This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
Allah Almighty's noble command is:
﴿إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا﴾
"Indeed, Muslim men and Muslim women, believing men and believing women, obedient men and obedient women, truthful men and truthful women, patient men and patient women, charitable men and charitable women, fasting men and fasting women, men who guard their private parts and women who do so, and men who remember Allah often and women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward."
Reference: (33-Al-Ahzab:35)
In this verse, Allah Almighty has promised Muslim men and women forgiveness of sins in this world and a great reward in the Hereafter, i.e., Paradise. He has mentioned these qualities which are essential in a young person's life. Those people (men or women) who submit humbly to Allah's command, sincerely believe in all pillars of faith, consistently worship and serve Allah, are truthful in their words and actions, meaning they avoid hypocrisy, patiently endure trials, calamities, and hardships in the worship of Allah, whose hearts and limbs are always humbled before Allah's majesty and greatness, spend on the poor and needy who have no means of livelihood, observe obligatory and voluntary fasts which lead to piety and awaken compassion for the hungry and thirsty in their hearts, guard their private parts, meaning they are neither naked nor commit adultery, and remember their Allah day and night in their hearts and with their tongues."
Reference: (Taysir ar-Rahman: 2/1188)
At another place, it is stated:
﴿ وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ﴾
"And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]."
Reference: (2-Al-Baqarah:45)
Meaning, prayer is not at all burdensome for those servants who maintain humility; rather, they consider it a means to meet Allah, await it to attain nearness to Allah, and perform prayer with utmost humility and submissiveness:
﴿فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ . الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ . الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ. وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ.﴾
"So woe to those who pray but are heedless of their prayer, those who make show [of their deeds]."
Reference: (107-Al-Ma'un:4-7)
These verses mention those people for whom prayer is burdensome; they do not perform it with humility and submissiveness, rather they commit hypocrisy. For such people, there is destruction and ruin. Success will be attained only by those who maintain humility and submissiveness in their prayers.
Thus, it is stated:
﴿قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ . الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ .﴾
"Certainly, the believers have succeeded who are humble in their prayers."
Reference: (23-Al-Mu’minun:1-2)
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubada bin As-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
Allah has made five prayers obligatory; whoever performs ablution well for these prayers and performs them with complete bowing and humility, Allah promises to forgive him. And whoever does not do so, Allah has made no promise of forgiveness for him; He may forgive him or punish him as He wills.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Prayer, Chapter on Maintaining the Times of Prayers, No: 425 -
Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it authentic.Imam Tawus (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "I have not seen any worshipper like Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) who took care to face the Qiblah completely with his face, hands, and feet."
Reference: Seer A'lam an-Nubala: 235/3
Imam Mujahid said: Sayyiduna Ibn al-Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them), when he stood for prayer, it seemed as if he was a pillar (i.e., he prayed with complete calmness and concentration). And he said that my grandfather Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) also prayed in the same manner."
Reference: Seer A'lam an-Nubala: 368/3
