SALAAT (Islamic obligatory
prayers)
Salaat is the most important duty of a Muslim. It is the second of the
five pillars on which the Islamic superstructure rests.
Allah says in Holy Quran:
Establish Salaat (Prayer), pay Zakaat ( poor-due), and bow your heads
with those who bow (in worship) (2:43).
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam)
says:
"Islam is founded on five pillars : Bearing witness that None but Allah
is worthy of worship and Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'Alaihi
Wasallam) ) is His servant and apostle ,establishment of Salaat,
paying of Zakaat, per formation of Hajj and observing the fasts in Ramadan.
The Hadith signifies that Salaat occupies a position next only to Imaan.
Allah in His Holy book, the Quran ordained us hundreds of times to establish
Salaat . The Holy Prophet Mohammed (sallallahu 'Alaihi
wasallam) has been throughout his whole life enjoining on us to be very
particular about this worship. Even when he was on his death-bed
he charged us to be always most careful about this fundamental pillar of
our Holy religion. Salaat is an ordained prayer. Every Muslim, man
or woman, has to perform it. We are not allowed to postpone it even when
we are on the battle-field or on our death-bed. It is the first worship
ordained by Allah and will be the first to be reckoned on the Day
of Judgment.
Negligence
towards Salaat causes severe punishment .
Allah says in Holy Quran:
What has brought you to this burning? They will answer: we were
not of those who prayed (74:42-3)
The Holy Prophet has said:
"Discarding of Salaat is the only partition between Imaan and Kufr.
He has also said:
" He who does not guard Salaat shall meet the fate of Pharaoh,
Haman and Ubayy-ibn Khalaf."
Salaat is actually a practical repetition of our Faith. In this worship
we stand before Allah with bound hands, bend on knees, prostrate
with our hands on earth and sit in an humble manner; we profess our being
a slave of our Lord, solicit His Help and Guidance and renew the declaration
of our obedience to Him. It strengthens the foundation of our Islam five
times a day and prepares us for the expression of the spirit of devotion.
The more sincere we are in our Salaat, the nearer we are to Allah.
Allah says in Holy Quran:
Seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard except
for the humble- minded,(2:45)
O you who believe! Seek help in steadfastness, and prayer. Surely!
Allah is with the steadfast. (2:153)
And those who are attentive at their worship, These will dwell in Gardens,
honored. (70:34-5)
..And estabish Salat ( Prayers). Surely! worship preserveth from lewdness
and iniquity, but verily remembrance of Allah is more important... (29:45)
.
Establish Salat (Prayer) at the two ends of the day and in some watches
of the night. Surely! good deeds annul ill deeds. This is a reminder for
the mindful.(11:114)
The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) says:
"Verily when a Muslim makes Wudu properly and offer his Salaat
with complete devotion and only for the sake of Allah his sins are shed
away from him"
He has also said,
" Each of the five Salaats expiates the sins committed since
the Salaat proceeding it" In another Hadith he says: " Allah has inspired
me saying ": O' Muhammad (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) I have ordained
five times daily Salaat for your Umma. I have made a covenant with
Myself that whosoever is regular is performing his Salaat at its fixed
hour, shall be admitted into the Paradise Those of your followers who do
not guard their Salaat are not included in his covenant"
We should therefore be very particular about Salaat and should perform
it regularly, devotedly and always with Jama'at (in congregations). The
Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) says:
"A Salaat with Jamaat
is 27 times superior to Salaat performed individually."
The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) who was most kind
and most merciful towards mankind once intended to set fire to the houses
of those
who offer their Salaat at their houses without any excuse. Ibne 'Abbas
(Radiya Allahu 'Anhu), the famous companion of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu
'Alaihi Wasallam) has said about a person who keeps fast all day and offers
Nafle prayers all night but does not go to the mosque for Jama'at and Jumuiah
(Friday Prayer) "He is the dweller of the Hell"
Every Salaat should be performed with perfect sincerity and devotion,
otherwise it is likely to be rejected. There are many of us who offer their
Salaat but so imperfectly that instead of earning Divine Blessings and
Rewards, they are most likely to be put to task. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu
'Alaihi Wasallam) says
" When a person offers his Salaat at its proper time with proper Wudu.
with humility and submission and with all postures Qiyam Ruku, Sujud observed
perfectly, then such a Salaat rises up in a bright and beautiful form and
blesses the person in these words; May Allay guard you as you have
guarded me (Salaat); On the other hand if a person is not punctual
with his Salaat, nor does he perform Wudu and postures of Salaat perfectly
and properly, then Salaat rise up in an ugly and dark shape and curses
the person saying " May Allah ruin you as you have ruined me (Salaat)
Then , it is flung back like a dirty rag at the face of the person"
May Allah save us all from this disgrace!
We are not required to perform Salaat only superficially and as
a custom. We are required to perform it in such a way that it may
be on the Day of Judgment a light for us, an argument in our favor and
a means of our Deliverance. We must believe that it is the only means for
the fulfillment of all our needs and a guidance for complete observance
of the whole Islamic code of life. Allah, the Almighty says in the Holy
Quran:
" Successful; are indeed the believers who are humble in their Salaat."
(23:1-2)
"This success promised on Salaat can only be gained when we observe our
Salaat properly and perfectly
For further detail of virtue
of Salaat refer to FAZA'L-E-SALATT THE REWARDS OF SALAAT click
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