The almighty Allah has Himself cited that when His believers Fast and do not pray and do the needful, then there's no value of their Fasting. For Him, it is just like His animals are hungry.
This emphasises the importance of prayer and work during Fasting as well as in our life. One nourishes our soul, the other our body, and together they prosper our life.
Where He speaks with such severity, He even shows linency by increasing the rewards by manifold for every prayer and good deed done in this month.
Also there is the provision for the sick and those in travel to forego the Fasts in Ramadhan, and make do for the same in non-ramadhan days, after they have recuperated or reached their place of rest/home. Allah cites in Quran that He wishes ease for us and does not intend to put us through hardship.
Here we get wonderful lessons in leadership and governance. How a balance of reward and punishment can work splendidly in the character development of human beings. And where we need to care for the convenience of those below us, while also being strong in the regulations.
In Islam, the concept of prayer is segregated into numerous forms with the simple act of smiling at our fellow men with the intention of pleasing Allah and nurturing goodness also taking the form of worship. But the forms of prayer we will look into here are those which are highly recommended and esteemed in Islam especially in the month of Ramadhan alongwith Charity and good deeds, viz.
Namaz, also called Salat (set of ritualistic prostrations before the Almighty), reciting the Holy Quran, and Dua (sublication, i.e, asking directly of His mercy and fulfillment of our wishes).
continued in part b.
