violating
the commands of God) when
God is mentioned..."
(22:35)
The salat is also mentioned
as a means to keep the
believer safe from social
wrong and moral deviancy
(Qur'an 29:45).
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