Prayer is an essential part of a Muslim’s life. While a believer can pray and offer their devotions any time and any where they like, Islamic tradition prescribes a specific form of prayers to be performed at five different times of the day. It is a celebratory act of submission in which believers align themselves with all other creation by offering their praise and gratitude to God, the Merciful, the Compassionate, as they stand, bow, and prostrate in propriety. This book is an all-comprehensive exploration of these daily prayers, salah, by one of the leading Muslim scholars of our time. The focus in this book is more on the spiritual aspect of salah, rather than on its formulaic details, which can be easily found in countless other manuals.
Salah is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is the main pole that holds the religion, and the essence of worship. It is not only a means of bringing the person closer to God; salah per se is an act of coming closer to God and a person’s own ascension to heavenly realms (mi’raj). It is the most effective way to meet and converse with the Creator directly, without any need for intercession. It grants access to the company and blessings of all the Prophets. Depending on the depth of one’s consciousness and sincerity, the practice of performing the five daily prayers elevates and uplifts the individual even further.
