We offer 5 prayers everyday, but have you ever wondered why we actually pray?
Allah has created us and given us everything (a house, food, water and much more) as He is Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious). Have we ever stopped to thank Him for His Grace? Have we ever even considered it? Often the answer is no. However, there is a way in which we can thank Him and gain His happiness and that is through prayer.
Prayer is a key to heaven. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) once said “there are 8 doors to heaven and one of them is al Baab us Salat” meaning the door of Salat. This door can only be accessed through regular Salat. On the day of judgement one of the key questions Allah will ask us is “Have you offered your Salat?”. Think, if we do not pray, what will we answer on the day of reckoning to our Beloved and All Powerful Lord?
Salat is also the key way that we as human beings can ask Allah for forgiveness and talk to Allah. It connects us to Him and improves our spiritual wellbeing. During the Adhan (the call to prayer) the Muezzin says “Hayya’alal Falah, Hayya‘alal Falah” twice. The meaning of this is “come to Success” which means that offering your Salat will bring you both closer to Allah and success. We can ask Allah for anything good during prayer, whether for our spiritual success of our worldly success (e.g. good exam results).
This is why I pray – to connect to my Creator and thank Him for all that He has given to me, in return, I recieve blessings and nearness to Him.
By, Mahir Malik.
