Exploring The Significance And Benefits of the 5 Daily Prayers In Islam
As Muslims, from our earliest days, we’re introduced to the daily five prayers as an obligation that we must fulfill no matter what, and it is a fundamental truth. However, we often overlook the profound significance and invaluable benefits these five daily prayers bestow us.
Being a Human, we naturally gravitate towards activities that offer us benefits and positive outcomes. This inclination to seek what enhances our lives stems from our inherent desire for well-being and fulfillment. Therefore, talking more about the significance and benefits of the five daily prayers is essential.
Engaging in such discussions will assist anyone striving to improve their deen. Whether you are a child, adult or even revert, it will encourage you to willingly embrace this practice.
So, let’s get started with our article, where we’ll explore the significance and benefits of the five prayers in Islam. A must-read for anyone and everyone who’s on the pathway to improve their deen.
An introduction to the five daily prayers
Muslims worldwide pray Salah five times a day, holding immense significance as it’s one of the most important obligations of the Islamic faith. Each of the five prayers varies regarding the required “rakats” and designated time. Below are the names of each prayer, along with the corresponding “rakats” and timing. This information can serve as guidance, particularly if you are new to the concept of Salah.
- The Fajar Salah
The Fajar salah initiates the day’s prayers, with its timings spanning from dawn to just before sunrise. You have to pray four rakats, separated into two sets of two rakats each. The first two rakats are performed as sunnat, followed by the later two rakats served as fard.
- The Zuhar Salah
Zuhar salah is the second prayer of the day, and its timing begins in the afternoon when the sun has crossed its highest point in the sky. Twelve rakats are performed: four as sunnat, four as fard, and the last two as sunnat. There are also two rakats of nafal that you can offer. Nafal rakats means they are optional but rewarding.
- The Asar Salah
Salat al Asar, the third prayer of the day, is offered when the sun is halfway between noon and sunset. There are eight rakats in the Asar prayer. The first four rakats are performed as sunnat non-mokadda (no sin if you leave these rakats, but rewarding if you do). The other four rakats are offered as fard.
- The Maghrib Salah
The fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib, is offered immediately after sunset. This prayer consists of seven rakats distributed among three fard rakats, two sunnat rakats, and two nafal rakats. It is important to note that the Maghrib prayer should be performed promptly as the sun sets and before darkness falls.
- The Isha Salah
The final prayer of the day is called Salat al Isha, and its timing begins after nightfall and continues until the dawn of Fajar. Isha prayer has seventeen rakats; the first four rakats are performed as sunnat non-mokadda, followed by four rakats of fard, two rakats of sunnat, two rakats of nafal and finally, three rakats of Witr.
Mentioned above are the five obligatory prayers that you must offer without any exception.
Why is performing the five daily prayers important in Islam?
In Islam, performing Salah five times a day is not just an obligation but a vital cornerstone of the faith. Its significance can be understood by its position as the second most fundamental pillar of Islam, right after bearing witness to the oneness of Allah (Tauheed).
Furthermore, Allah bestowed upon the Muslim Ummah the blessings of five daily prayers, a divine gift granted during the celestial journey of Isra and Mairaj. One can notice how Allah revealed the holy Quran for the guidance of Muslims on Earth; however, the bestowal of Salah occurred during the miraculous ascent of our Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) through the Heavens.
What are the benefits of performing the five daily prayers?
Salah is the physical act of remembering Allah five times a day, where we prioritize Him over other day-to-day tasks. It’s a profound means of communication and an opportunity to detach from worldly matters for a while and seek solace in Him. This act leads us to multiple benefits that signify its obligation. Here are the benefits;
- Praying Salah reminds us of the day of judgment and the afterlife.
On the day of judgment, you’ll be asked the first question about your daily five prayers. Amidst the hustle of everyday life, you often overlook that another life awaits you after death. The afterlife, where you’ll be held accountable for your actions in this world. In this context, our daily five prayers remind us to be conscious of our deeds.
- Praying Salah is a form of remembering Allah
Allah mentions in the Quran in Surah ar-Ra’d;
“Those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah”
That’s why when you remember Him, you find tranquility and peace, and the heart feels at ease. Each prayer we perform reminds us that Allah is the greatest of all. He is the greatest of the worries we have in mind, the fear we possess, and the insecurities we’re carrying in our hearts. Our Prophet Muhammad ( Peace Be Upon Him) once said,
“There are three things that have been made dear to me from the world: women, perfume and prayer; however, I find my comfort in prayers” (Nasai, Ishratun- Nisa, 1)
As Muslims, we’re supposed to love what our Prophet ( Peace Be Upon Him) loved. Thus, we should also love performing our daily five prayers to prove our love for Allah and His Prophet ( Peace Be Upon Him)
- Praying Salah purifies our solve and refrains us from committing sins.
In surah Al-Ankabut, Allah says;
“And keep up prayer, surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.”
When you pray, it means you’re standing in front of Allah, and it’s the time when you meet your creator. Thus, you should not do something that takes away the essence of meeting your Lord and remember Him whenever you think about sinning. By praying five times daily, you purify your soul every time you stand before Him. Each prayer you perform is the chance to ask His forgiveness for your previous wrongdoings. Additionally, since you must pray again, you’ll be more likely to not sin out of your love and fear of Allah.
- Praying Salah improves our character.
Performing Salah brings you closer to Allah and encourages you to be a better Muslim. As we discussed earlier, you must stand in front of your God five times daily, making you fearful of committing a sin. You remember Him in every act you perform. Being so close to Allah encourages you to avoid other bad deeds, and you get a chance to improve your overall character.
- Praying Salah brings purity and cleanliness.
Every time you offer prayer, you must make ablution, which involves purifying specific body parts from impurities and dirt. This practice encourages attentiveness to one’s clothing and body and to the cleanliness of your home, where you’ll be praying most of the time. Over time, this practice instills a habit of personal and environmental cleanliness, a virtuous act.
Offering the five daily prayers provides physical and spiritual cleaning and a pathway to improve your deen.
On one occasion, our Prophet Muhammad (Peach Be Upon Him) asked his companions;
“If someone had a flowing stream right outside their door and bathed in it five times a day, do you believe any impurity would remain on their body? They responded, “No, there wouldn’t be any impurity left.” The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) then responded: “Similar is the effect of daily five prayers: Allah wipes away the sins through them” (al-Bukhari and Muslim).
How do we become consistent with performing the daily five prayers?
Despite having challenges praying five times daily, a true Muslim always reflects and strives to get back on his deen. Here are some tips that’ll help you progress on consistently performing your prayers.
- The first step is to understand the essence and significance of the five daily prayers in Islam.
- Set an alarm before the prayer time and prepare for Salah in advance, like performing the ablution/wudu and wearing clean clothes.
- Find yourself a partner who can accompany you to the Mosque while praying.
- Treat Salah as a priority and customize your schedule according to the daily prayers. So you can offer prayer on time without comprising other tasks on your to-do list.
- Combine Salah with other Islamic acts such as reciting the Quran, doing Zikr, and listening to Islamic lectures to get motivated about performing Salah.
- Lastly, make Dua for yourself and ask for Allah’s assistance regulating your daily prayers. You are closer to Allah while performing Salah, so every Dua you make will come true.
If you view the daily five prayers as a hassle imposed on you, it’ll be challenging to maintain. However, this perspective of yours is far from reality. You must realize that Salah has been made easy for you– You are allowed to combine prayers while you travel, perform them seated when unwell, and even pray lying down if bedridden. So you shouldn’t compromise on your daily five prayers in any case.
Remember, Allah wants ease for you. Regard these five daily prayers as a means to establish a connection and draw nearer to Allah. By adopting this approach, you’ll pave the way for genuine progress.