Importance of Salah in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah
Introduction
Salah (الصلاة) is the second pillar of Islam and the most emphasized act of worship after the declaration of faith (Shahadah). It is a direct link between the servant and his Creator. Both the Qur’an and Sunnah repeatedly stress its importance, its obligatory nature, and its role in purifying the soul and strengthening faith.
Importance of Salah in the Light of the Qur’an
- Salah as a Divine Command
وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرْكَعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ
“And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship].”
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:43) - Salah Prevents Immorality and Evil
إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ
“Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing. And the remembrance of Allah is greater.”
Surah Al-‘Ankabut (29:45) - Salah as a Characteristic of True Believers
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَـٰشِعُونَ
“Certainly will the believers have succeeded: those who are humble in their prayers.”
Surah Al-Mu’minun (23:1-2) - Neglecting Salah is a Trait of Hypocrites
إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُوا۟ كُسَالَىٰ
“Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily.”
Surah An-Nisa (4:142) - Destruction for Those Who Neglect Salah
فَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ
“So woe to those who pray but are heedless of their prayer.”
Surah Al-Ma’un (107:4-5)
Importance of Salah in the Light of the Sunnah
- Salah is the First Deed to be Accounted for
قال رسول الله ﷺ: “أول ما يحاسب به العبد يوم القيامة الصلاة، فإن صلحت صلح سائر عمله، وإن فسدت فسد سائر عمله.”
“The first deed for which a servant will be held accountable on the Day of Judgment will be his prayer. If it is sound, the rest of his deeds will be sound. If it is corrupt, the rest of his deeds will be corrupt.”
Tirmidhi, 413 - Salah as a Pillar of Islam
قال رسول الله ﷺ: “رأس الأمر الإسلام، وعموده الصلاة، وذروة سنامه الجهاد.”
“The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and its peak is Jihad.”
Tirmidhi, 2616 - Salah is a Distinction between Muslim and Non-Muslim
قال رسول الله ﷺ: “العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة؛ فمن تركها فقد كفر.”
“The covenant that distinguishes between us and them (non-believers) is the prayer; whoever neglects it has committed disbelief.”
Tirmidhi, 2621 - Salah Erases Sins
قال رسول الله ﷺ: “أرأيتم لو أن نهرًا بباب أحدكم يغتسل فيه كل يوم خمس مرات، هل يبقى من درنه شيء؟ قالوا: لا يبقى من درنه شيء. قال: فذلك مثل الصلوات الخمس، يمحو الله بهن الخطايا.”
“If there were a river at the door of one of you and he bathed in it five times a day, would any dirt remain on him?” They said, “No dirt would remain.” He said, “That is the example of the five prayers by which Allah removes sins.”
Bukhari, 528; Muslim, 667
Conclusion
Salah is not just a ritual but a spiritual necessity. It is the means of attaining nearness to Allah, maintaining moral discipline, and securing success in this life and the hereafter. The Qur’an commands it repeatedly, and the Sunnah stresses its significance as the foundation of faith and the ultimate expression of servitude.
الصلاة عماد الدين، من أقامها فقد أقام الدين، ومن تركها فقد هدم الدين
“Salah is the pillar of religion. Whoever establishes it has established the religion, and whoever abandons it has demolished the religion.”