Salat - The Muslim Prayer Book — Page 2
2 S al a t —The Muslim Prayer Book pilgrimage to the Ka‘bah in Mecca least once in the lifetime of a Muslim. Of all religious obligations, Islam has laid greatest emphasis on the institution of S al a t. It is enjoined upon every Muslim to pray five times a day. Besides the five obligatory Prayers, there are other types of Prayers which are optional. A Muslim takes the spiritual side of life as seriously as a worldly person takes the material side of it. As air and food are essential for our physical life, likewise, we cannot survive spiritually without offering S al a t or Prayer regularly in different parts of the day. S al a t or Prayer, consists of various postures, i. e. Standing called Qiy a m , Bowing down called Ruk u‘ , Prostration called Sajdah and Sitting called Qa‘dah. During each posture prescribed phrases are to be recited. As these phrases are in Arabic, every Muslim is required not only to memorise these verses but also to know their meaning so that the worshipper knows what he is saying to his Lord during the Prayer. 1. OBLIGATION TO OFFER PRAYER Prayer, in the prescribed manner, is obligatory upon every adult Muslim of sound mind. As far as children are concerned, it is not obligatory on them until they come of age. However, it requires continuous effort and persuasion to get them to the stage where they start offering their Prayers regularly in the manner prescribed for the Prayer. Proper training and education is therefore necessary for