Source: Sermons of Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq Zahid, compiled by: Tauheed.com
Brothers in Islam!
In today's Friday sermon (InshaAllah), we will talk about an act which is the greatest means of attaining nearness to Allah Almighty, and in it lies the comfort of the eyes and the peace of the heart. Whenever a Muslim, exhausted by the troubles and sorrows of the world, stands before Allah Almighty for this act, the burden of worries and grief becomes lighter, and he attains true tranquility. Its importance is so great that it has been declared the pillar of the religion... and that act is prayer (Salah), which Allah Almighty has made obligatory upon every accountable Muslim. The significance and greatness of prayer can be understood from the fact that Allah imposed other obligatory acts on earth, while He called His most beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to Himself and made prayer obligatory from the heavens, as high as Allah willed.
The Story of Mi'raj and the Obligation of Prayer
As in the story of Mi'raj, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
(( ۔۔۔۔۔ فَأَوْحَى اللهُ إِلَيَّ مَا أَوْحَى، فَفَرَضَ عَلَيَّ خَمْسِينَ صَلَاةً فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ، فَنَزَلْتُ إِلَى مُوسَى صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: مَا فَرَضَ رَبُّكَ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ؟ قُلْتُ: خَمْسِينَ صَلَاةً، قَالَ: ارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَاسْأَلْهُ التَّخْفِيفَ، فَإِنَّ أُمَّتَكَ لَا يُطِيقُونَ ذَلِكَ، فَإِنِّي قَدْ بَلَوْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَخَبَرْتُهُمْ "، قَالَ: ” فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى رَبِّي، فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَبِّ، خَفِّفْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي، فَحَطَّ عَنِّي خَمْسًا، فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى مُوسَى، فَقُلْتُ: حَطَّ عَنِّي خَمْسًا، قَالَ: إِنَّ أُمَّتَكَ لَا يُطِيقُونَ ذَلِكَ، فَارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَاسْأَلْهُ التَّخْفِيفَ "، قَالَ: ” فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أَرْجِعُ بَيْنَ رَبِّي تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى، وَبَيْنَ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ حَتَّى قَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، إِنَّهُنَّ خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ، لِكُلِّ صَلَاةٍ عَشْرٌ، فَذَلِكَ خَمْسُونَ صَلَاةً، ۔۔۔۔))
"Then Allah Almighty revealed to me whatever He wanted to reveal, and He made fifty prayers obligatory on me every day and night. Then I descended to Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), and he asked me: What has your Lord made obligatory upon you? I said: Fifty prayers. He said: Return to your Lord and ask for a reduction because your nation does not have the strength to perform fifty prayers. I have already tested the Children of Israel and taken their trial! The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: So I returned to my Lord and said: O my Lord! Reduce it for my nation. So Allah Almighty reduced it by five prayers. After that, I returned again to Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and told him that Allah Almighty had reduced five prayers. He said: Your nation still does not have the strength, so you should return to your Lord again and plead for a reduction! The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: So I kept going back and forth between my Lord, the Blessed and Exalted, and Moses (peace be upon him) until Allah Almighty said: O Muhammad! These are five prayers in the day and night, and each prayer is equivalent to ten (prayers in reward). Thus, in terms of reward, they are fifty."
Allah Almighty bestowed special grace and favor upon His most beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and His Ummah, reducing the number of obligatory prayers from fifty to five. However, in terms of reward and merit, they are equivalent to fifty. Therefore, we should be grateful for this great favor of Allah Almighty, and this gratitude will be expressed by consistently performing the five prayers punctually and without any negligence.
Allah Almighty has mentioned prayer repeatedly and in various ways in the Holy Quran.
Command to Establish Prayer
In some places, Allah Almighty commands it, saying:
﴿وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ ﴿٤٣﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah 43)
"Establish prayer and give zakah, and bow with those who bow [in worship]."
Similarly, His command is:
﴿وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ ﴿٥﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Bayyina 5)
"They have only been commanded to worship Allah alone and to keep the religion pure for Him by turning away from polytheism and the like, to establish prayer, and to give zakat. And this is the religion of the straight community."
In these blessed verses, Allah Almighty has commanded to establish prayer. The intended meaning is that the five prayers should always be performed punctually, observing the conditions, pillars, and obligations of prayer, and not to miss even one prayer without a valid Islamic excuse.
Command to Protect All Prayers
And elsewhere, Allah Almighty commands the protection of all prayers:
﴿حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ ﴿٢٣٨﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:238)
"Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the middle prayer; and stand before Allah with obedience."
In this blessed verse, Allah Almighty has instructed to protect all prayers, meaning to keep performing them continuously, especially commanding the protection of the middle prayer, i.e., Asr prayer. Therefore, Muslims should always perform all prayers with strict adherence!
Command to Family Members to Pray
And elsewhere, Allah Almighty commands to always keep performing prayers and also to keep commanding the family members to do so:
﴿وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا ۖ لَا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ ۗ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ﴿١٣٢﴾
Reference: (Surah Taha 132)
"Enjoin prayer upon your family and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you. And the [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness."
Allah Almighty has not only commanded to always perform prayers but has also given glad tidings to those who act upon this command that in Paradise, honor will be given to such people. Allah's command is:
﴿إِلَّا الْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٢٢﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَائِمُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾ ۔۔۔۔ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ ﴿٣٤﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ مُّكْرَمُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Ma'arij 22-23, 34-35)
"But those who establish prayer, who are constant in their prayer... and who guard their prayers, these are the ones who will dwell in gardens of honor."
And elsewhere, Allah Almighty declares the believers who always perform prayers as heirs of Paradise Al-Firdous, saying:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ ﴿٤﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ ﴿٥﴾ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ ﴿٧﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ ﴿٨﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ ﴿٩﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ﴿١١﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Mu’minun 1 to 11)
"Successful indeed are the believers, who humble themselves in their prayers, and who avoid vain talk, and who pay the zakat, and who guard their private parts, except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed; but whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors. And who faithfully observe their trusts and covenants, and who carefully maintain their prayers. Those are the heirs who will inherit Paradise; they will abide therein forever."
And elsewhere, Allah the Exalted gives glad tidings to those who establish prayer:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٢٧٧﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah 277)
"However, those who believe and do good deeds, establish prayer, and give zakat, their reward is with their Lord. They will have no fear, nor will they grieve."
And elsewhere, Allah Almighty mentions the establishment of prayer in the context of the qualities of true believers as follows:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٤﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Anfal 2 to 4)
"True believers are those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned before them. And when His verses are recited to them, their faith increases, and they put their trust in their Lord. They establish prayer and spend out of what We have provided them. These are the true believers; for them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord, forgiveness, and a generous provision."
Elsewhere, He describes those who establish prayer among the qualities of the pious as guided and successful, saying:
الم ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٤﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٥﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah 1 to 5)
"Alif Lam Meem * This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for the righteous who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them. And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]. Those are upon
guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful."
And elsewhere, Allah Almighty, while mentioning the qualities of those who humble themselves, gives glad tidings to those who establish prayer:
﴿فَإِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَلَهُ أَسْلِمُوا ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُخْبِتِينَ ﴿٣٤﴾ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَهُمْ وَالْمُقِيمِي الصَّلَاةِ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾
’’Your God (the True One) is only One, so be obedient to Him alone. And give glad tidings to those who humble themselves, who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts tremble. And when any affliction befalls them, they endure it patiently, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided them.‘‘
From this noble verse, it is also understood that the requirement of humility and meekness is that a person always performs the five daily prayers with strict adherence according to Allah’s command. Otherwise, if he neglects the prayers or is lazy in them, he should consider that he is, in effect, considering himself greater than Allah’s command. And it is also arrogance if, instead of humbly submitting to Allah’s command, he acts according to his own desires and prays as he wishes. And if even the smallest amount of such arrogance exists in anyone’s heart, he will never enter Paradise.
Prayer is so important in the sight of Allah that He has called prayer "faith." Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٤٣﴾
"And Allah will not let your faith be lost. Indeed, Allah is to the people Kind and Merciful."
Regarding those who prayed facing Al-Quds (Jerusalem) before the change of Qibla, Allah the Exalted has stated that He will not let your faith, meaning those prayers you offered facing Al-Quds before the change of Qibla, be lost. In this, Allah has equated prayer with faith, which is evidence of its greatness and importance.
We have mentioned some verses of the Holy Quran regarding the importance of Salah, otherwise, there are many instructions from Allah Almighty about it. In fact, among the pillars of Islam, Salah is the pillar that is mentioned the most in the Holy Quran. Therefore, Muslims should give the utmost importance to this Islamic duty and should never abandon it under any circumstances.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also repeatedly emphasized the importance of Salah and declared establishing Salah, that is, performing it regularly, as a fundamental pillar and duty of Islam.
As narrated by Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
((بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عبده ؤرَسُولُه ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ بيت اللَّهِ ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ.))
"The foundation of Islam is based on five things: bearing witness that Allah Almighty is the only true God and Muhammad Kareem (peace be upon him) is Allah's servant and His Messenger, establishing prayer, paying zakat, performing Hajj to the House of Allah, and fasting in the blessed month of Ramadan."
Therefore, when the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him), he took a promise from them that they would always perform the five prayers regularly. Hazrat Jarir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates:
(( بَايَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى إِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالنُّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ ))
That is, I pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that I will always establish prayer, continue to give zakat, and remain well-wishing towards every Muslim.
And in view of the great importance and status of prayer, the Holy Prophet ﷺ made his last advice to his Ummah regarding prayer. As Hazrat Umm Salamah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, during the illness in which he passed away, repeatedly said:
(( الصَّلَاةَ ، وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ))
"Keep praying regularly and fulfill the rights of your slaves."
Hazrat Umm Salamah (RA) states that the Prophet ﷺ kept repeating these words until (due to the severity of the illness) it became difficult for him to speak. And Hazrat Ali (RA) narrates that:
(( كَانَ آخِرُ كَلَامِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ))
That is, the last words of the Holy Prophet ﷺ were: "Take care of the prayer and keep fulfilling the rights of the slaves."
Therefore, by following the last will of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, all Muslims should strictly observe the five daily prayers and should not be negligent in them in any way.
And when the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه towards Yemen, he gave him some instructions and said:
((إِنَّكَ تَأْتِي قَوْمًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ، فَادْعُهُمْ إِلَى شَهَادَةِ أَنَّ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ، فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ، فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّ اللهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ، فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ، فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّ اللهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُؤْخَذُ مِنْ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ فَتُرَدُّ فِي فُقَرَائِهِمْ، فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ، فَإِيَّاكَ وَكَرَائِمَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ، وَاتَّقِ دَعْوَةَ الْمَظْلُومِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ اللهِ حِجَابٌ ))
"You are going to a people of the People of the Book, so first invite them to testify that there is no true deity except Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. If they accept this from you, then inform them that Allah has made five prayers obligatory upon them during the day and night. Then, if they also accept this from you, warn them that Allah has made zakat obligatory upon them, which is to be taken from among the wealthy and distributed among the poor among them. And if they obey you in this as well, then beware of their precious wealth and also beware of the curse of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah."
And Hazrat Talha bin Ubaidullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man from the people of Najd, whose hair was disheveled and whose stammering could be heard but what he said was difficult to understand, came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). When he came close, he suddenly asked about Islam. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: __ARABIC_N__
((خمس صَلَواتٍ في اليوم واللَّيلة )) "You have to perform five prayers during the day and night." He said: Are there any other obligatory prayers besides these? The Prophet (ﷺ) said: (( لا ، إلا أن تَطَّوَّعَ )) "No, except that you may perform voluntary prayers." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said: (( وصيام شهر رمضان )) "And you must also fast during Ramadan." He said: Are there any other obligatory fasts besides these? The Prophet (ﷺ) said: (( لا ، إلا أن تَطَّوَّعَ )) "No, except that you may fast voluntarily." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) informed him about the obligation of Zakat. He said: Is there anything else obligatory (in wealth) besides this? The Prophet (ﷺ) said: (( لَا إِلَّا أَنْ تَطَوَّعَ)) "No, except that you may give voluntary charity." Afterwards, as the man was leaving, he said: (( والله لا أَزيد على هذا ولا أنْقُص منه )) "By Allah! I will neither add to it nor subtract from it." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said: (( أَفْلَح إن صَدَق )) "If he truly acts upon this, he will be successful."
From this hadith, it is proven that after accepting Islam, the most important duty of this true religion is the five daily prayers, but unfortunately, many people today who claim to be Muslims are neglectful of this aspect and the most important duty; neither do they care for it themselves nor do they make their children adhere to it. Whereas the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, has ordered that a child of ten years should be punished if he does not pray. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:
(( مُرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرٍ سِنِينَ ))
"When your children reach the age of seven, command them to pray, and when they reach the age of ten and do not pray, then discipline them for it."
Therefore, we ourselves should be committed to prayer and also instill this habit in our children from childhood so that when they grow up, they remain steadfast in this most important duty of Islam.
In a noble hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave glad tidings to the Muslim who consistently performs all the prayers that Allah Almighty has promised to admit him into Paradise. As narrated by Hazrat Ibadah bin As-Samit رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ كَتَبَهُنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ، فَمَنْ جَاءَ بِهِنَّ، لَمْ يُضَيِّعْ مِنْهُنَّ شَيْئًا اسْتِخْفَافًا بِحَقِّهِنَّ, كَانَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَأْتِ بِهِنَّ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ، إِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ، وَإِنْ شَاءَ أَدْخَلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ ))
"Five prayers have been made obligatory upon the servants of Allah, so whoever performs them in such a way that he does not neglect any of them by considering it insignificant, then Allah has promised him that He will surely admit him into Paradise. And whoever does not perform them, then Allah has made no promise to him; if He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will admit him into Paradise."
In another noble hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared prayer as the pillar of religion. And when the pillar is removed, no building can stand; similarly, if prayer is not performed, the religion will not remain!
Hazrat Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
((۔۔۔۔ رَأْسُ الْأَمْرِ الْإِسْلَامُ وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلَاةُ وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ ۔۔۔۔))
"The root of the matter is Islam, its pillar is prayer, and its peak is Jihad."
This is why on the Day of Judgment, the first thing to be accounted for will be this prayer; if a servant succeeds in its account, he will succeed in the rest of his deeds. And if he fails in its account, he will fail in the rest of his deeds as well.
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
((۔۔۔ أَوَّلُ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ : الصَّلَاةُ ، فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ صَلُحَ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ، وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ ۔))
"On the Day of Judgment, the first thing for which a servant will be held accountable is the prayer; if the prayer is found correct, then all other deeds will also be found correct. And if the prayer is corrupt, then all other deeds will also be corrupt."
In another narration it is said:
(( يُنظُرُ في صلاته ، فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ ، وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ ۔))
"His prayer will be examined; if it is correct, he will be successful. And if it is not correct, he will be disgraced, humiliated, and a loser."
➊ Prayer prevents indecency and evil deeds.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ ۖ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ ﴿٤٥﴾
"(O Prophet!) Recite the Book that has been revealed to you, and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer restrains from indecency and evil deeds. And the remembrance of Allah is the greatest thing. And whatever you do, Allah is Knowing of it."
➋ Prayer is the most virtuous deed after the declaration of faith (Shahadatayn).
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (RA) narrates that I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), ( أيُّ العَمَلِ أحَبُّ إلى اللَّهِ؟؟) "Which deed is most beloved to Allah?"
He (PBUH) replied: (( الصَّلاةُ علَى وقْتِها ،)) "Performing the prayer on time." I asked: "Then which one?" He (PBUH) said: (( ثُمَّ برُّ الوالِدَيْنِ )) "Being good to parents." I said: "Then which one?" He (PBUH) said:
(( الجِهادُ في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ ،)) "Jihad in the way of Allah."
➌ The minor prayers wash away sins, and if one refrains from major sins, then the five prayers serve as expiation for the minor sins in between. There are many hadiths regarding this.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((أَرَأَيْتُمْ لو أنَّ نَهْرًا ببَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ منه كُلَّ يَومٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ، هلْ يَبْقَى مِن دَرَنِهِ شيءٌ ؟ قالوا: لا يَبْقَى مِن دَرَنِهِ شيءٌ، قالَ: فَذلكَ مَثَلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الخَمْسِ، يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بهِنَّ الخَطَايَا))
"Tell me, if there is a canal flowing at the door of any one of you, and he bathes in it five times a day, will any dirt remain on his body?" People said: No, not at all. The Prophet ﷺ said: This is the example of the five prayers; Allah removes sins through them."
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((الصَّلَواتُ الخَمسُ ، والجُمُعةُ إلى الجُمُعةِ، ورَمَضانُ إلى رَمَضانَ ؛ مُكَفِّراتٌ ما بَينَهُنَّ إذا اجتُنِبَ الكَبائِرُ ۔))
"The five prayers, from one Friday to the next Friday, and from one Ramadan to the next Ramadan, expiate the sins committed in between, provided one avoids major sins."
Hazrat Uthman bin Affan (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((لَا يَتَوَضَّأُ رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ فَيُحْسِنُ الْوُضُوءَ فَيُصَلِّي صَلَاةً إِلَّا غَفَرَ اللهُ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الصَّلَاةِ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا ))
"When a Muslim man performs ablution properly and then offers a prayer, Allah Almighty forgives the sins that occur between him and the next prayer."
Hazrat Usman bin Affan (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((مَا مِنَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ تَحْضُرُهُ صَلَاةٌ مَكْتُوبَةٌ فَيُحْسِنُ وُضُوءَهَا وَخُشُوعَهَا وَرُكُوعَهَا، إِلَّا كَانَتْ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا قَبْلَهَا مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ مَا لَمْ يُؤْتِ كَبِيرَةً وَذَلِكَ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ ))
"When the time for an obligatory prayer begins and a Muslim man performs ablution properly for it, then prays with utmost humility and completes the bowing with full satisfaction, that prayer becomes an expiation for his previous sins, provided he does not commit a major sin. And this virtue remains until the Day of Judgment."
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((تحترِقونَ تحترِقونَ ، فإذا صلَّيتُم الصُّبحَ غَسَلَتْها ، ثمَّ تحترِقونَ تحترِقونَ ، فإذا صلَّيتُم الظُّهرَ غَسَلَتْها ، ثمَّ تحترِقونَ تحترِقونَ ، فإذا صلَّيتُم العصرَ غَسَلَتْها ، ثمَّ تحترِقونَ تحترِقونَ ، فإذا صلَّيتُم المَغربَ غَسَلَتْها ، ثمَّ تحترِقونَ تحترِقونَ ، فإذا صلَّيتُم العِشاءَ غَسَلَتْها ، ثمَّ تنامونَ فلا يُكْتَبُ عليكُم حتَّى تستَيقِظُوا))
"You are burning (in sins), you are burning (in sins), then when you perform the Fajr prayer, it washes them away (i.e., your sins). Then you burn (in sins), you burn (in sins), then when you perform the Dhuhr prayer, it washes them away. Then you burn (in sins), you burn (in sins), then when you perform the Asr prayer, it washes them away. Then you burn (in sins), you burn (in sins), then when you perform the Maghrib prayer, it washes them away. Then you burn (in sins), you burn (in sins), then when you perform the Isha prayer, it washes them away. Then when you sleep, no sin is recorded against you until you wake up."
Hazrat Salman Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
((إنّ المسلمَ يصلِّي وخَطاياهُ مرفوعةٌ على رأسِه، كلّما سجَدَ تحاتَّت عنه، فيفرُغُ من صلاتِه؛ وقد تحاتَّت خطاياهُ ))
"Indeed, when a Muslim begins to pray, his sins are raised above his head, then when he prostrates, with every prostration his sins fall off. And when he finishes the prayer, all his sins have fallen away."
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that I was sitting with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when a man came and said: O Messenger of Allah! I have committed a sin for which a punishment is prescribed, so please impose that punishment on me. The Prophet (PBUH) did not question him about what sin he had committed or how he had committed it. Later, when it was time for prayer, he also prayed with the Prophet (PBUH), then he came again to the Prophet (PBUH) and repeated the same statement. Then the Prophet (PBUH) said: (( أَلَيْسَ قَدْ صَلَّيْتَ مَعَنَا ؟ )) "Did you not pray with us?" He said: Yes, I did. Then the Prophet (PBUH) said:
((فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ غَفَرَ لَكَ ذَنْبَكَ ))
"Go, Allah has forgiven your sin."
➍ Prayer is a source of light for the worshiper in this world and the Hereafter.
As narrated by Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) that one day the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) mentioned prayer and said:
((مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ نُورًا وَبُرْهَانًا وَنَجَاةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ نُورٌ وَلَا بُرْهَانٌ وَلَا نَجَاةٌ، وَكَانَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَعَ قَارُونَ، وَفِرْعَوْنَ، وَهَامَانَ، وَأُبَيِّ بْنِ خَلَفٍ ))
"Whoever consistently prays, then prayer will be a light, a proof, and a means of salvation for him on the Day of Judgment. And whoever does not consistently pray, then it will neither be a light nor a proof for him, nor will it be a means of salvation. And he will be with Qarun, Pharaoh, Haman, and Abu Jahl (such unfortunate ones) on the Day of Judgment."
And Hazrat Buraydah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
(( بَشِّرِ الْمَشَّائِينَ فِي الظُّلَمِ إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ بِالنُّورِ التَّامِّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة ))
"Give glad tidings to those who walk to the mosques in darkness, for they will receive complete light on the Day of Judgment."
➎ With each step taken towards prayer, a sin is forgiven and ranks are elevated.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((مَنْ تَطَهَّرَ فِي بَيْتِهِ، ثُمَّ مَشَى إِلَى بَيْتٍ مَنْ بُيُوتِ اللهِ لِيَقْضِيَ فَرِيضَةً مِنْ فَرَائِضِ اللهِ، كَانَتْ خَطْوَتَاهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَحُطُّ خَطِيئَةً، وَالْأُخْرَى تَرْفَعُ دَرَجَةً ))
"Whoever performs ablution at home, then sets out for one of the houses of Allah with the sole intention of performing one of Allah's obligatory acts, then for each of his two steps, one step wipes away a sin and the other raises him a rank."
In another narration, it is stated:
((إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ لَمْ يَرْفَعْ قَدَمَهُ الْيُمْنَى، إِلَّا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ حَسَنَةً، وَلَمْ يَضَعْ قَدَمَهُ الْيُسْرَى، إِلَّا حَطَّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَةً ۔۔۔۔۔۔))
"When any one of you performs ablution well, then walks towards the mosque, when he lifts his right foot, Allah records a good deed for him, and when he places his left foot down, Allah erases a sin for him."
➏ Whenever a worshipper goes to the mosque, hospitality is prepared for him in Paradise.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ، أَوْ رَاحَ، أَعَدَّ اللهُ لَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ نُزُلًا، كُلَّمَا غَدَا، أَوْ رَاحَ ))
"Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning or in the evening, Allah prepares hospitality for him in Paradise, whether he goes in the morning or in the evening."
➐ Angels also pray for the one who prays.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((صَلَاةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ تَزِيدُ عَلَى صَلَاتِهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ، وَصَلَاتِهِ فِي سُوقِهِ، بِضْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ، ثُمَّ أَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ لَا يَنْهَزُهُ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةُ، لَا يُرِيدُ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةَ، فَلَمْ يَخْطُ خَطْوَةً إِلَّا رُفِعَ لَهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةٌ، وَحُطَّ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةٌ، حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ الْمَسْجِدَ، فَإِذَا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ كَانَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ مَا كَانَتِ الصَّلَاةُ هِيَ تَحْبِسُهُ، وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مَا دَامَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ الَّذِي صَلَّى فِيهِ، يَقُولُونَ: اللهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ، اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْلَهُ، اللهُمَّ تُبْ عَلَيْهِ، مَا لَمْ يُؤْذِ فِيهِ، مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ فِيهِ ))
"The reward for a man praying in congregation increases more than twenty times compared to the prayer he performs alone at home or in the market. It is like this: when a person performs ablution properly, then comes to the mosque solely with the intention of praying, having no other purpose besides prayer, then with every step he takes, his rank is elevated and a sin is erased. This continues until he enters the mosque. When he reaches the mosque, as long as he sits waiting for the prayer, it is as if he is praying. And as long as he remains seated at his place of prayer, the angels keep praying for him, saying: O Allah! Have mercy on him, O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! Accept his repentance. They continue to pray in this manner until he harms someone or his ablution breaks."
➑ The one who prays receives the reward of a pilgrim who has donned the Ihram.
Hazrat Abu Umamah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
((مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ مُتَطَهِّرًا إِلَى صَلَاةٍ مَكْتُوبَةٍ، فَأَجْرُهُ كَأَجْرِ الْحَاجِّ الْمُحْرِمِ ۔۔۔۔۔))
"Whoever leaves his house in a state of ablution to perform the obligatory prayer, his reward is like that of a pilgrim who has donned the Ihram."
➒ Prayer extinguishes the fire of sins.
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that the Prophet (SAW) said:
((إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَلَكًا يُنَادِي عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلاةٍ : يَا بَنِي آدَمَ ، قُومُوا إِلَى نِيرَانِكُمُ الَّتِي أَوْ قَدْتُمُوهَا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكِمْ فَأَطْفِئُوهَا ۔۔۔۔۔))
"Indeed, Allah has appointed an angel who calls out at every prayer time: O children of Adam! Stand up and extinguish the fire that you have kindled (through your sins)."
➓ The person who consistently performs the five prayers is among the truthful (Siddiqeen) and the martyrs (Shuhada).
Hazrat Amr bin Murta al-Juhani رضي الله عنه narrates that a person came to the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and said: O Messenger of Allah! What is your opinion if I testify that there is no deity except Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah, and besides this, I continue to perform the five prayers, pay zakat, and fast during Ramadan and also stand in prayer during it, then among which people will I be?
The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: (( مِنَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ)) "You will be among the truthful and the martyrs."
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
((حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا النِّسَاءُ , وَالطِّيبُ، وَجُعِلَ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاةِ ۔))
"Two things of this world are dear to me: women and perfume. And the coolness of my eyes is placed in prayer."
And the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), while ordering Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) to call for the prayer, said:
((يَا بِلَالُ ، أَقِمْ الصَّلَاةَ أَرِحْنَا بِهَا ))
"O Bilal! Call for the prayer and bring us comfort through it."
Now let us listen to Allah's instructions regarding those who waste prayers, are lazy in performing them, delay them unnecessarily, or completely abandon them.
Allah Almighty warns those who waste prayers with the threat of Hellfire as follows:
﴿فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا ﴿٥٩﴾
"Then after them, their worthless offspring succeeded them, who neglected prayer and followed their desires; soon they will face destruction (or they will find a place in the valley of Hellfire)."
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says about ( غیّ ):
((وَھُوَ نَھْرٌ فِيْ جَھَنَّمَ،خَبِیْثُ الطَّعْمِ،بَعِیْدُ الْقَعْرِ))
"There is a river in Hell whose taste is extremely foul and its depth is very great."
Regarding those who pray without observing the prescribed times of the prayers and perform them according to their own wishes, Allah Almighty says:
﴿ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ ﴿٥﴾
"Then woe to those who pray, but are heedless of their prayer."
In these verses, Allah Almighty has warned those worshippers of destruction and ruin (or a valley of Hell) who do pray but do not care about the prescribed time, sometimes performing it on time and sometimes not. Therefore, these blessed verses should serve as a lesson for those whose habit is always to delay prayers, especially Fajr, Dhuhr, and Asr prayers, which they always perform at the last moment or sometimes after the time has passed!!
Regarding the fate of those who do not pray on the Day of Judgment, Allah Almighty says:
﴿فِي جَنَّاتٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ ﴿٤٠﴾ عَنِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٤١﴾ مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ ﴿٤٢﴾ قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤٣﴾
"They will ask the criminals in the gardens, 'What caused you to enter Hell?' They will say, 'We were not of those who prayed.'"
In these blessed verses, Allah Almighty informs that when the people of Paradise will ask the people of Hell what deed led them to Hell, they will mention their first and foremost sin: that they did not pray. This proves that not praying is an act that leads to Hell, may Allah protect us.
Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has mentioned those who are negligent in performing prayers among some characteristics of hypocrites. Allah's command is:
﴿الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿١٤٢﴾
’’These hypocrites deceive Allah, but He is the one who deceives them in return. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, only to be seen by people, and they hardly remember Allah.‘‘
The blessed verses we have just mentioned give a severe warning to those who neglect prayer or are lazy in performing it. The reason is that deliberately abandoning prayer is disbelief and a great sin. As the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
بَيْنَ الْعَبْدِ وَبَيْنَ الْكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
The difference between a person and disbelief is abandoning prayer. In the narration of Sunan Tirmidhi, the words are as follows:
بَيْنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالْإِيمَانِ تَرْكُ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
’’The difference between disbelief and faith is abandoning prayer.‘‘
Hazrat Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
الْعَهْدُ الَّذِي بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمُ الصَّلَاةُ، فَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ”.
"There is a covenant of prayer between us and them (the disbelievers), so whoever abandons it has certainly committed disbelief."
Imam Abu Abdullah Al-Marwazi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
"Allah Almighty has issued a severe warning against abandoning prayer and has emphasized through the words of His Prophet, peace be upon him, that the one who abandons prayer goes out of faith. Moreover, among the deeds of servants, no act other than prayer has been mentioned as a sign distinguishing disbelief from faith. That is, prayer alone has been made the sign to differentiate between the two."
And Hazrat Abdullah bin Shaqiq Al-Aqili, may Allah be pleased with him, states:
كَانَ أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَرَوْنَ شَيْئًا مِنْ الْأَعْمَالِ تَرْكُهُ كُفْرٌ غَيْرَ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
"The companions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not consider the abandonment of any deed as disbelief except for prayer."
Imam Mundhiri, may Allah have mercy on him, says that the stance of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, and a group of the righteous predecessors who came after them is that a person who deliberately abandons a prayer until its time passes is a disbeliever. Among them are Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas, Hazrat Mu'adh ibn Jabal, Hazrat Jabir ibn Abdullah, Hazrat Abu Darda, may Allah be pleased with them, and among the noble Imams, may Allah have mercy on them, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, Abdullah ibn Mubarak, Nakha'i, Hukm ibn Utaybah, Ayub Sukhiyani, Abu Dawood Tiyalisi, Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, and Zuhair ibn Harb, among others, are especially notable.
From all these evidences, it is proven that deliberately abandoning prayer is disbelief, and the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, also considered it disbelief. That is why Allah Almighty has warned of a very severe punishment for the one who abandons it, as we have already mentioned.
And Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a person came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me of an action that if I perform it, I will enter Paradise? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
لا تشرك بالله شيئا وإن عذبت وحرقت أطع والديك وإن أخرجاك من مالك ومن كل شيء هو لك لا تترك الصلاة متعمدا فإن من ترك الصلاة متعمدا فقد برئت منه ذمة الله ۔
"Never associate partners with Allah, even if you are punished and burned. And continue to obey your parents, even if they expel you from your wealth and everything you have. And never deliberately abandon prayer, because whoever deliberately abandons prayer, Allah disassociates Himself from him."
This emphatic command was given by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself to Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه and also to Hazrat Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها. The punishment that the Prophet ﷺ saw in a dream for a person who neglects the obligatory prayer, listen to it in the words of the Prophet ﷺ himself. __ARABIC_N__
Hazrat Samurah bin Jundub (RA) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) finished the prayer, he would turn towards us and ask, "Who among you has seen a dream tonight?" If anyone had seen a dream, he would narrate it, and the Prophet (ﷺ) would interpret it. Then one day, the Prophet (ﷺ) asked the same question as usual, and we replied, "No, we have not seen any dream." He (ﷺ) said, "But I saw a dream tonight, and it is this: Two men came to me, they lifted me up and said, 'Come.' So I went with them. We came to a man who was lying flat on his back on a cushion, and a man was standing near him holding a stone, crushing his head with it. Whenever he struck the stone on his head, the stone would roll away. And by the time he picked it up and came back, his head would have rejoined and returned to its original state. Then he would do the same to him again. I asked those two men, 'SubhanAllah! Who are these two men?' They said, 'Come forward.' So we went forward..." They said:
أَمَّا الرَّجُلُ الْأَوَّلُ الَّذِي أَتَيْتَ عَلَيْهِ يُثْلَغُ رَأْسُهُ بِالْحَجَرِ فَإِنَّهُ الرَّجُلُ يَأْخُذُ الْقُرْآنَ فَيَرْفُضُهُ وَيَنَامُ عَنْ الصَّلَاةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ ۔
Meaning: "The first person whose head was being crushed was the one who used to recite the Quran but did not act upon it and used to sleep through the obligatory prayers."
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
"There is no disagreement among Muslims that deliberately abandoning the obligatory prayer is among the major sins, and its sin is greater in the sight of Allah than killing, robbery, adultery, and drinking alcohol. The one who abandons prayer is under Allah's displeasure, punishment, and disgrace in this world and the Hereafter. Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, used to record all his deeds and said: 'In my view, your most important deed is prayer, because whoever maintains it preserves his religion. And whoever neglects it is more likely to neglect the other obligations of Islam. And the person who abandons prayer has no share in Islam.'"
We pray to Allah Almighty to grant us all the ability to adhere to the most important duty of Islam and to always perform it with commitment. Ameen
Dear respected ones! In the first sermon, you listened to some remarks about the gift of Mi'raj, that is, the obligation, importance, and virtues of the five prayers, in the light of the Quran and Hadith. Similarly, you also heard how great a sin it is to deliberately abandon prayer and what the Shariah ruling is regarding one who abandons prayer. And when we assess the condition of ordinary Muslims, we find that many Muslims are either completely neglectful of this religious duty... and such people are certainly on a very dangerous path and they should immediately repent and seek to please Allah... or they are not completely neglectful, but they perform it according to their own wishes, sometimes praying all the prayers, sometimes praying some and leaving others, sometimes praying on time and sometimes not, sometimes going to the mosque to pray in congregation and sometimes praying at home without any Shariah excuse. Such people should also immediately change this behavior and it is obligatory upon them to perform all the prayers in congregation at their prescribed times.
It is also observed that many Muslims perform the other prayers on time, but their Fajr prayer is wasted in bed, and similarly the Asr prayer as well. While the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ specifically gave the glad tidings of Paradise to the person who always performs these two prayers on time.
Hazrat Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَنْ صَلَّى البَرْدَيْنِ دَخَلَ الجَنَّةَ ۔
"Whoever prays the two cool prayers (Fajr and Asr) will enter Paradise."
He also said:
لَنْ يَلِجَ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ صَلَّى قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ ، وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا – يَعْنِي الْفَجْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ ۔
"The person who prays before sunrise and before sunset will never enter Hell," meaning the one who consistently performs the Fajr and Asr prayers on time.
And regarding the person who sleeps at the time of Fajr prayer, we have already mentioned a dream of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the previous sermon, in which he saw that person's head being crushed, may Allah protect us.
As for the one who abandons the Asr prayer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
الَّذِي تَفُوتُهُ صَلاَةُ العَصْرِ، كَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ ۔
"Whoever misses the Asr prayer, it is as if his family and wealth have been taken away from him."
In another narration, it is said:
مَنْ تَرَكَ صَلاَةَ العَصْرِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ ۔
"Whoever abandons the Asr prayer, all his deeds become void."
And some people are negligent about the Isha and Fajr prayers, while the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said about the hypocrites that these two prayers are extremely heavy upon them.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
إِنَّ أَثْقَلَ صَلَاةٍ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلَاةُ الْعِشَاءِ وَصَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا ۔۔۔۔
"Indeed, the heaviest prayers for the hypocrites are the Isha and Fajr prayers. And if they knew the reward in them, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl on their knees..."
Therefore, it is not befitting for a believer to consider these prayers burdensome and be lazy in them, rather they should regard them as a means to attain nearness to Allah and a cause of salvation for themselves, and persist in them. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾ الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ ﴿٤٦﴾
"Seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, prayer is heavy except for the humble, who know that they will meet their Lord and that to Him they will return."
We pray to Allah, the Lord of Glory, that He includes us among those humble servants who, believing in the meeting with Allah, give full attention to performing the most important duty of Islam after Tawheed (prayer) and continue to perform it always. Ameen
And elsewhere, Allah Almighty, while mentioning the qualities of those who humble themselves, gives glad tidings to those who establish prayer:
﴿فَإِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَلَهُ أَسْلِمُوا ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُخْبِتِينَ ﴿٣٤﴾ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَهُمْ وَالْمُقِيمِي الصَّلَاةِ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Hajj 34 to 35)
’’Your God (the True One) is only One, so be obedient to Him alone. And give glad tidings to those who humble themselves, who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts tremble. And when any affliction befalls them, they endure it patiently, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided them.‘‘
From this noble verse, it is also understood that the requirement of humility and meekness is that a person always performs the five daily prayers with strict adherence according to Allah’s command. Otherwise, if he neglects the prayers or is lazy in them, he should consider that he is, in effect, considering himself greater than Allah’s command. And it is also arrogance if, instead of humbly submitting to Allah’s command, he acts according to his own desires and prays as he wishes. And if even the smallest amount of such arrogance exists in anyone’s heart, he will never enter Paradise.
Prayer is so important in the sight of Allah that He has called prayer "faith." Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٤٣﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah 143)
"And Allah will not let your faith be lost. Indeed, Allah is to the people Kind and Merciful."
Regarding those who prayed facing Al-Quds (Jerusalem) before the change of Qibla, Allah the Exalted has stated that He will not let your faith, meaning those prayers you offered facing Al-Quds before the change of Qibla, be lost. In this, Allah has equated prayer with faith, which is evidence of its greatness and importance.
We have mentioned some verses of the Holy Quran regarding the importance of Salah, otherwise, there are many instructions from Allah Almighty about it. In fact, among the pillars of Islam, Salah is the pillar that is mentioned the most in the Holy Quran. Therefore, Muslims should give the utmost importance to this Islamic duty and should never abandon it under any circumstances.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also repeatedly emphasized the importance of Salah and declared establishing Salah, that is, performing it regularly, as a fundamental pillar and duty of Islam.
Salah: The Fundamental Pillar of Islam
As narrated by Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
((بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عبده ؤرَسُولُه ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ بيت اللَّهِ ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ.))
Reference: (Muttafaqun Alayh)
"The foundation of Islam is based on five things: bearing witness that Allah Almighty is the only true God and Muhammad Kareem (peace be upon him) is Allah's servant and His Messenger, establishing prayer, paying zakat, performing Hajj to the House of Allah, and fasting in the blessed month of Ramadan."
Therefore, when the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him), he took a promise from them that they would always perform the five prayers regularly. Hazrat Jarir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates:
(( بَايَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى إِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالنُّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ ))
Reference: (Sahih Muslim 56 Sahih Bukhari 524)
That is, I pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that I will always establish prayer, continue to give zakat, and remain well-wishing towards every Muslim.
And in view of the great importance and status of prayer, the Holy Prophet ﷺ made his last advice to his Ummah regarding prayer. As Hazrat Umm Salamah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, during the illness in which he passed away, repeatedly said:
(( الصَّلَاةَ ، وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ))
Reference: (Sunan Ibn Majah:1625 Sahih (Al-Albani))
"Keep praying regularly and fulfill the rights of your slaves."
Hazrat Umm Salamah (RA) states that the Prophet ﷺ kept repeating these words until (due to the severity of the illness) it became difficult for him to speak. And Hazrat Ali (RA) narrates that:
(( كَانَ آخِرُ كَلَامِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ))
Reference: (Sunan Ibn Majah: 2698 Sahih (Al-Albani))
That is, the last words of the Holy Prophet ﷺ were: "Take care of the prayer and keep fulfilling the rights of the slaves."
Therefore, by following the last will of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, all Muslims should strictly observe the five daily prayers and should not be negligent in them in any way.
And when the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه towards Yemen, he gave him some instructions and said:
((إِنَّكَ تَأْتِي قَوْمًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ، فَادْعُهُمْ إِلَى شَهَادَةِ أَنَّ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ، فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ، فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّ اللهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ، فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ، فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّ اللهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُؤْخَذُ مِنْ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ فَتُرَدُّ فِي فُقَرَائِهِمْ، فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ، فَإِيَّاكَ وَكَرَائِمَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ، وَاتَّقِ دَعْوَةَ الْمَظْلُومِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ اللهِ حِجَابٌ ))
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:19)
"You are going to a people of the People of the Book, so first invite them to testify that there is no true deity except Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. If they accept this from you, then inform them that Allah has made five prayers obligatory upon them during the day and night. Then, if they also accept this from you, warn them that Allah has made zakat obligatory upon them, which is to be taken from among the wealthy and distributed among the poor among them. And if they obey you in this as well, then beware of their precious wealth and also beware of the curse of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah."
And Hazrat Talha bin Ubaidullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man from the people of Najd, whose hair was disheveled and whose stammering could be heard but what he said was difficult to understand, came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). When he came close, he suddenly asked about Islam. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: __ARABIC_N__
((خمس صَلَواتٍ في اليوم واللَّيلة )) "You have to perform five prayers during the day and night." He said: Are there any other obligatory prayers besides these? The Prophet (ﷺ) said: (( لا ، إلا أن تَطَّوَّعَ )) "No, except that you may perform voluntary prayers." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said: (( وصيام شهر رمضان )) "And you must also fast during Ramadan." He said: Are there any other obligatory fasts besides these? The Prophet (ﷺ) said: (( لا ، إلا أن تَطَّوَّعَ )) "No, except that you may fast voluntarily." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) informed him about the obligation of Zakat. He said: Is there anything else obligatory (in wealth) besides this? The Prophet (ﷺ) said: (( لَا إِلَّا أَنْ تَطَوَّعَ)) "No, except that you may give voluntary charity." Afterwards, as the man was leaving, he said: (( والله لا أَزيد على هذا ولا أنْقُص منه )) "By Allah! I will neither add to it nor subtract from it." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said: (( أَفْلَح إن صَدَق )) "If he truly acts upon this, he will be successful."
Reference: (Muttafaqun Alayh)
From this hadith, it is proven that after accepting Islam, the most important duty of this true religion is the five daily prayers, but unfortunately, many people today who claim to be Muslims are neglectful of this aspect and the most important duty; neither do they care for it themselves nor do they make their children adhere to it. Whereas the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, has ordered that a child of ten years should be punished if he does not pray. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:
(( مُرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرٍ سِنِينَ ))
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood 495)
"When your children reach the age of seven, command them to pray, and when they reach the age of ten and do not pray, then discipline them for it."
Therefore, we ourselves should be committed to prayer and also instill this habit in our children from childhood so that when they grow up, they remain steadfast in this most important duty of Islam.
In a noble hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave glad tidings to the Muslim who consistently performs all the prayers that Allah Almighty has promised to admit him into Paradise. As narrated by Hazrat Ibadah bin As-Samit رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ كَتَبَهُنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ، فَمَنْ جَاءَ بِهِنَّ، لَمْ يُضَيِّعْ مِنْهُنَّ شَيْئًا اسْتِخْفَافًا بِحَقِّهِنَّ, كَانَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَأْتِ بِهِنَّ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ، إِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ، وَإِنْ شَاءَ أَدْخَلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ ))
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 1420 Authentic (Al-Albani))
"Five prayers have been made obligatory upon the servants of Allah, so whoever performs them in such a way that he does not neglect any of them by considering it insignificant, then Allah has promised him that He will surely admit him into Paradise. And whoever does not perform them, then Allah has made no promise to him; if He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will admit him into Paradise."
In another noble hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared prayer as the pillar of religion. And when the pillar is removed, no building can stand; similarly, if prayer is not performed, the religion will not remain!
Hazrat Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
((۔۔۔۔ رَأْسُ الْأَمْرِ الْإِسْلَامُ وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلَاةُ وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ ۔۔۔۔))
Reference: (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2616, Sahih (Al-Albani))
"The root of the matter is Islam, its pillar is prayer, and its peak is Jihad."
This is why on the Day of Judgment, the first thing to be accounted for will be this prayer; if a servant succeeds in its account, he will succeed in the rest of his deeds. And if he fails in its account, he will fail in the rest of his deeds as well.
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
((۔۔۔ أَوَّلُ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ : الصَّلَاةُ ، فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ صَلُحَ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ، وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ ۔))
"On the Day of Judgment, the first thing for which a servant will be held accountable is the prayer; if the prayer is found correct, then all other deeds will also be found correct. And if the prayer is corrupt, then all other deeds will also be corrupt."
In another narration it is said:
(( يُنظُرُ في صلاته ، فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ ، وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ ۔))
Reference: (السلسلة الصحيحة:1358)
"His prayer will be examined; if it is correct, he will be successful. And if it is not correct, he will be disgraced, humiliated, and a loser."
➊ Prayer prevents indecency and evil deeds.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ ۖ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ ﴿٤٥﴾
Reference: (سورة العنكبوت ٤٥)
"(O Prophet!) Recite the Book that has been revealed to you, and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer restrains from indecency and evil deeds. And the remembrance of Allah is the greatest thing. And whatever you do, Allah is Knowing of it."
➋ Prayer is the most virtuous deed after the declaration of faith (Shahadatayn).
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (RA) narrates that I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), ( أيُّ العَمَلِ أحَبُّ إلى اللَّهِ؟؟) "Which deed is most beloved to Allah?"
He (PBUH) replied: (( الصَّلاةُ علَى وقْتِها ،)) "Performing the prayer on time." I asked: "Then which one?" He (PBUH) said: (( ثُمَّ برُّ الوالِدَيْنِ )) "Being good to parents." I said: "Then which one?" He (PBUH) said:
(( الجِهادُ في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ ،)) "Jihad in the way of Allah."
➌ The minor prayers wash away sins, and if one refrains from major sins, then the five prayers serve as expiation for the minor sins in between. There are many hadiths regarding this.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((أَرَأَيْتُمْ لو أنَّ نَهْرًا ببَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ منه كُلَّ يَومٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ، هلْ يَبْقَى مِن دَرَنِهِ شيءٌ ؟ قالوا: لا يَبْقَى مِن دَرَنِهِ شيءٌ، قالَ: فَذلكَ مَثَلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الخَمْسِ، يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بهِنَّ الخَطَايَا))
Reference: (Muslim 667)
"Tell me, if there is a canal flowing at the door of any one of you, and he bathes in it five times a day, will any dirt remain on his body?" People said: No, not at all. The Prophet ﷺ said: This is the example of the five prayers; Allah removes sins through them."
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((الصَّلَواتُ الخَمسُ ، والجُمُعةُ إلى الجُمُعةِ، ورَمَضانُ إلى رَمَضانَ ؛ مُكَفِّراتٌ ما بَينَهُنَّ إذا اجتُنِبَ الكَبائِرُ ۔))
Reference: (Muslim 233)
"The five prayers, from one Friday to the next Friday, and from one Ramadan to the next Ramadan, expiate the sins committed in between, provided one avoids major sins."
Hazrat Uthman bin Affan (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((لَا يَتَوَضَّأُ رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ فَيُحْسِنُ الْوُضُوءَ فَيُصَلِّي صَلَاةً إِلَّا غَفَرَ اللهُ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الصَّلَاةِ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا ))
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 227)
"When a Muslim man performs ablution properly and then offers a prayer, Allah Almighty forgives the sins that occur between him and the next prayer."
Hazrat Usman bin Affan (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((مَا مِنَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ تَحْضُرُهُ صَلَاةٌ مَكْتُوبَةٌ فَيُحْسِنُ وُضُوءَهَا وَخُشُوعَهَا وَرُكُوعَهَا، إِلَّا كَانَتْ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا قَبْلَهَا مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ مَا لَمْ يُؤْتِ كَبِيرَةً وَذَلِكَ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ ))
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:228)
"When the time for an obligatory prayer begins and a Muslim man performs ablution properly for it, then prays with utmost humility and completes the bowing with full satisfaction, that prayer becomes an expiation for his previous sins, provided he does not commit a major sin. And this virtue remains until the Day of Judgment."
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((تحترِقونَ تحترِقونَ ، فإذا صلَّيتُم الصُّبحَ غَسَلَتْها ، ثمَّ تحترِقونَ تحترِقونَ ، فإذا صلَّيتُم الظُّهرَ غَسَلَتْها ، ثمَّ تحترِقونَ تحترِقونَ ، فإذا صلَّيتُم العصرَ غَسَلَتْها ، ثمَّ تحترِقونَ تحترِقونَ ، فإذا صلَّيتُم المَغربَ غَسَلَتْها ، ثمَّ تحترِقونَ تحترِقونَ ، فإذا صلَّيتُم العِشاءَ غَسَلَتْها ، ثمَّ تنامونَ فلا يُكْتَبُ عليكُم حتَّى تستَيقِظُوا))
Reference: (Sahih al-Targhib 357)
"You are burning (in sins), you are burning (in sins), then when you perform the Fajr prayer, it washes them away (i.e., your sins). Then you burn (in sins), you burn (in sins), then when you perform the Dhuhr prayer, it washes them away. Then you burn (in sins), you burn (in sins), then when you perform the Asr prayer, it washes them away. Then you burn (in sins), you burn (in sins), then when you perform the Maghrib prayer, it washes them away. Then you burn (in sins), you burn (in sins), then when you perform the Isha prayer, it washes them away. Then when you sleep, no sin is recorded against you until you wake up."
Hazrat Salman Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
((إنّ المسلمَ يصلِّي وخَطاياهُ مرفوعةٌ على رأسِه، كلّما سجَدَ تحاتَّت عنه، فيفرُغُ من صلاتِه؛ وقد تحاتَّت خطاياهُ ))
Reference: ( Sahih At-Targhib 362 )
"Indeed, when a Muslim begins to pray, his sins are raised above his head, then when he prostrates, with every prostration his sins fall off. And when he finishes the prayer, all his sins have fallen away."
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that I was sitting with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when a man came and said: O Messenger of Allah! I have committed a sin for which a punishment is prescribed, so please impose that punishment on me. The Prophet (PBUH) did not question him about what sin he had committed or how he had committed it. Later, when it was time for prayer, he also prayed with the Prophet (PBUH), then he came again to the Prophet (PBUH) and repeated the same statement. Then the Prophet (PBUH) said: (( أَلَيْسَ قَدْ صَلَّيْتَ مَعَنَا ؟ )) "Did you not pray with us?" He said: Yes, I did. Then the Prophet (PBUH) said:
((فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ غَفَرَ لَكَ ذَنْبَكَ ))
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari 6823)
"Go, Allah has forgiven your sin."
➍ Prayer is a source of light for the worshiper in this world and the Hereafter.
As narrated by Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) that one day the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) mentioned prayer and said:
((مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ نُورًا وَبُرْهَانًا وَنَجَاةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ نُورٌ وَلَا بُرْهَانٌ وَلَا نَجَاةٌ، وَكَانَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَعَ قَارُونَ، وَفِرْعَوْنَ، وَهَامَانَ، وَأُبَيِّ بْنِ خَلَفٍ ))
Reference: ( Narrated by Ahmad, Al-Darimi, and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Iman )
"Whoever consistently prays, then prayer will be a light, a proof, and a means of salvation for him on the Day of Judgment. And whoever does not consistently pray, then it will neither be a light nor a proof for him, nor will it be a means of salvation. And he will be with Qarun, Pharaoh, Haman, and Abu Jahl (such unfortunate ones) on the Day of Judgment."
And Hazrat Buraydah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
(( بَشِّرِ الْمَشَّائِينَ فِي الظُّلَمِ إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ بِالنُّورِ التَّامِّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة ))
Reference: ( Sunan Abi Dawood 561 )
"Give glad tidings to those who walk to the mosques in darkness, for they will receive complete light on the Day of Judgment."
➎ With each step taken towards prayer, a sin is forgiven and ranks are elevated.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((مَنْ تَطَهَّرَ فِي بَيْتِهِ، ثُمَّ مَشَى إِلَى بَيْتٍ مَنْ بُيُوتِ اللهِ لِيَقْضِيَ فَرِيضَةً مِنْ فَرَائِضِ اللهِ، كَانَتْ خَطْوَتَاهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَحُطُّ خَطِيئَةً، وَالْأُخْرَى تَرْفَعُ دَرَجَةً ))
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 666)
"Whoever performs ablution at home, then sets out for one of the houses of Allah with the sole intention of performing one of Allah's obligatory acts, then for each of his two steps, one step wipes away a sin and the other raises him a rank."
In another narration, it is stated:
((إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ لَمْ يَرْفَعْ قَدَمَهُ الْيُمْنَى، إِلَّا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ حَسَنَةً، وَلَمْ يَضَعْ قَدَمَهُ الْيُسْرَى، إِلَّا حَطَّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَةً ۔۔۔۔۔۔))
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 563)
"When any one of you performs ablution well, then walks towards the mosque, when he lifts his right foot, Allah records a good deed for him, and when he places his left foot down, Allah erases a sin for him."
➏ Whenever a worshipper goes to the mosque, hospitality is prepared for him in Paradise.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ، أَوْ رَاحَ، أَعَدَّ اللهُ لَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ نُزُلًا، كُلَّمَا غَدَا، أَوْ رَاحَ ))
Reference: ( Sahih Muslim:669 )
"Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning or in the evening, Allah prepares hospitality for him in Paradise, whether he goes in the morning or in the evening."
➐ Angels also pray for the one who prays.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
((صَلَاةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ تَزِيدُ عَلَى صَلَاتِهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ، وَصَلَاتِهِ فِي سُوقِهِ، بِضْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ، ثُمَّ أَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ لَا يَنْهَزُهُ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةُ، لَا يُرِيدُ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةَ، فَلَمْ يَخْطُ خَطْوَةً إِلَّا رُفِعَ لَهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةٌ، وَحُطَّ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةٌ، حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ الْمَسْجِدَ، فَإِذَا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ كَانَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ مَا كَانَتِ الصَّلَاةُ هِيَ تَحْبِسُهُ، وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مَا دَامَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ الَّذِي صَلَّى فِيهِ، يَقُولُونَ: اللهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ، اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْلَهُ، اللهُمَّ تُبْ عَلَيْهِ، مَا لَمْ يُؤْذِ فِيهِ، مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ فِيهِ ))
Reference: ( Sahih Muslim: 649 )
"The reward for a man praying in congregation increases more than twenty times compared to the prayer he performs alone at home or in the market. It is like this: when a person performs ablution properly, then comes to the mosque solely with the intention of praying, having no other purpose besides prayer, then with every step he takes, his rank is elevated and a sin is erased. This continues until he enters the mosque. When he reaches the mosque, as long as he sits waiting for the prayer, it is as if he is praying. And as long as he remains seated at his place of prayer, the angels keep praying for him, saying: O Allah! Have mercy on him, O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! Accept his repentance. They continue to pray in this manner until he harms someone or his ablution breaks."
➑ The one who prays receives the reward of a pilgrim who has donned the Ihram.
Hazrat Abu Umamah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
((مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ مُتَطَهِّرًا إِلَى صَلَاةٍ مَكْتُوبَةٍ، فَأَجْرُهُ كَأَجْرِ الْحَاجِّ الْمُحْرِمِ ۔۔۔۔۔))
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood 558)
"Whoever leaves his house in a state of ablution to perform the obligatory prayer, his reward is like that of a pilgrim who has donned the Ihram."
➒ Prayer extinguishes the fire of sins.
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that the Prophet (SAW) said:
((إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَلَكًا يُنَادِي عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلاةٍ : يَا بَنِي آدَمَ ، قُومُوا إِلَى نِيرَانِكُمُ الَّتِي أَوْ قَدْتُمُوهَا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكِمْ فَأَطْفِئُوهَا ۔۔۔۔۔))
Reference: (Mu'jam al-Saghir al-Tabarani: 326)
"Indeed, Allah has appointed an angel who calls out at every prayer time: O children of Adam! Stand up and extinguish the fire that you have kindled (through your sins)."
➓ The person who consistently performs the five prayers is among the truthful (Siddiqeen) and the martyrs (Shuhada).
Hazrat Amr bin Murta al-Juhani رضي الله عنه narrates that a person came to the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and said: O Messenger of Allah! What is your opinion if I testify that there is no deity except Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah, and besides this, I continue to perform the five prayers, pay zakat, and fast during Ramadan and also stand in prayer during it, then among which people will I be?
The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: (( مِنَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ)) "You will be among the truthful and the martyrs."
Prayer is the coolness of the eyes and the peace of the heart
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
((حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا النِّسَاءُ , وَالطِّيبُ، وَجُعِلَ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاةِ ۔))
Reference: (Sunan an-Nasa'i 3391)
"Two things of this world are dear to me: women and perfume. And the coolness of my eyes is placed in prayer."
And the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), while ordering Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) to call for the prayer, said:
((يَا بِلَالُ ، أَقِمْ الصَّلَاةَ أَرِحْنَا بِهَا ))
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 4985)
"O Bilal! Call for the prayer and bring us comfort through it."
Now let us listen to Allah's instructions regarding those who waste prayers, are lazy in performing them, delay them unnecessarily, or completely abandon them.
Allah Almighty warns those who waste prayers with the threat of Hellfire as follows:
﴿فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا ﴿٥٩﴾
Reference: (Surah Maryam 59)
"Then after them, their worthless offspring succeeded them, who neglected prayer and followed their desires; soon they will face destruction (or they will find a place in the valley of Hellfire)."
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says about ( غیّ ):
((وَھُوَ نَھْرٌ فِيْ جَھَنَّمَ،خَبِیْثُ الطَّعْمِ،بَعِیْدُ الْقَعْرِ))
Reference: (Kitab al-Salat by Ibn al-Qayyim, p. 40)
"There is a river in Hell whose taste is extremely foul and its depth is very great."
Regarding those who pray without observing the prescribed times of the prayers and perform them according to their own wishes, Allah Almighty says:
﴿ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ ﴿٥﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Ma'un 4 to 5)
"Then woe to those who pray, but are heedless of their prayer."
In these verses, Allah Almighty has warned those worshippers of destruction and ruin (or a valley of Hell) who do pray but do not care about the prescribed time, sometimes performing it on time and sometimes not. Therefore, these blessed verses should serve as a lesson for those whose habit is always to delay prayers, especially Fajr, Dhuhr, and Asr prayers, which they always perform at the last moment or sometimes after the time has passed!!
Regarding the fate of those who do not pray on the Day of Judgment, Allah Almighty says:
﴿فِي جَنَّاتٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ ﴿٤٠﴾ عَنِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٤١﴾ مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ ﴿٤٢﴾ قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤٣﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Muddathir 40 to 43)
"They will ask the criminals in the gardens, 'What caused you to enter Hell?' They will say, 'We were not of those who prayed.'"
In these blessed verses, Allah Almighty informs that when the people of Paradise will ask the people of Hell what deed led them to Hell, they will mention their first and foremost sin: that they did not pray. This proves that not praying is an act that leads to Hell, may Allah protect us.
Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has mentioned those who are negligent in performing prayers among some characteristics of hypocrites. Allah's command is:
﴿الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿١٤٢﴾
Reference: (Surah An-Nisa 142)
’’These hypocrites deceive Allah, but He is the one who deceives them in return. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, only to be seen by people, and they hardly remember Allah.‘‘
The blessed verses we have just mentioned give a severe warning to those who neglect prayer or are lazy in performing it. The reason is that deliberately abandoning prayer is disbelief and a great sin. As the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
بَيْنَ الْعَبْدِ وَبَيْنَ الْكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
Reference: (Ibn Majah 1078)
The difference between a person and disbelief is abandoning prayer. In the narration of Sunan Tirmidhi, the words are as follows:
بَيْنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالْإِيمَانِ تَرْكُ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
Reference: (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2618)
’’The difference between disbelief and faith is abandoning prayer.‘‘
Hazrat Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
الْعَهْدُ الَّذِي بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمُ الصَّلَاةُ، فَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ”.
Reference: ( Ibn Majah 1079 )
"There is a covenant of prayer between us and them (the disbelievers), so whoever abandons it has certainly committed disbelief."
Imam Abu Abdullah Al-Marwazi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
"Allah Almighty has issued a severe warning against abandoning prayer and has emphasized through the words of His Prophet, peace be upon him, that the one who abandons prayer goes out of faith. Moreover, among the deeds of servants, no act other than prayer has been mentioned as a sign distinguishing disbelief from faith. That is, prayer alone has been made the sign to differentiate between the two."
And Hazrat Abdullah bin Shaqiq Al-Aqili, may Allah be pleased with him, states:
كَانَ أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَرَوْنَ شَيْئًا مِنْ الْأَعْمَالِ تَرْكُهُ كُفْرٌ غَيْرَ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
Reference: ( Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2622 )
"The companions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not consider the abandonment of any deed as disbelief except for prayer."
Imam Mundhiri, may Allah have mercy on him, says that the stance of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, and a group of the righteous predecessors who came after them is that a person who deliberately abandons a prayer until its time passes is a disbeliever. Among them are Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas, Hazrat Mu'adh ibn Jabal, Hazrat Jabir ibn Abdullah, Hazrat Abu Darda, may Allah be pleased with them, and among the noble Imams, may Allah have mercy on them, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, Abdullah ibn Mubarak, Nakha'i, Hukm ibn Utaybah, Ayub Sukhiyani, Abu Dawood Tiyalisi, Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, and Zuhair ibn Harb, among others, are especially notable.
From all these evidences, it is proven that deliberately abandoning prayer is disbelief, and the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, also considered it disbelief. That is why Allah Almighty has warned of a very severe punishment for the one who abandons it, as we have already mentioned.
And Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a person came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me of an action that if I perform it, I will enter Paradise? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
لا تشرك بالله شيئا وإن عذبت وحرقت أطع والديك وإن أخرجاك من مالك ومن كل شيء هو لك لا تترك الصلاة متعمدا فإن من ترك الصلاة متعمدا فقد برئت منه ذمة الله ۔
Reference: ( الترغيب والترهيب 5691 )
"Never associate partners with Allah, even if you are punished and burned. And continue to obey your parents, even if they expel you from your wealth and everything you have. And never deliberately abandon prayer, because whoever deliberately abandons prayer, Allah disassociates Himself from him."
This emphatic command was given by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself to Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه and also to Hazrat Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها. The punishment that the Prophet ﷺ saw in a dream for a person who neglects the obligatory prayer, listen to it in the words of the Prophet ﷺ himself. __ARABIC_N__
Hazrat Samurah bin Jundub (RA) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) finished the prayer, he would turn towards us and ask, "Who among you has seen a dream tonight?" If anyone had seen a dream, he would narrate it, and the Prophet (ﷺ) would interpret it. Then one day, the Prophet (ﷺ) asked the same question as usual, and we replied, "No, we have not seen any dream." He (ﷺ) said, "But I saw a dream tonight, and it is this: Two men came to me, they lifted me up and said, 'Come.' So I went with them. We came to a man who was lying flat on his back on a cushion, and a man was standing near him holding a stone, crushing his head with it. Whenever he struck the stone on his head, the stone would roll away. And by the time he picked it up and came back, his head would have rejoined and returned to its original state. Then he would do the same to him again. I asked those two men, 'SubhanAllah! Who are these two men?' They said, 'Come forward.' So we went forward..." They said:
أَمَّا الرَّجُلُ الْأَوَّلُ الَّذِي أَتَيْتَ عَلَيْهِ يُثْلَغُ رَأْسُهُ بِالْحَجَرِ فَإِنَّهُ الرَّجُلُ يَأْخُذُ الْقُرْآنَ فَيَرْفُضُهُ وَيَنَامُ عَنْ الصَّلَاةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ ۔
Reference: ( Sahih al-Bukhari 7047 )
Meaning: "The first person whose head was being crushed was the one who used to recite the Quran but did not act upon it and used to sleep through the obligatory prayers."
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
"There is no disagreement among Muslims that deliberately abandoning the obligatory prayer is among the major sins, and its sin is greater in the sight of Allah than killing, robbery, adultery, and drinking alcohol. The one who abandons prayer is under Allah's displeasure, punishment, and disgrace in this world and the Hereafter. Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, used to record all his deeds and said: 'In my view, your most important deed is prayer, because whoever maintains it preserves his religion. And whoever neglects it is more likely to neglect the other obligations of Islam. And the person who abandons prayer has no share in Islam.'"
We pray to Allah Almighty to grant us all the ability to adhere to the most important duty of Islam and to always perform it with commitment. Ameen
Dear respected ones! In the first sermon, you listened to some remarks about the gift of Mi'raj, that is, the obligation, importance, and virtues of the five prayers, in the light of the Quran and Hadith. Similarly, you also heard how great a sin it is to deliberately abandon prayer and what the Shariah ruling is regarding one who abandons prayer. And when we assess the condition of ordinary Muslims, we find that many Muslims are either completely neglectful of this religious duty... and such people are certainly on a very dangerous path and they should immediately repent and seek to please Allah... or they are not completely neglectful, but they perform it according to their own wishes, sometimes praying all the prayers, sometimes praying some and leaving others, sometimes praying on time and sometimes not, sometimes going to the mosque to pray in congregation and sometimes praying at home without any Shariah excuse. Such people should also immediately change this behavior and it is obligatory upon them to perform all the prayers in congregation at their prescribed times.
It is also observed that many Muslims perform the other prayers on time, but their Fajr prayer is wasted in bed, and similarly the Asr prayer as well. While the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ specifically gave the glad tidings of Paradise to the person who always performs these two prayers on time.
Hazrat Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَنْ صَلَّى البَرْدَيْنِ دَخَلَ الجَنَّةَ ۔
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari 574)
"Whoever prays the two cool prayers (Fajr and Asr) will enter Paradise."
He also said:
لَنْ يَلِجَ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ صَلَّى قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ ، وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا – يَعْنِي الْفَجْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ ۔
Reference: (Sahih Muslim 634)
"The person who prays before sunrise and before sunset will never enter Hell," meaning the one who consistently performs the Fajr and Asr prayers on time.
And regarding the person who sleeps at the time of Fajr prayer, we have already mentioned a dream of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the previous sermon, in which he saw that person's head being crushed, may Allah protect us.
As for the one who abandons the Asr prayer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
الَّذِي تَفُوتُهُ صَلاَةُ العَصْرِ، كَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ ۔
Reference: ( Sahih al-Bukhari 552 )
"Whoever misses the Asr prayer, it is as if his family and wealth have been taken away from him."
In another narration, it is said:
مَنْ تَرَكَ صَلاَةَ العَصْرِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ ۔
Reference: ( Sahih al-Bukhari 553 )
"Whoever abandons the Asr prayer, all his deeds become void."
And some people are negligent about the Isha and Fajr prayers, while the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said about the hypocrites that these two prayers are extremely heavy upon them.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
إِنَّ أَثْقَلَ صَلَاةٍ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلَاةُ الْعِشَاءِ وَصَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا ۔۔۔۔
Reference: (Muttafaqun Alayh)
"Indeed, the heaviest prayers for the hypocrites are the Isha and Fajr prayers. And if they knew the reward in them, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl on their knees..."
Therefore, it is not befitting for a believer to consider these prayers burdensome and be lazy in them, rather they should regard them as a means to attain nearness to Allah and a cause of salvation for themselves, and persist in them. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾ الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ ﴿٤٦﴾
Reference: (45 to 46)
"Seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, prayer is heavy except for the humble, who know that they will meet their Lord and that to Him they will return."
We pray to Allah, the Lord of Glory, that He includes us among those humble servants who, believing in the meeting with Allah, give full attention to performing the most important duty of Islam after Tawheed (prayer) and continue to perform it always. Ameen
