Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 141
141 APPENDIX 1 ESTABLISHING SALAT THROUGH THE AGES Salat is the second pillar of Islam. It is mentioned many times in the Holy Qur ’ an and is the means by which a believer establishes a relationship with his Creator. Salat is also a way to praise Allah. In hardship as well as in prosperity, it is the duty of a believer to call upon Allah. We read in the Qur ’ an: اَقم َ الصَلّٰوۃ لدلوۡک الشَمۡس الّٰی غَسَق ۡ الَی ل َ و َ ق رۡاّٰن الۡفَجۡر ؕ َ ان َ قرۡاّٰن الۡفَجۡر َ کَان مَشۡھوۡدًا “ Observe Prayer from the declining and paling of the sun till the darkness of the night, and recite the Qur ’ an at dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Qur ’ an at dawn is especially acceptable to Allah. ” A1. 1 and : َ و مَا خَلَقۡت َ الۡجن َ و َ الۡانۡس الَا لیَعۡبدوۡن “ And I have not created the jinn and the men but that th ey may worship Me. ” A1. 2