The prayer not only helps in building individual character but also assists in building the whole structure of community organisation and social discipline. Daily prayer keeps this organisation alive and working and prevents it from becoming ineffective. This is why performing prayer in congregation is obligatory. Such regular meetings of individual Muslims, helps to form a 'community centre'. When Muslims assemble in the mosque, they have all come for one objective. These feelings unite them, despite the differences in their race, language, colour or nationality. A strong sense of brotherhood is created and kept alive by the institution of the five daily prayers.

Some of the other benefits of the five daily prayers that are performed in congregation include: mutual help and co-operation, equality and brotherhood, tolerance, unity, respect for the rights of others, love and affection, and unity. The prayer also prevents a Muslim from doing unjust and shameful deeds as Allaah said:

Verily, prayer prevents from shameful and unjust deeds. [Ankaboot 29:45]

There are also many instances and circumstances in which the prayer is performed collectively, besides the five daily prayers. There is the weekly Friday prayer which is considered as a minor form of a day of celebration. Muslims bathe and dress well for this occasion and everyone is encouraged to attend this prayer since a small sermon is given before prayer, and which serves as a reminder for the Muslims.

Then there are the two Eed[3] prayers. The two days of Eed are days of celebration and joy. An additional prayer is held on these two days in the early morning and all Muslims are strongly encouraged to attend, along with their families. This is a time when all Muslims meet each other, give greetings to each other and also visit each other.

Muslims also perform collective prayer on the occasion of an eclipse, both for lunar and solar eclipses. An eclipse is one of most striking signs of Allaah, the One True God. It is quite a fearful and awe-inspiring event and thus Muslims perform prayer while this phenomenon takes place. Muslims do not believe that an eclipse is an omen or anything superstitious as thought by many in both past and present times. Rather, it is one of the clear signs of Allaah's power and so it is a time when Muslims perform prayer to acknowledge this fact.

Another occasion of collective prayer is when there has been a prolonged absence of rain. So Muslims come out into the open and perform the pray for rain. Here they beseech and invoke Allaah, the One Who sends the winds and the rains, that He blesses them and sends upon them, rain. This is at a time when their livelihood may be at stake and so in mutual concern for themselves and each other, they embark together to perform this prayer. Again this instils the notion of brotherhood and mutual care and consideration amongst the people.

Death is an inevitable reality and for this occasion there is the funeral prayer. Attending the deceased Muslim's funeral and performing the prayer over him is one of the many rights that a Muslim has over another Muslim. All the Muslims come and take part in this prayer out of a sense of respect and responsibility and after it, assist in the burial. This make them remind themselves that they too, will be placed into the earth, ready to be raised again to be held accountable for their deeds. Thus, helping them to not lose track of their goal in life and become too heavily immersed the pursuits of life.

So it can be seen how the prayer in Islaam is linked to every sphere of the life of a Muslim and also to the life of Muslim community. When one knows that human-kind has been created to worship Allaah - the One True God - then it is understandable that the prayer should play a vital role in daily life, in helping Muslims to fulfil their duty to their Creator and Lord, in helping them to create love and affection between themselves, and in helping them to seek assistance for their daily individual and collective needs as well as constantly reminding them of what is yet to come - the Hereafter.

FOOTNOTES

1 The five daily prayers are performed at dawn, immediately after mid-day, late afternoon, sunset and at night (a couple of hours after sunset).

2 This consists of washing the hands, the face, the mouth, the nose, the arms and elbows, wiping over ones head, and washing the feet and ankles.