The salah is a special form of worship that is the second most important pillar of Islam after the shahada (testimony of faith). It is an obligatory form of prayer performed five times a day that was revealed in the Holy Qur’an and taught to us by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

There are many verses in the Holy Quran which Allah tells us about the importance of prayer. Here are two such verses:

The salah involves a number of physical movements – standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. It also involves the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran in Arabic along with a number of dua (supplications).

The Muslim will face the direction of the Kaba, the Sacred House of Allah in Makkah, whenever they perform their prayer. These physical movements, recitations, and supplications are all done to show humility and submission to Allah.

The reason why Muslims pray at all relates to what Islam considers to be the purpose of life – to worship Allah alone. Shortly after Muhammad became a Prophet, the performance of salah (worship) was one of the first commandments given to him by Allah.

Allah Almighty tells us in the Holy Qur’an that mankind was only created for one reason: to worship Him.

The salah is the second pillar of Islam and it is a critical part of a Muslim’s faith. One of the biggest differences between a Muslim and a non-Muslim is the salah. Our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Between a man and polytheism and disbelief there stands his neglect of the prayer.”

This question is quite common and many people do not know the real reason of where the number five came from. When Muhammad (peace be upon him) became a Prophet at the age of forty one of the first things he was taught was how to pray. Allah sent the angel Gabriel (Jibreel) to teach him how to make wudu and perform the salah.

Some 11 years after the beginning of prophethood a miraculous journey took place in which the angel Gabriel took Muhammad (peace be upon him) to the first heaven. It was during this event that Allah commanded him and the Muslims to specifically pray five times a day. This event was recorded in the Holy Qur’an and we also have authentic narrations from the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself that he undertook this journey.

The full story of the Prophet’s ascent to heaven is known as Isra and Mi’raj. It is a lengthy story for which we will not go into detail. However, the last part of the story will be shared; the part where the commandment to pray specifically five times a day was given. Up until that point in history the Muslims would perform salah, but there was no specific number of times that was legislated.