Importance of Salah according to Quran and Hadith | Second pillar of Islam

Salah is the second pillar of Islam after Shahadah (Faith). Muslims are required to pray five times a day. Being a Muslim it is obligatory on us to offer Salah five times daily. The prayers spread throughout the day at dawn, around noon, afternoon, sunset and in the evening. Salah has to be offered at the specific times mentioned above.

Salah establish a direct relation of the believer to the creator Almighty Allah.  When Muslim prays no matter alone or in the congregation, they are standing in front of Allah Almighty without any discrimination.  When Muslims pray in the congregation they all stand together and at that time all are equal no matter how rich or poor is the one.

Muslims start their day by cleaning themselves and then standing before their Lord Allah Almighty in prayer. The prayers or Salah consists of recitations from the Quran in Arabic and a sequence of movements like standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. All recitations and movements express submission, humility, and loyalty to Allah Almighty.

The Salah play a role of reminder throughout the day to help keep believers mindful of Allah Almighty in the daily stress of work, family, and distractions of life. Prayer also strengthens faith, dependence on Allah, and puts daily life within the perspective of life to come after death and the last judgment that will not be going to end ever.

Yet the individual performance of salah is acceptable, but performing salah in congregation in the mosque has the special value that’s why Muslims are encouraged to perform certain salah with others in the congregation. There are many verses in Holy Quran that describe the importance of Salah some of them are given below:

Allah Almighty says in Holy Quran: “Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish Regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without the doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do.” (Quran, 29:45)

In another verse, Allah Almighty says: “And be steadfast in prayer; practice regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship).” (Quran, 2:43)

“They are not all the same; among the followers of the scripture, there are those who are righteous. They recite God’s revelations through the night while prostrating.” (Quran, 3:113)

Allah Almighty says about real friends and relate them with offering salah in Holy Quran in these words: “Your (real) friends are (no less than) Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers,- those who establish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow down humbly (in worship).” (Quran, 5:55)