Re: Why 5 salats...
psyah: Appreciate your response. I see your point in god doesnt need us rather we need him. But my question remains the same even then. Granted we need god, but why do we need to remember him FIVE times in a day? The argument that sole reason of our existence is to remember god doesnt work because then why am I not spending all of my day remembering god? why do i even go to work then? Taking that specific argument further, how would mankind itself make any advances (scientific or otherwise) when most of its time is spent kneeling infront of god. Consquently, im not sure if the SOLE reason of our existence is to worship God, the angels are enough for that purpose.
Peace JustARegularGuy
Yes you are right there is another reason well there are many other reasons. The reason for our existence is to achieve the ultimate aim of worshipping God because in that state we are at ease. However, our Creation has done other things. It demonstrates that Allah (SWT) can create those people who have choice, it demonstrates that Allah (SWT) can forgive and be Merciful beyond what is observed with the Angels. It provides a basis for us to enter in Jannah (Paradise) or Jahannum (Hellfire) based on the actions we take. Jannah and Jahunnum are not an option for the Angels or animals.
By concentrating on the number 5 it is a method of distracting oneself to the core reasons of prayer. Salat has been obligatory 5 times a day other than this we are expected to remember God in every action. Even whilst undertaking scientific research we are expected to say Bismillah and we are expected to say Alhumdulillah when or if we make a discovery. Salat itself has many optional forms throughout the day the number of 5 prayers is observed as a practical limit below which would be injustice to ourselves not to perform. Consider 5 prayers a mercy from the original number 50.
Again these are just numbers. We should be concentrating on the actions rather than superfluous detail as this. If there was only one salat then people would be asking the question why only one salat. If there were four the same. What we need to be content with is the idea that Islam is practical and 5 is a practical number of times to remember Allah (SWT) in one day even in such a dynamic society as ours in this day and age.