Importance of Namaz (Prayers)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most
Merciful.
The human being is the only creature who has
been distinguished from other creatures with
the instinct of knowing right from wrong. He
is, therefore, the only one who is expected to
be the perfect image of his Creator. That is
why the objective of his life is to know his
Creator and become a perfect image of his
attributes, as Allah says in the Holy Qur'an:
"I have not created jins and humans but, for
my worship"
Namaz or the method of worship is the main
media through which a human can establish a
relationship with his Creator and it is one of
the main doors which leads to his complete
submission to Allah's will.
Namaz also prevents him from wrongdoings.
Allah says:
"Surely prayer restrains one from indecency
and manifest evil." Which shows that Salat or
prayer is a guarantee from Allah that if a
worshipper observes prayer with all its
conditions, he will be safe from evils, manifest
or hidden, small or great. The Holy Prophet
(peace be on him) asked to the companions,
"if one of you had a stream running by his
door and he takes a bath in it five times a
day, would any dirt be left on him?." They
replied! "No dirt would be left on him". The
Holy Prophet said: " This is the case with Salat
(the five daily prayers) Allah makes the Salat
wipe out his sins" .
When we reflect on the creation of the
universe and the law that governs it and the
design and variety that pleases our eyes, we
naturally are convinced of existence and
greatness of Allah.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
"In the creation of the heavens and the earth
and in the alternation of the night and the day
there are indeed signs for men of
understanding; " Those who remember Allah
while standing, sitting, and lying on their
sides, and ponder over the creation of the
heavens and the earth: "Our Lord, Thou hast
not created this in vain; nay, Holy art Thou;
save us, then, from the punishment of the
Fire. " (Aal-e-Imran, v19l-192)
This verse beautifully tells us that when a
worshipper reflects upon the structure of the
Universe he becomes overwhelmed with the
greatness of its Creator. The ENTITY Who
created such an awe-inspiring structure with
such detailed arrangement and accuracy. He
is alone to be worshipped and so right for
protection.
There are five daily prayer services
participation in which is obligatory. This may
seem a little too much, but it is all a matter of
comparative values. Those who realize the
true value of prayer through experience are
convinced that time spent in it is occupied
much more beneficially than that spent in
other pursuits.
There is no ordained priesthood in Islam. Every
Muslim can be Imam (who leads
congregational prayer) and can deliver a
sermon. The members of the congregation
may select, and for this purpose, they should
choose one from among themselves who
knows the Holy Quran better than the others.
No vestment is prescribed for the Imam nor
any special dress for the congregation. All
that needed is the body and the head should
be decently and cleanly covered.