ource: ermon of Hafiz Muhammad Ihaq Zahid, compiled by: Tauheed.com
Brother in Ilam!
In today' Friday ermon (InhaAllah), we will talk about an act which i the greatet mean of attaining nearne to Allah Almighty, and in it lie the comfort of the eye and the peace of the heart. Whenever a Mulim, exhauted by the trouble and orrow of the world, tand before Allah Almighty for thi act, the burden of worrie and grief become lighter, and he attain true tranquility. It importance i o great that it ha been declared the pillar of the religion... and that act i prayer (alah), which Allah Almighty ha made obligatory upon every accountable Mulim. The ignificance and greatne of prayer can be undertood from the fact that Allah impoed other obligatory act on earth, while He called Hi mot beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to Himelf and made prayer obligatory from the heaven, a high a Allah willed.
The tory of Mi'raj and the Obligation of Prayer
A in the tory of Mi'raj, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) aid:
(( ۔۔۔۔۔ 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 prayer obligatory on me every day and night. Then I decended to Prophet Moe (peace be upon him), and he aked me: What ha your Lord made obligatory upon you? I aid: Fifty prayer. He aid: Return to your Lord and ak for a reduction becaue your nation doe not have the trength to perform fifty prayer. I have already teted the Children of Irael and taken their trial! The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) aid: o I returned to my Lord and aid: O my Lord! Reduce it for my nation. o Allah Almighty reduced it by five prayer. After that, I returned again to Prophet Moe (peace be upon him) and told him that Allah Almighty had reduced five prayer. He aid: Your nation till doe not have the trength, o you hould return to your Lord again and plead for a reduction! The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) aid: o I kept going back and forth between my Lord, the Bleed and Exalted, and Moe (peace be upon him) until Allah Almighty aid: O Muhammad! Thee are five prayer in the day and night, and each prayer i equivalent to ten (prayer in reward). Thu, in term of reward, they are fifty."
Allah Almighty betowed pecial grace and favor upon Hi mot beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Hi Ummah, reducing the number of obligatory prayer from fifty to five. However, in term of reward and merit, they are equivalent to fifty. Therefore, we hould be grateful for thi great favor of Allah Almighty, and thi gratitude will be expreed by conitently performing the five prayer punctually and without any negligence.
Allah Almighty ha mentioned prayer repeatedly and in variou way in the Holy Quran.
Command to Etablih Prayer
In ome place, Allah Almighty command it, aying:
﴿وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ ﴿٤٣﴾
Reference: (urah Al-Baqarah 43)
"Etablih prayer and give zakah, and bow with thoe who bow [in worhip]."
imilarly, Hi command i:
﴿وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ ﴿٥﴾
Reference: (urah Al-Bayyina 5)
"They have only been commanded to worhip Allah alone and to keep the religion pure for Him by turning away from polytheim and the like, to etablih prayer, and to give zakat. And thi i the religion of the traight community."
In thee bleed vere, Allah Almighty ha commanded to etablih prayer. The intended meaning i that the five prayer hould alway be performed punctually, oberving the condition, pillar, and obligation of prayer, and not to mi even one prayer without a valid Ilamic excue.
Command to Protect All Prayer
And elewhere, Allah Almighty command the protection of all prayer:
﴿حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ ﴿٢٣٨﴾
Reference: (urah Al-Baqarah 2:238)
"Guard trictly your (habit of) prayer, epecially the middle prayer; and tand before Allah with obedience."
In thi bleed vere, Allah Almighty ha intructed to protect all prayer, meaning to keep performing them continuouly, epecially commanding the protection of the middle prayer, i.e., Ar prayer. Therefore, Mulim hould alway perform all prayer with trict adherence!
Command to Family Member to Pray
And elewhere, Allah Almighty command to alway keep performing prayer and alo to keep commanding the family member to do o:
﴿وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا ۖ لَا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ ۗ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ﴿١٣٢﴾
Reference: (urah Taha 132)
"Enjoin prayer upon your family and be teadfat therein. We ak you not for proviion; We provide for you. And the [bet] outcome i for [thoe of] righteoune."
Allah Almighty ha not only commanded to alway perform prayer but ha alo given glad tiding to thoe who act upon thi command that in Paradie, honor will be given to uch people. Allah' command i:
﴿إِلَّا الْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٢٢﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَائِمُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾ ۔۔۔۔ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ ﴿٣٤﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ مُّكْرَمُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾
Reference: (urah Al-Ma'arij 22-23, 34-35)
"But thoe who etablih prayer, who are contant in their prayer... and who guard their prayer, thee are the one who will dwell in garden of honor."
And elewhere, Allah Almighty declare the believer who alway perform prayer a heir of Paradie Al-Firdou, aying:
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: (urah Al-Mu’minun 1 to 11)
"ucceful indeed are the believer, who humble themelve in their prayer, and who avoid vain talk, and who pay the zakat, and who guard their private part, except from their wive or thoe their right hand poe, for indeed, they are not to be blamed; but whoever eek beyond that, then thoe are the trangreor. And who faithfully oberve their trut and covenant, and who carefully maintain their prayer. Thoe are the heir who will inherit Paradie; they will abide therein forever."
And elewhere, Allah the Exalted give glad tiding to thoe who etablih prayer:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٢٧٧﴾
Reference: (urah Al-Baqarah 277)
"However, thoe who believe and do good deed, etablih prayer, and give zakat, their reward i with their Lord. They will have no fear, nor will they grieve."
And elewhere, Allah Almighty mention the etablihment of prayer in the context of the qualitie of true believer a follow:
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: (urah Al-Anfal 2 to 4)
"True believer are thoe whoe heart tremble when Allah i mentioned before them. And when Hi vere are recited to them, their faith increae, and they put their trut in their Lord. They etablih prayer and pend out of what We have provided them. Thee are the true believer; for them are degree [of high poition] with their Lord, forgivene, and a generou proviion."
Elewhere, He decribe thoe who etablih prayer among the qualitie of the piou a guided and ucceful, aying:
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: (urah Al-Baqarah 1 to 5)
"Alif Lam Meem * Thi i the Book about which there i no doubt, a guidance for the righteou who believe in the uneen, etablih prayer, and pend out of what We have provided for them. And who believe in what ha been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what wa revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]. Thoe are upon
guidance from their Lord, and it i thoe who are the ucceful."
And elewhere, Allah Almighty, while mentioning the qualitie of thoe who humble themelve, give glad tiding to thoe who etablih 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) i only One, o be obedient to Him alone. And give glad tiding to thoe who humble themelve, who, when Allah i mentioned, their heart tremble. And when any affliction befall them, they endure it patiently, etablih prayer, and pend out of what We have provided them.‘‘
From thi noble vere, it i alo undertood that the requirement of humility and meekne i that a peron alway perform the five daily prayer with trict adherence according to Allah’ command. Otherwie, if he neglect the prayer or i lazy in them, he hould conider that he i, in effect, conidering himelf greater than Allah’ command. And it i alo arrogance if, intead of humbly ubmitting to Allah’ command, he act according to hi own deire and pray a he wihe. And if even the mallet amount of uch arrogance exit in anyone’ heart, he will never enter Paradie.
Prayer i o important in the ight of Allah that He ha called prayer "faith." Allah the Exalted ay:
﴿وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٤٣﴾
"And Allah will not let your faith be lot. Indeed, Allah i to the people Kind and Merciful."
Regarding thoe who prayed facing Al-Qud (Jerualem) before the change of Qibla, Allah the Exalted ha tated that He will not let your faith, meaning thoe prayer you offered facing Al-Qud before the change of Qibla, be lot. In thi, Allah ha equated prayer with faith, which i evidence of it greatne and importance.
We have mentioned ome vere of the Holy Quran regarding the importance of alah, otherwie, there are many intruction from Allah Almighty about it. In fact, among the pillar of Ilam, alah i the pillar that i mentioned the mot in the Holy Quran. Therefore, Mulim hould give the utmot importance to thi Ilamic duty and hould never abandon it under any circumtance.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) alo repeatedly emphaized the importance of alah and declared etablihing alah, that i, performing it regularly, a a fundamental pillar and duty of Ilam.
A narrated by Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleaed with him), the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
((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 Ilam i baed on five thing: bearing witne that Allah Almighty i the only true God and Muhammad Kareem (peace be upon him) i Allah' ervant and Hi Meenger, etablihing prayer, paying zakat, performing Hajj to the Houe of Allah, and fating in the bleed month of Ramadan."
Therefore, when the noble companion, may Allah be pleaed with them, pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him), he took a promie from them that they would alway perform the five prayer regularly. Hazrat Jarir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleaed with him, narrate:
(( بَايَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى إِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالنُّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ ))
That i, I pledged allegiance to the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that I will alway etablih prayer, continue to give zakat, and remain well-wihing toward every Mulim.
And in view of the great importance and tatu of prayer, the Holy Prophet ﷺ made hi lat advice to hi Ummah regarding prayer. A Hazrat Umm alamah (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah ﷺ, during the illne in which he paed away, repeatedly aid:
(( الصَّلَاةَ ، وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ))
"Keep praying regularly and fulfill the right of your lave."
Hazrat Umm alamah (RA) tate that the Prophet ﷺ kept repeating thee word until (due to the everity of the illne) it became difficult for him to peak. And Hazrat Ali (RA) narrate that:
(( كَانَ آخِرُ كَلَامِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ))
That i, the lat word of the Holy Prophet ﷺ were: "Take care of the prayer and keep fulfilling the right of the lave."
Therefore, by following the lat will of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, all Mulim hould trictly oberve the five daily prayer and hould not be negligent in them in any way.
And when the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ent Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه toward Yemen, he gave him ome intruction and aid:
((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, o firt invite them to tetify that there i no true deity except Allah and that I am the Meenger of Allah. If they accept thi from you, then inform them that Allah ha made five prayer obligatory upon them during the day and night. Then, if they alo accept thi from you, warn them that Allah ha made zakat obligatory upon them, which i to be taken from among the wealthy and ditributed among the poor among them. And if they obey you in thi a well, then beware of their preciou wealth and alo beware of the cure of the oppreed, for there i no barrier between it and Allah."
And Hazrat Talha bin Ubaidullah (may Allah be pleaed with him) narrate that a man from the people of Najd, whoe hair wa diheveled and whoe tammering could be heard but what he aid wa difficult to undertand, came to the preence of the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him). When he came cloe, he uddenly aked about Ilam. The Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
((خمس صَلَواتٍ في اليوم واللَّيلة )) "You have to perform five prayer during the day and night." He aid: Are there any other obligatory prayer beide thee? The Prophet (ﷺ) aid: (( لا ، إلا أن تَطَّوَّعَ )) "No, except that you may perform voluntary prayer." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) aid: (( وصيام شهر رمضان )) "And you mut alo fat during Ramadan." He aid: Are there any other obligatory fat beide thee? The Prophet (ﷺ) aid: (( لا ، إلا أن تَطَّوَّعَ )) "No, except that you may fat voluntarily." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) informed him about the obligation of Zakat. He aid: I there anything ele obligatory (in wealth) beide thi? The Prophet (ﷺ) aid: (( لَا إِلَّا أَنْ تَطَوَّعَ)) "No, except that you may give voluntary charity." Afterward, a the man wa leaving, he aid: (( والله لا أَزيد على هذا ولا أنْقُص منه )) "By Allah! I will neither add to it nor ubtract from it." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) aid: (( أَفْلَح إن صَدَق )) "If he truly act upon thi, he will be ucceful."
From thi hadith, it i proven that after accepting Ilam, the mot important duty of thi true religion i the five daily prayer, but unfortunately, many people today who claim to be Mulim are neglectful of thi apect and the mot important duty; neither do they care for it themelve nor do they make their children adhere to it. Wherea the Meenger of Allah, peace be upon him, ha ordered that a child of ten year hould be punihed if he doe not pray. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, aid:
(( مُرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرٍ سِنِينَ ))
"When your children reach the age of even, command them to pray, and when they reach the age of ten and do not pray, then dicipline them for it."
Therefore, we ourelve hould be committed to prayer and alo intill thi habit in our children from childhood o that when they grow up, they remain teadfat in thi mot important duty of Ilam.
In a noble hadith, the Meenger of Allah ﷺ gave glad tiding to the Mulim who conitently perform all the prayer that Allah Almighty ha promied to admit him into Paradie. A narrated by Hazrat Ibadah bin A-amit رضي الله عنه, the Meenger of Allah ﷺ aid:
((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 prayer have been made obligatory upon the ervant of Allah, o whoever perform them in uch a way that he doe not neglect any of them by conidering it inignificant, then Allah ha promied him that He will urely admit him into Paradie. And whoever doe not perform them, then Allah ha made no promie to him; if He will, He will punih him, and if He will, He will admit him into Paradie."
In another noble hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared prayer a the pillar of religion. And when the pillar i removed, no building can tand; imilarly, if prayer i not performed, the religion will not remain!
Hazrat Mu'adh (may Allah be pleaed with him) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
((۔۔۔۔ رَأْسُ الْأَمْرِ الْإِسْلَامُ وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلَاةُ وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ ۔۔۔۔))
"The root of the matter i Ilam, it pillar i prayer, and it peak i Jihad."
Thi i why on the Day of Judgment, the firt thing to be accounted for will be thi prayer; if a ervant ucceed in it account, he will ucceed in the ret of hi deed. And if he fail in it account, he will fail in the ret of hi deed a well.
Hazrat Ana bin Malik (may Allah be pleaed with him) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
((۔۔۔ أَوَّلُ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ : الصَّلَاةُ ، فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ صَلُحَ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ، وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ ۔))
"On the Day of Judgment, the firt thing for which a ervant will be held accountable i the prayer; if the prayer i found correct, then all other deed will alo be found correct. And if the prayer i corrupt, then all other deed will alo be corrupt."
In another narration it i aid:
(( يُنظُرُ في صلاته ، فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ ، وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ ۔))
"Hi prayer will be examined; if it i correct, he will be ucceful. And if it i not correct, he will be digraced, humiliated, and a loer."
➊ Prayer prevent indecency and evil deed.
Allah Almighty ay:
﴿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 ha been revealed to you, and etablih prayer. Indeed, prayer retrain from indecency and evil deed. And the remembrance of Allah i the greatet thing. And whatever you do, Allah i Knowing of it."
➋ Prayer i the mot virtuou deed after the declaration of faith (hahadatayn).
Hazrat Abdullah bin Maood (RA) narrate that I aked the Meenger of Allah (PBUH), ( أيُّ العَمَلِ أحَبُّ إلى اللَّهِ؟؟) "Which deed i mot beloved to Allah?"
He (PBUH) replied: (( الصَّلاةُ علَى وقْتِها ،)) "Performing the prayer on time." I aked: "Then which one?" He (PBUH) aid: (( ثُمَّ برُّ الوالِدَيْنِ )) "Being good to parent." I aid: "Then which one?" He (PBUH) aid:
(( الجِهادُ في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ ،)) "Jihad in the way of Allah."
➌ The minor prayer wah away in, and if one refrain from major in, then the five prayer erve a expiation for the minor in in between. There are many hadith regarding thi.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((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 i a canal flowing at the door of any one of you, and he bathe in it five time a day, will any dirt remain on hi body?" People aid: No, not at all. The Prophet ﷺ aid: Thi i the example of the five prayer; Allah remove in through them."
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah ﷺ aid:
((الصَّلَواتُ الخَمسُ ، والجُمُعةُ إلى الجُمُعةِ، ورَمَضانُ إلى رَمَضانَ ؛ مُكَفِّراتٌ ما بَينَهُنَّ إذا اجتُنِبَ الكَبائِرُ ۔))
"The five prayer, from one Friday to the next Friday, and from one Ramadan to the next Ramadan, expiate the in committed in between, provided one avoid major in."
Hazrat Uthman bin Affan (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah ﷺ aid:
((لَا يَتَوَضَّأُ رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ فَيُحْسِنُ الْوُضُوءَ فَيُصَلِّي صَلَاةً إِلَّا غَفَرَ اللهُ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الصَّلَاةِ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا ))
"When a Mulim man perform ablution properly and then offer a prayer, Allah Almighty forgive the in that occur between him and the next prayer."
Hazrat Uman bin Affan (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((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 begin and a Mulim man perform ablution properly for it, then pray with utmot humility and complete the bowing with full atifaction, that prayer become an expiation for hi previou in, provided he doe not commit a major in. And thi virtue remain until the Day of Judgment."
Hazrat Abdullah bin Maood (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((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 in), you are burning (in in), then when you perform the Fajr prayer, it wahe them away (i.e., your in). Then you burn (in in), you burn (in in), then when you perform the Dhuhr prayer, it wahe them away. Then you burn (in in), you burn (in in), then when you perform the Ar prayer, it wahe them away. Then you burn (in in), you burn (in in), then when you perform the Maghrib prayer, it wahe them away. Then you burn (in in), you burn (in in), then when you perform the Iha prayer, it wahe them away. Then when you leep, no in i recorded againt you until you wake up."
Hazrat alman Fari (may Allah be pleaed with him) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
((إنّ المسلمَ يصلِّي وخَطاياهُ مرفوعةٌ على رأسِه، كلّما سجَدَ تحاتَّت عنه، فيفرُغُ من صلاتِه؛ وقد تحاتَّت خطاياهُ ))
"Indeed, when a Mulim begin to pray, hi in are raied above hi head, then when he protrate, with every protration hi in fall off. And when he finihe the prayer, all hi in have fallen away."
Hazrat Ana bin Malik (RA) narrate that I wa itting with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when a man came and aid: O Meenger of Allah! I have committed a in for which a punihment i precribed, o pleae impoe that punihment on me. The Prophet (PBUH) did not quetion him about what in he had committed or how he had committed it. Later, when it wa time for prayer, he alo prayed with the Prophet (PBUH), then he came again to the Prophet (PBUH) and repeated the ame tatement. Then the Prophet (PBUH) aid: (( أَلَيْسَ قَدْ صَلَّيْتَ مَعَنَا ؟ )) "Did you not pray with u?" He aid: Ye, I did. Then the Prophet (PBUH) aid:
((فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ غَفَرَ لَكَ ذَنْبَكَ ))
"Go, Allah ha forgiven your in."
➍ Prayer i a ource of light for the worhiper in thi world and the Hereafter.
A narrated by Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) that one day the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) mentioned prayer and aid:
((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 conitently pray, then prayer will be a light, a proof, and a mean of alvation for him on the Day of Judgment. And whoever doe not conitently pray, then it will neither be a light nor a proof for him, nor will it be a mean of alvation. And he will be with Qarun, Pharaoh, Haman, and Abu Jahl (uch unfortunate one) on the Day of Judgment."
And Hazrat Buraydah (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
(( بَشِّرِ الْمَشَّائِينَ فِي الظُّلَمِ إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ بِالنُّورِ التَّامِّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة ))
"Give glad tiding to thoe who walk to the moque in darkne, for they will receive complete light on the Day of Judgment."
➎ With each tep taken toward prayer, a in i forgiven and rank are elevated.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((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 perform ablution at home, then et out for one of the houe of Allah with the ole intention of performing one of Allah' obligatory act, then for each of hi two tep, one tep wipe away a in and the other raie him a rank."
In another narration, it i tated:
((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 perform ablution well, then walk toward the moque, when he lift hi right foot, Allah record a good deed for him, and when he place hi left foot down, Allah erae a in for him."
➏ Whenever a worhipper goe to the moque, hopitality i prepared for him in Paradie.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ، أَوْ رَاحَ، أَعَدَّ اللهُ لَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ نُزُلًا، كُلَّمَا غَدَا، أَوْ رَاحَ ))
"Whoever goe to the moque in the morning or in the evening, Allah prepare hopitality for him in Paradie, whether he goe in the morning or in the evening."
➐ Angel alo pray for the one who pray.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((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 increae more than twenty time compared to the prayer he perform alone at home or in the market. It i like thi: when a peron perform ablution properly, then come to the moque olely with the intention of praying, having no other purpoe beide prayer, then with every tep he take, hi rank i elevated and a in i eraed. Thi continue until he enter the moque. When he reache the moque, a long a he it waiting for the prayer, it i a if he i praying. And a long a he remain eated at hi place of prayer, the angel keep praying for him, aying: O Allah! Have mercy on him, O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! Accept hi repentance. They continue to pray in thi manner until he harm omeone or hi ablution break."
➑ The one who pray receive the reward of a pilgrim who ha donned the Ihram.
Hazrat Abu Umamah (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (AW) aid:
((مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ مُتَطَهِّرًا إِلَى صَلَاةٍ مَكْتُوبَةٍ، فَأَجْرُهُ كَأَجْرِ الْحَاجِّ الْمُحْرِمِ ۔۔۔۔۔))
"Whoever leave hi houe in a tate of ablution to perform the obligatory prayer, hi reward i like that of a pilgrim who ha donned the Ihram."
➒ Prayer extinguihe the fire of in.
Hazrat Ana bin Malik (RA) narrate that the Prophet (AW) aid:
((إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَلَكًا يُنَادِي عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلاةٍ : يَا بَنِي آدَمَ ، قُومُوا إِلَى نِيرَانِكُمُ الَّتِي أَوْ قَدْتُمُوهَا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكِمْ فَأَطْفِئُوهَا ۔۔۔۔۔))
"Indeed, Allah ha appointed an angel who call out at every prayer time: O children of Adam! tand up and extinguih the fire that you have kindled (through your in)."
➓ The peron who conitently perform the five prayer i among the truthful (iddiqeen) and the martyr (huhada).
Hazrat Amr bin Murta al-Juhani رضي الله عنه narrate that a peron came to the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and aid: O Meenger of Allah! What i your opinion if I tetify that there i no deity except Allah and that you are the Meenger of Allah, and beide thi, I continue to perform the five prayer, pay zakat, and fat during Ramadan and alo tand in prayer during it, then among which people will I be?
The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم aid: (( مِنَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ)) "You will be among the truthful and the martyr."
Hazrat Ana رضي الله عنه narrate that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم aid:
((حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا النِّسَاءُ , وَالطِّيبُ، وَجُعِلَ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاةِ ۔))
"Two thing of thi world are dear to me: women and perfume. And the coolne of my eye i placed in prayer."
And the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), while ordering Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleaed with him) to call for the prayer, aid:
((يَا بِلَالُ ، أَقِمْ الصَّلَاةَ أَرِحْنَا بِهَا ))
"O Bilal! Call for the prayer and bring u comfort through it."
Now let u liten to Allah' intruction regarding thoe who wate prayer, are lazy in performing them, delay them unnecearily, or completely abandon them.
Allah Almighty warn thoe who wate prayer with the threat of Hellfire a follow:
﴿فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا ﴿٥٩﴾
"Then after them, their worthle offpring ucceeded them, who neglected prayer and followed their deire; oon they will face detruction (or they will find a place in the valley of Hellfire)."
Hazrat Abdullah bin Ma'ud (may Allah be pleaed with him) ay about ( غیّ ):
((وَھُوَ نَھْرٌ فِيْ جَھَنَّمَ،خَبِیْثُ الطَّعْمِ،بَعِیْدُ الْقَعْرِ))
"There i a river in Hell whoe tate i extremely foul and it depth i very great."
Regarding thoe who pray without oberving the precribed time of the prayer and perform them according to their own wihe, Allah Almighty ay:
﴿ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ ﴿٥﴾
"Then woe to thoe who pray, but are heedle of their prayer."
In thee vere, Allah Almighty ha warned thoe worhipper of detruction and ruin (or a valley of Hell) who do pray but do not care about the precribed time, ometime performing it on time and ometime not. Therefore, thee bleed vere hould erve a a leon for thoe whoe habit i alway to delay prayer, epecially Fajr, Dhuhr, and Ar prayer, which they alway perform at the lat moment or ometime after the time ha paed!!
Regarding the fate of thoe who do not pray on the Day of Judgment, Allah Almighty ay:
﴿فِي جَنَّاتٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ ﴿٤٠﴾ عَنِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٤١﴾ مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ ﴿٤٢﴾ قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤٣﴾
"They will ak the criminal in the garden, 'What caued you to enter Hell?' They will ay, 'We were not of thoe who prayed.'"
In thee bleed vere, Allah Almighty inform that when the people of Paradie will ak the people of Hell what deed led them to Hell, they will mention their firt and foremot in: that they did not pray. Thi prove that not praying i an act that lead to Hell, may Allah protect u.
Allah, Glorified and Exalted, ha mentioned thoe who are negligent in performing prayer among ome characteritic of hypocrite. Allah' command i:
﴿الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿١٤٢﴾
’’Thee hypocrite deceive Allah, but He i the one who deceive them in return. And when they tand for prayer, they tand lazily, only to be een by people, and they hardly remember Allah.‘‘
The bleed vere we have jut mentioned give a evere warning to thoe who neglect prayer or are lazy in performing it. The reaon i that deliberately abandoning prayer i dibelief and a great in. A the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) aid:
بَيْنَ الْعَبْدِ وَبَيْنَ الْكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
The difference between a peron and dibelief i abandoning prayer. In the narration of unan Tirmidhi, the word are a follow:
بَيْنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالْإِيمَانِ تَرْكُ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
’’The difference between dibelief and faith i abandoning prayer.‘‘
Hazrat Abu Mua Al-Ah'ari (may Allah be pleaed with him) reported that the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
الْعَهْدُ الَّذِي بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمُ الصَّلَاةُ، فَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ”.
"There i a covenant of prayer between u and them (the dibeliever), o whoever abandon it ha certainly committed dibelief."
Imam Abu Abdullah Al-Marwazi, may Allah have mercy on him, ay:
"Allah Almighty ha iued a evere warning againt abandoning prayer and ha emphaized through the word of Hi Prophet, peace be upon him, that the one who abandon prayer goe out of faith. Moreover, among the deed of ervant, no act other than prayer ha been mentioned a a ign ditinguihing dibelief from faith. That i, prayer alone ha been made the ign to differentiate between the two."
And Hazrat Abdullah bin haqiq Al-Aqili, may Allah be pleaed with him, tate:
كَانَ أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَرَوْنَ شَيْئًا مِنْ الْأَعْمَالِ تَرْكُهُ كُفْرٌ غَيْرَ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
"The companion of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not conider the abandonment of any deed a dibelief except for prayer."
Imam Mundhiri, may Allah have mercy on him, ay that the tance of the Companion of the Prophet, may Allah be pleaed with them, and a group of the righteou predeceor who came after them i that a peron who deliberately abandon a prayer until it time pae i a dibeliever. Among them are Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Ma'ud, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abba, Hazrat Mu'adh ibn Jabal, Hazrat Jabir ibn Abdullah, Hazrat Abu Darda, may Allah be pleaed with them, and among the noble Imam, may Allah have mercy on them, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ihaq ibn Rahwayh, Abdullah ibn Mubarak, Nakha'i, Hukm ibn Utaybah, Ayub ukhiyani, Abu Dawood Tiyalii, Abu Bakr ibn Abi haybah, and Zuhair ibn Harb, among other, are epecially notable.
From all thee evidence, it i proven that deliberately abandoning prayer i dibelief, and the Companion of the Prophet, may Allah be pleaed with them, alo conidered it dibelief. That i why Allah Almighty ha warned of a very evere punihment for the one who abandon it, a we have already mentioned.
And Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleaed with him) narrate that a peron came to the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and aid: O Meenger of Allah! Tell me of an action that if I perform it, I will enter Paradie? The Prophet (peace be upon him) aid:
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 aociate partner with Allah, even if you are punihed and burned. And continue to obey your parent, even if they expel you from your wealth and everything you have. And never deliberately abandon prayer, becaue whoever deliberately abandon prayer, Allah diaociate Himelf from him."
Thi emphatic command wa given by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himelf to Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه and alo to Hazrat Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها. The punihment that the Prophet ﷺ aw in a dream for a peron who neglect the obligatory prayer, liten to it in the word of the Prophet ﷺ himelf.
Hazrat amurah bin Jundub (RA) narrate that when the Meenger of Allah (ﷺ) finihed the prayer, he would turn toward u and ak, "Who among you ha een a dream tonight?" If anyone had een a dream, he would narrate it, and the Prophet (ﷺ) would interpret it. Then one day, the Prophet (ﷺ) aked the ame quetion a uual, and we replied, "No, we have not een any dream." He (ﷺ) aid, "But I aw a dream tonight, and it i thi: Two men came to me, they lifted me up and aid, 'Come.' o I went with them. We came to a man who wa lying flat on hi back on a cuhion, and a man wa tanding near him holding a tone, cruhing hi head with it. Whenever he truck the tone on hi head, the tone would roll away. And by the time he picked it up and came back, hi head would have rejoined and returned to it original tate. Then he would do the ame to him again. I aked thoe two men, 'ubhanAllah! Who are thee two men?' They aid, 'Come forward.' o we went forward..." They aid:
أَمَّا الرَّجُلُ الْأَوَّلُ الَّذِي أَتَيْتَ عَلَيْهِ يُثْلَغُ رَأْسُهُ بِالْحَجَرِ فَإِنَّهُ الرَّجُلُ يَأْخُذُ الْقُرْآنَ فَيَرْفُضُهُ وَيَنَامُ عَنْ الصَّلَاةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ ۔
Meaning: "The firt peron whoe head wa being cruhed wa the one who ued to recite the Quran but did not act upon it and ued to leep through the obligatory prayer."
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, ay:
"There i no diagreement among Mulim that deliberately abandoning the obligatory prayer i among the major in, and it in i greater in the ight of Allah than killing, robbery, adultery, and drinking alcohol. The one who abandon prayer i under Allah' dipleaure, punihment, and digrace in thi world and the Hereafter. Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleaed with him, ued to record all hi deed and aid: 'In my view, your mot important deed i prayer, becaue whoever maintain it preerve hi religion. And whoever neglect it i more likely to neglect the other obligation of Ilam. And the peron who abandon prayer ha no hare in Ilam.'"
We pray to Allah Almighty to grant u all the ability to adhere to the mot important duty of Ilam and to alway perform it with commitment. Ameen
Dear repected one! In the firt ermon, you litened to ome remark about the gift of Mi'raj, that i, the obligation, importance, and virtue of the five prayer, in the light of the Quran and Hadith. imilarly, you alo heard how great a in it i to deliberately abandon prayer and what the hariah ruling i regarding one who abandon prayer. And when we ae the condition of ordinary Mulim, we find that many Mulim are either completely neglectful of thi religiou duty... and uch people are certainly on a very dangerou path and they hould immediately repent and eek to pleae Allah... or they are not completely neglectful, but they perform it according to their own wihe, ometime praying all the prayer, ometime praying ome and leaving other, ometime praying on time and ometime not, ometime going to the moque to pray in congregation and ometime praying at home without any hariah excue. uch people hould alo immediately change thi behavior and it i obligatory upon them to perform all the prayer in congregation at their precribed time.
It i alo oberved that many Mulim perform the other prayer on time, but their Fajr prayer i wated in bed, and imilarly the Ar prayer a well. While the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ pecifically gave the glad tiding of Paradie to the peron who alway perform thee two prayer on time.
Hazrat Abu Mua Al-Ah'ari رضي الله عنه narrate that the Meenger of Allah ﷺ aid:
مَنْ صَلَّى البَرْدَيْنِ دَخَلَ الجَنَّةَ ۔
"Whoever pray the two cool prayer (Fajr and Ar) will enter Paradie."
He alo aid:
لَنْ يَلِجَ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ صَلَّى قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ ، وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا – يَعْنِي الْفَجْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ ۔
"The peron who pray before unrie and before unet will never enter Hell," meaning the one who conitently perform the Fajr and Ar prayer on time.
And regarding the peron who leep at the time of Fajr prayer, we have already mentioned a dream of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the previou ermon, in which he aw that peron' head being cruhed, may Allah protect u.
A for the one who abandon the Ar prayer, the Meenger of Allah ﷺ aid:
الَّذِي تَفُوتُهُ صَلاَةُ العَصْرِ، كَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ ۔
"Whoever mie the Ar prayer, it i a if hi family and wealth have been taken away from him."
In another narration, it i aid:
مَنْ تَرَكَ صَلاَةَ العَصْرِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ ۔
"Whoever abandon the Ar prayer, all hi deed become void."
And ome people are negligent about the Iha and Fajr prayer, while the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ aid about the hypocrite that thee two prayer are extremely heavy upon them.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
إِنَّ أَثْقَلَ صَلَاةٍ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلَاةُ الْعِشَاءِ وَصَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا ۔۔۔۔
"Indeed, the heaviet prayer for the hypocrite are the Iha and Fajr prayer. And if they knew the reward in them, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl on their knee..."
Therefore, it i not befitting for a believer to conider thee prayer burdenome and be lazy in them, rather they hould regard them a a mean to attain nearne to Allah and a caue of alvation for themelve, and perit in them. Allah the Exalted ay:
﴿وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾ الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ ﴿٤٦﴾
"eek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, prayer i 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 include u among thoe humble ervant who, believing in the meeting with Allah, give full attention to performing the mot important duty of Ilam after Tawheed (prayer) and continue to perform it alway. Ameen
And elewhere, Allah Almighty, while mentioning the qualitie of thoe who humble themelve, give glad tiding to thoe who etablih 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: (urah Al-Hajj 34 to 35)
’’Your God (the True One) i only One, o be obedient to Him alone. And give glad tiding to thoe who humble themelve, who, when Allah i mentioned, their heart tremble. And when any affliction befall them, they endure it patiently, etablih prayer, and pend out of what We have provided them.‘‘
From thi noble vere, it i alo undertood that the requirement of humility and meekne i that a peron alway perform the five daily prayer with trict adherence according to Allah’ command. Otherwie, if he neglect the prayer or i lazy in them, he hould conider that he i, in effect, conidering himelf greater than Allah’ command. And it i alo arrogance if, intead of humbly ubmitting to Allah’ command, he act according to hi own deire and pray a he wihe. And if even the mallet amount of uch arrogance exit in anyone’ heart, he will never enter Paradie.
Prayer i o important in the ight of Allah that He ha called prayer "faith." Allah the Exalted ay:
﴿وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٤٣﴾
Reference: (urah Al-Baqarah 143)
"And Allah will not let your faith be lot. Indeed, Allah i to the people Kind and Merciful."
Regarding thoe who prayed facing Al-Qud (Jerualem) before the change of Qibla, Allah the Exalted ha tated that He will not let your faith, meaning thoe prayer you offered facing Al-Qud before the change of Qibla, be lot. In thi, Allah ha equated prayer with faith, which i evidence of it greatne and importance.
We have mentioned ome vere of the Holy Quran regarding the importance of alah, otherwie, there are many intruction from Allah Almighty about it. In fact, among the pillar of Ilam, alah i the pillar that i mentioned the mot in the Holy Quran. Therefore, Mulim hould give the utmot importance to thi Ilamic duty and hould never abandon it under any circumtance.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) alo repeatedly emphaized the importance of alah and declared etablihing alah, that i, performing it regularly, a a fundamental pillar and duty of Ilam.
alah: The Fundamental Pillar of Ilam
A narrated by Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleaed with him), the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
((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 Ilam i baed on five thing: bearing witne that Allah Almighty i the only true God and Muhammad Kareem (peace be upon him) i Allah' ervant and Hi Meenger, etablihing prayer, paying zakat, performing Hajj to the Houe of Allah, and fating in the bleed month of Ramadan."
Therefore, when the noble companion, may Allah be pleaed with them, pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him), he took a promie from them that they would alway perform the five prayer regularly. Hazrat Jarir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleaed with him, narrate:
(( بَايَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى إِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالنُّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ ))
Reference: (ahih Mulim 56 ahih Bukhari 524)
That i, I pledged allegiance to the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that I will alway etablih prayer, continue to give zakat, and remain well-wihing toward every Mulim.
And in view of the great importance and tatu of prayer, the Holy Prophet ﷺ made hi lat advice to hi Ummah regarding prayer. A Hazrat Umm alamah (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah ﷺ, during the illne in which he paed away, repeatedly aid:
(( الصَّلَاةَ ، وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ))
Reference: (unan Ibn Majah:1625 ahih (Al-Albani))
"Keep praying regularly and fulfill the right of your lave."
Hazrat Umm alamah (RA) tate that the Prophet ﷺ kept repeating thee word until (due to the everity of the illne) it became difficult for him to peak. And Hazrat Ali (RA) narrate that:
(( كَانَ آخِرُ كَلَامِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ))
Reference: (unan Ibn Majah: 2698 ahih (Al-Albani))
That i, the lat word of the Holy Prophet ﷺ were: "Take care of the prayer and keep fulfilling the right of the lave."
Therefore, by following the lat will of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, all Mulim hould trictly oberve the five daily prayer and hould not be negligent in them in any way.
And when the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ent Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه toward Yemen, he gave him ome intruction and aid:
((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: (ahih Mulim:19)
"You are going to a people of the People of the Book, o firt invite them to tetify that there i no true deity except Allah and that I am the Meenger of Allah. If they accept thi from you, then inform them that Allah ha made five prayer obligatory upon them during the day and night. Then, if they alo accept thi from you, warn them that Allah ha made zakat obligatory upon them, which i to be taken from among the wealthy and ditributed among the poor among them. And if they obey you in thi a well, then beware of their preciou wealth and alo beware of the cure of the oppreed, for there i no barrier between it and Allah."
And Hazrat Talha bin Ubaidullah (may Allah be pleaed with him) narrate that a man from the people of Najd, whoe hair wa diheveled and whoe tammering could be heard but what he aid wa difficult to undertand, came to the preence of the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him). When he came cloe, he uddenly aked about Ilam. The Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
((خمس صَلَواتٍ في اليوم واللَّيلة )) "You have to perform five prayer during the day and night." He aid: Are there any other obligatory prayer beide thee? The Prophet (ﷺ) aid: (( لا ، إلا أن تَطَّوَّعَ )) "No, except that you may perform voluntary prayer." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) aid: (( وصيام شهر رمضان )) "And you mut alo fat during Ramadan." He aid: Are there any other obligatory fat beide thee? The Prophet (ﷺ) aid: (( لا ، إلا أن تَطَّوَّعَ )) "No, except that you may fat voluntarily." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) informed him about the obligation of Zakat. He aid: I there anything ele obligatory (in wealth) beide thi? The Prophet (ﷺ) aid: (( لَا إِلَّا أَنْ تَطَوَّعَ)) "No, except that you may give voluntary charity." Afterward, a the man wa leaving, he aid: (( والله لا أَزيد على هذا ولا أنْقُص منه )) "By Allah! I will neither add to it nor ubtract from it." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) aid: (( أَفْلَح إن صَدَق )) "If he truly act upon thi, he will be ucceful."
Reference: (Muttafaqun Alayh)
From thi hadith, it i proven that after accepting Ilam, the mot important duty of thi true religion i the five daily prayer, but unfortunately, many people today who claim to be Mulim are neglectful of thi apect and the mot important duty; neither do they care for it themelve nor do they make their children adhere to it. Wherea the Meenger of Allah, peace be upon him, ha ordered that a child of ten year hould be punihed if he doe not pray. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, aid:
(( مُرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرٍ سِنِينَ ))
Reference: (unan Abi Dawood 495)
"When your children reach the age of even, command them to pray, and when they reach the age of ten and do not pray, then dicipline them for it."
Therefore, we ourelve hould be committed to prayer and alo intill thi habit in our children from childhood o that when they grow up, they remain teadfat in thi mot important duty of Ilam.
In a noble hadith, the Meenger of Allah ﷺ gave glad tiding to the Mulim who conitently perform all the prayer that Allah Almighty ha promied to admit him into Paradie. A narrated by Hazrat Ibadah bin A-amit رضي الله عنه, the Meenger of Allah ﷺ aid:
((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: (unan Abi Dawood: 1420 Authentic (Al-Albani))
"Five prayer have been made obligatory upon the ervant of Allah, o whoever perform them in uch a way that he doe not neglect any of them by conidering it inignificant, then Allah ha promied him that He will urely admit him into Paradie. And whoever doe not perform them, then Allah ha made no promie to him; if He will, He will punih him, and if He will, He will admit him into Paradie."
In another noble hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared prayer a the pillar of religion. And when the pillar i removed, no building can tand; imilarly, if prayer i not performed, the religion will not remain!
Hazrat Mu'adh (may Allah be pleaed with him) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
((۔۔۔۔ رَأْسُ الْأَمْرِ الْإِسْلَامُ وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلَاةُ وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ ۔۔۔۔))
Reference: (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2616, ahih (Al-Albani))
"The root of the matter i Ilam, it pillar i prayer, and it peak i Jihad."
Thi i why on the Day of Judgment, the firt thing to be accounted for will be thi prayer; if a ervant ucceed in it account, he will ucceed in the ret of hi deed. And if he fail in it account, he will fail in the ret of hi deed a well.
Hazrat Ana bin Malik (may Allah be pleaed with him) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
((۔۔۔ أَوَّلُ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ : الصَّلَاةُ ، فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ صَلُحَ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ، وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ ۔))
"On the Day of Judgment, the firt thing for which a ervant will be held accountable i the prayer; if the prayer i found correct, then all other deed will alo be found correct. And if the prayer i corrupt, then all other deed will alo be corrupt."
In another narration it i aid:
(( يُنظُرُ في صلاته ، فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ ، وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ ۔))
Reference: (السلسلة الصحيحة:1358)
"Hi prayer will be examined; if it i correct, he will be ucceful. And if it i not correct, he will be digraced, humiliated, and a loer."
➊ Prayer prevent indecency and evil deed.
Allah Almighty ay:
﴿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 ha been revealed to you, and etablih prayer. Indeed, prayer retrain from indecency and evil deed. And the remembrance of Allah i the greatet thing. And whatever you do, Allah i Knowing of it."
➋ Prayer i the mot virtuou deed after the declaration of faith (hahadatayn).
Hazrat Abdullah bin Maood (RA) narrate that I aked the Meenger of Allah (PBUH), ( أيُّ العَمَلِ أحَبُّ إلى اللَّهِ؟؟) "Which deed i mot beloved to Allah?"
He (PBUH) replied: (( الصَّلاةُ علَى وقْتِها ،)) "Performing the prayer on time." I aked: "Then which one?" He (PBUH) aid: (( ثُمَّ برُّ الوالِدَيْنِ )) "Being good to parent." I aid: "Then which one?" He (PBUH) aid:
(( الجِهادُ في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ ،)) "Jihad in the way of Allah."
➌ The minor prayer wah away in, and if one refrain from major in, then the five prayer erve a expiation for the minor in in between. There are many hadith regarding thi.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((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: (Mulim 667)
"Tell me, if there i a canal flowing at the door of any one of you, and he bathe in it five time a day, will any dirt remain on hi body?" People aid: No, not at all. The Prophet ﷺ aid: Thi i the example of the five prayer; Allah remove in through them."
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah ﷺ aid:
((الصَّلَواتُ الخَمسُ ، والجُمُعةُ إلى الجُمُعةِ، ورَمَضانُ إلى رَمَضانَ ؛ مُكَفِّراتٌ ما بَينَهُنَّ إذا اجتُنِبَ الكَبائِرُ ۔))
Reference: (Mulim 233)
"The five prayer, from one Friday to the next Friday, and from one Ramadan to the next Ramadan, expiate the in committed in between, provided one avoid major in."
Hazrat Uthman bin Affan (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah ﷺ aid:
((لَا يَتَوَضَّأُ رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ فَيُحْسِنُ الْوُضُوءَ فَيُصَلِّي صَلَاةً إِلَّا غَفَرَ اللهُ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الصَّلَاةِ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا ))
Reference: (ahih Mulim: 227)
"When a Mulim man perform ablution properly and then offer a prayer, Allah Almighty forgive the in that occur between him and the next prayer."
Hazrat Uman bin Affan (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((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: (ahih Mulim:228)
"When the time for an obligatory prayer begin and a Mulim man perform ablution properly for it, then pray with utmot humility and complete the bowing with full atifaction, that prayer become an expiation for hi previou in, provided he doe not commit a major in. And thi virtue remain until the Day of Judgment."
Hazrat Abdullah bin Maood (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((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: (ahih al-Targhib 357)
"You are burning (in in), you are burning (in in), then when you perform the Fajr prayer, it wahe them away (i.e., your in). Then you burn (in in), you burn (in in), then when you perform the Dhuhr prayer, it wahe them away. Then you burn (in in), you burn (in in), then when you perform the Ar prayer, it wahe them away. Then you burn (in in), you burn (in in), then when you perform the Maghrib prayer, it wahe them away. Then you burn (in in), you burn (in in), then when you perform the Iha prayer, it wahe them away. Then when you leep, no in i recorded againt you until you wake up."
Hazrat alman Fari (may Allah be pleaed with him) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
((إنّ المسلمَ يصلِّي وخَطاياهُ مرفوعةٌ على رأسِه، كلّما سجَدَ تحاتَّت عنه، فيفرُغُ من صلاتِه؛ وقد تحاتَّت خطاياهُ ))
Reference: ( ahih At-Targhib 362 )
"Indeed, when a Mulim begin to pray, hi in are raied above hi head, then when he protrate, with every protration hi in fall off. And when he finihe the prayer, all hi in have fallen away."
Hazrat Ana bin Malik (RA) narrate that I wa itting with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when a man came and aid: O Meenger of Allah! I have committed a in for which a punihment i precribed, o pleae impoe that punihment on me. The Prophet (PBUH) did not quetion him about what in he had committed or how he had committed it. Later, when it wa time for prayer, he alo prayed with the Prophet (PBUH), then he came again to the Prophet (PBUH) and repeated the ame tatement. Then the Prophet (PBUH) aid: (( أَلَيْسَ قَدْ صَلَّيْتَ مَعَنَا ؟ )) "Did you not pray with u?" He aid: Ye, I did. Then the Prophet (PBUH) aid:
((فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ غَفَرَ لَكَ ذَنْبَكَ ))
Reference: (ahih al-Bukhari 6823)
"Go, Allah ha forgiven your in."
➍ Prayer i a ource of light for the worhiper in thi world and the Hereafter.
A narrated by Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) that one day the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) mentioned prayer and aid:
((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 hu'ab al-Iman )
"Whoever conitently pray, then prayer will be a light, a proof, and a mean of alvation for him on the Day of Judgment. And whoever doe not conitently pray, then it will neither be a light nor a proof for him, nor will it be a mean of alvation. And he will be with Qarun, Pharaoh, Haman, and Abu Jahl (uch unfortunate one) on the Day of Judgment."
And Hazrat Buraydah (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
(( بَشِّرِ الْمَشَّائِينَ فِي الظُّلَمِ إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ بِالنُّورِ التَّامِّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة ))
Reference: ( unan Abi Dawood 561 )
"Give glad tiding to thoe who walk to the moque in darkne, for they will receive complete light on the Day of Judgment."
➎ With each tep taken toward prayer, a in i forgiven and rank are elevated.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((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: (ahih Mulim: 666)
"Whoever perform ablution at home, then et out for one of the houe of Allah with the ole intention of performing one of Allah' obligatory act, then for each of hi two tep, one tep wipe away a in and the other raie him a rank."
In another narration, it i tated:
((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: (unan Abi Dawood: 563)
"When any one of you perform ablution well, then walk toward the moque, when he lift hi right foot, Allah record a good deed for him, and when he place hi left foot down, Allah erae a in for him."
➏ Whenever a worhipper goe to the moque, hopitality i prepared for him in Paradie.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ، أَوْ رَاحَ، أَعَدَّ اللهُ لَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ نُزُلًا، كُلَّمَا غَدَا، أَوْ رَاحَ ))
Reference: ( ahih Mulim:669 )
"Whoever goe to the moque in the morning or in the evening, Allah prepare hopitality for him in Paradie, whether he goe in the morning or in the evening."
➐ Angel alo pray for the one who pray.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
((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: ( ahih Mulim: 649 )
"The reward for a man praying in congregation increae more than twenty time compared to the prayer he perform alone at home or in the market. It i like thi: when a peron perform ablution properly, then come to the moque olely with the intention of praying, having no other purpoe beide prayer, then with every tep he take, hi rank i elevated and a in i eraed. Thi continue until he enter the moque. When he reache the moque, a long a he it waiting for the prayer, it i a if he i praying. And a long a he remain eated at hi place of prayer, the angel keep praying for him, aying: O Allah! Have mercy on him, O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! Accept hi repentance. They continue to pray in thi manner until he harm omeone or hi ablution break."
➑ The one who pray receive the reward of a pilgrim who ha donned the Ihram.
Hazrat Abu Umamah (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (AW) aid:
((مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ مُتَطَهِّرًا إِلَى صَلَاةٍ مَكْتُوبَةٍ، فَأَجْرُهُ كَأَجْرِ الْحَاجِّ الْمُحْرِمِ ۔۔۔۔۔))
Reference: (unan Abi Dawood 558)
"Whoever leave hi houe in a tate of ablution to perform the obligatory prayer, hi reward i like that of a pilgrim who ha donned the Ihram."
➒ Prayer extinguihe the fire of in.
Hazrat Ana bin Malik (RA) narrate that the Prophet (AW) aid:
((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-aghir al-Tabarani: 326)
"Indeed, Allah ha appointed an angel who call out at every prayer time: O children of Adam! tand up and extinguih the fire that you have kindled (through your in)."
➓ The peron who conitently perform the five prayer i among the truthful (iddiqeen) and the martyr (huhada).
Hazrat Amr bin Murta al-Juhani رضي الله عنه narrate that a peron came to the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and aid: O Meenger of Allah! What i your opinion if I tetify that there i no deity except Allah and that you are the Meenger of Allah, and beide thi, I continue to perform the five prayer, pay zakat, and fat during Ramadan and alo tand in prayer during it, then among which people will I be?
The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم aid: (( مِنَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ)) "You will be among the truthful and the martyr."
Prayer i the coolne of the eye and the peace of the heart
Hazrat Ana رضي الله عنه narrate that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم aid:
((حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا النِّسَاءُ , وَالطِّيبُ، وَجُعِلَ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاةِ ۔))
Reference: (unan an-Naa'i 3391)
"Two thing of thi world are dear to me: women and perfume. And the coolne of my eye i placed in prayer."
And the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), while ordering Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleaed with him) to call for the prayer, aid:
((يَا بِلَالُ ، أَقِمْ الصَّلَاةَ أَرِحْنَا بِهَا ))
Reference: (unan Abi Dawood: 4985)
"O Bilal! Call for the prayer and bring u comfort through it."
Now let u liten to Allah' intruction regarding thoe who wate prayer, are lazy in performing them, delay them unnecearily, or completely abandon them.
Allah Almighty warn thoe who wate prayer with the threat of Hellfire a follow:
﴿فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا ﴿٥٩﴾
Reference: (urah Maryam 59)
"Then after them, their worthle offpring ucceeded them, who neglected prayer and followed their deire; oon they will face detruction (or they will find a place in the valley of Hellfire)."
Hazrat Abdullah bin Ma'ud (may Allah be pleaed with him) ay about ( غیّ ):
((وَھُوَ نَھْرٌ فِيْ جَھَنَّمَ،خَبِیْثُ الطَّعْمِ،بَعِیْدُ الْقَعْرِ))
Reference: (Kitab al-alat by Ibn al-Qayyim, p. 40)
"There i a river in Hell whoe tate i extremely foul and it depth i very great."
Regarding thoe who pray without oberving the precribed time of the prayer and perform them according to their own wihe, Allah Almighty ay:
﴿ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ ﴿٥﴾
Reference: (urah Al-Ma'un 4 to 5)
"Then woe to thoe who pray, but are heedle of their prayer."
In thee vere, Allah Almighty ha warned thoe worhipper of detruction and ruin (or a valley of Hell) who do pray but do not care about the precribed time, ometime performing it on time and ometime not. Therefore, thee bleed vere hould erve a a leon for thoe whoe habit i alway to delay prayer, epecially Fajr, Dhuhr, and Ar prayer, which they alway perform at the lat moment or ometime after the time ha paed!!
Regarding the fate of thoe who do not pray on the Day of Judgment, Allah Almighty ay:
﴿فِي جَنَّاتٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ ﴿٤٠﴾ عَنِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٤١﴾ مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ ﴿٤٢﴾ قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤٣﴾
Reference: (urah Al-Muddathir 40 to 43)
"They will ak the criminal in the garden, 'What caued you to enter Hell?' They will ay, 'We were not of thoe who prayed.'"
In thee bleed vere, Allah Almighty inform that when the people of Paradie will ak the people of Hell what deed led them to Hell, they will mention their firt and foremot in: that they did not pray. Thi prove that not praying i an act that lead to Hell, may Allah protect u.
Allah, Glorified and Exalted, ha mentioned thoe who are negligent in performing prayer among ome characteritic of hypocrite. Allah' command i:
﴿الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿١٤٢﴾
Reference: (urah An-Nia 142)
’’Thee hypocrite deceive Allah, but He i the one who deceive them in return. And when they tand for prayer, they tand lazily, only to be een by people, and they hardly remember Allah.‘‘
The bleed vere we have jut mentioned give a evere warning to thoe who neglect prayer or are lazy in performing it. The reaon i that deliberately abandoning prayer i dibelief and a great in. A the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) aid:
بَيْنَ الْعَبْدِ وَبَيْنَ الْكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
Reference: (Ibn Majah 1078)
The difference between a peron and dibelief i abandoning prayer. In the narration of unan Tirmidhi, the word are a follow:
بَيْنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالْإِيمَانِ تَرْكُ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
Reference: (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2618)
’’The difference between dibelief and faith i abandoning prayer.‘‘
Hazrat Abu Mua Al-Ah'ari (may Allah be pleaed with him) reported that the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) aid:
الْعَهْدُ الَّذِي بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمُ الصَّلَاةُ، فَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ”.
Reference: ( Ibn Majah 1079 )
"There i a covenant of prayer between u and them (the dibeliever), o whoever abandon it ha certainly committed dibelief."
Imam Abu Abdullah Al-Marwazi, may Allah have mercy on him, ay:
"Allah Almighty ha iued a evere warning againt abandoning prayer and ha emphaized through the word of Hi Prophet, peace be upon him, that the one who abandon prayer goe out of faith. Moreover, among the deed of ervant, no act other than prayer ha been mentioned a a ign ditinguihing dibelief from faith. That i, prayer alone ha been made the ign to differentiate between the two."
And Hazrat Abdullah bin haqiq Al-Aqili, may Allah be pleaed with him, tate:
كَانَ أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَرَوْنَ شَيْئًا مِنْ الْأَعْمَالِ تَرْكُهُ كُفْرٌ غَيْرَ الصَّلَاةِ ۔
Reference: ( Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2622 )
"The companion of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not conider the abandonment of any deed a dibelief except for prayer."
Imam Mundhiri, may Allah have mercy on him, ay that the tance of the Companion of the Prophet, may Allah be pleaed with them, and a group of the righteou predeceor who came after them i that a peron who deliberately abandon a prayer until it time pae i a dibeliever. Among them are Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Ma'ud, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abba, Hazrat Mu'adh ibn Jabal, Hazrat Jabir ibn Abdullah, Hazrat Abu Darda, may Allah be pleaed with them, and among the noble Imam, may Allah have mercy on them, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ihaq ibn Rahwayh, Abdullah ibn Mubarak, Nakha'i, Hukm ibn Utaybah, Ayub ukhiyani, Abu Dawood Tiyalii, Abu Bakr ibn Abi haybah, and Zuhair ibn Harb, among other, are epecially notable.
From all thee evidence, it i proven that deliberately abandoning prayer i dibelief, and the Companion of the Prophet, may Allah be pleaed with them, alo conidered it dibelief. That i why Allah Almighty ha warned of a very evere punihment for the one who abandon it, a we have already mentioned.
And Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleaed with him) narrate that a peron came to the Meenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and aid: O Meenger of Allah! Tell me of an action that if I perform it, I will enter Paradie? The Prophet (peace be upon him) aid:
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 aociate partner with Allah, even if you are punihed and burned. And continue to obey your parent, even if they expel you from your wealth and everything you have. And never deliberately abandon prayer, becaue whoever deliberately abandon prayer, Allah diaociate Himelf from him."
Thi emphatic command wa given by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himelf to Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه and alo to Hazrat Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها. The punihment that the Prophet ﷺ aw in a dream for a peron who neglect the obligatory prayer, liten to it in the word of the Prophet ﷺ himelf.
Hazrat amurah bin Jundub (RA) narrate that when the Meenger of Allah (ﷺ) finihed the prayer, he would turn toward u and ak, "Who among you ha een a dream tonight?" If anyone had een a dream, he would narrate it, and the Prophet (ﷺ) would interpret it. Then one day, the Prophet (ﷺ) aked the ame quetion a uual, and we replied, "No, we have not een any dream." He (ﷺ) aid, "But I aw a dream tonight, and it i thi: Two men came to me, they lifted me up and aid, 'Come.' o I went with them. We came to a man who wa lying flat on hi back on a cuhion, and a man wa tanding near him holding a tone, cruhing hi head with it. Whenever he truck the tone on hi head, the tone would roll away. And by the time he picked it up and came back, hi head would have rejoined and returned to it original tate. Then he would do the ame to him again. I aked thoe two men, 'ubhanAllah! Who are thee two men?' They aid, 'Come forward.' o we went forward..." They aid:
أَمَّا الرَّجُلُ الْأَوَّلُ الَّذِي أَتَيْتَ عَلَيْهِ يُثْلَغُ رَأْسُهُ بِالْحَجَرِ فَإِنَّهُ الرَّجُلُ يَأْخُذُ الْقُرْآنَ فَيَرْفُضُهُ وَيَنَامُ عَنْ الصَّلَاةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ ۔
Reference: ( ahih al-Bukhari 7047 )
Meaning: "The firt peron whoe head wa being cruhed wa the one who ued to recite the Quran but did not act upon it and ued to leep through the obligatory prayer."
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, ay:
"There i no diagreement among Mulim that deliberately abandoning the obligatory prayer i among the major in, and it in i greater in the ight of Allah than killing, robbery, adultery, and drinking alcohol. The one who abandon prayer i under Allah' dipleaure, punihment, and digrace in thi world and the Hereafter. Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleaed with him, ued to record all hi deed and aid: 'In my view, your mot important deed i prayer, becaue whoever maintain it preerve hi religion. And whoever neglect it i more likely to neglect the other obligation of Ilam. And the peron who abandon prayer ha no hare in Ilam.'"
We pray to Allah Almighty to grant u all the ability to adhere to the mot important duty of Ilam and to alway perform it with commitment. Ameen
Dear repected one! In the firt ermon, you litened to ome remark about the gift of Mi'raj, that i, the obligation, importance, and virtue of the five prayer, in the light of the Quran and Hadith. imilarly, you alo heard how great a in it i to deliberately abandon prayer and what the hariah ruling i regarding one who abandon prayer. And when we ae the condition of ordinary Mulim, we find that many Mulim are either completely neglectful of thi religiou duty... and uch people are certainly on a very dangerou path and they hould immediately repent and eek to pleae Allah... or they are not completely neglectful, but they perform it according to their own wihe, ometime praying all the prayer, ometime praying ome and leaving other, ometime praying on time and ometime not, ometime going to the moque to pray in congregation and ometime praying at home without any hariah excue. uch people hould alo immediately change thi behavior and it i obligatory upon them to perform all the prayer in congregation at their precribed time.
It i alo oberved that many Mulim perform the other prayer on time, but their Fajr prayer i wated in bed, and imilarly the Ar prayer a well. While the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ pecifically gave the glad tiding of Paradie to the peron who alway perform thee two prayer on time.
Hazrat Abu Mua Al-Ah'ari رضي الله عنه narrate that the Meenger of Allah ﷺ aid:
مَنْ صَلَّى البَرْدَيْنِ دَخَلَ الجَنَّةَ ۔
Reference: (ahih al-Bukhari 574)
"Whoever pray the two cool prayer (Fajr and Ar) will enter Paradie."
He alo aid:
لَنْ يَلِجَ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ صَلَّى قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ ، وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا – يَعْنِي الْفَجْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ ۔
Reference: (ahih Mulim 634)
"The peron who pray before unrie and before unet will never enter Hell," meaning the one who conitently perform the Fajr and Ar prayer on time.
And regarding the peron who leep at the time of Fajr prayer, we have already mentioned a dream of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the previou ermon, in which he aw that peron' head being cruhed, may Allah protect u.
A for the one who abandon the Ar prayer, the Meenger of Allah ﷺ aid:
الَّذِي تَفُوتُهُ صَلاَةُ العَصْرِ، كَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ ۔
Reference: ( ahih al-Bukhari 552 )
"Whoever mie the Ar prayer, it i a if hi family and wealth have been taken away from him."
In another narration, it i aid:
مَنْ تَرَكَ صَلاَةَ العَصْرِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ ۔
Reference: ( ahih al-Bukhari 553 )
"Whoever abandon the Ar prayer, all hi deed become void."
And ome people are negligent about the Iha and Fajr prayer, while the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ aid about the hypocrite that thee two prayer are extremely heavy upon them.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrate that the Meenger of Allah (PBUH) aid:
إِنَّ أَثْقَلَ صَلَاةٍ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلَاةُ الْعِشَاءِ وَصَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا ۔۔۔۔
Reference: (Muttafaqun Alayh)
"Indeed, the heaviet prayer for the hypocrite are the Iha and Fajr prayer. And if they knew the reward in them, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl on their knee..."
Therefore, it i not befitting for a believer to conider thee prayer burdenome and be lazy in them, rather they hould regard them a a mean to attain nearne to Allah and a caue of alvation for themelve, and perit in them. Allah the Exalted ay:
﴿وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾ الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ ﴿٤٦﴾
Reference: (45 to 46)
"eek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, prayer i 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 include u among thoe humble ervant who, believing in the meeting with Allah, give full attention to performing the mot important duty of Ilam after Tawheed (prayer) and continue to perform it alway. Ameen
