Namaz (salat) is one of the
most important pillars of Islam. The first thing which will be questioned at the
Day of Judgment is namaz, which is an obligatory prayer for every Muslim five
times a day with punctuality of time. The importance of prayer (Namaz) is also
signified by many verses in the Holy Quran; there are several hadith which
stress upon the importance of namaz (salat) as well.
When a person goes to offer prayer (namaz) with every step he takes towards the
place (masjid) he gets sawab. The angels gather around the namazi and he is
blessed by Allah; Satan goes away from him. It is narrated in a hadith (sayings
of the Holy prophet) that if a person abandons his prayer such that he neither
desires its rewards nor fears its chastisement, for such a person I do not care
if he dies a Jew or a Christian.
Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “One who adheres to the five (daily)
prayers diligently, they shall be a means of illumination and salvation for him
on the Day of Judgment.
It has been reported that a youth from the Ansar, who used to offer his prayers
with the Messenger of Allah Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), used to indulge
in sinful and corrupt deeds. When this was brought to the notice of the
Messenger of Allah Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), he said: “A day shall
come when his prayers shall refrain him from committing sins. Before long, the
youth repented.
Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said: “The prayer of a person is (in
reality) a light in his heart, so whoever desires, can illuminate his heart (by
means of prayers)
Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whenever the time of each prayer
arrives, an Angel announces to the people: (O’ People!) Stand up and extinguish,
with prayers, the fire which you have set alight for yourselves.
” Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “When a person maintains his
prayer and offers it at its stipulated time, it ascends in the form of a pure
white light and calls out to him: “You have guarded me, may Allah protect you.”
But if he does not maintain his prayer and does not offer it at its decreed
time, it ascends as a dark and gloomy form and says to him: You have destroyed
me, may Allah destroy you.
The prayer (Namaz) is the standard of Islam. Whosoever loves prayers, and
observes their limits, timings and methods, is a true believer.