The Importance of Salah

Salat, namaaz, or prayer, is the second pillar of Islam and should be a very important thing in a Muslim's life. I'm sad to see that some people ignore the importance of salat, and do not pray, or they only pray when they remember to do it. The prayer should be performed 5 times a day, we are obliged to do it. It's our duty, and it's a mercy from Allah (SWT). Normally a prayer will only take 5-10 minutes to perform and there is no good reason to not do it, and make sure your wudu (ablution) is always valid.

Prophet Muhammed (SAW) said: "The key to Paradise is prayer and the key to prayer is cleanliness (Ablution.)" [Tirmidhi, narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah]


Wudu

Before you start washing your body, make the intention of performing wudu for prayer and say "Bismillah (ar-rahman ar-rahim.)"

Then follow these steps:

1. Wash hands: Wash the right hand three times first, followed by washing the left hand three times
2. Rinse water in the mouth and sniff water in the nose: This is done three times
3. Wash the face: Done three times
4. Was forearms: Wash the right arm up to the elbow first three times, followed by making the same on the left arm
5. Wipe water over head/hair: This should be done from the front of the head to the back, and then back to the front.
6. Wipe the ears inside to outside: Made one time, both at the same time
7. Wash feet: Wash the right foot first up to the ankle three times, followed by the left foot. Make sure that you get water between your toes as well.

After you finish you may say shahadah: "Ashadu anla ilaha ila allah, washadu anna Muhammedan rasolallah."

A prayer is only valid if the wudu is performed in the right way, and cleanliness is very important in Islam

What invalidates wudu?

1. Going to the toilet
2. Passing gas
3. Sexual relations
4. Touching one's private parts with no barrier (cloth)

What doesn't invalidates it?

1. People with unusual circumstances (can't control their urine, women with prolonged flows of blood etc.)
2. Vomiting
3. Drinking and eating
4. Kissing a mahram


Excempted from prayer:
1. Menstruating women
2. People that are ill
3. Travelers


Ghusl (bath)
Performing ghusl is mandatory for being able to pray, after women have had their menses or you have had sexual relations. Ghusl means you need to wash and clean all of your body.

Tayammum (dry wudu)

If there is no water available at all, you may perform wudu by using earth and/or sand, and the prayer will be accepted.


What do you need to do to have a valid prayer?

First you need to make wudu, after this you must find a clean place and stand facing the qiblah (direction towards Kaaba in Mecca). Your clothes must be clean and women must cover all their body except the hands and the face. The clothes should be loose. Men must (at least) cover the area between the navel and the knees, though covering more is preferable. You also need the intention to perform prayer, and which prayer you want to perform.

El fagr consists of 2 rakats (prayer units) and should be prayed at dawn.
El dhuhr consists of 4 rakats and is the noon prayer.
El 'asr has 4 rakats and is prayed in the afternoon.
El maghrib has 3 rakats and is prayed at sunset.
El 'isha has 4 rakats and is prayed in the night.

If anyone wonder how they can perform salat right, you can check this here.

Picture: Google

Hearing the azan

When a believer hears the azan (call to prayer), he should repeat what the muazzin says, except when he says "hayya 'alas-salah" and "hayya 'ala-al-falah". Upon hearing this the Muslim should say "Laa hawla w laa quwwata 'illa billaah. (There is no might and no power except by Allah.) After the azan has finished, you should recite Allah's blessings on the Prophet. Then you should perform wudu and offer the prayer. It is NOT good to delay the prayer, except when it's really necessary. You can read an inspiring story about this here.


Benefits of Salah

After a person has offered the prayer, he will feel comfortable and he will have peace and tranquility inside. He knows that he has performed his duty, he knows that he has shown his love for his creator, he knows that when he performs what Allah (SWT) has ordained for him, then Allah (SWT) will help him in his daily life, forgive him, bless him and give him what he wishes for. Prayer can help to strengthen a person, and increase his faith and awareness of the Hereafter. It reminds him that this world is only temporary, and that his deeds and actions will be judged. He will be reminded to act good and interact with other people politely. Salat is also a moment to forget worldly business and ask Allah (SWT) for help and guidance. Remember, your prayers are the first thing that will be counted on the Day of Resurrection. If you have prayed all your prayers, remembered Allah (SWT), tried to act good, and when a mistake has been made, asked for forgiveness, you will enter Jannah inshaAllah.

"The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." [Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami vol 1, p. 503]

"Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds." - Quran al-ankaboot: 45

"If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?" The people said: "No filth would remain on him whatsoever." The Prophet (SAW) then said: "That is like the five daily prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

These hadiths and the quote from the Quran kareem clearly states the importance of prayer. There is no excuse to not perform it five times a day. If you are one of those who pray, I'm happy for that and may you continue in this way and never leave the prayer inshaAllah, but are you of those who do not pray; Remember, it is never too late to repent to Allah (SWT) and ask for His forgiveness, and then start praying. Prayer is worship and worshiping your Lord is what is the most important in life. Then Allah (SWT) will stand by you and help you, both in this life and the Hereafter. Prayer is just a small thing we can do to show our gratitude to Allah (SWT).

Allah (SWT) knows best.

The Five Pillars of Islam

The pillars of Islam are the most basic in the religion, and anyone wanting to understand Islam, needs to understand these pillars. This article is supposed to inform Non-Muslims about these pillars, but also to remind Muslims about their duties and responsibilities. I'm always talking to myself before I talk to others, meaning, I remind myself before I have the right to remind others.

Sadly, when I look around the world, I see people who are only Muslim by name. That is, they call themselves Muslim but they do not pray nor fast properly in Ramadan, and sometimes they also don't think about giving zakat (alms.) What makes a person a real Muslim? I will try to discuss this further later, in another post, but what I want to say now is that if you don't act according to the five pillars of Islam, you can't really call yourself Muslim. Belief and actions are supposed to fulfill each other. The word "Islam" means both submission and peace. Submission to the will of Allah (SWT) and when you are Muslim and make this, you will also feel peace and tranquility inside yourself, which is a huge blessing.

So, what are the five pillars of Islam? And what do they mean?
They come as follow:


1. SHAHADAH

Meaning the creed. The shahadah is usually pronounced in Arabic by the words: Ashadu anla ilaha illa allah, wa ashadu anna Muhammadan rasolallah. By this you are stating that "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammed is His messenger." When the shahadah is said, it should come straight from the heart and be said with firm belief and assurance. These words should be repeated regularly during the day, and they are always pronounced in the prayers. These words can also be said if you are angry (anger comes from Shaitan) to try to make yourself calm down, they should be said whenever you remember Allah (SWT), they should be said after wudhu (ablution for prayer) and the ideal would be to say it right before one's death. However, that is easier said than done. The important is that we always try to remember Allah (SWT) in everything we do, and these words can work as a reminder to us for our responsibilities.


2. SALAH

Meaning prayer. The five daily prayers are obligatory for every Muslim and they are performed at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and evening. Their names are as follows; Fagr, Dhuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib and 'Isha, consisting of different numbers of rakats. A person should always be careful in completing the wudhu in a proper way, have clean clothes and offer the prayer on a clean place. Because the name of Allah (SWT) is pure, and we should do our best to stand respectable in front of Allah (SWT) while praying. Prayer gives us a break from our daily life and brings us closer to Allah (SWT). A Muslim sincere in his prayer will be heard, and Allah (SWT) will forgive his sins and grant him his wishes. It will also lead you to salvation, because prayer is the first thing that will be counted on the Day of Resurrection. The prayers are a great opportunity to leave your worldly business and think about your Creator and the Hereafter. Salat will also remind you of Allah (SWT) and your duties, and make you focus in doing good deeds, and you will feel tranquility inside after the prayer is offered.


3. SAWM

Meaning fasting. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is prescribed for every Muslim meaning we must abstain from food, drink, sexual intercourse and smoking from dawn to dusk. This month is a great blessing from Allah (SWT) to bring us closer to him and this month is a spiritual journey. Everyone should offer supererogatory prayers during this time and show gratitude to Allah (SWT). It's also a way to remind us of the needy in this world who are not as fortunate as we are. Ramadan is also the time to visit family more often and spend time with them, learn more about Islam and try to read through all of the Quran kareem. Muslims should also try to control themselves better and refrain from anger, envy, greed, violence and bad language. Ramadan is supposed to be an example of how we should act throughout all of the year. Fasting is obligatory for all Muslims except pregnant women, elderly, ill, travelers and menstruating women, because fasting can be dangerous for these groups of people. Islam oughts to make it easy for everyone.


4. ZAKAH

Meaning alms. Muslims should spend 2, 5 % of their wealth on poor and needy people, this includes slaves, debtors and travelers. Their intention should be in spending these money for the sake of Allah (SWT) and when this is done, Allah (SWT) will increase your reward in the Hereafter. Everything that is spent for good purposes in this world, will increase your reward later. Zakat is supposed to cure you from greed and to remind you that all your wealth belongs to Allah (SWT) but He has given you responsibility over it, and made you able to use them. In eid al-Adha, the second Muslim feast, those who have the means and can afford it, slaughter an animal (a sheep, goat or cow) and distribute the meat among the poor. This is also a way to show gratitude to Allah (SWT) and appreciate what he has given you.


5. HAJJ

Meaning pilgrimage. Hajj should be performed at least one time during your lifetime, and this is a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi-Arabia, to the Kaaba. After a Muslim has performed this, all his previous sins are forgiven and he can start a new chapter in his life. He or she will be known as a hajj/hajja in the Muslim community. However, the important in Hajj, is that the Muslim do this only for Allah (SWT) and to seek His pleasure, and devote himself to Allah (SWT). His intentions must be purely for the sake of Allah (SWT) and not for gaining e.g. social status. Both men and women are obliged to perform Hajj.


CONCLUSION

Now I've shortly explained the five pillars of Islam and their meaning, and Allah (SWT) made all of this obligatory for us to help us to become better persons and better Muslims, to improve the world and to use our means in a positive and good way. He wants to help us to achieve our goals, not just in this life, but also in the Hereafter, and help us to salvation and peace. If a person makes all of these pillars, he will gain the pleasure of Allah (SWT) and then other things in his life will also be easy, and if he focuses in performing all of this, especially the prayers, he will regularly be reminded why he was created and why he is in this world.

Allah (SWT) knows best.