What are the benefits of the five daily prayers (salah)? How does it benefit us in the afterlife as well as in this world?

Regarding the significance of the five daily prayers, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) described them as the “pillar of religion”. It is a gift which God bestowed upon believers during the miraculous journey, isra’ and mi’raj. So what benefit does one obtain from prayer and how is this a gift form our Merciful Creator?

• First and foremost, Prayer brings us closer to God and becomes a path to paradise in the hereafter. This benefit is obvious and self explanatory. Muslims who neglect their prayers by setting a bad example to others and encouraging them to miss their prayers become harmful to their society and eventually to themselves in the afterlife.

• Furthermore, the author also mentions some of the worldy benefits of prayer in some of his other books. So how does prayer benefit us in this world?

1. Firstly, prayer brings a peace of mind. We’ve discussed this in depth in our previous post, explaining how worship in general leads to a peace of mind. Since prayer is a form of worship (in fact at the center of it, since it is the “pillar of religion”), we will not repeat the argument with all its details but simply provide a brief summary: Being in the presence of God and humbling ourselves before Him, we begin to feel our impotence and poverty and that of everything else besides God. This allows us to understand God and His attributes which in turn leads to a true peace of mind.
2. In addition to providing a peace of mind, prayer plays a role in keeping the society well ordered and safe. Indeed, prayers are an invitation to God’s presence multiple times throughout the day. One who wholeheartedly performs these prayers constantly remembers their Lord and stays motivated to fulfill His commands. Since God commands that we must obey figures of authority, help the needy, avoid harming others, and so on; society greatly benefits form it. Furthermore, prayer requires and develops one’s discipline and other crucial practices. Muslims who neglect these prayers out of laziness, on the other hand, are more likely to cause harm to their society due to a lack of discipline and a lack of taqwa [avoiding sin].[1]

[Fourth Word – Part 1]

[1] Rays; Eleventh Ray; The First One – Signs of Miraculousness; Surah Al-Baqara; Fourth Topic