Why do Muslims pray 5 times a day?
Before we start to talk about the best time for prayer, we should understand why we are praying. Allah sent us the Holy Quran and reached it to our beloved prophet to offer us a permanent life guide. But, what about the hereafter? We need to worship Allah besides working to get a better life. Although you, as a Muslim, believe in the existence of Allah, the rapid life cycle may make you so busy to thank Allah for his gifts.
Surah Taha: “And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you, and the [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness (132)”
What about calling you five times to meet Allah? This is amazing that Allah reminds us to leave everything and forget our life concerns and worries to meet him. The prayer is an obligatory regular meeting with our creator to thank him, talk with him, and ask him for all we need. Muslims pray to purify their souls and recharge themselves to be able to continue their lives. If you love somebody, you will be excited to meet him more than five times every day.
What are the 5 praying times of Islam?
Al salah (the prayer) is the second Islamic pillar that is full of different kinds of worship. It includes the sayings such as takbeer, remembrance of Allah, recitation of Quran, dua, and supplications besides the physical movements. Also, for an accepted prayer, you should be humble and this shows your respect, love, and fear from Allah. The prayer and the best time for prayer were obligated by Allah on the night of Al-Mi’raj before Hijrah, as five prayers were to be performed every day and night at specified times.
Surah Al-Isra: “Istablish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur’ān [i.e., recitation] of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed (87)”
Those are the five prayers obligated by Allah:
- Al-Fajr: Is the first prayer and it is two raka’ (kneeling) to start your day early at the dawn
- Duhr: A prayer in the midday to remember Allah during your work or study and it is four raka’
- Asr: This is the afternoon salah and it is also four raka’
- Maghrib: It is the fourth prayer in the day and its three raka’ are done on the sunset
- Isha: The last obligated salah in the day and it is four raka’ prayed on the night before the end of the day
The best time for prayer
It is amazing to think that thousands of Muslims that don’t know each other pray at the same time. This creates the feeling of security that you share your faithful and spiritual moods with sisters and brothers all over the world. Allah sat the best time for prayer to give us the chance to ask him for blessing and forgiveness all the time before death. The five essential prayers are distributed although the whole day to help us recharge our spiritual battery and complete our lives.
Surah At-Tawbah: “The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakāh and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those – Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise (71)”
The times of salah are indicated using the position of the sun in the sky and that’s why not all Muslims pray at the same time. In Muslim communities, prayer times are announced loudly through daily calls known as Azan. This call (azan) is made from the mosque to gather Muslims to pray in the mosque or in their houses and workplaces. The most important thing in this life is to pray at times and not to delay them for any reason.
What times should you not pray?
Surah An-Nisa: “But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times (103)”
There are three times, we Muslims can’t pray at them; sunrise, sunset, and zawaal.
- The Time of SunriseIt starts from the time when the sun can be seen on the eastern horizon firstly and it ends when the sun is visible. Nowadays it is 15-20 min after sunrise.
- The Time of SunsetIt starts from the time when the sunlight becomes pale and ends when the sun disappears. Nowadays it is about 15-20 min before sunset.
- The Time of ZawaalThis is when the sun is right at the top in its peak position, this is the time when the length of our shadow is almost zero.
We should mention that there are five voluntary prayers in Islam:
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Tahajjud:
Praying particularly in the last part of the night; before dawn; the Prophet (PBUH) said: “The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.”
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The 12 optional prayers before/after every mandatory Salah:
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever prays twelve raka’ during the day and night will have a house built for him in Paradise: 4 raka’ before Dhuhr and 2 after it; 2 raka’ after Maghrib; 2 raka’ after Isha; and 2 raka’ before Fajr.”
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Duha (Forenoon prayer):
Abu Huraira said, “My friend [The Prophet PBUH] advised me to observe three things: to fast 3 days of every month, to pray 2 raka’ of duha every day, and to pray Witr before going to sleep.”
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Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid (Prayer after entering the masjid):
Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid is a prayer in which 2 nafl raka’ is performed at the time of entering the mosque. The Messenger said, “If anyone of you enters a masjid, he should pray two raka’ before sitting.”
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Salat al-Witr:
The last prayer with odd raka’ prayed at night. The Prophet (PBUH) used to pray Witr as 1 raka’, and 3, and 5 and 7, and 9. Praying Witr salah anytime after Isha and before Fajr is highly recommended.
Will Allah forgive me for missing prayers?
Surah Az-Zumar: “Say: O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.1 Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful (53)”
First, you should know that neglecting the prayer is one of the biggest sins and Allah said that it is from the characteristics of the non-Muslims. If you didn’t pray before, you must thank Allah because he gave you a chance to repent before death. Harry up, make a sincere intention, regret bad deeds, and promise that you will keep praying at the time. Allah forgives all sins but the Islamic scientists say that you have to make up all missed prayers before death, as possible as you can.
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