Importance and Benefits of Islamic Prayer

Slide 2: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) COMMON TERMS •J inns – S pirits •S ura h – C h a pte r •S h a h a da h – Te s tim ony •S wt – (S ub h a na Wa Ta ’a la ) – G lory b e to Alla h •S a la t – P ra ye r •Dua – S upplic a tion •Alla h – G od •(a s ) – Ala ys a la m – P e a c e b e upon h im •Za m Za m – A we ll in m a kka h •G a b rie l – Ang e l wh o b roug h t words of Alla h to th e m e s s e ng e rs •S idra t-il-Munta h a (Lote tre e of; th e utm os t b oundry) •S a jda h – P ros tra tion •R a s oolulla h – Me s s e ng e r of Alla h •Hida ya h – G uida nc e •Kh us h oo – c onc e ntra tion •R A – R a di-Alla h u-a nh u (Ma y a lla h b e ple a s e d with h im ) •Um m a h – Na tion •R a k’a t - One c yc le unit of m us lim pra ye r from s ta nding •Ta kb ir – Th e s a ying of “Alla h u Akb a r”

Slide 3: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) "I h a ve only c re a te d J inns a nd m e n th a t th e y m a y s e rve m e “ (S ura h Al-Dh a riya t 51:56) •As Mus lim s , on e of th e firs t th in g s th a t we le a rn , a fte r th e S h a h a da , is th a t th e pu rp os e of ou r live s is to s e rve o ur C re a tor, Alla h (s wt) •Ou t of th e five p illa rs of Is la m we find th a t th e word S a la t is th e m o s t fre q ue ntly m e n tion e d o f th e five .  Th e wo rd S a la t is m e n tio ne d a tota l of 67 tim e s in th e Qura n . •Th e s a la t is a re lig io us o b s e rva n c e th a t b e lie ve rs a re c o m m a nd e d to p e rform th ro u g h ou t th e c ou rs e of th e ir live s , th e tim e s o f wh ic h h a ve b e e n s tip ula te d .

Slide 4: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) And re m e m b ra nc e of Alla h is g re a te r s till. Alla h knows wh a t you do. (S ura t a l-‘Anka b ut, 45) •Hum a n b e in g s a re pron e to fo rg e tfu ln e s s a n d h e e d le s s n e s s . •Th e y fo rg e t th a t Alla h e nfo ld s a n d s urrou n ds th e m in a ll wa ys , th a t He s e e s a nd h e a rs th e m a t e ve ry m o m e n t, th a t th e y will h a ve to a c c o u nt to Alla h for a ll th e y do

Slide 5: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) R e c ite wh a t h a s b e e n re ve a le d to you of th e B ook a nd e s ta b lis h s a la t. S a la t pre c lude s inde c e nc y a nd wrong doing . And re m e m b ra nc e of Alla h is g re a te r s till. Alla h knows wh a t you do. (S ura t a l-‘Anka b ut, 45) •Th e s a la t pe rform e d five tim e s a da y e ra dic a te s th a t forg e tfulne s s a nd h e e dle s s ne s s , a nd ke e ps th e b e lie ve r’s will a nd a wa re ne s s a live . •It is re ve a le d in one ve rs e th a t th e s a la t re m inds pe ople of Alla h a nd ke e ps th e m from a ll form s of e vil

Slide 6: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) "Th roug h out h is tory th e proph e ts h a ve c om m unic a te d th e s a la t m a de c om puls ory b y Alla h to th e ir re s pe c tive pe ople s , a nd h a ve b e e n role m ode ls for a ll b e lie ve rs b y a b iding b y th is ob s e rva nc e in th e b e s t a nd m os t c orre c t m a nne r." - F or P roph e t Ibra h im (a s ): [Ib ra h im s a id:] “My Lord! Ma ke me a nd my de s c e nda nts pe ople wh o e s ta blis h s a la t. My Lord! Ac c e pt my pra ye r.” (S ura h Ib ra h im, 40) - F or P roph e t Is ma ‘il (a s ): Me ntion Is m a ‘il in th e B ook. He wa s true to h is promis e a nd wa s a me s s e ng e r a nd a proph e t. He us e d to c omm a nd h is pe ople to do s a la t a nd g ive th e a lms a nd h e wa s ple a s ing to h is Lord. (S ura h Ma rya m, 54-55) - F or P roph e t Mus a (a s ): I a m Alla h . Th e re is no g od b ut Me , s o wors h ip Me a nd e s ta b lis h s a la t to re me m be r Me . (S ura h Ta Ha , 14)

Slide 7: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) Ma rya m , ob e y your Lord a nd pros tra te a nd b ow with th os e wh o b ow. (S ura h a l ‘Im ra n, 43) - F or P roph e t Is a (a s ): He s a id: “I a m th e s e rva nt of Alla h , He h a s g ive n m e th e B ook a nd m a de m e a proph e t. He h a s m a de m e b le s s e d wh e re ve r I a m a nd dire c te d m e to do s a la t a nd g ive th e a lm s a s long a s I live .” (S ura h Ma rya m , 30-31) "J e s us , in th e g a rde n of G e th s a m ne , took a fe w s te ps forwa rd, fe ll on h is fa c e a nd pra ye d to G od". (Ma tth e w 26:39) - Ma rya m , de pic te d a s a role m ode l for a ll wom e n, wa s a ls o c om m a nde d to e s ta b lis h s a la t

Slide 8: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) I a m Alla h . Th e re is no g od b ut Me , s o wors h ip Me a nd e s ta b lis h s a la t to re m e m b e r Me . (S ura h Ta Ha , 14) •Th e c orre c t pe rform a nc e of th e s e pra ye rs is a g re a t opportunity to re m e m b e r our Lord, pra is e Him , a nd wors h ip Him a s one g od in th e knowle dg e He is fre e of a ll im pe rfe c tions . •Inde e d, in one ve rs e Alla h c om m a nds to do s a la t in orde r to re m e m b e r Him

Slide 9: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) Na ra te d b y ib n Ab b a s : Wh e n th e proph e t s e nt Mua dh to Y e m e n, h e s a id to h im , “Y ou a re g oing to a na tion from th e pe ople of th e s c ripture , s o le t th e firs t th ing to wh ic h you will invite th e m , b e th e Ta wh id of a lla h . If th e y le a rn th a t, te ll th e m th a t Alla h h a s e njoine d on th e m , five pra ye rs to b e offe re d in one da y a nd one nig h t. And if th e y pra y, te ll th e m th a t Alla h h a s e njoine d on th e m Za ka t of th e ir prope rtie s a nd it is to b e ta ke n from th e ric h a m ong th e m a nd g ive n to th e poor.” B ukh a ri(Ha dith 2:478)

Slide 10: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) Th e S a la t provide s th e nouris h m e nt ne e de d b y our s ouls a nd is a s ure m e th od of a tta ining rig h te ous s ne s s a nd ne a rne s s to our C re a tor.  Th e Qura n lis ts a num b e r of b e nifits a tta ine d from ob s e rving th e S a la t: 1- Th e S a la t prote c ts b e lie ve rs from e vil a nd vic e : "Ob s e rve th e S a la t (C onta c t P ra ye rs ) for it proh ib its e vil a nd vic e ." 29:45 2- Th e S a la t s tre ng th e ns our b e lie f a nd m a ke us a tta in c e rta inty: "Y ou s h a ll g lorify a nd pra is e your Lord a nd b e with th e pros tra tors , a nd wors h ip your Lord until you a tta in c e rta inty." 15:98-99 3- Th e S a la t (a long with c h a rity) is th e b e s t inve s tm e nt in th e h e re a fte r: "S ure ly, th os e wh o re c ite th e b ook of G od, ob s e rve th e C onta c t P ra ye rs a nd a re c h a rita b le b oth dis c re e tly a nd ope nly c a n h ope for a n inve s tm e nt th a t ne ve r los e s . He will re c om pe ns e th e m g e ne rous ly a nd will m ultiply His b le s s ing s upon th e m . He is F org iving ,

Slide 11: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) 4- Ab ove a ll, th e S a la t is to c om m e m ora te G od: S ure ly, th e m os t im porta nt ob je c tive of th e S a la t is to c om m e m ora te G od. "Y ou s h a ll re c ite wh a t is re ve a le d to you of th e S c ripture , a nd ob s e rve th e S a la t (C onta c t P ra ye rs ), for th e S a la t proh ibits e vil a nd vic e . B ut th e re m e m b ra nc e of G od (th roug h th e C onta c t P ra ye rs ) is th e m os t im porta nt ob je c tive . G od is a wa re of a ll th a t you do." 29:45 I a m Alla h . Th e re is no g od b ut Me , s o wors h ip Me a nd e s ta b lis h s a la t to re m e m b e r Me . (S ura h Ta Ha , 14)

Slide 12: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) … 'Th e n G a b rie l a s c e nde d with m e to a pla c e wh e re I h e a rd th e c re a king of th e pe ns ." Ib n Ha z m a nd Ana s b in Ma lik s a id: Th e P roph e t s a id, "Th e n Alla h e njoine d fifty pra ye rs on m y followe rs wh e n I re turne d with th is orde r of Alla h , I pa s s e d b y Mos e s wh o a s ke d m e , 'Wh a t h a s Alla h e njoine d on your followe rs ? ' I re plie d, 'He h a s e njoine d fifty pra ye rs on th e m .' Mos e s s a id, 'G o b a c k to your Lord (a nd a ppe a l for re duc tion) for your followe rs will not b e a b le to b e a r it.' (S o I we nt b a c k to Alla h a nd re q ue s te d for re duc tion) a nd He re duc e d it to h a lf. Wh e n I pa s s e d b y Mos e s a g a in a nd inform e d h im a b out it, h e s a id, 'G o b a c k to your Lord a s your followe rs will not b e a b le to b e a r it.' S o I re turne d to Alla h a nd re q ue s te d for furth e r re duc tion a nd h a lf of it wa s re duc e d. I a g a in pa s s e d b y Mos e s a nd h e s a id to m e : 'R e turn to your Lord, for your followe rs will not b e a b le to b e a r it. S o I re turne d to Alla h a nd He s a id, 'Th e s e a re five pra ye rs a nd

Slide 13: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) th e y a re a ll (e q ua l to) fifty (in re wa rd) for My Word doe s not c h a ng e .' I re turne d to Mos e s a nd h e told m e to g o b a c k onc e a g a in. I re plie d, 'Now I fe e l s h y of a s king m y Lord a g a in.' Th e n G a b rie l took m e till we '' re a c h e d S idra t-il-Munta h a (Lote tre e of; th e utm os t b oundry) wh ic h wa s s h roude d in c olors , inde s c rib a b le . Th e n I wa s a dm itte d into P a ra dis e wh e re I found s m a ll (te nts or) wa lls (m a de ) of pe a rls a nd its e a rth wa s of m us k."

Slide 14: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) it wa s a g ift to h im a nd h is um m a h . It wa s not g ive n a s a m e a ns of ‘re wa rding ’ or pa ying Alla h b a c k, s inc e we c a n ne ve r pa y Alla h b a c k wh e th e r th roug h S a la h or th roug h a ny oth e r de e d. It wa s g ive n to us for our own s e lve s . S a la h is m ore th a n jus t a pilla r of Is la m a nd a n ob lig a tory duty: it is a c onne c tion b e twe e n you a nd Alla h , th e Lord of th e Worlds .

Slide 15: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) “If am Awa nt here is no god but Me,ke worship Me andyou wa nt I you llah. Tto ta lk to Alla h , m a so S a la h . And if establish Alla h to remember Me. (Surah T Qura n.” salat ta lk to you, re c ite th e Ha, 14) a •S a la h c a n b e like ne d to a n e m e rg e nc y ‘h otline ’ th a t you c a n pic k up a t a ny tim e . •S a la h is a re lie f from your prob le m s a nd a n e a s e of your dis tre s s . •It is a m e a ns of c a lm ing you, re la xing you, re a s s uring you. •It is a wa y for you to s e e k Alla h ’s h e lp in a m a tte r, wh e th e r a s s ig nific a nt a s a b a ttle or a s ins ig nific a nt a s c ooking a m e a l or re m oving a s ta in from a pie c e of c loth ing . •It is a m e a ns for s e e king Alla h ’s g uida nc e a nd a dvic e on a m a tte r.

Slide 16: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) PHYS ICAL BENEFITS OF S ALAH • R e g ula r e xe rc is e re duc e s c h ole s te rol in th e body. Ch ole s te rol c a us e s h e a rt fa ilure s , s troke s , dia be te s a nd ma ny oth e r a ilm e nts . It is a known fa c t th a t pe ople in profe s s ions wh e re e xe rc is e is re q uire d h a ve le s s a mount of c h ole s te rol in th e ir bodie s . • S a la t is a n e xc e lle nt form of e xe rc is e to pre ve nt indig e s tion. In th e morning wh e n s toma c h is e mpty, a Mus lim is re quire d to offe r fe we r numbe r of R a k'a a t wh e re a s in th e e ve ning a fte r th e dinne r we offe r a n e xtra numb e r of R a k'a a t. • B y offe ring Ta kbir a t th e be g inning of s a la t, we move h a nd a nd s h oulde r mus c le s th e re by inc re a s ing th e flow of b lood towa rds tors o.

Slide 17: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) • Th e m os t importa nt func tion in s a la t is s a jda h wh e re we touc h th e g round with our fore h e a d. Th is pos ture inc re a s e s fre s h s upply of b lood to our bra in. Ne e dle s s to s a y in c e rta in forms of yog a s ome a dh e re nts s ta nd on th e ir h e a ds for th e s a me purpos e . • He a rt is th e mos t importa nt org a n in th e body. It s upplie s fre s h blood to a ll body tis s ue s . Th e s e body move me nts pe rforme d during s a la t a re a n e xc e lle nt s ourc e of e xe rc is e for our h e a rt a s we ll. Ac c ording to a Ha dith of th e Holy P roph e t,“Th e re is a n org a n in th e body, wh e n it is h e a lth y, th e wh ole body is h e a lth y, a nd wh e n th is is s ic k, th e e ntire body be c ome s s ic k". It is th e h e a rt.

Slide 18: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) • A re ma rka b le tis s ue in our body is c a rtila g e . It is unique in b e ing a living tis s ue with no dire c t blood s upply. Th e only wa y it re c e ive s nutrie nts a nd oxyg e n is by m ove m e nts of th e joints . Th e pum ping e ffe c t forc e s b lood into th e joint a re a wh ic h would oth e rwis e be bypa s s e d. Th os e wh o s it a t th e te rmina ls a re in g re a te r da ng e r of e nding up with de a d c a rtila g e tis s ue s th a t will s ubs e q ue ntly we a r a wa y. Th is will le a ve us with a rth ritis , pa inful joints a nd pa ra lys is . B a c te ria a nd virus e s find s a fe h a ve n in joints for th is re a s on a s no blood c e ll c a n g e t a t th e m a nd in mos t c a s e s ne ith e r c a n a ntibodie s . S a la t th e re fore , h a s ma ny orth ope dic b e ne fits for a ll Mus lim s . Ne xt tim e you offe r s a la t, th a nk Almig h ty Alla h th a t He ma de you a Mus lim. Inde e d, the re is cure in s alat.

Slide 19: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) No re as o n. No e xc us e • th e re is a ve ry s e ve re pe na lty for le a ving pra ye r. • If you a re s ic k a nd you don’t fa s t th e re is no pe na lty. • If you a re poor a nd you h a ve no m one y to g ive z a ka t th e re is no pe na lty. • If you c a nnot a fford to g o to h a jj th e re is no pe na lty. • B ut for le a ving s a la t th e re is a ve ry h ig h pe na lty - h e llfire .

Slide 20: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) • S o th e re is no wa y, no e xc us e for a ny s ic k pe rs on, for a pe rs on with or with out m one y, h e or s h e h a s to pra y. • Th e s ic k pe rs on wh o c a nnot pra y s ta nding c a n s it a nd pra y; wh o c a nnot pra y s itting pra ys lying down, one wh o c a n’t pra y lying down m a y pra y with h is e ye s . • S a la t h a s to b e pe rform e d. • Oh Mus lim s don’t a void g iving s a la t its im porta nc e .

Slide 21: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) "And b e s te a dfa s t in pra ye r a nd re g ula r in c h a rity: And wh a te ve r g ood ye s e nd forth for your s ouls B e fore you, ye s h a ll find it with Alla h : for Alla h s e e s we ll a ll th a t ye do." (S ura h Al-B a q a ra h 2:110) • Th e five pra ye rs a t pre s c rib e d tim e s e ve ry da y a re ob lig a tory on e ve ry Mus lim ma le a nd fe ma le wh o h a s pa s s e d th e a g e of pube rty. • S a la a h or pra ye r is one of th e pilla rs of Is la m a nd th e mos t importa nt a fte r Ima n (fa ith ). "Alif Laf Mim, This is the Bo o k, in it is guidanc e s ure , witho ut do ubt, To tho s e who fear Allah; Who believe in the Uns een, are s teadfas t in prayer, And s pend out of what We have pro vide d for the m;“ (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:1-3)

Slide 22: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) Um a r ibn a l-Kh a tta b (ra ) re la te d th a t a m a n a s ke d R a s oolulla h (pe a c e b e upon h im ), "O Me s s e ng e r of Alla h , wh a t a c tion is de a re s t to Alla h , th e Mos t Hig h ? " R a s oolulla h (pe a c e b e upon h im ) a ns we re d, "S a la h a t its prope r tim e . Th e one wh o doe s n't pra y h a s no re lig ion. S a la h is th e m a in pilla r of th e re lig ion (of Is la m )." (B a ih a q i) "Th e firs t m a tte r th a t th e s la ve will b e b roug h t to a c c ount for on th e Da y of J udg m e nt is th e pra ye r. If it is s ound, th e n th e re s t of h is de e ds will b e s ound. And if it is b a d, th e n th e re s t of h is de e ds will b e b a d." (R e c orde d b y a l-Ta b a ra ni) "O ye who be lie ve ! S e e k he lp with patie nt Pe rs e ve ranc e and praye r Fo r Allah is with tho s e who patie ntly pe rs e ve re ." (S urah Baqarah 2:153)

Slide 23: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) "R e c ite wh a t is s e nt of th e B ook b y ins pira tion To th e e , a nd e s ta b lis h re g ula r P ra ye r: for pra ye r re s tra ins from s h a m e ful a nd unjus t de e ds ; And re m e m b ra nc e of Alla h is th e g re a te s t (th ing in life ) with out doub t. And Alla h knows th e (de e ds ) th a t ye do.“ (S ura h Al-Anka b ut 29:45) • In th is a g e , wh e n im m ora lity is pa rt of th e dom ina nt c ulture , a nd S h a yta n h a s de vis e d ne we r wa ys of e ntra pping th e fa ith ful, it is S a la h th a t prote c ts a Mus lim a nd h is Im a n.

Slide 24: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) "Th e ir e ye s will b e c a s t down - dis g ra c e will c ove r th e m ; s e e ing th a t th e y h a d b e e n s um m one d a fore tim e to pros tra te in a dora tion, wh ile th e y we re in g ood s h a pe , (And h a d re fus e d)"(S ura h Al-Qa la m 68:43) "(Th e y will b e ) in g a rde ns (of De lig h t) a nd will a s k th e S inne rs 'Wh a t le d you into He ll fire ? ‘ Th e y will s a y; ‘ We we re no t o f tho s e who praye d‘ Nor we re we of th os e wh o fe d th e indig e nt B ut we us e d to ta lk va nitie s with va in ta lke rs And we us e d to de ny th e Da y of judg m e nt“ (S ura h Mudda th th ir 74:40-46)

Slide 25: IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF S ALAH (PRAYER) May Allah (s wt) g rant all o f us the hidayah to be re g ular with o ur S alah, and to o ffe r it in the c o rre c t manne r and with Khus ho o .