WHAT IS SALAAT (PRAYER)?
The Prayer is:
The coolness of the eyes of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him)
A pillar of religion
The key to paradise
The spiritual ascent of the faithful believer.
The greater Jihad (holy war)
A sign of faith
Light of the heart
The radiance of the face
The nourishment of the soul.
The Prayer is:
A cause of blessings in the house
A cause of abundance in provision
Cure for ailments of the body and soul
A light in the gloom of the grave
A canopy in the hot sun on the Day of Resurrection
The Prayer is:
An entertainer of the heart amidst the fear of the grave
A swift carrier across the thin bridge on the Day of Resurrection
A means of attaining forgiveness from sins
A barrier between hell and the offerer of Prayers
A repeller of the devil
A bestower of Allah's proximity and His favour.
After proper acceptance of faith and its inherent beliefs, i.e. the recitation of the Pure
Words (Kalemah Tayyebah), the most important duty is that of offering the Prayer.
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has stated: "The first duty that Allah, the
Supreme, has ordained upon my nation is that of offering Prayer, and indeed Prayer is the first
thing that will be taken account of on the Day of Resurrection."
It is also reported in the Hadith that, "Whoever keeps the Prayer established, has kept his religion
established - and whoever leaves Prayer has demolished religion".
It is reported by Syedna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “ Allah the Supreme states, 'O the son of Adam!
Free yourself for My worship, I shall fill your heart with content - and if you do not do so, I shall
make you busy in several affairs but not remove your poverty.' " (Mishkaat ul Masabeeh, Ibn
Majah)
"Be content with five things before (the advent of) the other five: Youth before old age, good
health before sickness, prosperity before poverty, spare time before indulgence in affairs, and life
before death." (Hadith reported in Tirmizi)
Regrettably, the Muslims of this age have forgotten Prayer. Most people simply do not have the
time for it, whereas some people do offer their Prayers but do not know the proper way of
offering it. It is imperative to learn the correct way of offering the Prayer, and to offer all the 5
Obligatory Prayers with the congregation.
This concise book attempts to highlight the importance, excellence, mode and rules of Prayer
from the Holy Qur'an, Hadith, books of Hanafi Jurisprudence, Fatawa Razvia and Bahaare
Shariat. May Allah grant all Muslims the guidance to seek religious knowledge and to act upon it
- Aameen (and through the supplications of the Holy Prophet - peace and blessings be upon
him).
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER (SALAAT)
The importance of establishing Prayer has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an and Hadith, on
several occasions:-
Allah the Supreme states in the Holy Qur’ an: “ And keep the Prayer established, and pay the
charity, and bow your heads with those who bow (in Prayer).” (Surah Baqarah)
On another occasion, it is stated: “ Guard all your Prayers, and the middle Prayer; and stand with
reverence before Allah.” (Surah Baqarah)
On yet another occasion, it is stated: “ And keep the Prayer established at the two ends of the day
and in some parts of the night.” (Surah Hud)
The "two ends of the day" mean the morning and evening. The time before noon is classified as
morning and the time after it is classified as evening. The Morning Prayer is the Dawn (Fajr)
Prayer, and the Prayers of the evening are the Afternoon (Zohr) and the Evening (Asr) Prayers.
The Prayers for the night are the Sunset (Maghrib) and the Night (Isha) Prayers. (Tafseer
Khazain ul Irfan)
The Holy Qur'an classifies Prayer as an act that is opposite to the habits of polytheists. It states,
“ Inclining towards Him - and fear Him, and keep the Prayer established, and never be of the
polytheists.” (Surah Ruum)
In other words, not offering the Prayer is to be like the polytheists. This is further confirmed by
the words of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) "The entity that lies between a
bondman and disbelief, is the abandonment of Prayer." (Saheeh Muslim)
The Holy Qur'an warns those who abandon Prayer, in the following words: “ And after them
came the unworthy successors who squandered Prayer and pursued their own desires, so they
will soon encounter the forest of Gai in hell.” (Surah Maryam)
“ Gai” is a well in the lowest part of hell, in which accumulates the pus of its inhabitants. It is
also mentioned that “ Gai” is the hottest and deepest part of hell. This is the well which Allah
opens up whenever the heat of hell lessens, causing the fire of hell to rage again. This well is the
destination of those who abandon Prayer – and adulterers, drunkards, usurers and those who hurt
their parents.
The Holy Qur'an has mentioned a trait of the hypocrites, that they are lazy in offering Prayers,
and that they deem it to be a burden. It therefore states: “ Undoubtedly the hypocrites, in their
fancy, seek to deceive Allah whereas He will extinguish them while making them oblivious; and
when they stand up for Prayer, they do it unwillingly and for others to see, and they do not
remember Allah except a little.” (Surah Nisaa)
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said the following about the hypocrites:
“ The most burdensome Prayers for the hypocrites are the Night Prayer and the Dawn Prayer. If
they were to know the blessings they have in store, they would have come to them, even
slithering.” (Saheeh Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim)
The Holy Qur'an also explains that offering the Prayer is not at all a burden for those who
believe in Allah and the Last Day. It says: “ And seek help in patience and Prayer; and truly it is
hard except for those who prostrate before Me with sincerity - Who know that they have to meet
their Lord, and that it is to Him they are to return.” (Surah Baqarah)
We therefore know from the Holy Qur'an, and from the Hadith, that it is obligatory on all
Muslims to offer Prayers 5 times daily. To be lazy in Prayer, and especially not to offer the Night
and Dawn Prayers, are the traits of hypocrites. We also know that not offering Prayer is the way
of the disbelievers - this is why the Sahabah (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) did not deem
the abandonment of any deed as disbelief, except the abandonment of Prayer.
The importance of Prayer can be gauged from the fact that it has been emphasised right from
childhood. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said: “ Command your
children to pray when they become seven years old, and beat them for it (Prayer) when they
become ten years old; and arrange their beds (to sleep) separately.
The Sin Of Letting The Prayer Lapse.
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said: “ Whoever lets the Prayer lapse,
and then offers it after its due time, will burn in hell for not praying on time, for a period of one
"Haqab".”
One "Haqab" equals 80 years, and one year has 360 days, and the Day of Resurrection will equal
a thousand years. Which means that one who lets just one Prayer lapse, will burn in hell for a
period of 28,800,000 years! (May Allah protect us - Aameen).
Allamah Amjad Ali Aazmi (may Allah have mercy on him) mentions that abandoning Prayer is
terrible in itself, but see what Allah the Supreme says about those who let it lapse: “ So “ vail”
(or ruin) is to those offerers of Prayer - Those who are neglectful of their Prayer.” (Surah
Maoon)
“ Vail” is the name of a dreadful valley in hell, from which hell also seeks refuge. This will be
the destination of those who let their Prayers lapse. (Bahaare Shariat)
The Blessings Of Prayer
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “ If there was a river at the door of
anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day, would you notice any dirt on him?" The
Companions said: “ Not a trace of dirt would be left." The Prophet added, "That is the example
of the five Prayers with which Allah annuls evil deeds." (Saheeh Bukhari & Saheeh Muslim)
Here “ evil deeds” mean the lesser sins. The cardinal sins are forgiven only after repentance and
giving the people their due rights.
It is recorded in Mishkaat Shareef that once during the winter season, the Holy Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) caught hold of a tree branch and shook it, causing its leaves to fall.
He then said: “ When a Muslim offers Prayer, seeking Allah's pleasure, his sins fall off like these
leaves did."
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has also said: “ For the one who is regular
in his Prayer, the Prayer will become a light, a guide and the cause of his salvation on the Day of
Resurrection. Whereas the one who is not regular in his Prayers, will not have any light, guide or
salvation - and on the Day of Resurrection, he will be along with Qaroon, Firaun, Hamaan, Ubai
bin Khalaf” - i.e. with the major infidels. (Mishkaat)
Another blessing of Prayer is that all hardships are resolved through it, and the offerer gains
solace from it. Hazrat Huzaifah (may Allah be well pleased with him) says that whenever the
Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was faced with any difficulty, he used to turn
his attention towards Prayer. (Abu Dawood)
The Excellence Of Offering Prayer In Congregation (With Jamaat)
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said: “ The Prayer in congregation is
twenty seven times superior to the Prayer offered by a person alone." (Bukhari & Muslim)
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) found some people absenting themselves
from certain Prayers and he said: “ I intend to order someone to lead people in Prayer, and then
go to the persons who do not join the (congregational) Prayer and then order their houses to be
burnt by the bundles of fuel. If one amongst them were to know that he would find a fat fleshy
bone he would attend the Night Prayer.” (Muslim & Abu Dawood)
Abu Huraira (may Allah be well pleased with him) reported that the Holy Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) said: “ A man's Prayer in congregation is more valuable by twenty
degrees and some above them as compared with his Prayer in his house and his market, for when
he performs ablution doing it well, then goes out to the mosque, and he is impelled (to do so)
only by (the love of congregational) Prayer, he has no other objective before him but Prayer. He
does not take a step without being raised a degree for it and having a sin remitted for it, till he
enters the mosque, and when he is busy in Prayer after having entered the mosque, the angels
continue to invoke blessing on him as long as he is in his place of worship saying: O Allah, show
him mercy, and pardon him! Accept his repentance (and the angels continue this supplication for
him) so long as he does not do any harm in it, or as long as his ablution is not broken.” (Saheeh
Muslim)
Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with him) reported that the Holy Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) said: “ If anyone hears him who makes the call to Prayer and is not
prevented from joining the congregation by any excuse (he was asked what an excuse consisted
of and replied that it was fear or illness) the Prayer he offers will not be accepted from him.”
(Abu Dawood)
If the one who misses the congregational Prayer knew what reward lay in it for him, he would
come to it slithering. (Tibrani)
The Importance Of Reverence And Humility
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) states: “ Worship Allah as if you see Him,
and if you cannot do this, then you must at least be certain that He is looking at you." (Saheeh
Bukhari)
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) states: “ Whoever offers all his Prayers on
time after a perfect ablution, stands with humility and reverence, prostrates and bows with calm,
and offers the entire Prayer in good manner - so that Prayer becomes a radiating one and prays
for him thus: O the offerer of Prayer! May Allah guard you the way you have guarded me. And
as regards the one who offers the Prayer poorly - that is without proper ablution, and not even
prostrating and bowing correctly - then the Prayer curses him thus: May Allah ruin you the way
you have ruined me. Then the Prayer is folded and thrown back at his face like a used (dirty)
cloth.” (Tibrani).
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once said: “ The worst thief is one who
steals during the Prayer.” The companions therefore asked "O the Messenger of Allah! How
does he steal in Prayer?” He answered "He does not prostrate or bow correctly." (Musnad
Imaam Ahmed & Tibrani)
In yet another Hadith, glad tidings of salvation have been given to those who regularly offer their
Prayers with humility and reverence. (Abu Dawood).
Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with him) states: "The reverent ones are
those who fear Allah and offer their Prayers with calm."
It is clear from the above that Prayer must be offered with reverence, humility and calm, keeping
in mind all its requirements.
Prayer Makes One Pious
Allah the Supreme states in the Holy Qur’ an: “ O dear Prophet (Mohammed – peace and
blessings be upon him), recite from the Book which has been sent down to you, and establish the
Prayer; indeed the Prayer stops from indecency and evil; and indeed the remembrance of Allah is
the greatest; and Allah knows all what you do.” (Surah Ankabut)
The above verse reveals that Prayer stops from indecency and evil matters - which means that if
one offers the Prayer regularly and properly, he shuns indecent matters in due course, and
becomes pious.
A young man from the Ansar used to pray along with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him), and was simultaneously also given to involving himself in cardinal sins. The matter
was reported to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who said: “ His Prayer will
some day prevent him from these evil acts". Very soon, he therefore repented and his state
became better.
Hazrat Anas (may Allah be well pleased with him) said: “ If the Prayer does not prevent one
from indecency and evil, then that is not Prayer." (Tafseer Khazain ul Irfaan)
Being Certain That The Prayer Has Been Accepted
Do not ever get distracted by the worldly affairs that come to mind while offering Prayer. Rather
do not care about them, and pay attention to the meanings of the words that are being said during
the Prayer.
Some people question as to how they can be sure whether Allah has accepted the Prayer that they
have offered. As an answer, just reflect upon the following Hadith: "Allah will deal with His
bondman on the Day of Resurrection in the same manner as the bondman had thought about his
Lord". It is therefore imperative, along with the fear of Allah, to have the good belief that our
worship has been accepted.
Scholars say that if you have offered the Dawn Prayer and then later offered the Afternoon
Prayer, then be well convinced that Allah has accepted your Dawn Prayer. Further, when you
have offered the Evening Prayer, be convinced that the Afternoon Prayer has been accepted.
Similarly, after each Prayer, be sure that the previous Prayer has been accepted - because if Allah
had not accepted your Dawn Prayer, he would not guide you to offer the Afternoon Prayer. The
Beneficent Lord's guidance to you to offer the next Prayer is a proof of His having accepted your
previous one.
The Prayers Of The Pious
Every Prayer should be offered like a person who is certain that it is the last Prayer of his life.
Hazrat Hatim Balkhi (may Allah have mercy upon him) was once questioned as to how he
offered his Prayers. He answered, "When it is time for Prayer, I do a proper ablution and stand
calmly on the prayer-mat. I imagine that the Holy Kaaba is in front of me, Paradise on my right,
hell on my left, and that I am standing on the thin bridge (of the Day of Resurrection) - and that
the angel of death is above me and that this is the last Prayer of my life. Then with utmost
humility I proclaim "Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)" and keeping the meanings in mind, I
recite the Holy Qur'an - and with extreme reverence and humility I complete the Prayers. I then
hope that Allah will accept it by His mercy, and fear that it may be rejected because of the
shortcomings of my deeds."
Such is the Prayer of the Friends of Allah! May Allah guide us to follow the footsteps of His
friends. Aameen
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