Salaat – One of the Greatest Gifts of Allah to Believers

The Islamic requirement of Salaat – prayer – 5 times a day is one of the greatest gifts of Allah to a Believer. On the surface, Salaat may seem to be an inconvenience for people engaged in the stress of earning a daily living, especially wage-earners. To those of us who view Salaat as a “religious” duty, it may also appear to be a bit much. For new returnees to Islam, it may also seem to be a disruption to their regular living routine because it breaks up the day into 5 prayer zones that must be observed by anyone claiming to be a Muslim. This is so, no matter where in the world we reside. And for those of us living under Kafir systems , the mandatory performance of Salaat 5 times a day is no small matter. But the true blessings of Salaat are precisely related to its 5-times-a-day requirement in the life of every sincere Believer.

To begin to appreciate the significance of Salaat, you have to keep in mind the purpose of the Guidance sent to us by Allah: to develop each sincere Believer into His servant and representative on earth. That relationship requires a personal acceptance of Allah’s guidance and instructions daily and adjusting your behavior to fit them. It also requires a daily accounting of a Believer’s performance of these duties to Allah. Believers live a structured, guided life; conscious of duty to Allah and responsive to this relationship with Him. Salaat is, therefore, an established point of contact with our Lord and True Master.

The structure of Salaat requires that the Believer do several things before and during the prayer. For instance, a Believer must be conscious of what he/she says and does during Salaat.  Each posture during Salaat requires the Believer to make certain affirmations and these affirmations must be sincere to have any value to the Believer. Each performance of Salaat usually ends with personal requests for favors from Allah, the least of which is guidance and forgiveness for wrongs committed during that day. Are you beginning to see the big picture and the true blessings of salaat yet?

This is the opportunity that Allah affords to the sincere Believer 5 times every day of the Believer’s life! In the quest to be righteous, every Believer is given 5 chances to get the job done right every day and to request forgiveness for all shortcomings and any wrongdoing that may be wittingly or unwittingly committed within each fragment of the day! Salaat breaks up each day into 5 time slots, each containing only several hours at a time, making it easier for a Believer to practice righteousness from hour to hour. Each Salaat is an opportunity for the Believer to return to Allah – The Source – and seek a do-over and greater guidance during each period of performance of life. Allah has given the assurance that He hears the prayer of every supplicant and that His is the rule of Mercy. In His Message, the Quran, He assures Believers that He has unlimited resources which He gives to whomever He chooses. Salaat is the doorway to those resources.  How generous is Allah in granting every Believer throughout the world access to those resources 5 times a day?

When viewed from this perspective, can anyone professing to be Muslim still consider Salaat an inconvenience in any way, shape or form? One additional point needs to be highlighted before conclusion of this discussion. Salaat requires approximately 5 minutes to be performed in every due period of time. If the Believer wants to use more time, that is also permitted. Additionally, Salaat  can be performed at any given point during the span of time allotted for its performance, with minor exceptions for Asr prayer. As can be seen, Allah has given Believers every convenience to seek His bounty and forgiveness each day. Therefore, Salaat must be viewed as One of the greatest Gifts and Mercies of Allah to Humanity. And to neglect it should be considered to be one of the worst injustices you can do to yourself.