"Who believe in the Unseen, and perform salat (prayers) and spend out of what We have provided for them." (Qur'an, 2:3)

Daily-prescribed prayers (salat) are central to personal practice of Islam and occur five times a day. For Muslims, salat is the most important act of worship and is a direct way to communicate with God. One who is praying is supposed to rid his mind of worldly concerns and focus solely on God. In fact, the word 'salat' literally means 'hot connection'. So, prayer in Islam is an act of worship that enables the individual to get intimately close to God. This act completes the relationship with the individual and God, as God is closer to one than one's own jugular vein (Qur'an 50:16, see also 2:186 for God answering prayers.)

The meaning of worship is this: Man, as a servant of God, being aware of his limitations, weakness and poverty, prostrates himself in love and wonderment before the perfection of His Lordship, Majesty and Compassion.^[13] The essence of worship is to glorify, exalt and praise God with the heart, tongue and body. The movements and recited phrases during the prayer have profound meaning:

• Firstly, the prayer is an index involving all ways of worship: During prescribed prayers, the worshipper repeats the creed of faith to reaffirm his covenant with God. He does not eat, so, it is like fasting. He faces in the direction of Ka'bah, so it is like pilgrimage. He reserves about 1 hour a day, so, it is like giving alms withhis primary capital, time.
• Secondly, collectively the prayer is an act symbolising submission to God: The physical movements in prayer show progressively increasing levels of submission to God. In the standing position with hands crossed in front of one's body, the worshipper is as if saying 'my hands are tied, I submit to You and Your will'. The bowing down position is a higher level of submission. Breaking the defence mechanisms of self, she is as if saying 'I bow down only to You, I cannot see what's in front of me. My God, I stand defenceless in front of You'. The prostration is the ultimate level of submission. She is as if saying, "My God, I am lowering my head to the same level as my feet. With respect to you I am negating myself. I am completely defenceless before Your will."
• Thirdly, the prayer is a sacred map indicating all diverse ways of worship of creatures in nature: The Qur'an states that everything in the universe worships God in a manner that we do not readily understand (Qur'an, 57:1). Humanity, being the most comprehensive creation of God, represents the worship of all creation. A worshipper represents plants in standing up position, animals in bowing down position and the earth and creatures on the ground in the position of prostration.

The five prayer times also possess profound significance. They indicate significant milestones in the life of an individual, the world and the universe. The dawn prayer symbolises the conception of man, the dawn of spring and the Big Bang for the universe. The noon prayer symbolises the adulthood of man, the grandeur of summer and the creation of earth and humanity for the universe. The afternoon prayer symbolises the old age for man, autumn for the world and the coming of the last prophet for the universe. The evening prayer symbolises the death of man, the beginning of winter and the winding up of the universe. The night prayer, which is when the last light of the day disappears in the horizon, represents the disappearance of the individual from memory, the depth of winter and the complete decline of universe.

Prayer five times a day may seem excessive to some people. In reality, it only takes maximum forty minutes in a day. Just as we eat three or four times a day and we never complain because we need physical nourishment to survive, we also need spiritual nourishment for our soul. Salat at spaced intervals throughout the day provides such spiritual nourishment. Some of the benefits of salat are

• Remembrance of God during daily prayers enables a person to get closer to God. Prophet Muhammad said "a person is closest to God during prostration". Hence, it provides spiritual contentment in fulfilling the purpose of man's creation – worship.
• Salat raises the awareness of being in the presence of God and hence prevents a person from doing wrongful acts.
• All enjoined prayers are performed within groups where shoulders touch each other, hence building social cohesion and solidarity. Congregational prayer multiplies the spiritual benefits.
• The focus and meditation during prayer clears the mind, while giving regular breaks at key times during the day prevents stress.
• Ablution before the prayer cleans external limbs of the body several times a day as well as removing static electricity of the body and provides relief and comfort.
• The physical movements during prayer stretch every muscle in the body and provide vital movement in the joints that prevents arthritis.

[13] Said Nursi, "Words", Soz, 2003, 9^th Word, p 71.