SALAH AND IQAAMAT-E-SALAH

Literally Salah means Du'a, technically it is the set of postures observed in the Namaz such as Qiyaam, Qira'at, Ruk'u, Sajdah‎‎‎‎, etc.

In the Qur'an, where the Salah is mentioned, so is Iqaamah. With a few exceptions, Allah Ta'ala has placed a lot of emphasis in the Qur'an on Iqaamat-e-Salah instead of just Salah.

Iqaamah means holding something straight. It is unlikely that a post, wall or tree that is straight will collapse. The same applies to Salah performed in accordance with the established norms. Every act has its own way of performing it. Thus, for Salah it is recommended to perform it regularly, at the appointed times and according to the established conditions and principles, with its Faraa'iz, Waajibaat, Sunnah and Mustahabbaat.

All the merits and virtues mentioned in the Qur'an and the Ahaadith relate to Iqaamat-e-Salah and not to Salah alone. It is a Salah performed according to the required criteria and mentioned above that Allah refers to in Surah Ankabut in verse 45 and which is likely to preserve us from what is blameworthy and from turpitude.

The salvation of everyone is found in total submission to Allah Ta'ala. Salah, an Ibaadah‎ grouping several other forms of Ibaadaat‎ such as Takbir, Tasbih‎‎, Tamheed, Tilaawat‎‎-ul-Qur'an, Du'a, sacrifice of time, energy, fight against one's nafs and shaitaan, meditation, among others, definitely leads us closer to our salvation than any other form of Ibaadah‎. Moreover, strict adherence to this noble practice is the very symbol of Imaan. While emphasizing the importance of Salah for a believer, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) defines Salah as the dividing line between Imaan and Kufr (infidelity).

Practicing Salah five times a day is a way for a believer to remember his Creator. He becomes aware that there is a Creator who has given him a life and who has established a code that governs this life. In such a state of mind, practicing Islam becomes easy and enjoyable. It is therefore not an exaggeration to conclude that regular Salah is an effective way to preserve the edifice of Deen. Indeed, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) said in this regard:

"The Salah is the pivot of Deen. He who preserves it has preserved the Deen. And he who demolishes it is in the process of demolishing the Deen."

The position of the Salah is very exalted. It is obligatory and important that every Muslim observes it as rigidly as possible whatever the circumstances and this as long as he is conscious, i.e. in full possession of his faculties, whether he is in good health or sick, in happiness or misfortune, in opulence or poverty, in a state of being a Muqeem (resident) or while travelling. The one who performs Salah when he is healthy and neglects it when he is unwell, who performs it during the weekdays and neglects it during the weekend, and who performs it at home and neglects it when he is on a journey, is against Iqaamat-e-Salah. This clearly shows that this person has not understood the importance of Salah.

There are many who neglect Salah without any valid reason and there are others who, inspired by Shaytaan, think that establishing Salah alone does not make Islam because there are other obligations that must accompany it. Let us admit that it is true that Salah alone does not make Islam. However, it is equally true to say that without Salah, Islam does not exist in the true sense of the word. If Salah is not given its proper value, it is very likely that the other less important acts will be neglected all the more. It must be well understood that Salah is the most important and best act after Imaan.

It is quite logical to say that if an act as important as Salah is neglected, the other less important ones will be neglected even more. In Mu'atta of Imam Maalik (Rahimahullah), Hadhrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu anhu) sent a message to his governors, a message which clearly illustrates this idea:

"In my opinion, the most important act of Islam is Salah. So whoever preserves it, respecting its conditions and principles, and who establishes it punctually, preserves his Deen. And whoever abandons it, will abandon even the less important acts."

According to a Hadith of Bukhari, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) relates his dream. He saw a sleeping person and another person crushing his head with a big stone and the stone rolled at some distance. When he went to pick up the stone, the crushed head of the sleeping person returned back to normal. The stone crushed his head again and it returned to normal as the person brought the stone back, and this process continued tirelessly. When Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) asked the reason, the angel Jibril (Alaihis Salaam) told him that the sleeping person was someone who after having memorized the Qur'an neglected it afterwards, and who also abandoned the Salah.

In another Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) said that the one who performs Salah will have perfect light, proof and salvation on the Day of Qiyaamah and the one who does not perform Salah will have neither light, proof nor salvation. He will have Qarun, Pharaoh and Haamaan on the Day of Qiyaamah as companions.

May Allah protect us from such a punishment. (Ameen)

[English version of "Salaah et Iqaamat-e-Salaah" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 7]