Salah is the major form of worship that a Muslim offers five times a day regularly. It is an obligation upon a Muslim and a Muslim is to offer no excuse when it comes to offering Salah. The offering of Salah in addition to representing the submission of Muslims to their Lord also has other benefits as well which are highly cherished by every Muslim. The needs of the soul are provided by acts of worship, the most important of which is prayer. It could be that the body of a person is healthy but the person is spiritually dead. Allah says:

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

“And the believing men and the believing women, some of them (are) allies (of) others. They enjoin the right and forbid from the wrong, and they establish the prayer and give the zakah, and they obey Allah and His Messenger. Those, Allah will have mercy on them. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Surah At-Tawbah 9: 71)

Every Muslim knows that Salah (prayer) is obligatory to perform five times a day. Salah is the major form of worship that a Muslim offers five times a day regularly. It is an obligation upon a Muslim and a Muslim is to offer no excuse when it comes to offering Salah. The offering of Salah in addition to representing the submission of Muslims to their Lord also has other benefits as well which are highly cherished by every Muslim. Allah says:

فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّ

“Then when is concluded the prayer, then disperse in the land and seek from (the) Bounty of Allah, and remember Allah much so that you may succeed.” (Surah Al-Jumu’ah 62:10)

A  Muslim must use prayers as a means of invocation and ask Allah Almighty for help and assistance in any difficulty or worry. We know there are five pillars of Islam; Salah is one of them and the most important Pillar of Islam. It’s obligatory for every Muslim to pray five times a day on time. In the Holy Quran, Allah says:

حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ

“Guard strictly [on] the prayers, and the prayer – [the] middle, and stand up for Allah devoutly obedient.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:238)

Salah has many benefits one of them is that it’s the way of communication with Allah Almighty and also it restrains one from doing evil deeds. Quran and Hadiths both greatly emphasize offering salah on time. A human being is forgetful, especially with busy lifestyles. Prayer satisfies our spiritual need to be in contact with our Creator. Everyone commits sins, however, Allah has provided, in prayer, a way to wipe out those sins. In the Holy Quran Allah says:

وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ

“And establish the prayer (at the) two ends (of) the day and (at) the approach of the night. Indeed, the good deeds remove the evil deeds. That (is) a reminder for those who remember.” (Surah Hud 11:114)

Prayer is the preferred means of doing so as when a person worships Allah he or she develops a connection with Allah and any invocation within that or after that connection is bound to be accepted by Allah more compared to invocation done in any other circumstance.

Things to Know About the Muslim Prayer:

1. Prayer Results in Allah’s Blessings
2. Understand what you’re reciting
3. Allah Is With Those Who Pray
4. Prayer is a Believer’s Deed
5. Prayer Keeps You in Check
6. Reward In The Afterworld
7. Focus on your technique
8. Prayer is Tied to Charity
9. Prayer Leads to Taqwa
10. Know your opposition
11. ‘Get in the zone’
12. Reciting Verses Slowly
13. Continuously make duaa
14. Eliminating all Distractions
15. Developing a Habit of Praying on Time
16. Reciting Allah`s Greatness after prayers
17. Knowing the meaning of what is being said
18. Increase the significance/importance of THIS salah

A man was created weak and without seeking help from Allah, it will be impossible to refrain from evil. Man is forgetful, especially with our busy lifestyles. Prayer satisfies our spiritual need to be in contact with our Creator. This gives the soul peace and contentment. Allah says:

فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ

“In houses (which) Allah ordered that they are raised and be mentioned in them His name. Glorify [to] Him in them in the mornings and (in) the evenings.”  (Surah An-Nur 24:37)

Praying five times a day engages the believer in constant remembrance of God and keeps him away from any unjust deeds and leads him only to deeds that will earn the pleasure of God. Every deed, whether good or bad that a Muslim undertakes in this life, he or she will have to be answerable for it in the afterlife. Although all the deeds get rewarded in the afterlife, however, the actual reward of Salah will truly be realized in the afterlife when Allah Almighty will shower special blessings on that person. In the Quran, Allah says:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

“Indeed, those who believe[d] and did good deeds and established the prayer and gave the zakah for them – their reward (is) with their Lord, and no fear on them and not they will grieve.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:277)

Muslims who realize that Allah Almighty is their Lord and the Giver of everything, try to develop a relationship with Him and wish to stay connected with Him as much as possible so that their relationship grows strong. A Muslim must consider Salah as an effective weapon when it comes to fighting lewdness and evils of all sorts. Salah can effectively help in achieving so, as Allah says in the Quran:

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا

“Then when you (have) finished the prayer, then remember Allah standing and sitting and (lying) on your sides. But when you are secure then establish the (regular) prayer. Indeed, the prayer is on the believers prescribed (at) fixed times.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:103)

Now a day’s man is surrounded by great trials and problems. We should pray on time instead of making lame excuses. Prayer is obligatory for us so we should try to Offer Salah on its due time. We can get the blessings of Almighty Allah by offering Salah. Once we focus on strengthening our relationship with our Lord, He, who is All-Powerful, will fix our worldly problems.

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: 

• “Pray to me and I will hear your prayer.” (Quran 40:60).
• “Verily, prayer restrains (oneself) from shameful and unjust deeds…” (Quran 29:45)
• “Successful indeed are the believers, who are humble in their prayers.” (Quran 23:1-2)
• “Without a doubt, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” (Quran 13:28)
• “Oh, ye who believe! Seek help with perseverance and prayer: for God is with those who patiently persevere.” (Quran 11:153)
• “O you who believe! Respond to (the call of) Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life.” (Quran 8:24)
• “Then, there came after them a generation who gave up Salah and followed lusts; so they will be thrown in Hell.” (Quran 19: 59)
• “Oh, you who believe! Seek help through patience and Salah. Truly, Allah is with those who are patient.” (Quran 2:153)
• “Guard strictly the Salah, especially the middle Salah. And stand before Allah with obedience.” (Quran 2:238)
• “Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers… If you fear (an enemy), pray on foot, or riding.” (Quran 2:238-9)

In Quran Allah Almighty has stressed upon Muslims to learn to offer Salah regularly and with mentions of offering Salah Allah has also mentioned its benefits with it as well. The lines below give the major benefits of Salah that elaborate the importance of Salah.

1. Prayer Reward in Akhirat
2. Prayer Prevents From Satan
3. Importance of Friday Prayer
4. Prayers Observe the Command of Allah 
5. Prayers Are A Way To Seek Allah’s Help
6. Prayers Keep You In Connection With the Almighty

Everyone commits sins, however, Allah has provided, in prayer, a way to wipe out those sins:

1. Prayer Saves from Troubles
2. Prayer and Women
3. Leaving Prayer Causes Kufr
4. Leaving Prayers Destroys A Nation!
5. Not Observing Prayer Is a Hypocrite’s Act
6. Only Those Who Pray Can Be Your Good Friends

Man is surrounded by numerous trials and problems. Once we focus on strengthening our relationship with our Lord, He, who is All-Powerful, will fix our worldly problems. As our scholars say, whoever strengthens their relationship between themselves and Allah, Allah will strengthen their relationship between themselves and their creation. Allah says:

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

“And the believing men and the believing women, some of them (are) allies (of) others. They enjoin the right and forbid from the wrong, and they establish the prayer and give the zakah, and they obey Allah and His Messenger. Those, Allah will have mercy on them. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Surah At-Tawbah 2:45)

Those who learn and read Quran on a regular basis are familiar with the importance of Salah and how strongly has Allah Almighty emphasized it and explained its importance to the people in the Quran. A Muslim must realize that above anything, Salah is an obligation and every Muslim has to fulfil his or her obligation. Allah says:

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ

“Only your ally (is) Allah and His Messenger, and those who believe, and those who establish the prayer and give zakah and they (are) those who bow down.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: 55)

Salah is a very special kind of prayer in front of Allah SWT, which requires a great degree of seriousness from a Muslim. Khushoo (dedication) in Namaz is down to one`s own intention and giving the due right to every single task involved in this holy job. May Allah Almighty give us all the aspiration to develop the right kind of attitude in carrying out Salah in a best-prescribed way! Aameen.