Salah (Prayer) is the 2nd Pillar of Islam and offering Prayer 5 times a day is an obligation upon every sane Muslim who has reached the age of puberty according to Islamic law.
1- Difference Between a Believer and a Non-Believer
Salah’s importance is mentioned over 100 times in the Quran. Salah is a major difference between a believer and a non-believer as the same is evident from the following wordings of our Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.):
"The covenant between us and them is the Salat, so whoever abandons it he has committed disbelief." (Tirmidhi: 2621)
The Companions (R.A.) of the Prophet (S.A.W.) did not consider the abandonment of any good deed to be disbelief except the abandonment of the Prayer. (Tirmidhi: 2622)
2- First Thing You Will Be Asked About
The first thing which will be judged among a man's deeds on the Day of Resurrection is the Prayer. If this is in good order then he will succeed and prosper but if it is defective then he will fail and will be a loser. (Tirmidhi: 413)
3- No Excuse For Salah
If a Muslim is an adult and has a sound mind then he/she is not allowed to skip Salah, even if you are sick. Allah Says in The Quran:
"O you who believe! Let not your properties (wealth) or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers." (Surah Munafiqoon 63:9)
The 'Remembrance of Allah' mentioned in these Auyah means the 5 daily Prayers. If anyone is so busy in buying and selling, or with his daily work of earning a livelihood, or with his children, that he cannot perform Prayers on time, he will be among the losers.
4- Abandoning Salah Is A Major Sin
Failing to perform Salah during the prescribed times is a sin. As mentioned in The Quran:
“But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil, Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all.“ (Surah Maryam 19:59-60)
About the inhabitants of Hell, Allah Says in The Quran:
(The people in Hell will be asked:) “What has caused you to enter Hell?”
They will say: We were not of those who used to offer their prayers (Salat). Nor we used to feed the poor (Al-Miskin) ………” (Surah Al-Mudathir 74: 42-48)
5- Conclusion
We should remember one thing Allah doesn’t need our prayers, and Allah doesn’t need anything from anyone. It is we that stand in need of His mercy. Allah has made Salah an obligation because it is beneficial for a believer and not that He is in need of our Prayers or our recognition. Allah says in Quran:
“Give thanks to Allah," and whoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for (the good of) his own self. And whoever is unthankful, then verily, Allah is All-Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise.” (Surah Luqman 31:12)
Prayer is an obligatory duty of a believer and we should try to offer this at its designated time without any lame excuses.
May He helps us to offer five obligatory prayers within their stipulated time.
AMEEN!
