O you who believe! seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allah is with the patient. [2:153]
Recite (O Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Quran), and perform As‐Salat (Iqamat‐as‐Salat). Verily, As‐Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al‐Fahsha' (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al‐Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed etc.) [29:45]
Commentary: A person that benefits from prayer, is one who performs his/her prayer according to Sunnah, following the methods of Allah's messenger Mohammed (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) wholeheartedly. Therefore, it is necessary to understand one's prayer (Salat). To pray in a manner of unburdening oneself doesn't really bring about any change in the person.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said, "The five (daily) Salat (prayers) and the Friday (prayer) to the Friday (prayer) expiate whatever (minor sins) may be committed in between, so long as major sins are avoided.'' [Muslim] [Riyad As. #1045]
Commentary: This Hadith elucidates that the minor sins committed during the interval of the five prescribed Salat and in the period intervening between one Jumu`ah and the other are pardoned with the performance of the five‐time prescribed Salat and the Jumu`ah prayer, provided one does not commit major sins which are not forgiven without repentance. Sins like Shirk (associating someone with Allah in worship), disobedience of parents, false oath, false evidence, encroachment on an orphan's property, calumny against chaste women, etc., fall in the category of major sins and will not be forgiven by means of Salat only.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "Say, if there were a river at the door of one of you in which he takes a bath five times a day, would any soiling remain on him?'' They replied, "No soiling would left on him.'' He (PBUH) said, '' That is the five (obligatory) Salat (prayers). Allah obliterates all sins as a result of performing them.'' [Al‐Bukhari and Muslim] [Riyad As. #1042]
Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): "Which act is the best?'' He (PBUH) said, "As‐Salat at their fixed times.'' I asked, "What next?'' He (PBUH) said, "Being dutiful to parents.'' I asked, "What next?'' He (PBUH) said, "Striving (Jihad) in the way of Allah.'' [Al‐Bukhari and Muslim] [Riyad As. #1074]
Commentary: This Hadith indicates that every Salat should be performed at its proper time. Deliberate delay in performing is wrong. The ultimate result of deliberate delay is that one becomes sluggish and begins to ignore and neglect it by force of habit, which is obviously very dangerous.
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Between a man and disbelief and paganism is the abandonment of Salat (prayer).'' [Muslim] [Riyad As. #1077]
Commentary: He who will be having the quality of Islam and will be particular in performing Salat regularly, will raise a wall between himself and Kufr. He who does not perform Salat after coming to the fold of Islam, does not have a frontier which separates him from infidelity. Leaving Salat is like demolishing the wall that separates Islam from Kufr.
The Apostle of Allah (PBUH) 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. [Abu‐Dawud]
Commentary: This Hadith basically instructs parents to teach their offspring the method of prayer (Salat) at the age of seven, and to make sure they offer prayer (Salat) regularly at the age of ten, at which if the children still shirk from prayer (Salat), they should be punished for it, or that their dangerous habit must be bolished by using stronger steps. Since the age of ten is near the age of adolescence, parents are advised not to let their offspring sleep in the same room / definitely not the same bed.
Abu‐Darda (May Allah be pleased with him), narrates, Allah's messenger (PBUH) said, “Allah's responsibility to forgive his creatures exterminates for those who abandon regular
prayer”. (Ibn‐Majah)
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) repeatedly said, “Fear Allah in the matter of prayer (Salat)”, three times. (Ibn‐Majah)
Muslims who don't pray regularly should not be buried in a Muslim graveyard. (Imam Abu‐Hanifah) |
