“Salat is the best of all that has been ordained by Allah” (HOLY PROPHET P.B.U.H)
Salat is the second most important pillar of Islam after Iman. Salat is the essence of all Islamic practices and deeds. The Holy Qur’an has stressed the importance of it numerous amounts of times. If the Salat is offered with full regard to all the inward and outward requirements including a sincere heart, proper devotion and mental concentration the benefits are innumerable. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said:
“That which separates a believer from infidelity is simply the Salat.”
“He has no share in Islam who does not offer Salat”
What a great act of virtue and piety to offer Salat regularly and how catastrophic it is to abandon it. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) stated in the following hadeeth which brilliantly summarizes how the Salat is essential to the Muslim:
“Whoever will offer the Salat properly and regularly it will be for him on the Last Day a source of light, a proof of his faith and a means to salvation. (On the other hand) Whoever will not offer it carefully and regularly it will be for him neither a source of light, nor a proof of faith, nor a means of salvation and the end of such a person will be with Qarun, Fir’aun, Haman and Ubai-bin-Khalaf.”
The Holy Qur'an states “The day that the sin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but they shall not be able, their eyes shall be cast down – ignominy will cover them, seeing that they had been summoned aforetime to bow in adoration while they were hale and healthy (and had refused). (67:42)
According to the above Qur’anic verse mankind will be summoned to bow down in adoration before Allah (swt) on the Last Day. Only the fortunate ones, who had during their lifetime made it a practice to be regular in their Salat, will find no difficulty in bowing down. Those who in spite of being healthy and strong, had not prayed in this world, will discover that their backs had suddenly grown stiff which means they will remain standing with the infidels unable to prostrate before their Lord and Creator. Such will be the humiliation and disgrace for the defaulters of Salat! May Allah (swt) save us from such humiliation! Ameen “Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their Salat” (23:1-2)
