This book is written by Maulana Syed Abul-a’la Maududi in which he delves deeply to discuss the rationale and implications of Salat (صلوۃ) and Saum (صوم) on one’s personality, character, morals and community at large.

First, the noted author discusses that worship in Islam is not just a way of seeking material benefits from a deity who is in need of self-praise and worship. Allah is beyond any need of worship.

He has helped us gain nourishment to reach an age of sensibility in a fine-tuned universe much before we could even realize or even were born. In Islam, worship is a way of thanking Allah for His blessings, mercy and for acknowledging one’s humbleness in a submissive way.

At the same time, worship becomes a reminder to reaffirm and uphold the pledge with Allah to avoid disobedience. On one hand, worship symbolizes submission before Allah in a humble way, but on the other hand, it relieves one from obeying any other creature.

Solat achieves the aim of reminding oneself five times a day to thank Allah through active bodily acknowledgement and engagement. It enhances discipline and dutifulness to obey Allah on all days of life and in between the prayers.

It helps in avoiding distractions and evil temptations. A person seeking help and guidance intently and purposefully five times a day cannot at the same time be violating the rules and guidance provided to him.

Congregational prayer strengthens the communal bond. It shuns all basis of distinction including wealth, status and knowledge. All people pray in unison which shows unity and discipline. It connects members of community to help one another and do not think of themselves as superior.

Furthermore, when one sees that everyone on his left or right and front or back is prostrating like him, it creates the realization that every creature in nature like humans is following Allah’s orders and praising Him. Thus, by submitting to Allah, one is submitting only to the One to whom everyone and everything submits. There is no need to submit to any other creature. 

It also dispels distractions when everyone is praying the same way and in same posture and at the same time. Having an Imam leading the prayer also strengthens discipline, order and control which should be exhibited in all other matters of teamwork as well.

Most of the supplications are also worded in plural nouns to create this understanding that we must strive for goodness for all and shun any degree of selfishness and ego in ourselves.

On the other hand, Saum inculcates attributes of patience, restraint and discipline. It creates acknowledgement of Allah’s blessings in a deep personal and experiential manner that all his blessings of different varieties of food are provided by him.

When a person restrains from these blessings on Allah’s order for the whole day, it highlights their importance and value. A hungry person knows the true value of food. It also creates discipline in the use of blessings by creating the understanding that one should avoid waste.

If one glass of water or some food at the time of breaking fast provides high utility to the person fasting, these items should not be wasted away on normal days of the year as they can provide the same level of utility to a thirsty or hungry person.

Usually, immoral behaviour, injustice and corruption happens when one overindulges in seeking to meet biological needs of food and intimacy. This overindulgence needs to be disciplined by creating patience, restraint and self-discipline. Fasting achieves that aim for one whole month every year.

Since everyone is asked to start fasting and breaking fast at the same time, it also strengthens the spirit of unity. Collective discipline reinforces positive attributes and makes it easy for community at large to perform fasting together.

Outside of Ramadan, when some people are fasting and some are not, one feels harder to fast as the environment around the person is not creating the necessary environment which creates collective reinforcement.

Fasting also encourages introspection. If one is avoiding food intake and intimacy on Allah’s orders even when alone, then everyone must recognize that he is also not alone at other times of day and night.

Allah is always watching all we do and intend to do. Thus, even when there is no law or binding force to keep us on the right path, we should still choose the right path as our acts are always under the surveillance of Allah.

Finally, the noted author writes that fasting also enhances the spirit of sacrifice and giving. This spirit requires self-restraint and looking beyond self. Fasting enhances this restraint and makes a person realize that what is needed for survival is not having plenty of things. Therefore, if Allah has blessed us with plenty of resources than what we need, then we should not forget the share of others in our endowments.