http://www.wefound.org/ Your website to success through authentic knowledge of Islâm and Da'wah according to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah.
Success Through the Performance of Salât Based on the Qur’ân and the Sunnah
By
Dr. Norlain D. Mababaya
(Note:
This article is an excerpt from the author’s booklet “The Rationale and
Benefits of Salât” copyright and published by the Darusalam Publishers and
Distributors in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1998.)
Every one of us who hopes for Allâh’s eternal reward should perform Salât in accordance with Allâh’s injunctions in the Qur’ân and the Sunnah of His Messenger r. For our guidance, Allâh I commands us to believe and obey His Messenger r (Qur’ân 3:31-32, 4:170 and 47:33). Allâh I tells us that he who obeys His Messenger obeys Him (4:80). He I sent His Messenger r 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 r performed Salât. For our guidance on how to pray based on the Qur’ân 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 r.” In an authentic Hâdîth collected by Imam Bukhâri it was reported that Allâh’s Messenger r 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 I. Our Only Rabb and Creator I dislikes those worshippers who are heedless of their prayers. He I says:
“So woe to the worshippers, those who are neglectful of their prayers, those who (want but) to be seen.” (107: 4-6)
Allâh I inspires us to (strictly) guard our prayers with an everlasting reward ľ Paradise where we will dwell therein forever. To reiterate, Allâh the Most High says:
“Successful indeed are the believers, ľ 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‘űd t
narrated “I asked the Prophet r,
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
t
narrated that the Prophet r,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.’” (Abű
Dâwűd 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 r performed these prayers regularly. For our own benefit, we have to perform them. Allâh’s Messenger r said:
Um Habibah (RadhiAllahu anha) narrated that Allâh’s Messenger r 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 and 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 r. He r said:
“The Witr is a duty, so he who does not observe it is not of us.” (Abű Dâwűd 1/1414)
Another important Sunnah prayer is Tahajjud ľ 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 I 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 I answers invocation, when done sincerely, during Tahajjud prayer. Allâh’s Messenger r 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 r 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 Allâh
’s Messenger r
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 Allâh ’s forgiveness and blessings for everyone of
you so long as he keeps sitting at his praying place. The angels will say, 'O
Allâh , bless him! O Allâh , 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 r:
“Do not forbid the female slaves of Allâh from the mosques. Yet their prayer at home is better for them.” (Abű Dâwűd 1/566)
They should, however, wear Hijâb (dress modestly and conceal their beauty) and not use perfume. The Prophet r 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)
Knowing the rationale and benefits
of Salât, it is then best for us to strive hard to pray properly. We
have to pray in accordance with the Qur’ân
and Sunnah of the Prophet r.
It is a must that we must perform our Salât
perfectly we must take admonition
from the following Hâdîth:
Abu Qatada narrated that Allâh ’s Messengerr said: “The worst among people is one who commits theft in prayer.” They asked: “Allâh ’s Messenger, how does one commit theft in one’s prayer?” He said: “When he does not observe ruku' and sujud perfectly well.” (Tirmidhi 885 and Ahmad)
Every time we pray, we should focus our attention on Allâh I. We should pray wholeheartedly and sincerely to Him to seek His Pleasure and forgiveness. We have to remember that Allâh I has given us twenty-four hours a day and He only commands us to perform five times obligatory prayers that take only a total of approximately one hour. What is one hour (out of the twenty-four hours) of our time? Is it too much for us, if we devote also part of our time praying the optional Salât? Should we not be thankful to Allâh I Who is our Creator (2:29; 39:62), Cherisher and Sustainer (7:54)? Let not anyone (even our children) nor anything in this world distract us in our prayers to our Creator. Allâh I tells us:
“O you who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allâh. And whoever does that, then, surely they are the losers.” (63:9)
We should also guide our children to pray properly and on time. Their prayers (if accepted) will not only benefit them but also us. The Prophet r said:
“A man will be raised some degrees in Paradise and he will say, ‘For what reason I am receiving this?’ He will be told, ‘Because of your son asking forgiveness for you.’” (Bukhâri 1613)
For our own benefit, we have to be conscious of the time for prayers. Never should we miss any obligatory prayer without any valid reason acceptable to Allâh I. While Allâh I may forgive us for missing a prayer due to forgetfulness and sleep, let us be conscious of our major obligation. If before sleeping, we are not sure to wake up to pray on time, we have to set our alarm clock so we will not miss Salât. Our Creator makes it clear that those who missed prayers and followed lusts will meet with destruction, if they will not repent and believe and work righteousness (19:59-60).
Let us all strive to pray sincerely to Allâh I and pray that He will accept our prayers. We should remember that life in this world is temporary and nothing but play and amusement. The best is the Home in the Hereafter (6:32). We should pray to Allâh I that we remain true believers and righteous because He rewards the righteous believers the Gardens of Paradise as their final abode (25:15-16). They will therein enter peace and security (50:34). They shall have joy in all that they do. They and their associates will be in pleasant shade, reclining on raised couches; every kind of fruit will be there for them; they shall have whatever they call for (36:55-57). Allâh I will remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury. No sense of fatigue will touch them (15:47-48). Their faces will beam with brightness of bliss (83:24). The greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allâh, that is the supreme triumph (9:72). Allâh I will be pleased with them and they with Him (98:8).
Those, who feel lazy or preoccupied with worldly affairs and neglectful of their prayers, should be heedful of Allâh’s warning. They should fear the severity of the punishment of the Hell-fire. For the unbelievers, time has come that they should believe in Allâh and His Messenger r and perform Salât. They should reflect and ponder upon the many Signs of Allâh I (41:37). Allâh sent His Messengers with the commandment to worship Him, offering Him sincere devotion, being true in Faith (8:5). They should have faith in Allâh I and His Messenger r because Allâh the Almighty says:
“To Him is the word of truth. And those whom they call upon besides Him, hear them no more than one who stretches forth his hand for water to reach his mouth but it reaches him not, for the invocation of the unbelievers is nothing but an error.” (13:14)
In the Glorious Qur’ân, Allâh I tells us that the unbelievers will have terrible punishments in Hell-fire (18:1-6; 20:124; 36:63,64). They will forever suffer tribulations after tribulations in furious, blazing fire (4:56, 14:49-51 and 22:19-22) and a boiling water (56:42). Their skins will be roasted and renewed (4:45). They will neither die nor live (20:74). They will taste the boiling fluid and a fluid dark, murky, intensely cold. They will suffer other penalties of a similar kind to match them (38:56-58). They shall have no portion in the Hereafter, nor will Allâh I (deign to) speak to them or look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He cleanse them (of sin); they shall have a grievous chastisement (3:77). They will never see Allâh I, for He will make them blind on the Day of Judgment. Allâh I makes it very clear that those who were blind in this world (of the Qur’ân as the Truth from Him) will be blind in the Hereafter (17:72).
Non-Muslims should think of the invitation to accept Islâm as an invitation to the best religion and the best way of life. Verily, Islâm is the light from Allâh I (39:22). Allâh the Exalted makes it very clear that the only religion acceptable to Him is Islâm . He says:
“The religion before Allâh is Islâm (submission to His Will). Nor did the People of the Book (i.e., the Jews and the Christians) dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But whoever denies the Signs of Allâh, Allâh is swift in calling to account.” (3:19)
“And whoever desires a religion other than Islâm (submission to Allâh), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).” (3:85)
From the above Qur’ân ic
injunctions, we can conclude that any form of worship that does not conform to
Islâm is not valid. Any prayer outside Islâm ic teachings becomes
useless because Allâh I
will never accept it. In order to obtain Allâh’s mercy and be
successful, we must obey Allâh I
and His Messenger r
(3:130-132). We must worship Allâh I
to the best we can and enjoin the same religious duty to others or at least to
our respective children and relatives. For
our success, let us take guidance from the following authentic Ahâdîth:
Imran bin Husain t narrated: “I asked the Prophetr about the prayer. He said, ‘Pray while standing and if you can't, pray while sitting, and if you cannot do even that, then pray lying on your side.’” (Bukhari 2/218)
‘Abdullah
bin Sunabihi t
narrated that ...Ubadah bin as-Samit said... I heard Allâh’s Messenger r
saying: “Allâh, the Exalted, has made five prayers obligatory.
If anyone performs ablution for them well, offers them at their (right)
time, and observes perfectly their bowing and submissiveness in them, it is the
guarantee of Allâh that He will pardon him. If anyone does not do so, there is
no guarantee for him on the part of Allâh.
He may pardon him if He wills, and punish him if He wills.”
(Abű
Dâwűd 425)
Ali bin Abu Talib t
narrated that the last words which the Messenger of Allâh r
spoke were: “Prayer, prayer; fear Allâh
about those whom your right hands possess.”
(Abu
Dawud 5137)
The above virtuous teachings from the Prophetr imply that we must not abandon any obligatory prayer all throughout our lives. If possible, we should also perform the Sunnah (optional) prayers. We have to pray properly (whether we are standing, sitting or lying on our side). In addition, we must be consistent and regular in doing our Salât. We must be conscious of our Salât at all times. We have to worship our Creator with utmost sincerity the way He likes us to worship Him. In short, we must perform our prayers perfectly in order to attain Allâh’s forgiveness and hence, salvation in the Hereafter. It is only in this manner that we achieve the very purpose of our lives in this world. We must always remember that Allâh I has created us for the purpose of worshipping Him all throughout our lives. It is imperative that we pray properly to the best we can. Therefore, for our own guidance and salvation or ultimate success, we must perform Salât in accordance with Allâh’s injunctions in the Qur’ân and the (authentic) Sunnah of His Messenger r. Indeed, all the teachings from the Qur’ân 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.
If
you are interested to learn how to be an effective writer and public speaker or
to know more about Islâm in order to attain success, click on
WISDOM.
/
Wisdom
Enrichment Foundation (WEFOUND)
http://www.wefound.org
“Our
Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer)! Accept
(this service) from us. Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All Knowing.”
(Qur’ân 2:127)