Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 180
180 The Quran has laid it down as an obligatory duty that the Salat must be duly observed (2:4). This injunction is repeated many times. The Salat is also described as the principal means of seeking God’s help. The Quran urges the seeking of Divine help through steadfastness and Salat (2:154). It is pointed out that it is not easy except for the humble in spirit, who know for certain that they will meet their Lord and that to Him will they return (2:46 ⎯ 47). Those who seek success wholly through their own effort, skill, and knowledge, and take little account of the certainty that each human being must face his Maker and render an account to Him of the great and priceless gift of life, are apt to consider the Salat a wearisome formality, and even a waste of time. Their idea of success is often limited to financial competence, office, dignity, or power, and does not extend to moral and spiritual fulfilment, to the constant reaching out of the soul toward perfection. As already stated, it is a matter of comparative values. In addition to participating in the five obligatory services, Muslims are exhorted to get up during the latter part of the night for individual Prayer, in the same form as the Salat , as a supererogatory service (17:80). This generally comprises eight rak’as , offered in four units of two rak’as each. In addition, the Prophet often offered Prayer in two units during the early part of the