Why Muslims pray namaz?

Millions of Muslims around the world share a ritual known as salah (namaz) -it is the second of the five pillars in the Islamic faith as daily obligatory standardized prayers. It is a physical, mental, and spiritual act of worship that is observed five times every day at prescribed times as taught by the Prophet Mohammed, While facing towards the Kaaba in Mecca.

As the word indicates in Arabic, salah, which translates as connection, is designed to directly link devotees to their creator.

When performing the prayer, an individual is considered to be standing in the hands of God and addressing Him in person.

Praying five times a day is obligatory for every adult Muslim who is physically and mentally capable of doing so.

The times of prayer are spread throughout the day so that worshippers are able to continually maintain their connection to God.

The first prayer, called fajr, starts at dawn and ends once the sun rises. The second set of prayers is known as dhuhr and starts at noon.That is followed by the afternoon prayer, asr, while at sunset Muslims pray maghrib, and in the evening, isha.

There are numerous verses in Quran dedicated to salah, following are the some of them :

1. [2:3-5] who believe in the unseen, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and from our provisions to them, they give to charity. And they believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you, and with regard to the Hereafter, they are absolutely certain. These are guided by their Lord; these are the winners. 

2. [2:43] You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and bow down with those who bow down.

3. [2:45] You shall seek help through steadfastness and the Contact Prayers (Salat). This is difficult indeed, but not so for the reverent.

4. [2:153] O you who believe, seek help through steadfastness and the Contact Prayers (salat). Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere.

5. [29:45] "Observe the Salat (Contact Prayers) for it prohibits evil and vice." 

6. [15:98-99] "You shall glorify and praise your Lord and be with the prostrators, and worship your Lord until you attain certainty."

7. [35:29-30] "Surely, those who recite the book of God, observe the Contact Prayers and are charitable both discreetly and openly can hope for an investment that never loses. He will recompense them generously and will multiply His blessings upon them. He is Forgiving, Appreciative." 

8. [29:45] "You shall recite what is revealed to you of the Scripture, and observe the Salat (Contact Prayers), for the Salat prohibits evil and vice. But the remembrance of God is the most important objective. God is aware of all that you do." 

9. [20:14] "I am God, there is no other God but Me, you shall worship Me and observe the Salat (Contact Prayers) to commemorate Me." 

10. [4:43] "O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) while intoxicated, till you ( so that you ) know what you are saying." 

11. [5:6] "O you who believe, when you observe the Salat (Contact Prayers) you shall wash your faces, wash your arms to the elbows, wipe your heads and wash your feet to the ankles." 

12. [6:162-163] "Say, "My Salat (Contact Prayers), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to God alone, the Lord of the universe. He has no partner. This is what I am commanded to believe, and I am the first to submit." 

13. [23:2] Successful indeed are the believers; who are reverent during their Salat (Contact Prayers)."

14. [2:43] You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and bow down with those who bow down.

15. [2:150] "Wherever you go, you shall turn your face (during Salat) towards the Sacred Masjid; wherever you might be, you shall turn your faces (during Salat) towards it." 

Benefits of salah: 

Health significance of prayer postures:

Salah involves continuous gentle muscle contraction and relaxation with perfect harmony and balance. It involves different types of stretching and isometric contraction exercises. These gentle & simple exercises are suitable for all ages & conditions. University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) Cardiology Consultant Specialist Prof Dr Wan Azman Wan Ahmad stated that “12 ‘Rakʿah’ (unit for a set of actions in a prayer) equaled to 30 minutes of light exercises daily as recommended by health experts.” (zurairifm.wordpress.com/2009). Other beneficial activities can be combined with prayer, such as walking to the local mosque. This can help patients achieve the recommended weekly exercise levels of 30 minutes a day, at least five times a week. (Department of Health, 2004). For Muslim populations, higher ROM is required as their religious activities demands greater flexion of the joints in the lower limbs. Muslims need to adopt several postures that require deep flexion of the knee and hip to perform this daily obligation. The various postures of Salah were studied. Range of motion (ROM) were measured by Goniometer (An instrument which measures the available range of motion at a joint).

Purpose of salah :

The primary purpose of Salah is to act as a person's communication with Allah. Purification of the heart is the ultimate religious objective of Salah.

Basically salah is a gift given by Allah to people, in which people ask for forgiveness, guidance, help from Allah, for dua to come true, to express gratitude, etc.