❖ The Obligation, Virtue, and Importance of Salah — In Light of Qur’an and Sunnah ❖
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Salah (prayer) is the most essential pillar of Islam after the declaration of faith (Shahādah). It holds a central position in the life of a Muslim and is a direct command from Allah, revealed during the miraculous night of Mi‘rāj (ascension). Its obligation, virtues, and significance are clearly outlined in both the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Salah is the only act of worship that was obligated directly by Allah during the night journey (Isrā’ and Mi‘rāj) — unlike other commands that were revealed through Jibrīl (عليه السلام).
◈ Initially, fifty daily prayers were made obligatory.
◈ Prophet Mūsā (عليه السلام) advised the Prophet ﷺ to request a reduction, fearing the burden on the Ummah.
◈ After several appeals, the number was reduced to five daily prayers.
Allah said:
"O Muhammad! These are five daily prayers, and each carries the reward of ten, thus making them equivalent to fifty."
[Muslim: Kitāb al-Īmān, Bāb al-Isrā’: 162]
SubḥānAllāh! This is a profound mercy from Allah — performing five prayers but rewarded for fifty.
➊ Prevents Immorality and Sin
﴿إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ﴾
“Indeed, Salah prevents indecency and wrongdoing.”
[Al-‘Ankabūt: 45]
➋ A Means to Salvation and Success
﴿قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكّٰى وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلّٰى﴾
“Indeed, successful is the one who purifies himself, mentions the name of his Lord, and prays.”
[Al-A‘lā: 14–15]
➌ A Sign of True Believers
﴿قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ ﴿٢﴾﴾
“Successful indeed are the believers — those who are humble in their prayer.”
[Al-Mu’minūn: 1–2]
➍ Inheritors of Paradise
﴿وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ ﴿٩﴾ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ﴿١١﴾﴾
“And those who are constant in their prayers — they are the inheritors who will inherit al-Firdaus and abide therein forever.”
[Al-Mu’minūn: 9–11]
Narrated from Muʿādh ibn Jabal (رضي الله عنه):
When the Prophet ﷺ sent him to Yemen, he said:
“Call them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah. If they accept this, then inform them that Allah has obligated upon them five prayers in a day and night.”
[Bukhārī: 1395; Muslim: 19]
Certain individuals are exempt from the obligation of Salah, as clarified in the following ḥadīth:
Narrated from ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The pen is lifted from three people:
➊ The one who is asleep until he wakes up
➋ The child until he reaches puberty
➌ The mentally ill until his sanity returns.”
[Abū Dāwūd: 4398]
These exemptions are based on lack of accountability due to absence of intellect, awareness, or maturity.
Salah is:
✔ A divine command revealed in the heavens
✔ A distinction between belief and disbelief
✔ A means of success, salvation, and Paradise
✔ The hallmark of true believers
✔ Obligatory upon every sane, mature Muslim
Neglecting Salah is spiritual ruin, while establishing it is the key to Allah’s mercy and eternal reward.
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ Introduction
Salah (prayer) is the most essential pillar of Islam after the declaration of faith (Shahādah). It holds a central position in the life of a Muslim and is a direct command from Allah, revealed during the miraculous night of Mi‘rāj (ascension). Its obligation, virtues, and significance are clearly outlined in both the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
❖ The Background of Its Obligation
Salah is the only act of worship that was obligated directly by Allah during the night journey (Isrā’ and Mi‘rāj) — unlike other commands that were revealed through Jibrīl (عليه السلام).
◈ Initially, fifty daily prayers were made obligatory.
◈ Prophet Mūsā (عليه السلام) advised the Prophet ﷺ to request a reduction, fearing the burden on the Ummah.
◈ After several appeals, the number was reduced to five daily prayers.
Allah said:
"O Muhammad! These are five daily prayers, and each carries the reward of ten, thus making them equivalent to fifty."
[Muslim: Kitāb al-Īmān, Bāb al-Isrā’: 162]
SubḥānAllāh! This is a profound mercy from Allah — performing five prayers but rewarded for fifty.❖ Virtues of Salah in the Qur’an
➊ Prevents Immorality and Sin
﴿إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ﴾
“Indeed, Salah prevents indecency and wrongdoing.”
[Al-‘Ankabūt: 45]
➋ A Means to Salvation and Success
﴿قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكّٰى وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلّٰى﴾
“Indeed, successful is the one who purifies himself, mentions the name of his Lord, and prays.”
[Al-A‘lā: 14–15]
➌ A Sign of True Believers
﴿قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ ﴿٢﴾﴾
“Successful indeed are the believers — those who are humble in their prayer.”
[Al-Mu’minūn: 1–2]
➍ Inheritors of Paradise
﴿وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ ﴿٩﴾ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ﴿١١﴾﴾
“And those who are constant in their prayers — they are the inheritors who will inherit al-Firdaus and abide therein forever.”
[Al-Mu’minūn: 9–11]
❖ Obligation of Salah in the Sunnah
Narrated from Muʿādh ibn Jabal (رضي الله عنه):
When the Prophet ﷺ sent him to Yemen, he said:
“Call them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah. If they accept this, then inform them that Allah has obligated upon them five prayers in a day and night.”
[Bukhārī: 1395; Muslim: 19]
❖ Those Exempt from the Obligation of Salah
Certain individuals are exempt from the obligation of Salah, as clarified in the following ḥadīth:
Narrated from ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The pen is lifted from three people:
➊ The one who is asleep until he wakes up
➋ The child until he reaches puberty
➌ The mentally ill until his sanity returns.”
[Abū Dāwūd: 4398]
These exemptions are based on lack of accountability due to absence of intellect, awareness, or maturity.
Summary
Salah is:
✔ A divine command revealed in the heavens
✔ A distinction between belief and disbelief
✔ A means of success, salvation, and Paradise
✔ The hallmark of true believers
✔ Obligatory upon every sane, mature Muslim
Neglecting Salah is spiritual ruin, while establishing it is the key to Allah’s mercy and eternal reward.
