Unlocking the Power of Prayer: Virtues, Rewards, and Secrets of Salah

Authored by: Abu Ammar Umar Farooq Saeedi (Hafizahullah)

Actions Depend on Intentions​

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Indeed, actions are judged based on intentions, and every person will have what he intended."

(Agreed Upon - Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

Intention is a matter of the heart. A person should stand before their Lord with full concentration and a sincere heart, focused on worship. Verbalizing the intention is not established as a practice from the Prophet (ﷺ) or his Companions. Doing so is considered an innovation (bid’ah).

Prayers as Expiation of Sins​

It is narrated from Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"The five daily prayers, and from one Friday prayer to the next, are an expiation for whatever comes in between them, as long as major sins are avoided."
(Sahih Muslim)

In another version, it is mentioned:

"...and from one Ramadan to the next."

Prayers Elevate Ranks and Forgive Sins​

Ma’dan bin Abi Talha narrates that he met Thawban (رضي الله عنه), a servant of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and asked him about a deed that would grant him entry into Paradise, or as per another narration, a deed that would be most beloved to Allah. Thawban remained silent initially, but upon the third request, he replied:

"You should prostrate often to Allah, for you will not make a prostration except that Allah will raise you a degree and remove a sin from you."
(Sahih Muslim)

Ma’dan mentioned that he then met Abu al-Darda’ (رضي الله عنه) and asked the same question, and he gave the same reply.

Prayers Lead to the Intercession and Companionship of the Prophet (ﷺ)​

Rabi’ah bin Ka’b Aslami (رضي الله عنه) narrates that he used to stay with the Prophet (ﷺ) at night to serve him. On one occasion, he brought water for the Prophet (ﷺ), who then said:

"Ask (what you wish)."

Rabi’ah replied, "I ask for your companionship in Paradise." The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"Is there anything else?"
He replied, "That is all I want." The Prophet (ﷺ) then said:

"Then help me in your request by making many prostrations."
(Sahih Muslim)

Walking to the Mosque Elevates One’s Status​

Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever purifies himself in his house, then walks to one of the houses of Allah (the mosques) to perform an obligatory prayer, each step he takes erases a sin and elevates him a degree."
(Sahih Muslim)

An Example of Purity and Cleanliness​

It is narrated from Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:

"If there were a river at the door of one of you and he bathed in it five times a day, would any dirt remain on him?"

The Companions said, "No, nothing of his dirt would remain."

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"That is the example of the five daily prayers, through which Allah erases sins."
(Agreed Upon - Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

Attending the Mosque is a Key to Paradise​

In Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning or evening, Allah prepares for him a place in Paradise every time he goes."
(Agreed Upon)

Prayer as a Light​

Abu Malik Ash’ari (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Purity is half of faith, saying 'Alhamdulillah' fills the scale, and saying 'Subhanallah' and 'Alhamdulillah' fill what is between the heavens and the earth. Prayer is a light, charity is proof, patience is illumination, and the Qur'an is an argument for or against you."

(Sahih Muslim)

The Virtue of Praying at the Beginning of Its Time​

It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) that he asked the Prophet (ﷺ):

"Which deed is most beloved to Allah?"

The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:

"Praying at its proper time."

He asked, "Then which one?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Being good to parents."

He asked, "Then which one?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Striving in the way of Allah."
(Agreed Upon)

The Reward of Praying in Congregation​

Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"The prayer in congregation is twenty-five times more rewarding than the prayer offered alone."
(Sahih Muslim)

Another narration by Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما) mentions the reward as twenty-seven times. Imam Tirmidhi (رحمه الله) explains that most narrations mention twenty-five, but Ibn Umar reported twenty-seven.

The Virtue of the Sunnah Prayers of Fajr​

Aisha (رضي الله عنها) narrates that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"The two (Sunnah) rak’ahs of Fajr are better than this world and all that it contains."

(Sahih Muslim)

In another narration, it is mentioned that the Prophet (ﷺ) would not pray any other voluntary prayer as swiftly as he prayed the Sunnah of Fajr.

The Virtue of Observing the Prayers of Fajr and Asr​

Amara bin Ru’baya (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"No one who prays before the rising of the sun and before its setting (i.e., Fajr and Asr) will enter the Fire."

(Sahih Muslim)

Abu Musa Ash'ari (رضي الله عنه) also narrates that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever prays the two cool times (Fajr and Asr) will enter Paradise."

(Sahih Muslim)

The Significance of Tahajjud​

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the prayer at night."

(Sahih Muslim)

Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"When a person sleeps, Satan ties three knots at the back of his head, saying at each knot, 'You have a long night, so sleep.' If the person wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone. If he performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and if he prays, all the knots are undone, and he wakes up energetic and in a good mood; otherwise, he wakes up sluggish and lazy."

(Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

Tahajjud's Best Time​

Masruq (رحمه الله) narrates that he asked Aisha (رضي الله عنها) about the deeds most beloved to the Prophet (ﷺ), to which she replied:

"Those that are consistent and regular."

(Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
 
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