“Recite that which has been inspired by the Scripture (the Quran) and establish prayer. Lo! Prayer preserves from lewdness and iniquity, but verily, remembrance of Allah is more important. And Allah knows what you do.”
Regarded as the second pillar of Islam, salah is one of the core aspects of the religion. Made obligatory in the time of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, salah is the name given to the five daily prayers Muslims perform every day.
Salah not only serves as a means to grow closer to the deen but also provides a way to take a mental and physical break throughout the day. This blog will explore the concept of salah with respect to the words stated in the Quran and the Prophet PBUH’s statements about it.
What Is Salah?
Abdullah bin Buraidah narrated from his father that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “The distinction between us and them is the prayer; whoever abandons it has fallen into disbelief.”
The primary distinction between believers and disbelievers is that the word “Salah” originates from the Arabic root “salat,” meaning “connection” or “communication.” It signifies linking oneself to Allah through prayer. Salah not only strengthens the bond with Allah SWT but also brings guidance, peace, and comfort in times of difficulty. By praying five times a day, a person submits to Allah, gaining numerous blessings and rewards.
The Five Prayers
Every Muslim is required to pray all five daily prayers, which are as follows:
- The Fajr prayer (the morning/dawn prayer)
- The Zuhr prayer (the afternoon prayer)
- The Asr prayer (the late afternoon/early evening prayer)
- The Maghrib prayer (the sunset prayer)
- The Isha prayer (the night prayer)
Islam has allotted specific times for these prayers. Offering them at times other than the specified time is not permissible under Islamic law, unless one is making up for missed prayers.
Salah In The Quran
The Quran mentions the word “As-salah” more than eighty times, proving just how central it is to a Muslim’s life. Moreover, the added emphasis on the word highlights the place of salah in the religion of Islam. However, the Quran doesn’t explicitly state the names of the prayers, such as Fajr, Asr, and Maghrib; instead, it emphasizes the importance of praying salah through many different verses.
Here are some of the Quranic verses that mention salah and also state the various times when Allah SWT commanded the Muslims to pray.
Therefore, O Muhammad, bear with what they say and hymn the praise of thy Lord before the rising and before the setting of the sun (i.e., the Fajr, Zuhr, and ‘Asr prayers).
Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of night (i.e., the Zuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, and ‘Ishâ’ prayers) and (the recital of) the Qur’an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur’an at dawn is ever witnessed.
“And worship Him (a portion) of the night (i.e., the offering of Maghrib and Ishâ prayers). And glorify Him through the livelong night (i.e., the Tahajjud prayer).”
Obligation of Prayers In The Quran
Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from the Inviolable Place of Worship to the Far Distant place of worship, the neighborhood whereof We have blessed, that We might show him of Our tokens! Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer, the Seer.
Aside from stating the command to pray and the times associated with the act of prayer, the Quran also mentions the night of Al Isra Wal Miraj, which is the journey of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH to the seven heavens and the night when prayers were made obligatory upon the ummah.
The tafsir of this hadith clearly states the whole story of this night and the command of the five obligatory prayers. The complete account of the Prophet’s ascent to the heavens is quite detailed, so only the final portion—where the command for prayer was given—is mentioned here:
After reaching the seventh heaven, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) met Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.), who greeted him, saying, “Welcome, O noble son and Prophet.” He was then shown al-Bayt al-Ma‘mur (the House of Allah), where Jibreel (A.S.) explained that seventy thousand angels pray each day, and once a group has performed their prayers there, they never return for a second turn.
In the seventh heaven, the Prophet (PBUH) was shown the Sidrat al-Muntaha, a tree with leaves like elephant ears and fruits like large clay jugs. From its roots flowed four rivers—two hidden rivers of Paradise and two visible ones, the Nile and the Euphrates.
After this, fifty daily prayers were prescribed for the Prophet (PBUH). As he descended, he met Prophet Musa (A.S.), who asked what had been commanded. When the Prophet (PBUH) replied that fifty prayers were enjoined, Musa said he knew people’s limitations from his own experience with the Children of Israel and advised him to return to his Lord to request a reduction, as the people would not be able to bear such a burden.
The Prophet (PBUH) returned to Allah and requested a reduction, and the number of prayers was lowered to forty. He returned to Musa (A.S.), who again advised him to seek further reduction. This exchange continued—each time the number was lessened—until the prayers were reduced to five. When Musa urged him once more to ask for a decrease, the Prophet (PBUH) replied that he accepted Allah’s final command.
The Times Of Salah In The Quran
The Quran doesn’t explicitly state the exact times of salah; instead, it provides an idea of when specific prayers should be prayed and when the time for different prayers ends. The precise time of each prayer is described in various hadiths. Such as:
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
“The time for the noon (Zuhr) prayer begins when the sun passes its zenith and lasts until the afternoon (‘Asr) prayer begins. The time for ‘Asr continues until the sun starts to turn pale. The time for the evening (Maghrib) prayer lasts until the twilight disappears. The night (‘Isha) prayer may be offered until the midpoint of the average night. The morning (Fajr) prayer starts with the appearance of dawn and continues until sunrise. When the sun rises, refrain from prayer, for it rises between the horns of the devil.”
The Rakats In Salah
The Quran mentions prostrating to Allah SWT in several verses, but it doesn’t specify the concept of rakat, nor does it explain the number of rakats in each prayer or whether they are fard, wajib, sunnah, or nafl. However, Prophet PBUH has stated all these details in his hadith, including the different conditions that may apply to them. Such as:
Umm Habibah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Whoever consistently performs four Rak’ah before the Zuhr prayer and four Rak’ah after it, Allah will protect them from the Fire of Hell.”
Aisha RA reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Whoever regularly performs twelve Rak’ah of Sunnah prayers, a house will be built for them in Paradise. These include four Rak’ah before the Zuhr prayer, two Rak’ah after the Zuhr prayer, two Rak’ah after the Maghrib prayer, two Rak’ah after the ‘Isha’ prayer, and two Rak’ah before the Fajr prayer.’’