SALAT (PRAYER) AND ITS IMPACT

(CSS 2016, PCS BALOCHISTAN 2016)

Introduction:

The prayer is the second pillar of faith. There is great stress on prayers in Islam as numerous references of salat occur in the Quran. Prayer makes a man closer to his Creator as it aims at elevating him to the rank of Miraj Having submitting himself to the will of Allah, having shunned the polytheism and having sought to lead Sirat-al Mustaqeem (straight path of Islam), salat develops in him the qualities of steadfastness, and piety that assists him in maintaining cordial relations with his relatives, the orphans, the poor, and the elderly. Salah develops patience in Muslims that is required in times of war and in adverse circumstances Prayer teaches simple rules of physical cleanliness and spiritual purification. It encourages punctuality, self-discipline and self-control. It develops high moral qualities of perseverance, honesty and truthfulness. It makes people God fearing and pious. It engenders piety and strength of character. Socially, it teaches equality, fraternity, tolerance, unity and co- operation.

Meaning of Salah / Prayer

Salah (salat) is an Arabic word whose basic meaning is “bowing, homage”, “worship, prayer in its English usage, the reference of the word is almost always confined to the Muslim formal, obligatory worship described in this topic.

Muslims use several terms to refer to Salah depending on their language and culture. In many parts of the world, including many non-Arab countries, the Arabic term salat

Required Spirit for Performance of Prayer

In view of great importance of prayer, it is absolutely necessary that it is performed properly in the way it was performed and taught by Prophet (PBUH). It must be performed eamestly and humbly. Taharati wudu is prerequisite for performance of salat rituals

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ

“Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayer“. (Al-Mumnoon 23:1-2)

Different Categories /Types of Salah /Prayers (CSS 2018)

Salah may be classified into four categories:

1. Fardh (obligatory) Prayers
2. Wajib (semi-obligatory) Prayers
3. Sunnah Prayers
4. Nafl (superogatry) Prayers

 

Impacts of Prayer on Human life and society:

Spiritual Impacts:

1. Psychological stability and peace of mind

Psychological stability and peace of mind as a result of the worshipper’s reaching out to his Lord is achieved without any mediation. Ameer-ul-Mumineen Ali (601-661) relates that I heard the Messenger of God say: “Get up Bilal, call people to prayer and make us feel relaxed

2. Taharat (Purification)

Taharat entails physical cleanliness and spiritual purification:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

“Surely Allah loves those who turn much to Him, and He loves those who purify themselves (Al-Baqarah 2: 222)

2. Greater Reward for congregational prayers in Hereafter:

This becomes clear when we bear in mind that the fundamental principle of the congregational prayer is that its reward is many times greater than the prayer performed in isolation

4. Check against evil and indecency:

Prayer inculcates the fear of God which is necessary to be kept alive in the heart uninterruptedly. God has Himself thus described in the Quran this benefit of Salah.

إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ

“Salah prevents man from evil and lewdness.”

Moral impacts:

1. Prayer and sensitivity to value of time

One of the most distinctive foundations of culture and civilization is the value of time Salat inculcates in Muslims the sensitivity to time and makes their biological clock finely adjusted. This is because salat is an act of worship which is closely linked to time. Its status as a religious obligation is given in what God says: ‘Worship at fixed hours hath been enjoined on the believers’ (an-Nisa 4:103).

2. Prayer and sense of honour and independence:

While at prayer the Muslim experiences his total freedom, as the religious scholars say Worshipping God is total freedom’. He feels proud because he is in intimate communication with God and no one can force him to abandon the prayer, “In truth, all honour belongs to Allah and to His Messenger and the believers (al-Munafiqoon 63:8) In conversing with his Lord he does not hear the talk of other people who are not performing the prayer, this is his source of pride and independence.

                                                  (Al-Ankaboot 29: 45)

3. Patience and perseverance:

Prayer develops in man such qualities as patience, endurance, contentment and perseverance, which are needed in the service of justice and goodness and, above all, are a source of strength in the face of the hardships and sufferings of life

وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ

Nay, seek God’s help with patience, perseverance and prayer. (Al-Baqarah 2: 45)

4. Character-Building:

The practical success of an individual depends on his perseverance and hard work. A man of character does his work persistently and constantly. Daily prayer is a duty which is performed with strict regularity five times a day and thus perseverance and persistence are its essential requisites. The Quran praises this quality in the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in these words: “Those who remain steadfast to their prayer (al-Maarij 70: 23).

And Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said:

احب الاعمال الى الله ادومهاوان قل

“The dearest net in the eyes of Allah is that which is done constantly. even though it be small.

 Social Impacts:

1. Increased social strength, mutual cooperation and consultation

Furthermore, congregating in the mosque is beneficial for the community:

Feeling of mutual strength among the Muslims as each stands side by side his brother Muslim: “The Muslims constitute a single structure with each supporting the other”, a hadith declares.

Consultation takes place at the level of the community, the society and the ummah.

This coming together is a means of cooperation which is beneficial to daily life and the members of the community.

2. Political training and Muslim unity

It remains to point out that salat teaches people a great deal about politics in Islam, both in depth and in a simple manner the specific conditions for choosing the Imam to lead prayers are equally valid as a basis for selecting a Muslim ruler. It would be better for the Muslims if they fully understood the fundamental meaning of leading the prayer (imama). and to choose their rulers, not on the basis of chauvinistic attachments or personal Interests but on the basis of their commitment to and knowledge of religion and piety. Once there is agreement on who is to be the Imam, no one may rise against him indeed the fundamental meaning of the is that those at Prayer are to follow the Imam. Similarly, no one may revolt against the ruler who has been chosen by the Muslim community, provided he fulfils the obligations of the Muslim ruler. Recently, during the 2011 Arab Spring, the people of Arabs especially Egypt were practically manifesting the Mosque as political center when they used to carry out protests against the illegitimate and tyrant governments of their autocrats.

3. Congregational worship acts have significant social meaning: The emphasis in Islam on congregational worship five times a day brings together the inhabitants of a locality and invests the act with a significantsocial meaning. This social cohesiveness is further enhanced by the weekly Friday congregationon a larger scale, and by the grand congregations twice a year on the occasions of the Islamic festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
4. Social Unity: Prayer is the strength behind the social unity. It unites men of different languages, ethnic groups, colours and nationalities. When they hear the call of the Muezzin, they all gather together as brothers for prayer.

وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَاصْبِرُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ

And obey Allah and His Messenger, and fall into no disputes, lest you lose heart and your power depart, and be patient and (Al-Anfaal 8:46) preserving

5. Greater social responsibility:

The Quran emphasized that the spiritual fruits of devotional worship must appear in the form of greater social responsibility and ethical amelioration of those who perform it

فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ

“So woe to the praying ones, Who are unmindful of their prayers, Who do (good) to be seen, And withhold the necessaries of life“. (Al-Maun 107:4-7)