The Importance and Virtues of Salah in Light of Qur’anic Verses and Authentic Hadiths

Prayer is the pillar of the religion of Islam:

Prayer is the pillar of the religion of Islam. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Muadh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه that the Noble Messenger ﷺ said to me:

((ألا أخبرك برأس الأمر، وعموده، وذروة سنامه؟))

“Shall I not tell you the head of Islam, its pillar, and its peak?”

I said:

“O Messenger of Allah! Please tell me.” Then you ﷺ said:

((رأس الأمر الإسلام ، وعموده الصلاة، وذروة سنامه الجهاد .))

“The head of Islam is to surrender oneself to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, its pillar is prayer, and its peak is Jihad.”

Allama Albani رحمه الله has declared this as “Sahih”.

Prayer as a connection between the servant and his Lord:

Prayer is a connection between the servant and his Lord, as the Prophet ﷺ said in a hadith:

((إن أحدكم إذا قام فى صلاته فإنه يناجي ربه .))

“Indeed, when a person stands for prayer, it is as if he is whispering to his Lord.”

“When it comes to prayer, it is truly an honor for a believing servant to have a private conversation with his Lord, which is dearer to him than his life, wealth, and children. He can only deserve this honor when he recognizes the Lordship with His names, attributes, and rights, understands servitude along with its humility, helplessness, poverty, and need, and becomes accustomed to giving every rightful claimant their due rights fully. Therefore, sensory and spiritual purity is indispensable for him, and physical and heart covering is necessary. Facing the Kaaba as much as possible, reciting the words of Allah, and observing the Takbir Tashreeq are obligatory.”

Prayer is a means of nearness to Allah:

Through prayer, a servant attains closeness to his Lord. Therefore, Allah Almighty commanded the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ not to obey Abu Jahl’s words, and to continue praying in the Sacred Mosque and attain closeness to his Lord through worship.

(كَلَّاؕ-لَا تُطِعْهُ وَ اسْجُدْ وَ اقْتَرِبْ)

“Never! Do not obey him, and prostrate yourself before your Lord and draw near to Him.”

It is narrated in Sahih Muslim from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

((أقرب ما يكون العبد من ربه وهو ساجد، فأكثروا الدعاء .))

“A servant is closest to his Lord while in prostration, so increase supplication in it.”

That one prostration which you consider burdensome

Saves a person from a thousand prostrations

Hafiz Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله says:

“Prayer is very magnificent in keeping the heart happy, providing strength, expanding it, and bringing pleasure and delight. In it, the heart and soul unite with Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; one benefits from the remembrance of Allah and attains nearness to Him. It brings pleasure through supplication. Standing before Allah in prayer involves the use of all the body’s limbs in worship, and each physical limb gets a share in this use. It provides relief from connections and meetings with creation. Through it, a person’s heart, mind, and bodily organs are drawn towards their Creator and Owner, the Generous Lord. In the state of prayer, a person finds relief from their enemy. Just as highly effective medicines and delicious foods benefit only healthy hearts, similarly, the benefits of prayer are attained only by those whose hearts are healthy. A diseased heart is like a diseased body, which gains no benefit even from highly delicious and powerful foods.”

Prayer is a sign of a servant’s love for his Lord:

In Sahih Bukhari, there is a Hadith Qudsi narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (RA). The greatest manifestation of creation, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said:

Allah Almighty says:

((وما تقرب إلى عبدى بشيء أحب إلى مما افترضت عليه، وما يزال عبدي يتقرب إلى بالنوافل حتى أحبه .))

“And My servant draws near to Me with nothing more beloved to Me than the duties I have imposed upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with voluntary acts until I love him.”

Prayer is the expression of gratitude for blessings:

At the same time, prayer is the servant’s gratitude for the blessings granted by his Lord. The noble personality of the Prophet ﷺ is the best example for the believers in good qualities and excellent character and conduct. Whenever the Holy Prophet ﷺ received news that made him happy, he would prostrate in gratitude to Allah Almighty. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA):

((أن النبى أتاه أمر فسر به فخر لله ساجدا .))

Allama Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) has declared it “Sahih” (authentic).

“Indeed, whenever the Prophet of the Last Age ﷺ received news that pleased him, he would prostrate in thankfulness to Allah.”

Prayer is the Door to Goodness:

Prayer is one of the doors to goodness. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Muadh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me:

((ألا أدلك على أبواب الخير الصوم جنة، والصدقة تطفى الخطيئة كما يطفي الماء النار ، وصلاة الرجل فى جوف الليل ))

“Shall I not tell you the doors of goodness? Listen: Fasting is a shield, charity wipes out sins just as water extinguishes fire, and a person’s voluntary prayer at midnight.”

Afterwards, he ﷺ recited these verses:

(تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ‎﴿١٦﴾‏ فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّا أُخْفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ‎﴿١٧﴾)

“They stay apart from their beds at night, calling upon their Lord out of fear of His punishment and in hope of His Paradise, and they spend from what We have provided them. So no person knows what delights of the eyes are kept hidden as a reward for their good deeds.”

Allama Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) has declared it “Sahih.”

Prayer is a Heavenly Gift:

One proof of the greatness of prayer is that it was the first obligation imposed on the Imam of the Pious, and this obligation was bestowed upon the Islamic Ummah as a gift during the night of Isra and Mi’raj. In the story of Mi’raj, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

((ففرض الله عزوجل على أمتي خمسين صلاة ، فرجعت بذلك حتى مررت على موسى ، فقال : ما فرض الله لك على أمتك ؟ قلت : فرض خمسين صلاة ، قال: فارجع إلى ربك فإن أمتك لا تطيق ذلك ، فراجعت فوضع شطرها فرجعت إلى موسى قلت، وضع شطرها فقال : راجع ربك فإن أمتك لا تطيق ، فراجعت فوضع شطرها فرجعت إليه فقال: ارجع إلى ربك، فإن أمتك لا تطيق ذلك، فراجعته فقال هن خمس وهن خمسون ، لا يبدل القول لدي، فرجعت إلى موسى فقال راجع ربك فقلت: استحييت من ربي، ثم انطلق بي حتى انتهى بي إلى سدرة المنتهى، وغشيها ألوان لا أدري ما هي؟ ثم أدخلت الجنة ، فإذا فيها حبابل اللؤلؤ، وإذا ترابها المسك))

Allah Almighty imposed fifty prayers on my Ummah, and I returned with this command. When I reached Musa (Moses) عليه السلام, he asked what Allah had imposed on your Ummah. I said that fifty prayers were imposed. He said:

You go back to your Lord, because your nation does not have the strength to perform so many prayers. I went back to the presence of the Lord of Glory, and Allah Almighty reduced one portion of it. Then I came to Musa (Moses) and said that one portion has been reduced. He said to go back again because your nation will not be able to bear it. Then I went to the presence of the Lord of Glory again. Then one portion was reduced. When I reached Musa (Moses), he said to go back to your Lord again, because your nation will not be able to bear even this. Then I went back and forth repeatedly, and Allah Almighty said that these prayers are five, and their reward is equal to fifty. My word does not change. Now I came to Musa (Moses) again, and he said again to go to your Lord, but I said that now I am ashamed before my Lord. Then Jibra’il (Gabriel) took me to the Sidrat al-Muntaha, which was covered with many kinds of colors, about which I did not know what they were. After that, I was taken to Paradise, where I saw that it had necklaces of pearls and its soil was musk.

Prayer and Punctuality:

Do not tell prayer that I am busy

Tell work that it is time for prayer

It is necessary to perform prayer at its appointed time. The greatness and status of prayer can be understood from the fact that when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was asked, “Which deed is the most virtuous?” he ﷺ replied:

((الصلاة على وقتها .))

“To pray at its prescribed time.”

And Allah Almighty says:

(اِنَّ الصَّلٰوةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ كِتٰبًا مَّوْقُوْتًا)

“Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.”

Delaying prayer beyond its appointed time and neglecting its performance is a sign of hypocrisy, as will be explained in the following lines.

Dear readers! Allah Almighty has repeatedly condemned in the Holy Quran those who do not observe punctuality in prayer. The command of Allah Almighty is:

(فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ ‎﴿٤﴾‏ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ ‎﴿٥﴾‏ الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ ‎﴿٦﴾‏)

“So woe to those who pray but are heedless of their prayer, who show off.”

Dr. Luqman Salfi, may Allah preserve him, writes in the commentary of this noble verse:

It refers to those hypocrites who pray in front of people but do not pray in solitude. Masrooq (may Allah be pleased with him) and others believe that these people do pray, as indicated by the word “for the prayer” (للمصلین), but they do not perform the prayers at their prescribed times. Ata bin Dinar (may Allah be pleased with him) says that these people do not pray at the earliest times but usually or mostly pray at the last moment, or when praying, they do not observe the pillars and conditions of prayer, or they do not maintain humility and concentration in it. The words of (عَنْ صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ) encompass all these situations, so whoever possesses all the above-mentioned traits will be fully involved in the act of hypocrisy, as narrated in Sahihayn, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“It is the prayer of a hypocrite, it is the prayer of a hypocrite, it is the prayer of a hypocrite. He sits and keeps looking at the sun until it reaches between the two horns of Satan, then he strikes four times, and he rarely remembers Allah in it.”

The characteristic of a believer is to perform the prayer on time, and not to be negligent in it at all. Allah Almighty has described the qualities of the believers by saying:

(رِجَالٌ لَّا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ ۙ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُ)

“Those whom neither trade nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah, nor from establishing prayer, nor from giving zakah. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned in terror.”

Prayer is a means of purification from sins:

Prayer is the foremost means of purification from sins. As the Noble Prophet ﷺ said:

(( أرأيتم لو أن نهرا بباب أحدكم يغتسل فيه كل يوم خمسا . ما تقول ذلك يبقي من درنه؟ قالوا: لا يبقي من درنه شيئا . قال: فذلك مثل الصلوات الخمس يمحوا الله به الخطايا .))

“If a canal flows at the door of a person, and he bathes in it five times a day, what do you think? Can any dirt remain on his body?” The Companions said, “No, never.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“This is the condition of the five daily prayers, that Allah removes sins through them.”

And it is narrated from Sayyidina Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

((الصلوات الخمس ، والجمعة إلى الجمعة، ورمضان إلى رمضان، مكفرات ما بينهن إذا اجتتب الكبائر .))

“The five prayers, from one Friday to the next, and one Ramadan to the next, are expiation for sins, as long as a person avoids major sins.”

It is narrated from Sayyidina Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ went out one day in winter, while the leaves of the trees were falling. He ﷺ held two branches of a tree, and the leaves began to fall. The narrator says that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“O Abu Dharr! I said, ‘Present, O Messenger of Allah!’ He ﷺ said:

((إن العبد المسلم ليصلى الصلاة يريد بها وجه الله ، فتهافت عنه ذنوبه كما يتهافت هذا الورق عن هذه الشجرة .))

Sheikh Shoaib al-Arnaut has classified it as “Hasan Laghirah.”

“Indeed, when a Muslim prays and seeks the pleasure of Allah, his sins fall away just as the leaves fall from this tree.”

And Allah, the Lord of Glory, has said:

(لَئِنْ أَقَمْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَيْتُمُ الزَّكَاةَ وَآمَنتُم بِرُسُلِي وَعَزَّرْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَقْرَضْتُمُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا لَّأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ فَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ ‎)

“If you establish prayer, give zakah, believe in My messengers, support them, and continuously give Allah a good loan, then surely I will erase your sins and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow. But whoever among you turns away after this covenant, he will surely have gone astray from the straight path.”

Dear readers! In the above-mentioned noble verse, Allah, the Almighty, has given glad tidings to those who protect the five daily prayers that He will forgive their sins in this world and the Hereafter and grant them Paradise. Glory be to Allah! What more could one want than to have their sins erased and attain Paradise?

Allah, the Almighty, further said:

(وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ)

“And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds erase bad deeds. That is a reminder for those who remember Allah.”

In this noble verse, Allah, the Almighty, commands that good deeds erase bad deeds, and since prayer holds a very high and exalted status among good deeds, it certainly erases bad deeds. It is narrated in Sahih Bukhari from Sayyid Usman bin Affan (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

((من توضأ نحو وضوني هذا، ثم صلى ركعتين لا يحدث فيهما نفسه، غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه .))

“Whoever performs ablution like mine, then prays two rak’ahs in which he does not speak to himself, his past sins are forgiven.”

Regarding the context of the above noble verse, Imam Bukhari and Muslim, etc., have narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) that a man came to the Noble Messenger ﷺ and said that I was treating a woman in the outskirts of the city, and I committed a sin, meaning I kissed her. Please give your ruling about me. The Prophet ﷺ remained silent. When the man was about to leave, the Prophet ﷺ called him back and recited this verse, meaning that the good deed you performed after that sin has erased that sin. Seeing this, a companion asked, O Messenger of Allah! Is this ruling exclusive to him? The Mercy to the Worlds ﷺ replied:

((بَلْ لِلنَّاسِ كَافَّةً .))

“This is common for all Muslims.”

Allama Qastalani (may Allah have mercy on him) states that in this verse, “evils” refers to “minor sins.”

But it should be remembered that if a person prays and sincerely recites this supplication in it:

((اللهم اغفر لي ذنبي ، كله، دقه وجله، وأوله وآخره ، وعلانيته وسره .))

“O Allah! Forgive all my small and big, past and future, apparent and hidden sins.”

Then Allah Almighty will forgive all his sins. ان شاء اللہ!

Prayer is a matter far ahead; at this point, the one who has just attained purification has had all his sins erased, and walking to the prayer and then performing the prayer becomes a cause for elevated ranks for him. Sayyiduna Abdullah al-Sanasaji (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Messenger ﷺ said:

((إذا توضأ العبد المسلم أو المؤمن فغسل وجهه خرج من وجهه كل خطيئة نظر إليها بعينيه مع الماء أو مع آخر قطر الماء أو نحو هذا، وإذا غسل يديه خرجت من يديه كل خطيئة كان بطشتها يداه مع الماء أو مع آخر قطر الماء حتى يخرج نقيا من الذنوب .))

“When a Muslim or a believer washes his face during ablution, all the sins committed by seeing with the eyes fall off from his face along with the water or the last drop of water. And when he washes his hands, the sins committed by his hands fall off with the water or the last drop of water, until he becomes completely free from sins.”

And when the worshiper stands in prayer and the Imam says (غَیْرِ الْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَیْهِمْ وَ لَا الضَّآلِّیْنَ), he should say Ameen, and if his saying “Ameen” coincides with the Ameen of the angels, then his previous sins are forgiven. Thus, the beloved Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

((إذا قال الإمام غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالين ، فقولوا: آمين فإنه من وافق قوله قول الملائكة غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه .))

“When the Imam says (غَیْرِ الْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَیْهِمْ وَ لَا الضَّآلِّیْنَ), you say, Ameen. So, the person whose Ameen coincides with the Ameen of the angels will have all his previous sins forgiven.”

And when he rises after bowing and recites “اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ,” all his previous sins are forgiven. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

((إذا قال الإمام: سمع الله لمن حمده ، فقولوا: ’’اللهم ربنا ولك الحمد‘‘ فإنه من وافق قوله قول الملائكة غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه .))

“When the Imam says ‘سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ,’ you say ‘اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الحمدُ,’ because whoever says this along with the angels will have all his previous sins forgiven.”

In short, many other aspects and related acts of prayer cleanse one from sins, for example, “المشى الى المساجد” “walking to the prayer,” and “انتظار الصلاة بعد الصلاة” “waiting for the next prayer after one prayer,” etc.

The Last Advice of the Prophet of Mercy (ﷺ) Regarding Prayer:

Every sufferer should cry, this is my cry
Those who have fainted, perhaps this will awaken them

The importance of prayer can also be understood from this Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ, in which it is mentioned that at the time of departing from this world, your last will and your final covenant with the Ummah was to fear Allah regarding prayer and slaves, and to adopt piety in this matter. Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه says:

((كانت عامة وصية رسول الله حين حضرته الوفاة ، وهو يغرفر بنفسه: الصلاة وما ملكت أيمانكم .))

“In the last moments of life at the time of death, the general advice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (and his final covenant with the Ummah) was to fear Allah regarding prayer and slaves.”

Similarly, it is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه that the last words of the Seal of the Prophets ﷺ were:

((الصلاة و ما ملكت أيمانكم .))

“Fear Allah regarding prayer and slaves.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Darda رضي الله عنه that the most sincere friend of mine, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, advised me:

((لا تشرك بالله شيئا وإن قطعت وحرقت، ولا تترك صلاة مكتوبة متعمدا، فمن تركها متعمدا فقد برئت منه الدمة ، ولا تشرب الخمر فإنها مفتاح كل شر .))

Allama Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) has graded it as “Hasan”.

“Do not associate anyone with Allah, even if you are torn apart or burned. And do not deliberately abandon the obligatory prayers, because whoever deliberately abandons the obligatory prayers loses Allah’s protection. And do not drink alcohol because it is the gateway to every evil.”

As the poet says:

Rebellion has blurred the marks of servitude
Come, let us fall in prostration and renew the tablet of the forehead

Prayer is the miracle of a believing servant:

Allah Almighty has explained the great importance of prayer in the Holy Quran and has honored the prayers and the worshippers:

(قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ‎﴿١﴾‏ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ ‎﴿٢﴾‏) (وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ )

“Indeed, successful are the believers who are humble in their prayers and who guard their prayers.”

Man is naturally created weak; when he faces a heavy calamity, the grip of patience slips from his hand, he starts to wail, and expresses extreme restlessness and anxiety. And when Allah blesses him with wealth and riches, he becomes extremely miserly, forgets Allah’s favors upon him, and the very thought of spending a single penny from it on relatives or strangers makes him feel as if his life is leaving him.

(اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ خُلِقَ هَلُوْعًا(19)اِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوْعًا(20)وَّ اِذَا مَسَّهُ الْخَیْرُ مَنُوْعًا(21))

“Indeed, man was created anxious—when evil touches him, impatient, and when good touches him, withholding [of it].”

In verses (32) to (35), Allah Almighty has explained the same elixir remedy for healing from anxiety, impatience, and extreme greed and desire. Allah Almighty has said that He will cure them from both diseases.

(اِلَّا الْمُصَلِّیْنَ(22)الَّذِیْنَ هُمْ عَلٰى صَلَاتِهِمْ دَآىٕمُوْنَ(23) وَ الَّذِیْنَ هُمْ عَلٰى صَلَوٰتِهِمْ یُحَافِظُوْنَ(9)اُولٰٓىٕكَ فِیْ جَنّٰتٍ مُّكْرَمُوْنَ(35))

“Except those who are steadfast in their prayers. And those who guard their prayers. Those will be honored and respected in the Gardens (Paradise).”

Meaning, those who perform their five daily prayers, adhering to the conditions and pillars, with humility, tranquility, proper bowing, prostration, and standing, maintaining moderation, and performing them at their prescribed times.

The commentators write:

The mention of the care for prayers twice in the verse is evidence of the virtue of prayer and its greatness and importance compared to other righteous deeds. The believing servants of Allah who possess these qualities will, by Allah’s grace and mercy, be protected from the psychological illness mentioned in verse (19), and when they depart from this world and reach their Lord, Allah will grant them a place in the Gardens with honor and respect.

Special Emphasis on Performing and Observing Prayer:

Mentioning prayer among the attributes of the believers is also a form of special emphasis on guarding the prayer. Here are a few example verses:

(وَ الَّذِیْنَ یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِالْاٰخِرَةِ یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِهٖ وَ هُمْ عَلٰى صَلَاتِهِمْ یُحَافِظُوْنَ)

“And those who believe in the Hereafter believe in this Quran, and they are the ones who maintain their prayers.”

And in Surah Al-Baqarah it is stated:

(ذٰلِكَ الْكِتٰبُ لَا رَیْبَ فِیْهِ ۚۛ-هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِیْنَ(2)الَّذِیْنَ یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِالْغَیْبِ وَ یُقِیْمُوْنَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَ مِمَّا رَزَقْنٰهُمْ یُنْفِقُوْنَ(3))

“There is no doubt in this Book; it is a guidance for those who fear Allah, who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them.”

Meaning, when they perform prayer, they also perform those Sunnahs which are established from Ahmad Mujtaba Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ before and after the obligatory prayers. This is the prayer whose observance Allah has praised in many verses of the Quran:

( وَالْمُقِيمِينَ الصَّلَاةَ ۚ وَالْمُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ أُولَٰئِكَ سَنُؤْتِيهِمْ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا)

“And those who establish prayer and give zakah and believe in Allah and the Last Day – We will give them a great reward.”

And in Surah An-Naml it is stated:

(‏ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ)

“Those who establish prayer and give zakah and have full certainty in the Hereafter.”

Also, in numerous places, special mention has been made of Salah (prayer) and great emphasis has been laid on its performance and adherence. Accordingly, it is stated:

(حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ)

“Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the middle prayer; and stand before Allah with obedience.”

Furthermore, Sayyiduna Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA) wrote a letter to his officials:

((إن أهم أموركم عندي الصلوة فمن حفظها وحافظ عليها ، حفظ دينه، ومن ضيعها فهو لما سواها أضبع .))

“Indeed, in my view, the most important and essential matter among your affairs is Salah (prayer). Whoever maintains it and acts upon it has secured his religion. And whoever neglects it will be deficient and weak in other matters.”

Prayer is the nourishment of body and soul:

Allama Ibn Qayyim (RA) says:

“Prayer is a combined exercise for both the body and the soul. It consists of several movements and postures, including standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting, and transitioning from one posture to another. In this prayer, most of the limbs become active, making it a complete physical exercise. Along with the joints, the organs of the abdomen are also exercised, such as the stomach, intestines, parts responsible for breathing, and digestion. Therefore, it cannot be denied that these movements help in the digestion and strengthening of food materials. Especially, the strength of breathing during prayer and the rapid exhalation help regulate blood pressure. Prayer protects the health of the body; besides safeguarding the health of faith and the happiness of this world and the hereafter, it is very beneficial for the body as it helps expel excess and harmful substances that accumulate in the body. Similarly, the Tahajjud prayer is among the most beneficial means of preserving health and greatly prevents many chronic diseases, providing immense vitality and energy to the body, soul, and heart.”

Prayer prevents desires of the self and indecency:

Prayer prevents a person from indecency and evil. The command of Allah Almighty is:

(وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ ۖ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ)

“And establish prayer; indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing.”

“The statement of Allah Almighty is true that prayer certainly prevents evil. Now if a person prays and remains immersed in evil, then we must believe that his prayer is not the prayer which is described in this noble verse as the prayer that prevents indecencies and wrongdoings.”

Benefit:

If the translation of prayer is understood as the supplications of bowing and prostration, then it helps in staying away from evils. Furthermore, it increases humility and devotion and brings love and closeness to Allah Almighty.

Prayer is the coolness of the eyes:

Ahmad Mujtaba, Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ described prayer as the coolness of the eyes. It is mentioned in the noble hadith that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

((حب إلى من دنياكم النساء والطيب ، وجعلت قرة عيني فى الصلاة))

“Among the worldly things, I like my wives and fragrance, and the coolness of my eyes has been placed in prayer.”

Prayer is a means of salvation:

Prayer is a means of salvation. Allah the Exalted says:

( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ)

“O you who have believed! Bow down, prostrate yourselves, worship your Lord, and continue doing good deeds so that you may succeed.”

At another place He says:

(قَدْ اَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكّٰى(14) وَ ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهٖ فَصَلّٰى(15))

“Indeed, he will be successful who purifies himself and mentions the name of his Lord and prays.”

Sayyiduna Ubada bin Samit (RA) says:

I bear witness that I heard the Beloved Lord of the Worlds, the Trustworthy Messenger ﷺ say:

((خمس صلوات افترضهن الله عز وجل، من أحسن وضوء هن وصلاهن لوقتهن ، وأتم ركوعهن وخشوعهن ، كان له على الله عهد أن يغفر له .))

Al-Albani (RA) has graded it as “Sahih”.

“Allah Almighty has made five prayers obligatory upon His servants. Whoever performs ablution properly for these prayers, offers them at their prescribed times, and maintains full humility and concentration in their bowing and prostration, Allah Almighty has taken upon Himself to forgive him.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

((إن أول ما يحاسب به العبد يوم القيامة من عمله صلاته ، فإن صلحت فقد أفلح وأنجح، وإن فسدت فقد خاب وخسر، فإن انتقص من فريضته شيء، قال الرب تبارك وتعالى: أنظروا هل لعبدي من تطوع فيكمل بها ما انتقص من الفريضة ، ثم يكون سائر عمله على ذلك .))

Albani (RA) has declared it “Sahih.”

“On the Day of Resurrection, the first thing to be accounted for from every servant will be his prayer. If the prayer is correct, he will be successful and prosperous, and if the prayer is defective, he will be unsuccessful and disappointed. If there is any deficiency in the obligatory acts, the Lord will say, ‘Look into My servant’s record of deeds; is there any voluntary worship?’ If there is, then the deficiency in the obligatory acts will be compensated with the voluntary acts. Then the account of all his deeds will be taken in this manner.”

Prayer is a means to attain Paradise:

If you are content and satisfied in every matter, then see the delight
Of sitting in this world in the atmosphere of Paradise

Those believing servants of Allah who guard their prayers, when they depart from this world and reach their Lord, Allah the Forgiving, the Merciful will grant them a place in the gardens with honor and respect. The command of Allah Almighty is:

(وَ الَّذِیْنَ هُمْ عَلٰى صَلَاتِهِمْ یُحَافِظُوْنَ(34)اُولٰٓىٕكَ فِیْ جَنّٰتٍ مُّكْرَمُوْنَﭤ(35))

“And those who guard their prayers, they will be honored and respected in the gardens.”

And the command of the unlettered Prophet ﷺ is:

((لن يلج النار أحد صلى قبل طلوع الشمس وقبل غروبها يعني الفجر والعصر .))

“Whoever prays before sunrise and before sunset will never enter Hellfire,” meaning the Fajr and Asr prayers.

We have also conveyed this hadith from the Master of the Worlds in these words:

(( من صلى البردين دخل الجنة . ))

“Whoever prays the two cool prayers (meaning Fajr and Asr) will enter Paradise.”

And whoever guards the Sunnah prayers, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has also given the glad tidings of a house in Paradise. It is narrated from Sayyida Umm Habiba (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said the Noble Messenger ﷺ said:

((من صلى فى يوم وليلة ثنتي عشرة ركعة بني له بيت فى الجنة أربعا قبل الظهر، وركعتين بعدها، وركعتين بعد المغرب، وركعتين بعد العشاء، وركعتين قبل صلاة الفجر، صلاة الغداة .))

Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, Hakim, and Allama Albani have declared it “Sahih” (authentic).

“Whoever regularly prays twelve rak’ahs (Sunnah), a house is built for him in Paradise: four rak’ahs before Dhuhr, and two rak’ahs after it, two rak’ahs after Maghrib, two rak’ahs after Isha, and two rak’ahs before Fajr (morning prayer).”

And whoever observes Tahiyyat al-Wudu (the two rak’ahs after ablution) during the day or night also attains Paradise. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ asked Sayyiduna Bilal (RA) at the time of Fajr:

((حدثني بأرجى عمل عملته فى الإسلام، فإني سمعت دف نعليك بين يدي فى الجنة .))

“Tell me about your most hopeful good deed that you have done after embracing Islam, for I have heard the sound of your shoes ahead of me in Paradise.”

Then Sayyiduna Bilal (RA) replied:

I have never hoped for anything more than this from myself that whenever I performed ablution at any time during the night or day, I would pray voluntary prayers with that ablution, as much as was written in my destiny.

And Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

((ما من مسلم يتوضأ فيحسن وضوء ه ثم يقوم فيصلى ركعتين مقبل عليهما بقلبه ووجهه إلا وجبت له الجنة .))

“Whoever is a Muslim man who performs ablution well, then stands and prays two rak’ahs with full attention of heart and mind (externally and internally), Paradise becomes obligatory for him.”

Prayer and Heavenly Religions:

Prayer is a religious obligation that has existed in all heavenly religions. All the Prophets (peace be upon them) sent by Allah used to observe prayer and used to urge their nations to perform prayer. Thus, the Word of the Almighty Allah is:

(وَ جَعَلْنٰهُمْ اَىٕمَّةً یَّهْدُوْنَ بِاَمْرِنَا وَ اَوْحَیْنَاۤ اِلَیْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَیْرٰتِ وَ اِقَامَ الصَّلٰوةِ وَ اِیْتَآءَ الزَّكٰوةِۚ-وَ كَانُوْا لَنَا عٰبِدِیْنَ)

’’And We made them leaders who guided by Our command. And We revealed to them that they should do good deeds, establish prayer, give zakat, and they worshipped none but Us.’’

Prophet Zakariya and the Protection of Prayer:

Prophet Zakariya, witnessing Allah’s grace and mercy upon Maryam (peace be upon her), despite his old age and his wife’s barrenness, prays for a righteous child. Consequently, Allah accepts his prayer and sends glad tidings of a righteous son through the angels. The angels proclaimed that Allah gives you the good news of a boy whose name will be Yahya, who will confirm the truth of Prophet Isa (peace be upon him), will be a leader in knowledge and worship, will be protected from sin, and will be a prophet. When Prophet Zakariya received this glad tidings, he was in the state of prayer. Thus, Allah Almighty says:

(فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلٰٓىٕكَةُ وَ هُوَ قَآىٕمٌ یُّصَلِّیْ فِی الْمِحْرَابِۙ-اَنَّ اللّٰهَ یُبَشِّرُكَ بِیَحْیٰى مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَ سَیِّدًا وَّ حَصُوْرًا وَّ نَبِیًّا مِّنَ الصّٰلِحِیْنَ)

“Then the angels called to him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, that Allah gives you the glad tidings of Yahya, who will confirm the word of Allah (Jesus), a chief, chaste, and a righteous prophet.”

Prophet Musa and Harun (AS) and the Protection of Prayer:

Allah Almighty commanded Prophet Musa and Harun (AS) that you should use your homes as mosques and pray inside them so that the agents of Pharaoh do not harm you when they see you praying in mosques outside.

(وَ اَوْحَیْنَاۤ اِلٰى مُوْسٰى وَ اَخِیْهِ اَنْ تَبَوَّاٰ لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُیُوْتًا وَّ اجْعَلُوْا بُیُوْتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً وَّ اَقِیْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَؕ-وَ بَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ)

“And We inspired Musa and his brother, ‘Establish houses for your people in Egypt and make your houses places of worship and establish prayer, and give good tidings to the believers, O Musa.'”

Prophet Isa (AS) and the Protection of Prayer:

Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), upon hearing the people, said that I am a servant of Allah, He has decreed from eternity that He will give me the Gospel and make me a prophet, and wherever I reside, He has made me blessed and a caller to His way. I will continue to convey the message of my Lord to the people, and He has enjoined upon me to pray and give zakat until the end of my life.

(قَالَ اِنِّیْ عَبْدُ اللّٰهِ ﳴ اٰتٰىنِیَ الْكِتٰبَ وَ جَعَلَنِیْ نَبِیًّا(30) وَّ جَعَلَنِیْ مُبٰرَكًا اَیْنَ مَا كُنْتُ۪-وَ اَوْصٰنِیْ بِالصَّلٰوةِ وَ الزَّكٰوةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَیًّا(31))

“He said, indeed I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Gospel and made me a prophet, and wherever I may be, He has made me blessed, and He has enjoined upon me prayer and zakat as long as I live.”

Prophet Shu’aib (peace be upon him) and the protection of prayer:

Prophet Shu’aib (peace be upon him) used to pray frequently and remain engaged in the remembrance of Allah. Therefore, the disbelievers rejected his invitation, saying, “O Shu’aib! Do your prayers command you that we should abandon what our forefathers worshipped?”

( قَالُوا يَا شُعَيْبُ أَصَلَاتُكَ تَأْمُرُكَ أَن نَّتْرُكَ مَا يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا)

“They said, O Shu’aib! Do your prayers command you that we should leave those gods whom our forefathers worshipped?”

Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and the Protection of Prayer:

Prophet Ibrahim (AS) settled his offspring near the Sacred House so that they may establish prayer there.

(رَبَّنَاۤ اِنِّیْۤ اَسْكَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرِّیَّتِیْ بِوَادٍ غَیْرِ ذِیْ زَرْعٍ عِنْدَ بَیْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِۙ -رَبَّنَا لِیُقِیْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ)

“O our Lord! I have settled some of my offspring in a valley without cultivation, near Your Sacred House, O our Lord! That they may establish prayer.”

And then he prayed to his Lord to make him and his offspring steadfast in prayer, and to accept all his prayers in general and this prayer in particular:

(رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلوة وَمِنْ ذُريَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلُ دُعاء)

“O my Lord! Make me and my offspring steadfast in prayer, O our Lord! And accept my supplication.”

Prophet Ismail (AS) and the Protection of Prayer:

Sayyiduna Ismail (AS) was a messenger and a prophet. He himself was punctual in prayer and commanded his family to perform prayer, give zakat, and do other good deeds so that they could be a good example for others.

( وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا ‎﴿٥٤﴾‏ وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ وَكَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِ مَرْضِيًّا ‎﴿٥٥﴾‏)

“And mention in the Qur’an Ismail. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet. And he used to enjoin on his family prayer and zakat and was to his Lord pleasing.”

Sayyiduna Sulaiman (AS) and the Preservation of Prayer:

Observe the passion of Sayyiduna Sulaiman (AS) regarding prayer. One day, he was so engaged in taking care of horses that the time for Asr prayer passed. Consequently, Sayyiduna Sulaiman (AS) expressed regret in the following words:

(اِذْ عُرِضَ عَلَیْهِ بِالْعَشِیِّ الصّٰفِنٰتُ الْجِیَادُ(31)فَقَالَ اِنِّیْۤ اَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ الْخَیْرِ عَنْ ذِكْرِ رَبِّیْۚ-حَتّٰى تَوَارَتْ بِالْحِجَابِﭨ(32))

“When the finest horses were brought before him at sunset, he said, ‘Indeed, I took pleasure in them for a little while, forgetting the remembrance of my Lord until they disappeared from my sight.'”

Imam al-Anbiya, Sayyid al-Bashar Muhammad Rasul Allah ﷺ and the Preservation of Prayer:

Allah Almighty has commanded the Benefactor of humanity, Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, to establish prayer, because prayer prevents all kinds of evil.

( اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَؕ-اِنَّ الصَّلٰوةَ تَنْهٰى عَنِ الْفَحْشَآءِ وَ الْمُنْكَرِؕ)

“Establish prayer, indeed prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing.”

At another place He said:

(وَ اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ طَرَفَیِ النَّهَارِ وَ زُلَفًا مِّنَ الَّیْلِؕ-اِنَّ الْحَسَنٰتِ یُذْهِبْنَ السَّیِّاٰتِؕ-ذٰلِكَ ذِكْرٰى لِلذّٰكِرِیْنَ)

“And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds erase bad deeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.”

And in Surah Bani Isra’il He said:

(اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ لِدُلُوْكِ الشَّمْسِ اِلٰى غَسَقِ الَّیْلِ وَ قُرْاٰنَ الْفَجْرِؕ-اِنَّ قُرْاٰنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُوْدًا)

“Establish prayer from the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur’an at dawn. Indeed, the recitation of the Qur’an at dawn is witnessed.”

In this noble verse, Allah Almighty has commanded the Noble Prophet ﷺ to establish prayer, which is the most important act of worship and the best way to seek help from Allah Almighty, as Allah has said in Surah Al-Baqarah:

(وَ اسْتَعِیْنُوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ الصَّلٰوةِؕ)

“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer from Allah.”

“The consensus of the commentators is that this refers to the five daily prayers, which are obligatory to be performed within their specified times. Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) and most commentators hold the view that (دُلُوكِ الشمس) means ‘the decline of the sun,’ which indicates the Zuhr and Asr prayers, and (غسَقِ الَّيْلِ) refers to ‘the darkness of the night,’ which is common between Maghrib and Isha prayers, and (قُرآنَ الْفَجْرِ) refers to the ‘Fajr prayer.’

Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) says:

‘The Teacher of the Universe, Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, has explained the details of these times through his continuous verbal and practical Sunnah, and the Ummah has been following this from the beginning of Islam until today.’

Commentator Abu al-Saud writes:

‘Gabriel (peace be upon him) explained the time for each prayer, and the Noble Prophet ﷺ specified the number of units (rak’ahs) for each prayer.’

Allah Almighty commanded His beloved Prophet Sayyiduna Muhammad Rasulullah ﷺ to protect the prayer and to be patient with every difficulty that arises in this path, and also commanded him to urge his household to perform prayer.

(وَ اْمُرْ اَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلٰوةِ وَ اصْطَبِرْ عَلَیْهَاؕ)

“And enjoin prayer upon your family and be steadfast therein yourself.”

Prayer is the obligation which Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, commanded through prophethood before every deed and every obligation, and at the time of departing from this world, the Noble Prophet ﷺ advised regarding it. He ﷺ said:

“Be careful about prayer.” Regarding servants, another hadith states that this prayer has been the advice of all the Prophets to their communities, and at the time of departing from this world, they give this as their last counsel.

In another hadith about the Prophet ﷺ it is mentioned that

“In the last moments of his life, he ﷺ was saying: Prayer, prayer, and prayer.”

Prayer is the first obligation imposed upon them and the last to be enjoined; it is the final act before departing from Islam and the first deed to be questioned about on the Day of Judgment. It is the pillar of Islam; without it, neither Islam nor religion remains. For the sake of Allah, adopt steadfastness in all your affairs generally and especially in prayers. Hold onto it firmly, protect it from being lost, refrain from mocking it, avoid going ahead of the Imam in it, and do not fall into Satan’s trap that expels you from prayer, for it is the last part of your religion, and when the last part of one’s religion is lost, the entire religion is lost. So hold firmly to the last part of your religion.

The Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Passionate Devotion to Prayer:

The intense passion and dedication of the Prophet ﷺ towards prayer was such that he would stand in prayer so long at night that his blessed feet would swell and become inflamed. Sayyiduna Mughirah bin Shu’bah رضي الله عنه narrates:

((قام النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم حتى تورمت قدماه، فقيل له غفر الله لك ما تقدم من ذنبك وما تأخر قال: أفلا أكون عبدا شكورا ))

“The Noble Prophet ﷺ would stand in prayer at night so long that both his blessed feet would swell. It was said to him that Allah has forgiven all your past and future sins, so he ﷺ replied, ‘Should I not be a grateful servant of Allah?'”

And sometimes he would pray the entire night until morning. Sayyiduna Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood until morning reciting only one verse, meaning he would recite only this verse and continue bowing and prostrating. That noble verse is:

(اِنْ تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَاِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَۚ-وَ اِنْ تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَاِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْعَزِیْزُ الْحَكِیْمُ)

“If You punish them, indeed they are Your servants; and if You forgive them, indeed You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”

Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that in the final moments of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), when the time for prayer came and the Adhan was called, he said:

“Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” At that time, it was said to him that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr is a very gentle-hearted person. If he stands in your place, leading the prayer will be difficult for him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) then repeated the same command again, and the same concern was expressed before him. So, for the third time, he (peace be upon him) said:

“You are just like the women with Yusuf (Joseph) عليه السلام. Tell Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه to lead the prayer.” Eventually, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه came to lead the prayer. At that moment, the Prophet ﷺ felt some relief from his illness and, supported by two men, went out to lead the prayer. It was as if I was seeing your feet touching the ground with difficulty due to pain. Seeing this, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه wanted to step back, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ signaled him to remain in his place. Then he came closer and sat beside Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه and led the people in prayer.

The Companions’ رضي الله عنهم Taste for Prayer:

The purpose of my life is the exaltation of Your religion
That is why I am a Muslim, that is why I pray

The passion of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) for prayer and their immense enthusiasm for it can be understood from the fact that they never abandoned prayer under any circumstances; they would head towards the mosque and present themselves before the Divine Presence. Thus:

When Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) would stand to pray, he would be overwhelmed with intense emotion and would weep during the prayer with such pain that the sound of his recitation would not reach the last rows because of his crying.

When Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) assumed the position of Caliph, he emphasized the preservation of religion through prayer and reminded his governmental officials of their responsibilities by writing:

((إن أهم أموركم عندى الصلوة ، فمن حفظها وحافظ عليها حفظ دينه ، ومن ضيعها فهو لما سواها أضبع .))

“The most important of your deeds in my view is prayer; whoever protects his prayer and takes care of it will protect his entire religion, and whoever neglects prayer will, with greater reason, ruin all other things.”

Sayyiduna Anas (RA) used to spend so much time standing and prostrating that people thought he had forgotten something.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair (RA) was strict in fasting and prayer; he had a passionate love for prayer.

When he stood in prayer, he would recite several Surahs and stand in such a way that it seemed like a pillar was standing.

Sayyiduna Tamim bin Aws al-Dari (RA) was a night prayer devotee; one night when he stood for Tahajjud prayer, he spent the entire night repeating only one verse, and that verse was:

(اَمْ حَسِبَ الَّذِیْنَ اجْتَرَحُوا السَّیِّاٰتِ اَنْ نَّجْعَلَهُمْ كَالَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِۙ-سَوَآءً مَّحْیَاهُمْ وَ مَمَاتُهُمْؕ-سَآءَ مَا یَحْكُمُوْنَ)

“Do those who commit sins think that We will make them like those who believe and do righteous deeds? Their life and death are alike. They are making a very bad decision.”

And Sayyid Naadi bin Hatim (رضي الله عنه) used to say:

I am always eager for the time of every prayer, and it is also narrated from him that since the time he embraced Islam, there has not been a single prayer during which he was not in a state of wudu at the time of its commencement. Meaning, he was already prepared with wudu beforehand.

Regarding Sayyid Na Umar bin Khattab (رضي الله عنه), it is narrated that:

“He found a person absent from prayer, so he went to his house and called him out. When the man came out, he asked him, ‘What prevented you from attending the prayer?’ He said:

Commander of the Faithful! There is an illness; if I had not heard your voice, I would not have gone out, or he said that I could not have gone out. Then you said:

“You abandoned the call to prayer, which is far more obligatory upon you than my call.”

It is narrated about Sayyiduna Umar (RA) that:

He did not find some people in prayer, so he said:

What is the matter that these people lag behind in prayer? Because they lag behind, others also start lagging behind. Those people should come to the mosque, otherwise I will send people to them who will drag them by the neck and bring them. Then he says:

“Be present in prayer, be present in prayer.”

Some examples of the immense love of the pious predecessors for prayer:

Usman bin Hakeem narrates that I heard Sayyiduna Saeed bin Al-Musayyib (RA) say that for the past (30) years it has been my habit that whenever the Mu’adhin gives the Adhan, I am present in the mosque.

Abu Hayyan narrates from his father that Al-Rabee bin Khuthaym (RA) used to be brought for prayer even though he was suffering from paralysis. When he was told that you have a concession (rukhsah) (legally), he said, “When I hear the Mu’adhin’s ((حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ)) ‘Come to prayer,’ why should I not come to the mosque for prayer? So you people should also come to the mosque for prayer, even if you have to crawl on the ground.”

Sayyiduna Mus’ab states that Amir ibn Abdullah ibn Zubair heard the voice of the Mu’adhdhin and his soul was about to depart, so he said, “Hold my hand (and take me to the prayer).” They said to him, “You are ill,” he replied, “I hear the call of Allah’s caller, so why should I not respond to it?” Then people held his hand and took him to the mosque for prayer. He joined the Imam in the Maghrib prayer. He had just performed one Rak’ah when he passed away from this mortal world.

It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Khafif that he had severe pain in his back. When the pain in his back would arise, he was unable to move. During this time, when the call for prayer was given, he was carried on someone’s back to the mosque. He was asked:

If you care for your life, then? He replied:

When you hear the call ((حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلاةِ .)) “Come to prayer,” and do not see me in the rows of the worshippers, then search for me in the graveyard.

And Yunus bin Muhammad al-Mu’addib (may Allah be pleased with him) states that Hammad bin Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away in the mosque while in the state of prayer.

Similarly, the famous contemporary writer Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani (may Allah preserve him) also passed away while in the state of prayer. Professor Najeeb ur-Rahman Kilani (may Allah preserve him) writes that on December 18, 1995, while having dinner, the time for Isha prayer arrived. He performed ablution and proceeded towards the mosque. Upon reaching, he found a place in the first row on the right side; during the first prostration, his soul departed from the physical body.

Similarly, the author of many books, Khawaja Muhammad Qasim (may Allah be pleased with him), also passed away while leading the Friday prayer in the state of Tashahhud. Khawaja (may Allah be pleased with him) was an extremely eminent jurist and scholar.

And Sayyid Nawki‘ bin al-Jarrah says that whoever does not prepare for prayer before its time comes, it is as if he has not honored and respected the prayer.

Prayer is actually the expression of perfect servitude to Allah Alone, without partner:

Your power does not need a partner
Whether prophet or saint, everyone is a supplicant at Your door

The very purpose of the creation of humanity is to worship Allah Alone, without partner. The Word of the Exalted is:

(وَ مَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الْاِنْسَ اِلَّا لِیَعْبُدُوْنِ)

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

Prayer, glorification, and analysis are essentially expressions of perfect servitude and obedience to Allah, the One without partner. This is why all creatures found in the heavens and the earth, whether they are angels, human beings, jinn, animals, or even inanimate objects, glorify Allah. Birds flying in the sky glorify their Lord and perform prayer. Everything in the universe knows how to glorify Allah and how to perform prayer so that the fundamental right of worship to Allah Almighty can be fulfilled. Allah the Exalted says:

(اَلَمْ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ یُسَبِّحُ لَهٗ مَنْ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ وَ الطَّیْرُ صٰٓفّٰتٍؕ-كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهٗ وَ تَسْبِیْحَهٗؕ-وَ اللّٰهُ عَلِیْمٌۢ بِمَا یَفْعَلُوْنَ)

“O my Prophet! Do you not see that all creatures found in the heavens and the earth and the birds spreading their wings in the sky glorify Allah? Every creature knows its prayer and glorification, and Allah is well aware of all their deeds.”

The shadows of humans and all other creatures also prostrate to Allah, the Lord of Glory. The commentators write that even the shadow truly prostrates to Allah. Just as the mountains engage in the glorification of Allah:

(اِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا الْجِبَالَ مَعَهٗ یُسَبِّحْنَ بِالْعَشِیِّ وَ الْاِشْرَاقِ)

“We had made the mountains subservient to them, and they would glorify with them in the evening and in the morning.”

Allah Almighty has stated in Surah An-Nahl:

((اَوَ لَمْ یَرَوْا اِلٰى مَا خَلَقَ اللّٰهُ مِنْ شَیْءٍ یَّتَفَیَّؤُا ظِلٰلُهٗ عَنِ الْیَمِیْنِ وَ الشَّمَآىٕلِ سُجَّدًا لِّلّٰهِ وَ هُمْ دٰخِرُوْنَ))

“Have they not seen that whatever things Allah has created, their shadows stretch to the right and to the left, prostrating to Allah, and they are humble before Him?”

And in Surah Ar-Ra’d, He said:

(وَ لِلّٰهِ یَسْجُدُ مَنْ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَّ كَرْهًا وَّ ظِلٰلُهُمْ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَ الْاٰصَالِ)

“And all creatures that are in the heavens and the earth prostrate to Allah alone, willingly or unwillingly, and their shadows also prostrate to Allah morning and evening.”

In short, all the heavens and the earth and the creatures found within them declare the purity of Allah and consider Him exalted above all defects and faults, but people do not understand their glorification and prayer and worship. Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) has emphasized this point in his Tafsir, and Raghib Asfahani has also preferred this view in his book “Al-Mufradat.”

The command of the Almighty Allah is:

(تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمٰوٰتُ السَّبْعُ وَ الْاَرْضُ وَ مَنْ فِیْهِنَّؕ-وَ اِنْ مِّنْ شَیْءٍ اِلَّا یُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهٖ وَ لٰـكِنْ لَّا تَفْقَهُوْنَ تَسْبِیْحَهُمْؕ-اِنَّهٗ كَانَ حَلِیْمًا غَفُوْرًا)

“The seven heavens and the earth and whatever creatures are in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.”

Prayer instills the spirit of piety within the human soul:

The command of the Almighty Allah is:

(وَأَنْ أَقِيمُوا الصَّلوةَ وَاتَّقُوهُ)

“And establish prayer and fear Allah.”

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says:

“Al-Muttaqi are those people who fear Allah’s punishment if they do not follow the path of guidance, and hope for Allah’s mercy if they affirm and follow the religion of Islam.”

Someone asked Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) the meaning of Taqwa:

He said, “Have you ever walked on a thorny path?” He replied, “Yes!” Then he asked, “How did you walk on that path?” He said, “Whenever I saw a thorn, I would avoid it.” He said, “This is Taqwa.”

Indeed, Salah (prayer) instills Taqwa, piety, and fear of Allah within a person. This is why Allah Almighty, while describing the qualities of those possessing the great attribute of Taqwa, the “Muttaqin,” stated that they observe prayer. Allah’s command is:

(الٓمّٓ(1)ذٰلِكَ الْكِتٰبُ لَا رَیْبَ فِیْهِ ۚۛ-هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِیْنَ(2) الَّذِیْنَ یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِالْغَیْبِ وَ یُقِیْمُوْنَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَ مِمَّا رَزَقْنٰهُمْ یُنْفِقُوْنَ(3))

“الم, There is no doubt in this Book; it guides those who fear Allah, who believe in the unseen, and establish prayer.”

The Prophets, peace be upon them, are the living embodiment of this; when they stood in the presence of Allah for prayer, they would begin to weep out of fear of Allah. Allah the Exalted says:

(اُولٰٓىٕكَ الَّذِیْنَ اَنْعَمَ اللّٰهُ عَلَیْهِمْ مِّنَ النَّبِیّٖنَ مِنْ ذُرِّیَّةِ اٰدَمَۗ-وَ مِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوْحٍ٘-وَّ مِنْ ذُرِّیَّةِ اِبْرٰهِیْمَ وَ اِسْرَآءِیْلَ٘-وَ مِمَّنْ هَدَیْنَا وَ اجْتَبَیْنَاؕ-اِذَا تُتْلٰى عَلَیْهِمْ اٰیٰتُ الرَّحْمٰنِ خَرُّوْا سُجَّدًا وَّ بُكِیًّا(58)فَخَلَفَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ اَضَاعُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوٰتِ فَسَوْفَ یَلْقَوْنَ غَیًّا(59))

“These are the Prophets on whom Allah bestowed His favor, from the descendants of Adam and those who were carried on the ship with Noah, and from the descendants of Abraham and Jacob; and among those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they would fall down in prostration and weep.”

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood in prayer, he would weep out of fear and awe of Allah to such an extent that the companions would hear a sound like the boiling of a pot or the beating of a drum from his chest. Thus, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Shakheer رضي الله عنه says:

((رأيت رسول الله ﷺ يصلي وفي صدره أزيز كأزيز الرحى من البكاء .))

Ibn Hibban, Hakim, Zahabi, and Allama Albani have declared it “Sahih.”

“I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ praying, and due to crying in prayer, a sound like a crackling was coming from his ﷺ chest.”

Prayer and Divine Devotion:

Prayer teaches a person the lesson of divine devotion. The command of the Almighty Allah is:

(مُنِیْبِیْنَ اِلَیْهِ وَ اتَّقُوْهُ وَ اَقِیْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ لَا تَكُوْنُوْا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِیْنَ)

“Turn to Allah in repentance, fear Him, establish prayer, and do not be among the polytheists.”

Thus, the worshiper begins to adhere to the commands of his Lord, avoids prohibitions, sleeps less at night, meaning he spends most of the night in Tahajjud prayer, and when he wakes up in the morning, despite the lack of sleep and the abundance of Tahajjud prayer, he feels as if his sins and crimes are many. Therefore, he turns to Allah and engages in repentance and seeking forgiveness:

(كَانُوْا قَلِیْلًا مِّنَ الَّیْلِ مَا یَهْجَعُوْنَ(17)وَ بِالْاَسْحَارِ هُمْ یَسْتَغْفِرُوْنَ(18))

“They used to sleep but little by night, and in the hours before dawn, they would ask forgiveness.”

This is the characteristic of worshipers that when they commit major or minor sins, they feel shame before Allah, fear His punishment, and immediately begin to seek forgiveness.

(وَ الَّذِیْنَ اِذَا فَعَلُوْا فَاحِشَةً اَوْ ظَلَمُوْۤا اَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللّٰهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوْا لِذُنُوْبِهِمْ۫-وَ مَنْ یَّغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَ لَمْ یُصِرُّوْا عَلٰى مَا فَعَلُوْا وَ هُمْ یَعْلَمُوْنَ)

“And when they commit immorality or wrong themselves, they remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins. And who can forgive sins except Allah? And they do not persist knowingly in what they have done.”

Prayer and Asceticism (Disinterest in the World):

The heart becomes estranged from both worlds,
How strange is the pleasure of familiarity.

Prayer instills asceticism, that is, disinterest in the world, and creates concern for the Hereafter in a person. Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA) narrates:

A person came to the Noble Prophet ﷺ and said:

Advise me in brief words. The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:

((إذا أنت صليت فصل صلاة مودع .))

Hafiz Ibn Hajar called its narrators “trustworthy” and Sheikh Shoaib said its chain is “good.”

“When you pray, perform it as if it is your farewell prayer.”

May Allah bless the person who, when turning towards their prayer, becomes a symbol of humility and submissiveness, displays the highest manifestation of lowliness and abasement before Allah, trembles with fear and reverence, spreads the hope and expectation of desire, and makes their greatest wish to meet Allah Almighty, to supplicate to Him, to stand, sit, and bow before Him with the best arrangement of existence, empties their heart and mind for this, and strives diligently in performing the obligatory acts, not knowing whether they will be given another opportunity to pray or if their work will be completed already. When standing before their Lord, they become a living embodiment of sorrow and grief, hoping for the acceptance of the prayer and fearing its rejection. If acceptance is granted, they are fulfilled; if rejected, they are unfortunate.

My brother! How delicate and important is the matter of this prayer and other acts of worship, and how much sorrow, grief, regret, and fear it demands, because you do not know whether any of your prayers have been accepted or not? And you do not know whether any of your good deeds have been accepted or not? Or whether any of your sins have been forgiven or not? Despite this, you are laughing, indulging in heedlessness, and profiting from life, even though you are not certain that you will go to Hell, nor are you certain that if you do come out of it, there is anyone more deserving than you to weep and be distressed until Allah accepts your deeds? Then you also do not know whether after the evening you will be able to see the morning, and after the morning, the evening will come upon you, and whether you will receive the glad tidings of Paradise or Hell. My brother! I am reminding you of this great danger; you deserve not to be engrossed in wealth, children, and loved ones. It is astonishing that a thick veil of heedlessness and intoxication has fallen upon you; you are engrossed in play and amusement and are heedless of this great danger, and every night and day, every hour, every moment, you are being dragged forcefully. My brother! Keep waiting for your appointed term and do not become heedless of this danger that lies ahead of you, because you have to taste death. It may be that morning or evening suddenly overtakes you, and you are expelled from all your possessions and cast into Paradise or Hell. Lengthy discussions have already been made about the attributes of both.

And the collection of stories is complete, have you not heard this saying of Abdul Saleh?

“I am amazed that the one who is fleeing from Hell is sleeping, and the one seeking Paradise is enjoying the pleasures of a hare’s nap. By Allah! If you cease to flee and seek, you are doomed, and there is no one more unfortunate than you. And tomorrow, you will weep and be distressed with the wretched punished ones. And if you say that I am fleeing from Hell and seeking Paradise, then realize the great danger you are facing accordingly, and beware! False hopes should not deceive you.”

Prayer and Patience and Steadfastness:

Patience and prayer hold great importance in the life of a believer and a Muslim. The most important remedy for enduring hardships and difficulties in the way of Allah is patience and prayer. It is remembered that without patience, no good deed can come into existence, and the essence of prayer is heartfelt humility before Allah, which is the greatest support for steadfastness in the field of faith and action.

Those whose hearts do not have humility and submission for Allah find prayer very difficult. And those who believe in the Hereafter find peace and tranquility in prayer. That is why Allah Almighty said:

(وَ اسْتَعِیْنُوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ الصَّلٰوةِؕ-وَ اِنَّهَا لَكَبِیْرَةٌ اِلَّا عَلَى الْخٰشِعِیْنَ)

“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah].”

And at another place, He said:

(یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا اسْتَعِیْنُوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ الصَّلٰوةِؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الصّٰبِرِیْنَ)

“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”

Dr. Luqman Salafi, may Allah preserve him, writes while explaining this noble verse:

This verse explains the importance of patience and prayer, and states that these two things hold great significance in the life of a believer. The most important remedy for enduring hardships in the way of Allah is patience and prayer.

It is noteworthy here that there are three types of patience:

Patience in avoiding prohibitions and sins.

Patience in performing righteous deeds and obeying Allah.

Patience in enduring the calamities and trials of time.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) writes in his book “السياسة الشرعية“:

For the ruler in particular and the subjects in general, three things prove to be great helpers:

Sincerity to Allah and supplication, and reliance on Him through means other than supplication, and guarding and adhering to prayer with heart and soul, which is the essence of sincerity to Allah.

Doing good to creation and paying zakat.

Being patient during hardship, calamity, and the trials of time. The end

(Furthermore) Allah Almighty is with those who are patient, and here companionship means “special companionship,” which indicates Allah’s love, His support, and nearness. That is, Allah is with those who are patient, He loves them and helps them, and what greater virtue can there be for the patient than that Allah is with them. Another type of companionship is “general companionship,” meaning Allah is with His servants through His knowledge and power. As Allah has said:

(وَ هُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ)

“And He is with you wherever you are.”

And this “companionship” is for all creation.

Prayer and Divine Support:

When a worshiper stands in prayer and turns towards Allah’s mercy, Allah Almighty grants him special support and help, and removes his difficulties. Allah Himself has commanded this. The command of the Exalted is:

(وَ اسْتَعِیْنُوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ الصَّلٰوةِؕ)

“And seek help through patience and prayer.”

And in Surah Taha He said:

((وَ اْمُرْ اَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلٰوةِ وَ اصْطَبِرْ عَلَیْهَاؕ))

“And enjoin prayer upon your family and be steadfast therein yourself.”

Dr. Luqman Salafi, may Allah preserve him, writes in the commentary of this verse:

“Ibn al-Mundhir, Tabarani, Al-Bayhaqi, and others have narrated from Abdullah bin Salam, whose chain of narration was declared ‘authentic’ by Hafiz Suyuti, that whenever any difficulty befell the household of the Prophet ﷺ, he would command them to pray and recite the entire verse (وَ أمْرُ أَهْلَكَ بِالصّلوة).”

And in Surah Al-Hajj it is stated:

(فَاَقِیْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتُوا الزَّكٰوةَ وَ اعْتَصِمُوْا بِاللّٰهِؕ-هُوَ مَوْلٰىكُمْۚ-فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلٰى وَ نِعْمَ النَّصِیْرُ)

“So Muslims! Establish prayer, give zakat, and maintain your relationship with Allah; He is your Master, the best Master and the best Helper.”

When the worshipper hears this declaration that prayer is the cause of divine support, he seeks help from Allah in every rak’ah of every prayer with these words:

(إيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ)

“It is You we worship and You we ask for help.”

It is said that in prayer (إِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين)

They wander here and there seeking relief from hardship.

Hafiz Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) says:

“A servant is commanded to perform (ایاك نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين) in every prayer. This is because Satan commands him to commit shirk, and the human self, by obeying him, always turns towards something other than Allah. Therefore, the servant is constantly in need of purifying his belief in Tawheed from the impurities of shirk.”

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says in the interpretation of this verse:

“We declare Your Oneness, O our Lord! And we fear You and seek help from You, to worship You and in all our affairs.”

It is narrated about Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that when he received news of the death of one of the Pure Wives (of the Prophet ﷺ), he immediately fell into prostration. Someone asked him, “Do you prostrate at this time?” He replied that this is the command of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:

((إِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ آيَةً فَاسْجُدُوا .))

“When you see any sign, then prostrate.”

And (tell me) what could be a greater sign than the death of the noble wife of the Prophet ﷺ?

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that two men from the tribe of Qudha’ah became Muslims; one of them was martyred and the other died after one year. Sayyiduna Talhah رضي الله عنه says that I saw in a dream that the person who died after one year entered Paradise before the martyr. I was very surprised, and in the morning I mentioned this dream before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He ﷺ said:

“Do you not see the good deeds of the person who died later? Did he not fast the days of Ramadan afterward? And did he not perform six thousand obligatory prayers and many more rak’ahs during the year?”

Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut has graded its chain as “Hasan”.

Sayyiduna Talha (RA) says that I narrated my dream to the people in the morning. Everyone was surprised as to why the martyr was allowed to enter Paradise later, whereas he should have been allowed earlier. The people asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he (ﷺ) said:

There is nothing surprising in this. Tell me, did the latter person not worship for a year? Did he not fast the days of one Ramadan? Did he not perform many more prostrations in prayer during that year? Everyone replied:

Yes, O Messenger of Allah! Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

Then there is a difference between the two as vast as the distance between the earth and the sky.

Ibn Hibban classified it as “Sahih” and Sheikh Shu’aib as “Hasan Lighayrih.”

The reason for the revelation of the Prayer of Divine Mercy:

Allah and His Messenger Ahmad Mujtaba, Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ require belief, that people do good deeds, foremost among which is the Oneness of Allah Almighty. And worship Him alone, fulfill the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and protect the five daily prayers to remain engaged in the remembrance of Allah, because due to these virtues, divine mercy will descend upon them in this world. Allah Almighty says:

(وَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ اَوْلِیَآءُ بَعْضٍۘ-یَاْمُرُوْنَ بِالْمَعْرُوْفِ وَ یَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ یُقِیْمُوْنَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَ یُؤْتُوْنَ الزَّكٰوةَ وَ یُطِیْعُوْنَ اللّٰهَ وَ رَسُوْلَهٗؕ-اُولٰٓىٕكَ سَیَرْحَمُهُمُ اللّٰهُؕ)

“And believing men and believing women are allies of one another; they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and establish prayer and give zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those – Allah will have mercy upon them.”

Allah Almighty addressed the Companions of the Messenger ﷺ in particular and Muslims living in the world in general, saying that you establish prayer, give zakah, and obey the commands of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in all matters of life. By doing so, the mercy of Allah Almighty will overshadow you. Accordingly, He said:

(وَ اَقِیْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتُوا الزَّكٰوةَ وَ اَطِیْعُوا الرَّسُوْلَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُوْنَ)

“And O believers! Establish prayer, give zakat, and obey the Messenger so that mercy may be bestowed upon you.”

If a person arranges for voluntary prayers in addition to the obligatory prayers, he also becomes deserving of Allah’s mercy. Accordingly, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (RA) narrates that the Beloved Messenger ﷺ said:

((رحم الله إمرأ صلى قبل العصر أربعا .))

Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban have declared it “Sahih” and Allama Albani has called it “Hasan.”

“Whoever prays four rak’ahs before Asr prayer, Allah will have mercy on him.”

The best way to remember Allah is through prayer:

The day is the same day, the night is the same night
That passes in Your remembrance

The best way to remember Allah is prayer. Allah Almighty commanded Sayyiduna Musa (AS) at the very beginning of the revelation:

(اِنَّنِیْۤ اَنَا اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِیْۙ-وَ اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ لِذِكْرِیْ)

“Indeed, I am Allah, there is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.”

“Sayyidna Musa (AS)” after spending ten years in “Madinah,” set out towards Egypt with his wife. According to divine wisdom, they lost their way near Mount Tur. It was a cold, dark winter night, and they needed both light and fire. When they saw the light of fire from Mount Tur, he told his wife as good news, “You stay here; I will bring fire for you,” or perhaps they might find someone there to guide them. When Sayyidna Musa (AS) approached the fire, the situation was entirely different. On the right side of the valley, there was a tree that was shining like a radiant spot. From there came a voice, “O Musa! I am your Lord, and I am addressing you. You are standing in the sacred valley of Tuwa. Show reverence, humility, and respect for your Lord by removing your shoes.” Or the meaning is to remove your shoes so that the blessings of the sacred valley may enter your body through your feet. “And I have chosen you among all the people of that time and appointed you for my prophethood and messengership. Therefore, listen carefully to the revelation that is about to be sent down to you and prepare yourself to accept its responsibility. I am Allah; there is no one worthy of worship except Me. So worship only Me and establish prayer to remember Me.” The commentators write that this is the reason why one who does not pray is not called a person who remembers Allah but rather a denier.

And in Surah Al-A’la, Allah Almighty has given glad tidings of success to His servant who purifies his soul, that is, who frees himself from shirk and sins, and remains in the remembrance of his true Creator and Owner every moment and every hour, and performs righteous deeds. And especially observes prayer, which is the criterion of faith.

(قَدْ اَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكّٰى(14)وَ ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهٖ فَصَلّٰىﭤ(15))

“Indeed, he will be successful who purifies himself, and remembers the name of his Lord, then prays.”

Furthermore, He commanded to establish prayer, for indeed prayer restrains from indecency and evil, and remember Allah, for the remembrance of Allah is greater than everything, because essentially the remembrance of Allah prevents people from shameful and evil deeds:

(اُتْلُ مَاۤ اُوْحِیَ اِلَیْكَ مِنَ الْكِتٰبِ وَ اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَؕ-اِنَّ الصَّلٰوةَ تَنْهٰى عَنِ الْفَحْشَآءِ وَ الْمُنْكَرِؕ-وَ لَذِكْرُ اللّٰهِ اَكْبَرُؕ)

“Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and indeed the remembrance of Allah is greater.”

And prayer prevents immorality because through it Allah is remembered; this is why prayer is described as “remembrance” in Surah Al-Jumu’ah:

(یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اِذَا نُوْدِیَ لِلصَّلٰوةِ مِنْ یَّوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا اِلٰى ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ وَ ذَرُوا الْبَیْعَؕ-ذٰلِكُمْ خَیْرٌ لَّكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ)

“O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you if you only knew.”

Similarly, in Surah An-Nur, prayer is also described as remembrance:

(رِجَالٌۙ-لَّا تُلْهِیْهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَّ لَا بَیْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ وَ اِقَامِ الصَّلٰوةِ وَ اِیْتَآءِ الزَّكٰوةِ ﭪ–یَخَافُوْنَ یَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِیْهِ الْقُلُوْبُ وَ الْاَبْصَارُ)

“And let not those who [greedily] withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah, with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted.”

In the above noble verse, it is stated that a good group is those who are not distracted from the remembrance of Allah, i.e., establishing prayer and giving zakat, by trade and business. In the verse, “ذکر اللہ” and “اقام الصلوٰۃ” are mentioned with the conjunction “و” (and), which means explanation, i.e., the conjunction “اِقام الصلوۃ” is explaining its preceding “ذکر اللہ“. The meaning will be:

“The remembrance of Allah, i.e., establishing prayer.”

Prayer is a cause of human reformation:

Prayer also causes the reformation of humanity. In the following noble verse, Allah Almighty has declared two types of people as reformed:

Those who strictly adhere to the Book of Allah.

➊ And those who establish prayer.

➋ Allah Almighty says:

(وَ الَّذِیْنَ یُمَسِّكُوْنَ بِالْكِتٰبِ وَ اَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوةَؕ-اِنَّا لَا نُضِیْعُ اَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِیْنَ)

“And those who strictly adhere to the Book of Allah and establish prayer, We will not let the reward of such righteous people be lost.”

Prayer is a cause of light and guidance:

In the following noble verse, Allah Almighty has declared the prayer performers as guided. Allah Almighty says:

(اِنَّمَا یَعْمُرُ مَسٰجِدَ اللّٰهِ مَنْ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ الْیَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ وَ اَقَامَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتَى الزَّكٰوةَ وَ لَمْ یَخْشَ اِلَّا اللّٰهَ فَعَسٰۤى اُولٰٓىٕكَ اَنْ یَّكُوْنُوْا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِیْنَ)

“Only those people populate the mosques of Allah who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, give zakat, and fear none except Allah. It is these people who are expected to be rightly guided.”

And Sayyid Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Master of mankind, Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), said:

((وَالصَّلاةُ نُورٌ))

“And prayer is light.”

Prayer establishes religious brotherhood:

The command of Allah Almighty is:

((فَاِنْ تَابُوْا وَ اَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتَوُا الزَّكٰوةَ فَاِخْوَانُكُمْ فِی الدِّیْنِؕ))

“Then if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakat, they are your religious brothers.”

In the above noble verse, religious brotherhood is made conditional upon establishing prayer; therefore, if a person abandons prayer, he is excluded from this brotherhood.

A unique way to understand the importance of prayer:

Satan is the open enemy of man; he wants to distance him from his true God. Therefore, he presents falsehood as truth. He instills various doubts in the hearts of people and wants to prevent them from remembering Allah, that is, from prayer, in order to keep them away from Allah. The rejected Iblis’s primary goal was to mislead the vast majority of the children of Adam so that he could take revenge on Adam, due to whom he was distanced from Allah’s mercy. When Allah granted him respite (انظري إلى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ) “Give me respite until the day they are resurrected,” he accepted. (قَالَ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنظَرِينَ) Allah said, “Indeed, you are of those given respite.” Then he said in obstinate rebellion, “Because You have put me in error!” (لَاَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِیْمَ(16) ثُمَّ لَاٰتِیَنَّهُمْ مِّنْۢ بَیْنِ اَیْدِیْهِمْ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَ عَنْ اَیْمَانِهِمْ وَ عَنْ شَمَآىٕلِهِمْؕ-وَ لَا تَجِدُ اَكْثَرَهُمْ شٰكِرِیْنَ(17))

“I will lie in ambush for them on Your straight path, then I will attack them from before them, from behind them, from their right, and from their left, and You will not find most of them grateful.”

See the divine wisdom that Iblis’s cunning and illusion came true in reality, as most of the creation followed him. They attributed the attributes of the true God to others besides Allah, and introduced grave worship, spirit worship, mourning rituals, knowledge, Khwaja Khizr’s boat, petitions at graves, Urs at graves, singing and dancing, offerings and vows to others besides Allah, recitations and litanies in the names of saints, fortune-telling, superstition and belief in bad omens, idol worship, prostrations and circumambulations of real and fake graves, covering them with flower sheets and cloths, offerings, considering prophets, saints, elders, and martyrs as omniscient, believing their spirits are present everywhere, and so on—hundreds of innovations and false beliefs entered Islam, as Allah Almighty said in Surah Saba:

(وَ لَقَدْ صَدَّقَ عَلَیْهِمْ اِبْلِیْسُ ظَنَّهٗ فَاتَّبَعُوْهُ اِلَّا فَرِیْقًا مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ)

“And Satan sowed his suspicion about the children of Adam, so all followed him except a group of believers.”

Therefore, the true Prophet ﷺ taught seeking refuge from Satan from all directions, meaning from every side. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنه that the Master of Messengers ﷺ never omitted the following supplication morning and evening.

((اللهم إني أستلك العفو والعافية فى الدنيا والآخرة، اللهم إني أستلك العفو والعافية فى ديني ودنياي وأهلي وما لي. اللهم استر عوراتي ومن روعاتي . اللهم احفظني من بين يدي ومن خلفي وعن يميني وعن شمالي ومن فوقى، وأعوذ بعظمتك أن أغتال من تحتى))

Ibn Hibban, Hakim, Dhahabi, and Allama Albani have declared it “Sahih”.

“O Allah! I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in this world and the Hereafter. O Allah! I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in my religion, my worldly affairs, my family, and my wealth. O Allah! Cover my faults and keep my anxieties in peace. O Allah! Protect me from in front of me, from behind me, from my right, from my left, and from above me. I seek refuge in Your greatness from being destroyed suddenly from beneath me.”

In this supplication, the Great Manifestation of Creation ﷺ sought refuge from the evil of rejected devils through Allah. However, humans should not cease from the remembrance of Allah and prayer so that their connection with Allah, the Lord of Glory, remains intact. This is the lesson Allah Almighty has given in His words, which explain the importance of prayer. Allah the Exalted says:

(اِنَّمَا یُرِیْدُ الشَّیْطٰنُ اَنْ یُّوْقِعَ بَیْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَ الْبَغْضَآءَ فِی الْخَمْرِ وَ الْمَیْسِرِ وَ یَصُدَّكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ وَ عَنِ الصَّلٰوةِۚ-فَهَلْ اَنْتُمْ مُّنْتَهُوْنَ)

“Indeed, Satan wants to create enmity and hatred between you through intoxicants and gambling, and to prevent you from the remembrance of Allah and prayer. So will you not desist?”

And the great benefactor of humanity ﷺ said:

((إن أحدكم إذا قام يصلى جاء الشيطان فلبس عليه حتى لا يدري كم صلى فإذا وجد ذلك أحدكم فليسجد سجدتين وهو جالس .))

“When any one of you stands for prayer, Satan comes to him and confuses him until he does not know how many units of prayer he has performed. So if any of you faces such a situation, he should perform two prostrations while sitting.”

Furthermore, the Mercy to the Worlds ﷺ said:

((إن الشيطان ياتي أحدكم فى صلاته فيقول : أذكر كذا ، أذكر كذا لما لم يكن يذكر، حتى يظل الرجل لا يدري كم صلى؟))

“Satan comes to you during prayer and says, ‘Remember such and such things,’ which the praying person had no suspicion of before, to the extent that he even forgets how many units of prayer he has performed.”

And the Noble Prophet ﷺ also said:

((إذا أذن بالصلاة أدبر الشيطان له ضراط حتى لا يسمع التأذين ، فإذا قضي التاذين أقبل ، فإذا ثوب بالصلوة أدبر ، فإذا قضي التنويب أقبل حتى يخطر بين المرء ونفسه ، يقول: اذكر كذا وكذا ما لم يكن يذكر ، حتى يظل لا يدري كم صلى؟ فإذا وجد أحدكم ذلك فليسجد سجدتين وهو جالس))

“When the Mu’adhdhin gives the Adhan for prayer, Satan runs away and his breath goes out so that he does not hear the words of the Adhan. When the Adhan ends, he returns, then when the Iqamah is given, he runs away again, and when the Iqamah ends, he returns again until he enters the thoughts of a person and reminds him of things that are not in his imagination or suspicion, to the extent that he does not even know how many Rak’ahs he has prayed. When this happens to any of you, he should perform two prostrations while sitting.”

Prayer is a source of peace and tranquility:

The person who believes in the Hereafter finds peace in prayer, and for the one whose heart is not inclined towards Allah, prayer is very burdensome. Allah the Exalted says:

(وَ اسْتَعِیْنُوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ الصَّلٰوةِؕ-وَ اِنَّهَا لَكَبِیْرَةٌ اِلَّا عَلَى الْخٰشِعِیْنَ(45)الَّذِیْنَ یَظُنُّوْنَ اَنَّهُمْ مُّلٰقُوْا رَبِّهِمْ وَ اَنَّهُمْ اِلَیْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ(46))

“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, prayer is burdensome except for the humble who fear Allah, who believe that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.”

And the Imam of the pious, the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad ﷺ said:

((حب إلى من دنياكم النساء والطيب ، وجعلت قرة عيني فى الصلاة .))

“Of worldly things, I like my wives and (secondly) perfume, and prayer is the coolness of my eyes.”

You ﷺ said to Sayyiduna Bilal رضي الله عنه:

((يا بلال: أقم الصلاة ، أرحنا بها .))

Al-Albani رحمه الله said it is “Sahih.”

“O Bilal! Bring us comfort through prayer.”

The Fajr prayer has more virtue than acquiring spoils of war:

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent an army that acquired abundant spoils and returned very quickly. A man said:

O Messenger of Allah! We have not seen any army that returns sooner and gains more spoils than this one. The Prophet ﷺ said:

Shall I not guide you to an army that returns even sooner and gains more spoils than this? A man who performs ablution properly at home, then goes to the mosque, prays Fajr, and then remains seated there until the Duha prayer. Such a man returns sooner and gains more spoils.

Prayer and Concern for the Hereafter:

I should also have some concern for the Hereafter; I am very heedless.

I have lived a useless life; now I am engaged in work.

The “Hereafter” refers to everything that will occur after death. Concern for the Hereafter and belief in the Hereafter is a pillar of faith. Belief and faith in the Hereafter motivate a person towards prayer and righteous deeds and instill fear of divine punishment.

(الٓمّٓ(1)ذٰلِكَ الْكِتٰبُ لَا رَیْبَ فِیْهِ ۚۛ-هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِیْنَ(2) الَّذِیْنَ یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِالْغَیْبِ وَ یُقِیْمُوْنَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَ مِمَّا رَزَقْنٰهُمْ یُنْفِقُوْنَ(3) وَ الَّذِیْنَ یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِمَاۤ اُنْزِلَ اِلَیْكَ وَ مَاۤ اُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَۚ-وَ بِالْاٰخِرَةِ هُمْ یُوْقِنُوْنَﭤ(4))

’’الم, There is no doubt in this Book, it guides those who fear Allah, who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them, and who believe in the Book that has been revealed to you, and in the books revealed before you, and who have certainty in the Hereafter.’’

Allah Almighty further said:

(وَ اَقِیْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتُوا الزَّكٰوةَؕ-وَ مَا تُقَدِّمُوْا لِاَنْفُسِكُمْ مِّنْ خَیْرٍ تَجِدُوْهُ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِیْرٌ)

’’And establish prayer and give zakah, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves, you will find it with Allah. Indeed, Allah is Seeing of what you do.’’

And in Surah An-Nisa, mentioning the believers who establish prayer and have faith in the Hereafter, it is stated:

(لٰـكِنِ الرّٰسِخُوْنَ فِی الْعِلْمِ مِنْهُمْ وَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِمَاۤ اُنْزِلَ اِلَیْكَ وَ مَاۤ اُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَ الْمُقِیْمِیْنَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَ الْمُؤْتُوْنَ الزَّكٰوةَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ الْیَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِؕ-اُولٰٓىٕكَ سَنُؤْتِیْهِمْ اَجْرًا عَظِیْمًا)

’’But among them are those who hold firm knowledge, and the believers believe in this Book which has been sent down to you, and in what was sent down before you, and those who establish prayer, and give zakah, and believe in Allah and the Last Day, to them We will give a great reward.’’

The first account on the Day of Judgment will be of prayer:

On the Day of Resurrection, which will be heart-wrenching,
The first question will be about prayer.

On the Day of Judgment, the very first question from the rights of Allah will be about prayer; this also highlights the importance of prayer. Accordingly, the greatest leader of the universe ﷺ said:

((أول ما يحاسب به العبد صلاته .))

Sheikh Shoaib Al-Arnaout has graded it as “Sahih”.

“The first deed for which a servant will be held accountable is prayer.”

Prayer is the solution to all difficulties:

The disease does not increase, it disappears in their joy,
Whoever has sought healing from the Divine Court.

In difficult situations, one should take refuge in prayer. When Allah Almighty becomes the helper, then what chance is there for any difficulty to remain? Imam Azam Mahboob Subhani said, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ﷺ used to:

((إذا حزبه أمر صلى .))

“Whenever any difficulty came to you ﷺ, you would pray.”

Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Noble Prophet ﷺ said:

((إن الله تعالى يقول: يا ابن آدم! تفرع لعبادتي أملا صدرك غني ، وأسد فقرك ، وإن لم تفعل ملات يدك شغلا ، ولم اسد فقرك .))

Indeed, Allah Almighty said:

“O son of Adam! Devote yourself to My worship, that is, worship Me with attention and concentration; I will fill your chest with richness and end your neediness. And if you do not do so, I will entangle your hands in work and will not end your poverty.”

The first thing taught to a new Muslim is prayer:

The Guide of the Universe, Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, used to teach a new Muslim person the prayer first. Abu Malik Ashja’i narrates from his honorable father:

((وكان رسول الله إذا أسلم الرجل كان أول ما يعلمنا الصلاة أو قال: علمه الصلاة .))

Allama Haithami says: Its narrators are narrators of Sahih.

“The Noble Messenger ﷺ used to teach the prayer first to a person who had newly embraced Islam.”

Commanding family members to pray:

The importance of prayer can also be understood from the fact that Allah Almighty commanded the Noble Prophet ﷺ to command his family members to pray. Allah Almighty says:

(و أمرُ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلوةِ وَ اصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا)

“And enjoin prayer upon your family and be steadfast therein yourself.”

Because a man is responsible for his household:

((الرجل راع فى أهله ومسئول عن رعيته .))

“A man is the guardian of his family and will be questioned about them.”

Whoever wakes up at night and prays, and then wakes his wife for prayer as well, is deserving of Allah’s mercy. Accordingly, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

((رحم الله رجلا قام من الليل فصلى وأيقظ امرأته، فإن أبت نضج فى وجهها الماء ، رحم الله إمرأة قامت من الليل فصلت وأيقظت زوجها فإن أبى ، نضجت فى وجهه الماء))

“May Allah have mercy on the person who wakes up at night and prays, and wakes his wife as well; and if she does not get up, he should sprinkle water on her face. And may Allah have mercy on the woman who wakes up at night and prays, and wakes her husband as well; and if he refuses, she should sprinkle water on his face.”

Teach children to pray:

Luqman عليه السلام, while advising his son at the time of his death, also emphasizes prayer:

(یٰبُنَیَّ اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوْفِ وَ انْهَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ اصْبِرْ عَلٰى مَاۤ اَصَابَكَؕ-اِنَّ ذٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْاُمُوْرِ)

“O my son! Establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, all of this is of great determination and is essential.”

Luqman’s bringing the diminutive form (یٰبُنَیَّ) for his son indicates that children should be habituated to prayer from an early age. And initially, the teaching should be done with love.

Commenting on the above verse, Allama Shawkani (may Allah have mercy on him) says:

“The deeds mentioned in the verse ‘اقامة الصلوٰة، أمر بالمعروف و نهى عن المنكر اور صبر على المصيبة‘ are specifically stated because they are the foundation of all acts of worship and good deeds.”

Ibn Jurayj (may Allah have mercy on him) says:

“The meaning of ‘(إِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ)‘ can also be that the aforementioned matters are the highest morals and the most important deeds for attaining salvation.”

If a child is not habituated to prayer by the age of ten, he should be made to pray by physical discipline. The Perfect Guide, the Leader of the Universe ﷺ said:

((مروا أولادكم بالصلاة وهم أبناء سبع سنين، واضربوهم عليها وهم أبناء عشر ، وفرقوا بينهم فى المضاجع .))

“Command your children to pray at the age of seven, and when they reach ten, punish them if they do not pray, and separate their beds.”

Benefits of Prayer:

Hafiz Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned some benefits of Salah in “Zad al-Ma’ad,” and there are some more as follows. Therefore, remember that Salah:

Is a means of earning sustenance. It delivers from distress.

Strengthens the heart. It is refreshing for the soul.

Creates vitality in the body. It is a means of broadening the chest.

Illuminates the heart. It is a cause of protection from divine punishment.

Keeps away Satan. It is a protector of health.

Removes diseases. It illuminates the face.

Drives away laziness and idleness. It doubles the body’s strength.

Is nourishment for the soul. It protects divine blessings.

Is a cause of blessing. It brings one closer to the Most Merciful.

Teaches fear of Allah. It is a means of remembrance of Allah.

Salah is the key to Paradise. It is a means for the descent of divine mercy.

Salah is goodness. It prevents evil and indecency.

It is a sign of love for Allah. Salah is gratitude for blessings.

Salah is the door to goodness. It is the connection between Allah and His servant.

Salah is an expression of servitude. Salah is a means of Allah’s pleasure.

Prayer is a means of guidance. Prayer is an expression of love for the Prophetic tradition.

Prayer creates awareness of the Hereafter. Prayer teaches the lesson of seeking forgiveness.

Prayer is a means of patience and steadfastness. Through prayer, divine help is obtained.

Prayer is a cause for the reform of humanity. Prayer is a step towards turning to Allah.

Prayer establishes religious brotherhood. Prayer is a means of being purified from sins.

Prayer is an expression of enmity towards Satan. Prayer is a shield against the torment of the grave.

It is a means of detachment from the world and connection with Allah.