Salah/namaz/ prayer ( obligatory and non obligatory) is the mode of worship for the muslims. Salah is not just an act of worship but it is more than that. Muslims prayer five obligatory prayers daily at different time intervals according to the movement of sun. Allah swt say in glorious Quran;
Obviously, a muslim must pray five obligatory prayers daily as it has been enjoined upon us. There is plenty of reward attached ot every obligatory frad and sunnah prayer. But there is something more to it. As the verse mentioned above says that muslims should recite Quran and they should establish regular prayer ( salah). To offer salah, one has to be in state of purity. The sate of purity is a very delicate state. One becomes impure even if he dozes. To maintain this state, we are told to make ablution every time before prayer to be sure about the purity. Then, those who are in need of taking bath must take bath otherwise their prayer will not be accepted.
Before presenting ourselves to others, we all try very much to look good and presentable. We all care too much about our clothes and how do we look. We all apply perfumes and comb our hair just to make an impression. In the same way, when we want to pray, Allah swt require us to be pure and to be good. Muslims are told to pray in clean cloths and in state of cleanliness. The one who cares for his cleanliness will never go towards anything which causes him impurity. Remember, impurity is not limited to the impurity of body or cloths. It is the very thoughts of the person which make him impure. Prophet Muhammad pbuh said;
Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 77, Number 609:
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
[029:045] Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of God is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And God knows the (deeds) that ye do.The meaning of this verse is not just its surface meaning but it needs to be considered in all its depth. Allah's apostle Muhammad pbuh said that hayah is also a branch of iman ( faith). So how does salah and haya and related to each other.
Obviously, a muslim must pray five obligatory prayers daily as it has been enjoined upon us. There is plenty of reward attached ot every obligatory frad and sunnah prayer. But there is something more to it. As the verse mentioned above says that muslims should recite Quran and they should establish regular prayer ( salah). To offer salah, one has to be in state of purity. The sate of purity is a very delicate state. One becomes impure even if he dozes. To maintain this state, we are told to make ablution every time before prayer to be sure about the purity. Then, those who are in need of taking bath must take bath otherwise their prayer will not be accepted.
Before presenting ourselves to others, we all try very much to look good and presentable. We all care too much about our clothes and how do we look. We all apply perfumes and comb our hair just to make an impression. In the same way, when we want to pray, Allah swt require us to be pure and to be good. Muslims are told to pray in clean cloths and in state of cleanliness. The one who cares for his cleanliness will never go towards anything which causes him impurity. Remember, impurity is not limited to the impurity of body or cloths. It is the very thoughts of the person which make him impure. Prophet Muhammad pbuh said;
Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 77, Number 609:
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
I did not see anything so resembling minor sins as what Abu Huraira said from the Prophet, who said, "Allah has written for the son of Adam his inevitable share of adultery whether he is aware of it or not: The adultery of the eye is the looking (at something which is sinful to look at), and the adultery of the tongue is to utter (what it is unlawful to utter), and the inner self wishes and longs for (adultery) and the private parts turn that into reality or refrain from submitting to the temptation."This hadith explains the salah and relationship of hayah is great detail. Thus one must never look or go towards or even utter a word which causes him and others to fell prey for satan's traps. All the impure things in this world are satan's traps. He never let go of a chance, no matter how minor it is, to lead people astray. As mentioned earlier, every salah has huge reward for it, so one who does not pray properly, or the one who does all the evil and in the end stands for pray will never be entitled to that reward and happiness of Allah swt. It is because Allah swt does not need our prayers but it is we who need these prayers. We offer five times a day because we are given five chances daily to be close to Allah swt. Remember, when a muslim stands in salah, Allah swt and he have no curtains between them. So, to be in the majestic presence of Allah swt, one needs to be pure and clean and presentable.