and, how does solat influence us?

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum!

So, as you can see the headline is about solat (prayer) and how does it influence us. As a Muslim, we all know the obligation of performing solat right? It is clearly stated in Rukun Islam, at the second point, which is right after "mengucapkan kalimah syahadah". Well, I'm not really an expert, but what I can conclude and understand from the Quran; the obligation of performing prayer is A BIG DEAL. it's not a funny business. As what i understand, it's like "setelah kita beriman kepada Allah tu, yang keduanya adalah solat". Means, prayer is the most important thing after we witness the "Keesaan Allah swt",

The question is, why do we have to perform prayer? Hurmm, let me present the direct answer, not created by me but it was told by Allah in His verses in Al-Quran. it is stated that;

"Dirikanlah sembahyang, sesungguhnya sembahyang itu mencegah dari perbuatan2 keji dan munkar. dan sesungguhnya mengingat allah (solat) adalah lebih besar keutamaanya dari ibadah2 yang lain."

(surah al-ankabut: 45)

I really like to highlight the part 'sembahyang itu mencegah dari perbuatan2 keji dan mungkar'. If everyone is concerned enough to notice what's happening around us, around the world which shocking news are everywhere. Murdereres, burglars, bad rulers, and many others. We can see that people are going mad; im not saying everyone ( if everyone, of course i'm counted) . But, worlds are going upside down with all the riots here and there. But, seeing bad things happening in Muslim countries, the big question popped out; prayers prevent us from bad doings, kan? errr..why orang yang perform solat tu still je buat jahat? For simple example, selipar stolen at mosque? Bukan ke orang-orang pergi surau nak solat? After solat tu, pergi mencuri pulak? Haaaihh!

So, where is the mistake? Nak kata tak solat, nampak je dia takbir, rukuk, sujud and all that. But, he/she acts like orang tak solat. I remember my Ustaz's answer for this kind of popular question when we were in school.

"kalau dah solat tu pun niatnya bukan kerana Allah..camne tuh? Niat to get people admiration. Performing prayers so that people will say "baiklah dia ni".
Or to prevent Mom being angry. Bunyi je enjin kereta Mak, terus lari ambil wudhu'. Solat ekspress!

If like that lah our niat, hurmmm macamane nak mencegah kemungkaran, kan? Jadinya, let's solat properly.

Salah seorang Sahabat datang kepada Rasulullah SAW dan berkata: "Wahai Rasulullah! Tolong beri 

saya nasihat yang padat tapi dapat mencapai intipati matlamat! "  Rasulullah menjawab: "Bila kamu 

solat, solatlah seolah-olah kamu akan meninggalkan dunia ini dan ianya solat terakhir bagimu! Jangan 

berkata apa-apa yang boleh menyebabkan kamu terpaksa minta maaf! Jangan berkehendakkan apa-apa 

hak kepunyaan orang lain! "

(Ibn Majah, Zuhd, 15; Ahmad bin Hambal, Musnad, V, 419) 

p/s: a reminder for all of us, especially me.