15. According to Quran which Salah is considered as the best? The one performed

        a) with obedience to Allah

        b) within prescribed time

        c) during Asar

        d) all the above

Answer: d) all the above.

The answer is derived from these two verses:

"Guard strictly As-Salat especially middle Salah ( i.e. the best prayer - Asr - Salathul ustha). And stand before Allah with obedience." (Al-Baqarah, 2:238).

"Verily, As-Salat is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours" (An-Nisa, 4:103).

According to some the "Salatul ustha'' means, the best among all forms of prayer. But some authorities think that it refers to the 'Asr' prayer. The importance of ‘Asr’ prayer can be proved by our Prophet ﷺ sayings: "He who observes Fajr & Asr prayer will enter Jannah" and "He who misses ‘Asr Salah’ (delibra- tely) his deeds will be rendered null and void"

A believer while performing the Namaz has to stand with the utmost devotion. Allah says the hypocrites deceive themselves, "by standing for Salah with laziness and to show men, and they do not remember Allah but little" (4:142).  But the successful believers while performing the Namaz will stand "with all solemnity and full submissiveness" (23:2). In many places of Quran Allah has commanded Muslims to perform Salat and give Zakat. Then to glorify Him and ask forgiveness after the Salah.

* Allah asks to get help from Him by performing Salah: "Seek Allah's help by patience and As-Salat. This is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Kashiun" (those who obey, fear believe in His promises and warnings). [2:45].

* Allah says the benefit of Salah in the following: 'Verily, As-Salat keeps away from shameful and unjust deeds; And remembrance of Allah is the greatest without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that you do. (25:45).

* Allah gives high flexibility in the salah during the fear of enemy and journey: "And if you fear (an    enemy), perform Salat on foot or riding. And when you are in safety, offer the Salah in the manner   He has taught you, which you know not (before)" (2:239). "There is no sin on you if shorten As-Salat   when you travel in land, if you fear that the disbelievers may put you in trial." (4:101).

* Allah asked the believers to give advice to the family to follow strictly to the Salah: "It is a believer's duty to enjoin As-Salat on their family and to be consistent in offering them." (20:132).

* A good believer gives importance to Salah than any other thing: ''Neither trade nor sale diverts from the believer in the remembrance of Allah nor from performing As-Salat.'' (24:37).

* Those who are not establishing Salah are put in the Hell: The sinners will be asked, "What has caused you to enter Hell?" They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer our prayers. Nor we used to feed the poor. And we used to talk falsehood with vain talkers. And we used to believe the Day of Recompense.'' (74:40-46)

* Allah also warns the believers not to be diverted in performing Salah: "O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers." (63:9)

* After saying so much about Salàh finally Allah has severely warned the believers by saying: "Woe unto those performers of Salah, Who delay their from their stated fixed times " (107:4 & 5).

Following are the benefits of Salath:

    ★ It fulfils the command of/a covenant from Allah.

    ★ It is a means of remembrance of Allah.

    ★ It is a means of submission to Allah.

    ★ It is a kind of communication with The Creator.

    ★ It strengthens the relationship with Allah

    ★ It is an act of gratitude for the innumerable favours that Allah has given to man.

    ★ It acts as a light to walk in the straight path.

    ★ It is a way of keeping the body and soul pure.

    ★ It makes one punctual.

    ★ It increases the concentration of mind.

    ★ It is a kind of exercise for every organ of the body, every nerve, bone, joint and every blood vessel.

    ★ It helps us to experience Allah's attributes.

    ★ Salath defeats Shaithan

    ★ It washes away small sins if performed sincerely.

    ★ It leads to success in both the worlds.

    ★ It gives peace and tranquility to heart and mind.

    ★ It is the first thing to be questioned on the Day of judgement.

    ★ It increases the weight of scale in mizan, the balance on Qiyamah.

    ★ It reserves Paradise along with a person's good deeds and intentions

    ★ It allow us to see Allah in the Paradise and make one to dwell near His presence which is considered as Supreme Success.

 Angels pray for the one who goes to mosque to pray:

“Prayer offered in a group is twenty-five times better than prayer offered at the home or in the market place. If any one of you does wudoo’ and does it well, then comes to the mosque for no other purpose than to pray, then he does not take a single step but Allaah raises him in status one degree thereby and removes one sin from him, until he enters the mosque. When he is waiting for the Salah, and the angels send blessings upon him so long as he remains in the spot where he prayed, saying ‘O Allah! pardon him, O Allah, have mercy upon him, (and they continue to do so) as long as, his ablution is not broken.......'' [Sahih Muslim]

Following are several ahadhees regarding Salah. Few are quoted here:

             Somebody asked to the Prophet ﷺ "Which deed is loved most by Allah?" He replied, 'To offer prayers at their early (very first) stated times.' "

            "The five daily prayers and the Friday Prayer until the Friday prayer is an expiation for what is between them.” (Sahih Muslim)

            “Between faith and unbelief is abandoning the prayer.” (Muslim)

             “The key to Paradise is prayer; the key to prayer is wudu (ablution).” (Musnad Ahmad)

             "If there was a river at your door and he took a bath in it five times a day, would you notice any dirt on him?” They said, “Not a trace of dirt would be left.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “That is the   parable of the five prayers by which Allah removes sins.” (Sahih Bukhari, 505, Sahih Muslim, 667)

The last words that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ  spoke were, “The prayer, the prayer! And fear Allah with regard to those whom your right hands possess.”