By Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya

The Need to Perform Salât Based on the Qur’an  and the Sunnah

Every one of us who hopes for Allâh’s eternal reward should perform Salât in accordance with Allâh’s injunctions in the Qur’an  and the Sunnah of His Messenger . For our guidance, Allâh commands us to believe and obey His Messenger (3:31-32, 4:170 and 47:33). Allâh tells us that he who obeys His Messenger obeys Him (4:80). He sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religions (61:9). Therefore, we have to pray the way Prophet Muhammad performed Salât. For our guidance on how to pray based on the Qur’an  and the Sunnah, we should read the booklet written by Sheikh Abdul-Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz (1995) entitled, “Salât According to the Manners of Prophet Muhammad .”

In an authentic Hâdîth collected by Imam Bukhâri, it was reported that Allâh’s Messenger said:

“Perform your prayers in the same manner you have seen me doing.”

It is for our own guidance that we perform properly the five obligatory prayers based on the Sunnah. We have to pray at their right times (4:103) and with utmost sincerity to Allâh. Allâh dislikes those worshippers who are heedless of their prayers. Our Creator says:

“So woe to the worshippers, those who are neglectful of their prayers, those who (want but) to be seen.” (107: 4-6)

Allâh inspires us to (strictly) guard our prayers with an everlasting reward ¾  Paradise where we will dwell therein forever.  To reiterate, Allâh the Most High says:

“Successful indeed are the believers, ¾  those who humble themselves in their prayers... and who (strictly) guard their prayers. These will be the heirs, who will inherit Paradise. They will dwell therein forever.” (23:9-11)

The following are some of the Ahâdîth that should further inspire us to pray properly and regularly on time:

‘Abdullâh bin Mas‘ûd narrated “I asked the Prophet , which deed is dearest to Allâh? He replied, “To offer the Salât (prayers) at their early fixed times.” I asked, “What is the next (in goodness)?” He replied, “To be good and dutiful to your parents.” I again asked, “What is the next (in goodness)?” He replied, “To participate in Jihâd (religious fighting) in Allâh’s cause.” (Bukhâri, 1/505)

Abu Qatadah ibn Rab'I narrated that the Prophet said,  “Almighty Allâh said: ‘I have made five times prayer obligatory on your people and I made a guarantee that if anyone observes them regularly at their right times, I shall admit him to Paradise. If anyone does not observe them regularly, there is no such guarantee of Mine for him.’” (Abû Dâwûd, 430)  

Besides the prescribed five obligatory prayers, there are Sunnah prayers (Rawâtib) which are also recommended and beneficial for us to offer. These consist of twelve Rak‘ah prayers which are performed before/or after obligatory prayers (i.e., 2 Rak‘ah before Fajr, 4 Rak‘ah before Zuhr and 2 after, 2 Rak‘ah after Maghrib and 2 Rak‘ah after ‘Ishâ). The Prophet performed these prayers regularly. For our own benefit, we have to perform them. Allâh’s Messenger said:

 Um Habibah narrated that Allah’s Messenger said, "Whoever prays optionally twelve Rak‘ah every one day and night, Allâh will reward them by an established dwelling in Paradise.” (Bukhâri and Muslim 1579 & 1/1581)

“The first thing that a slave will be taken to account for on the day of Judgment will be his prayer. If it is complete, he will have been victorious and successful. If it is lacking, he will have failed and lost. And if something is missing from his obligatory Salât, Allâh will say: “Look and say if My slave has voluntary prayers. And his obligatory prayers that are lacking or incomplete will be completed by these.” (Tirmidhi)

In addition to Rawâtib prayers is the Witr. Witr which means “odd” is a single Rak‘ah prayer. It is performed after the evening ‘Ishâ prayer, right after the performance of the 2 Rak‘ah Rawâtib prayer in the evening until daybreak or before the Fajr prayer. We should make the necessary effort to perform it as it is a duty according to the Prophet .   He said:

“The Witr is a duty, so he who does not observe it is not of us.” (Abû Dâwûd 1/1414)

Another important Sunnah prayer is Tahajjud ¾   the prayer between ‘Ishâ and Fajr. Tahajjud consists of two to thirteen Rak‘ah, the thirteenth being the Witr prayer. It is preferably offered in the last third hours of the night. Allâh praises those who habitually sleep little at night praying for forgiveness. He says:  

 “As to the righteous, they will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs, taking joy in the things which their Rabb gives them, because, before then, they have done good deeds. They were in the habit of sleeping but little by night. And in the hours of early dawn they (were found) praying for forgiveness.” (51:15-18)

We should try to make it a practice to perform Tahajjud in its prescribed time. Our Creator answers invocation, when done sincerely, during Tahajjud prayer. Allâh’s Messenger said:

 “Our Rabb, the Blessed, the Superior, comes down every night to the nearest heaven to us during the last third of the night and He says: (Is there anyone) who invokes Me, (demands anything from Me) so that I may respond to his invocation? (Is there anyone) who asks Me for something so that I may grant him his request? (Is there anyone) who seeks My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?’” (Bukhâri 2/246)

Another Sunnah that we should remember in praying is congregational Salât. The Prophet encourages it. According to him:

“The congregational Salât is twenty-seven times superior in degrees to the Salât (prayer) offered by a person alone.” (Bukhâri 1/618)

Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger said, “The congregational prayer of anyone amongst you is more than twenty five (or twenty seven) times in reward than his prayer in the market or in his house; for if he performs ablution completely and then goes to the mosque with the sole intention of performing the prayer, and nothing urges him to proceed to the mosque except the prayer, then, on every step which he takes towards the mosque, he will be raised one degree or one of his sins will be forgiven. The angels will keep on asking Allah’s forgiveness and blessings for everyone of you so long as he keeps sitting at his praying place. The angels will say, 'O Allah, bless him! O Allah, be merciful to him!' as long as he does not do Hadath or a thing which gives trouble to the other.” The Prophet further said, “One is regarded in prayer so long as one is waiting for the prayer.”  (Bukhari 3:330)

Congregational prayer in the mosque is permissible for women but their prayer in their respective homes is more rewarded. According to the Prophet :

“Do not forbid the female slaves of Allâh from the mosques. Yet their prayer at home is better for them.” (Abû Dâwûd, 1/566)

They should, however, wear Hijâb (dress modestly and conceal their beauty) and not use perfume. The Prophet said:

 “If any of you women come out to go to the mosque, you should not touch perfume.” (Muslim1/893)

The following Ahâdîth should inspire men (from the time they reached the age of Tameez) to perform Salât in the mosque:

“For him who goes to the mosque (every) morning and in the afternoon ( for the congregational ) Salât Allâh will prepare an honorable place in Paradise with good hospitality for (what he has done) every morning and afternoon goings.” (Bukhâri, 1/631)

“Allâh will give shade to seven (types of persons) on the Day when there would be no shade but His. (These types of persons are:) 1. A just ruler, 2. A youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allâh (i.e., worships Allâh Alone sincerely from his childhood), 3. A person whose heart is attached to the mosque (i.e., who offers the five compulsory congregational prayers in the mosque), 4. Two persons who love each other only for Allâh’s sake and they meet and part for Allâh’s cause only, 5. A man who refuses the call of a charming woman of a noble birth for illegal sexual intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allâh, 6. A person who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e., nobody knows how much he has given in charity), and 7. A person who remembers Allâh in seclusion and his eyes become flooded with tears.” (Bukhâri, 1/629)

Indeed, all the teachings from the Qur’an  and the Sunnah pertaining to Salât bring benefits and rewards to all Muslims who follow them.  For our eternal success, it is a must that we properly perform Salât based on the divine teachings.