Salaat (Prayer) of Islam

Salaat (Prayer) is one of the main obligations which Allah (subhanahu

wa ta'ala) has ordained on His servants. It is the first act of worship decreed on the Muslim Nation (Ummah) by Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) and was ordained on the night of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) ascension to the seven heavens. It is the second of the five pillars of

Islam after the proclamation of the "Shahada" (the words of witness).

It is enjoined on the Muslims as an obligatory act by Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) as can be noted from the following verses of the Holy Qur'an:

“ Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer” (Qur'an 17:78). 

In another verse Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) says: “ And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night” (Qur'an 11:1 14).

The importance of the Salaat has also been explicitly expressed by Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him), as can be noted from the following sayings: “ What lies between a perfect man and disbelief is the leaving of prayer” (Related by Imams Ahmed and Muslim).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said:

“ The obligation which separates us from them (the non-believers) is the prayer and he who renounces it becomes a disbeliever” (Related by Imams Ahmed and Muslim).

The above quoted Qur'anic commands by Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) and the honored sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) clearly indicate the importance of Salaat such that it is unanimously agreed by all Muslim scholars that renouncing it is regarded an act of disbelief (Kufr).