Prayer TimesSalah (prayer) is the second pillar of Islam. In a hadith narrated from Ibn Umar, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Islam is built on five pillars: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, establishing salah, giving zakat, performing hajj for those who are able, and fasting in Ramadan."
After professing faith, the first act of worship that was made obligatory upon the Prophet (ﷺ) and his followers is salah. Salah is also the first deed for which a person will be held accountable in the Hereafter. In a hadith it is stated: "On the Day of Judgment, the first deed for which a servant will be called to account is salah. If it is sound, he will rejoice and succeed; if it is lacking, he will be distressed and lose..." In another hadith: "Salah is the pillar of religion. Whoever establishes it, upholds the religion; whoever neglects it, destroys the religion."
Performing the five daily prayers is an individual obligation (fard ayn) for every sane, mature Muslim. This obligation does not fall from a person until they perform it themselves. Whoever fulfills this obligation in this world is freed from this responsibility and will receive the reward for their prayers in the Hereafter. Their prayers will be a means for them to enter Paradise. In a hadith: "The key to Paradise is salah, and the key to salah is purification (wudu)." However, if a person neglects salah out of laziness and does not pray, they are considered sinful.
In summary, for every sane, mature Muslim man and woman, performing the five daily prayers is obligatory. The first deed to be questioned on the Day of Judgment will be salah. By performing salah, a Muslim attains the pleasure of Allah, while neglecting it is disobeying Allah's command and incurs sin. May Allah make us steadfast in our prayers and among those who perform them consistently and perfectly!
Medet Kurmashuly
"Iman" magazine, No.10, 2024
This content was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor.