Salat is an Arabic word whose meaning is prayer. Salat is the second pillar of Islam after Shahadah (Believe in oneness of Allah and prophet hood of Muhammad (SAW)). Salat is the Arabic name of formal prayer in Islam. Salat is ritual prayer and have some defined conditions, procedures and times. Allah Almighty Says in Quran,
“I have only created Jinns and men, that they may worship (and serve) Me.”(51:56)
Salat is obligatory for all adult Muslims According to Quran and Sunnah. To perform Salat, one must be clean and pure. Physical purity is mainly achieved by ritual of Ablution. The place of Salat should be clean as well and so should be clothes one is wearing. Salat is performed five times a day depending upon the movement of sun. Salat consists of two or more units of sequence of actions and words, prescribed by Muhammad (SAW). The number varies according to their timings and special circumstances (Friday and Eid salat etc). There are some exceptions for some or all the actions of Salat for those who are physically unable to complete them. The prescribed words remain obligatory.
The importance of Salat can be considered by the fact that it is mentioned 70 times in Quran. Allah Almighty says, in Quran,
“To those whose hearts when God is mentioned, are filled with fear, who show patient perseverance over their afflictions, keep up regular prayer, and spend (in charity) out of what We have bestowed upon them.”(22:35)
Salat is the distinction between Muslim and a non-Muslim. As prophet Muhammad (SAW) said,
“What lies between a man and a disbelief is the abandonment of prayer”
The purpose of Salat is that it acts as medium of communication between a person and Allah Almighty. Daily prayers remind people about thanking Allah for His blessings. Salat is a formal process of remembering Allah. Salat is also considered a means of restraining one from wrong and evils. According to Hadith Salat is the best deed.
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