Prayers (Salaah)
Salaah is a specific way of praying which is obligatory for all Muslims five times a day at specified times. In salaah, one disconnects completely from the surrounding world and forms direct communication with his creator. Salaah is offered by males in the mosque in congregation and by females at home. Salaah should be offered the way it is taught by The Prophet and it is obligatory for all Muslims to acquire the knowledge relating to the proper offering of prayers including the principles of achieving cleanliness and purification which is a pre-requisite for prayers.
There are many benefits of offering regular prayers, both worldly and eternal. And there are very strong warnings for neglecting the prayers. In an Islamic state, establishing a system for offering the Salaah is the responsibility of people in power.
A true Muslim interrupts his rest, business and social life to offer his prayers timely; in an effort to please Allah سبحانه وتعالى. There are, however, concessions in prayers for frail, infirm and travellers. Apart from five obligatory prayers, Muslims are also encouraged to keep their contact with Allah سبحانه وتعالى through optional prayers at the times of happiness and distress.
Note: Detailed knowledge about the pre-requisites of prayers, timings of prayers, procedure of praying & contents of prayers can be learnt from prayer-leader (Imam) of your mosque. For any principal issues, please consult an authenticated Islamic scholar of the level of Mufti.