SALAH The Islamic Prayer

Fitr, there are special prayers of two raka’as. The whole community gathers together in a special prayer ground. According to a hadith, the Angel Gabriel came and performed salah five times, at the right times of the day and night. The Prophet joined the Angel in prayer to learn it from him. Salah is performed in the following manner: First of all, the believer performs ablutions. Then, he stands in the direction of the Kabah, in Makkah. He holds up his hands and says aloud: God alone is great. Then, he submits himself to the will of His Lord. After praising God by reciting some passages from the Quran, he begins to feel God's majesty. Then, he prostrates touching his forehead to the ground. Prostration is an acknowledgement of the majesty of God. One who performs his prayer in its true spirit cannot be forgetful of God when his prayer is over. Muslims have been advised in the Quran to be steadfast in their prayer (THE QURAN 29: 45), for prayer keeps away indecency and evil. When the Prophet of Islam was asked about this verse, he said: If a person does not keep himself away from indecency and evil his prayer is not really prayer at all. How does prayer become the means for inculcating these virtues in the faithful? It is because prayers remind us five times daily that, we are accountable to a God, who is watching us. One who performs his prayer in its true spirit cannot be forgetful of God when his prayer is over. Prayer is a manifestation of the fact that one’s heart is full of the fear of, and love for, God. And so, if one prays in the true spirit of prayer, one’s prayer will surely fend off indecency and evil. The aim of prayer is to enjoin upon believers to think of God, to bring people closer to God, to keep them from indulging in indecent and forbidden activities, to purify the heart, develop the mind, to comfort the soul and to demonstrate obedience to the Creator.