O Muslima, sholat is obligatory Muslim prayers, ritual activity that is performed by a Muslim to communicate with Allah, the Almighty, and is conducted five times each day. It is the second pillar of Islam after saying syahadah, two testimonial statements i.e you testify that there is no God but Allah and you testify that Muhammad is Rasulullah.
The five compulsory daily prayers were directly presented to Rasulullah Shalallahu ‘alaihi wasallam (the Prophet (pbuh)) on the night of Mir’aj, the miraculous journey of the Prophet (pbuh) to the heaven. At first, it was fifty daily prayers, but when Prophet Moses (pbuh) told Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that:
“ O Messenger of Allah! I unsuccessfully tried this on the Sons of Israel before you. Your people cannot bear that responsibility either!”
The Prophet (pbuh), that night, appealed to Allah five times to reduce it to five daily prayers.
Prophet Moses (pbuh), again, told Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):
“ They cannot bear the five daily ones either!”
The Prophet answered:
“ I have no face to appeal to Allah any more!”
And it was, then, determined to be five times a day.
Allah say in Qur’an:
إن الصلاة كانت على المؤمنين كتابا موقوتا ” النساء : من آية 103
“Performing prayers at fixed times has been enjoined on the believers.” (Qur’an 4:103).
The five compulsory daily prayers spread out throughout the day at dawn, around noon, afternoon, sunset, and in the evening. The daily prayers are suppose to establish the believer’s direct relationship with Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala. Sholat offers physical, mental, and spiritual benefits five times a day as Muslims assume certain positions while reciting Qur’an and adzkar (remembrances).
-Shalat al-fajr: dawn, before sunrise: 2 raka’at
-Shalat al-zuhr: midday, after the sun passes its highest: 4 raka’at
-Shalat al-‘asr: the late part of the afternoon; 4 raka’at
-Shalat al-maghrib: just after sunset: 3 raka’at
-Shalat al-‘isha: between dark night and midnight: 4 raka’at
Rasulullah Shalallahu ‘alaihi wasallam answered the following question to the companions to explain to them the importance of five daily prayers: ‘ If one of you has a river next to his door, and he washed himself five times a day in this river, do you think that person can have a scrap of dirt on his body?”
The Companions answered:
“ – No dirt will remain on that person.”
Rasulullah Shalallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: “Five daily prayers function in the same way. Allah deletes sins through five daily prayers.” (Narrated by: Bukhari, Mawaqit, 6)
Allahumma Aamiin
