إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ
Verily, I am Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Me. So worship Me ˹alone˺, and establish prayer for My remembrance. [At Taha 20: verse 14]

In nothing less than 700 times, the word Salaat (the Muslim Prayer) is mentioned in the Qur’aan.

The Honourable Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated:
’ اَلصَّلَاۃُ نُوْرٌ’
‘Salah is Light.’ [Sahih Muslim]

As humans we realise the importance of light, often going to great lengths to install suitable lighting in our homes. When these lights fail, we throw them away because they have become unfit for their purpose and naturally, we do not give importance to useless objects.

Humans were created for the sole purpose of worshipping Allah Almighty. From the acts of worship available to us, Salaah is the most important and superior. The Prophet of Allah, Sayyiduna Ibrahim عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام even supplicated for himself and his children regarding Salaah as described in the Quran:

رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ
‘O my Lord, make me the one who keeps Salaah established, and (also) some of my offspring. O our Lord, answer my supplication,’ [Surah Ibrahim, verse 40].
A right of Allah, Salaah holds so much importance that on the Day of Judgement, it is the first matter we will be questioned about, as explained in the blessed Hadith, ‘On the Day of Judgement, a person will be asked regarding Salaah first,’ [Nasai 3997]
In one Hadith, the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم analogised Salah to light for several reasons:
1. Light prevents accidents such as falling into a ditch and similarly salaah prevents one from falling into the ditch of immodesty and other sins.

2. On the Day of Judgement, reward will be given in the form of light to a worshipper who was consistent in offering Salah.

3. The light of Salah will radiate from the faces of worshippers in this world and the Hereafter.

4. Salaah is the light of a believer’s heart, face, grave, and resurrection.

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم further clarified who will attain the light of Salah and who will not:

Whoever safeguards his Salah, for him on the Day of Judgement will be a light, an open proof, and protection. And he who does not safeguard his Salah will not have light, an open proof, or any protection, and he will be resurrected with Qaroon, Fir’awn, Haman, and ‘Ubay Bin Khalf, [Musnad Ahmad 6587].

He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم added, ‘Glad tidings of a complete light be for those who walk to the masjid on foot, in darkness,’ [Tirmizi 223].