The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى
“Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will get what he intended.”
Intention is an act of the heart. With mental and heartfelt focus, a person should maintain a presence before his Lord and a firm resolve for His servitude. For this purpose, verbally uttering words from the tongue is not proven from the Sunnah of the Prophet or the Companions… rather, it is an innovation.
Prayers serve as expiation for sins
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
الصَّلاةُ الْخَمْسُ، وَالْجُمْعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمْعَةِ، كَفَّارَةٌ لِمَا بَيْنَهُنَّ، مَا لَمْ تُغْشَ الْكَبَائِرُ
“The five prayers and one Friday prayer serve as expiation for what is between them, provided major sins are avoided.”
وفي لفظ – وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ
“There is also a narration from one Ramadan to the next Ramadan.”
Ranks are elevated and sins are forgiven through prayers
Madan bin Abi Talha says that I met the servant of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Hazrat Thawban رضي الله عنه, and asked him to tell me an act through which Allah Almighty would admit me to Paradise… or in another narration… to tell me the act which is most beloved to Allah Almighty… Hazrat Thawban رضي الله عنه remained silent. I asked again, but he remained silent. When I asked a third time, he replied that he had also asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ this question, and the Prophet ﷺ said:
عَلَيْكَ بِكَثْرَةِ السُّجُودِ لِلَّهِ، فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَسْجُدُ لِلَّهِ سَجْدَةً، إِلَّا رَفَعَكَ اللَّهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةً وَحَطَّ عَنْكَ بِهَا خَطِيئَةً
“Perform many prostrations for the sake of Allah. Whenever you prostrate, Allah will raise your rank by one degree and forgive one sin.”
Madan narrates that after hearing this from Hazrat Thawban, I met another companion, Hazrat Abu Darda رضي الله عنه, and asked him the same question, and he gave me the same answer that Hazrat Thawban had given.
Prayer is the cause of the intercession and companionship of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
Hazrat Rabi’ah bin Ka’b Aslami, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that I used to stay with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, at night in his service. On one occasion, I brought water to him for ablution. He, peace be upon him, was very pleased and said: “Ask, what do you want?” I said: “I want your companionship and fellowship in Paradise.” He, peace be upon him, said: “Say something else.” I said: “This is my question and demand!” Then he, peace be upon him, said:
فَأَعِنِّي عَلَى نَفْسِكَ، بِكَثْرَةِ السُّجُودِ
“Help me with many prostrations for this purpose of yours!”
(This hadith is from the individuals among the Muslims, and there is no other narration from Hazrat Rabi’ah, may Allah be pleased with him, in “Sahih” besides this.)
Every step of a praying person is a cause for elevation in ranks
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
مَنْ تَطَهَّرَ فِي بَيْتِهِ، ثُمَّ مَشَى إِلَى بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللَّهِ لِيَقْضِيَ فَرِيضَةً مِنْ فَرَائِضِ اللَّهِ، كَانَتْ خَطْوَتَاهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَحُطُّ خَطِيئَةً، وَالأُخْرَى تَرْفَعُ دَرَجَةً
“Whoever performs ablution at his home and then goes to one of the houses of Allah (i.e., a mosque) to perform a duty, then one step of his is a cause for forgiveness of sins and the other is a cause for elevation in ranks.”
An excellent example of purity and cleanliness
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say:
“If a person has a canal flowing in front of his door and he bathes in it five times a day, will any dirt remain on his body?” The companions replied, “No, absolutely not.” Then the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Similarly, the example of the five prayers is that Allah completely forgives sins through them.”
Attendance at the mosque… an invitation to Paradise
It is narrated in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرَاحَ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُزُلَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ كُلَّمَا غَدَا أَوْ رَاحَ
“Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning or evening, Allah prepares a feast for him in Paradise. Whenever he goes to the mosque, these blessings will be prepared for him.”
Prayer is a light
It is narrated from Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Ablution and cleanliness are half of faith.” Saying “Alhamdulillah” fills the scale. The remembrance of “SubhanAllah walhamdulillah” fills the space between the earth and the heavens. “Prayer” is light. “Charity” is proof. “Patience” is illumination, and the “Quran” is an argument and evidence, either in your favor or against you! All people wake up in the morning and engage in their own trade, and in this trade, some free themselves while others destroy themselves.
(The narrator of the hadith named “Abu Malik” has variations in his name. The names Amr, Ubaid, or Ka’b have been reported.)
The Virtue of Praying at the Earliest Time
In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, it is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I asked the Prophet (peace be upon him):
Which deed is most beloved to Allah Almighty? The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “Performing the prayer on time.”
I asked: Then which deed? He said: Good treatment of parents. I asked: After that, which deed? He said: Jihad in the way of Allah.
Hazrat Abdullah says that the Prophet (peace be upon him) told me these deeds, and if I had asked more, he would have told me more.
The Virtue of Congregational Prayer
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Beloved Prophet (PBUH) said:
صَلَاةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ، أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلَاةِ أَحَدِكُمْ وَحْدَهُ، بِخَمْسَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ جُزْءًا
“Performing prayer in congregation is twenty-five times more virtuous than praying alone.”
In the narration of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA), it is mentioned that it is twenty-seven times more virtuous. Imam Tirmidhi (RA) states that the common narration is twenty-five, but Abdullah bin Umar (RA) narrates twenty-seven.
Scholars have explained the difference in meaning between the words “Juz'” (part) and “Darjah” (degree) in the hadith, stating that “Darjah” is smaller than “Juz'”.
The Virtue of Fajr Sunnah Prayers
It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA) that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ، خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا
“The two Sunnah Rak’ahs of Fajr are greater than the world and all that is in it.”
In another narration, it is mentioned that the Prophet (PBUH) did not hastily perform any other voluntary prayers except the Sunnah prayers of Fajr.
The Virtue of Performing Fajr and Asr Prayers Punctually
It is narrated from Hazrat Amarah bin Rabi’ah (RA) that I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:
لَنْ يَلِجَ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ صَلَّى، قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ، وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا، يَعْنِي الْفَجْرَ، وَالْعَصْرَ
“The person who prays before the sun rises and before it sets will never enter the fire.” That is, the one who observes the Fajr and Asr prayers punctually.
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Musa Ash’ari (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
مَنْ صَلَّى الْبَرْدَيْنِ، دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
“The person who prays the two cool times will enter Paradise.” (Meaning the Fajr and Asr prayers.)
Description of Duha (Forenoon) Prayer
Hazrat Abu Warda رضي الله عنه narrates that:
أَوْصَانِي حَبِيبِي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِثَلَاثٍ، لَنْ أَدَعَهُنَّ مَا عِشْتُ، بِصِيَامِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، وَصَلَاةِ الضُّحَى، وَبِأَنْ لَا أَنَامَ حَتَّى أُوتِرَ
“My beloved ﷺ advised me to never abandon three deeds throughout my life. First, to fast three days every month, second, to perform the Duha prayer, and third, not to sleep without offering Witr.”
Similarly, it is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that:
أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِثَلَاثٍ، بِصِيَامِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، وَرَكْعَتَيِ الضُّحَى، وَأَنْ أُوتِرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَرْقُدَ
“My Khalil ﷺ advised me to fast three days every month, to pray two rak’ahs of Duha, and to offer Witr before sleeping.”
The two Rak’ahs of Duha (forenoon prayer) suffice as charity for wealth
Hazrat Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Prophet (peace be upon him):
يُصْبِحُ عَلَى كُلِّ سُلَامَى مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ صَدَقَةٌ، فَكُلُّ تَسْبِيحَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَكُلُّ تَحْمِيدَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَكُلُّ تَهْلِيلَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَكُلُّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَأَمْرٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ صَدَقَةٌ، وَنَهْيٌ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ صَدَقَةٌ، وَيُجْزِئُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ رَكْعَتَانِ يَرْكَعُهُمَا مِنَ الضُّحَى
“Every day, charity is obligatory on every joint of a person among you. Saying SubhanAllah is charity, saying Alhamdulillah is charity, saying La ilaha illallah is charity, saying Allahu Akbar is charity.
Good speech and forbidding evil are charity, and all these deeds are sufficed by the two Rak’ahs of Duha.”
(A similar narration is also reported from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) in both Bukhari and Muslim.)
How many rak’ahs are there in the Duha (forenoon) prayer?
It has been mentioned above that Duha consists of two rak’ahs. However, the narration reported by Imam Muslim from Mu’adhah, Umm Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), states that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pray four rak’ahs of Duha and would sometimes increase according to what Allah willed.
It is narrated in Bukhari and Muslim that Hazrat Abdul Rahman bin Abi Layla (may Allah be pleased with him) said that no one told me about the Duha prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) except Umm Hani (may Allah be pleased with her). Umm Hani said that on the day of the conquest of Makkah, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to her house and prayed eight rak’ahs of Duha. She said that this was a very light prayer of his (peace be upon him). I have not seen any prayer lighter than this. However, the bowing and prostration were very perfect.
Salat al-Awwabin… and its time
Qasim bin Awf Shaybani narrates that Hazrat Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) saw some people praying the Duha prayer (these people were praying this prayer soon after the sun had risen) and he said: Do they not know that this prayer is more virtuous at another time? The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
صَلَاةُ الأَوَّابِينَ حِينَ تَرْمَضُ الْفِصَالُ
“The Awwaboon (i.e., obedient and worshipful people) pray at the time when the feet of the young camels begin to burn.” (That is, near noon)
(Some narrations mention six rak’ahs between Maghrib and Isha as Salat al-Awwabin, but these are exceptional cases. The correct and preferred view is that the prayer before noon is the true “Salat al-Awwabin”.)
The meaning of Awwab: One who turns to Allah very frequently – or obedient – one who glorifies – or merciful – or a learned jurist.
The virtue of Sunnah prayers before and after Zuhr
Hazrat Umm Habiba (may Allah be pleased with her) says that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say:
مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ رَكَعَاتٍ قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ وَأَرْبَعٍ بَعْدَهَا حَرَّمَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّارِ
“Whoever consistently prays four rak’ahs before and four rak’ahs after Zuhr, Allah will forbid the Fire for him.”
The virtue of praying twelve rak’ahs of Nafl day and night
Hazrat Umm Habiba (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that she heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say:
مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ يُصَلِّي لِلَّهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ ثِنْتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً تَطَوُّعًا غَيْرَ فَرِيضَةٍ، إِلَّا بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ
“Whoever, as a Muslim servant, prays twelve rak’ahs of Nafl every day besides the obligatory prayers, Allah will build a house for him in Paradise.”
The statement about Tahajjud
The virtue of Tahajjud: Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ، وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ
“After Ramadan, the best fasts are in the month of Muharram, and after the obligatory prayers, the best prayer is the night prayer.”
The breath of Satan becomes ineffective on the one who prays Tahajjud.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
“When one of you sleeps, Satan comes and ties three knots at the back of his neck, and in each knot he breathes these words: ‘The night is long, keep sleeping!’ So if the person wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; then when he performs ablution, the second knot is undone; and when he starts praying, the third knot is undone. Thus, he becomes very cheerful and happy in the morning. Otherwise, he remains very lazy, sluggish, and dull.”
There are several explanations by scholars regarding Satan tying these knots. One is that it is merely a metaphor and allegory.
The other opinion is that it actually happens in reality, and Satan ties these knots and breathes into them just as magicians do.
The Best Time for Tahajjud
Hazrat Masrooq (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that: What kind of deeds were most beloved to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)? She replied, “Consistent and regular deeds.” He said that I asked: At what time did the Prophet (peace be upon him) wake up at night? She said: When the rooster crowed.
Encouragement for Consistency in Tahajjud
Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said that once the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to me: “O Abdullah! Do not be like so-and-so. He used to pray at night but then abandoned it.”
Description of the Night Prayer of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ
The Sunnah number of Rak’ahs for Taraweeh in Ramadan
It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA) that: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not pray more than eleven Rak’ahs in Ramadan or outside Ramadan. First, he ﷺ would pray four Rak’ahs, whose length and beauty were beyond description! Then he would pray another four Rak’ahs, whose length and beauty were also remarkable! Then he would pray three Rak’ahs.
Hazrat Aisha (RA) says that I asked him ﷺ, ‘O Prophet! Do you sleep before Witr?’ He ﷺ replied, ‘Aisha! My eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep!’.”
In the narration of Janab Abu Qasim, it is stated that I heard Hazrat Aisha (RA) say, “The night prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is ten Rak’ahs and one Witr, and then he would perform two Sunnah Rak’ahs of Fajr. Thus, these make thirteen Rak’ahs.”
Prayer of Istikhara and Dua of Istikhara
It is narrated from Hazrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to teach us the prayer for seeking goodness (i.e., Istikhara) for all our affairs, just like any Surah of the Holy Quran.
That is, when someone faces a matter, they should pray two Rak’ahs and then recite this dua.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ قَالَ عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي
“O Allah, I seek goodness and benefit through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask for Your great favor. You are the Powerful, I am helpless; You know, and I do not know; and You are the Knower of the unseen.”
O Allah! If according to Your knowledge, my matter is good in religion, worldly affairs, and in its outcome — or in other words — it is better for my immediate or later circumstances, then decree it for me. And if according to Your knowledge, this matter of mine is not good in religion, worldly affairs, or in other words, for my immediate or later circumstances, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it. And decree for me goodness and benefit wherever it may be and make me content with it.
(In the place of هذا الامر in the dua, mention the name of your matter).
