Wednesday 26 January 2011
Sunday 23 January 2011
Tawheed
Monotheism (Tauheed or Tawheed) i.e. belief in one Allah alone is such a strong Faith and foundation of Islam upon which the whole structure of Islam is based. All Prophets have called their people on True Faith. Worship is exclusive right of Allah owed to Him alone. Monotheism is such an important part of Faith that Prophet (P.B.U.H) during the thirteen years of His preaching in Makkah focused on Tauheed (Oneness of Allah) mainly and called people upon Tawheed by forbidding any partners to Allah. The Holy Quran is full of this concept of Monotheism and most of the verses of Holy Quran are about Monotheism.
Every Prophet taught His people the same lesson:
“Indeed, We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day!” [Al-A’raf 7: 59]
“And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) all false deities” Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth).” [An-Nahl 16:36]
The basis of our Creation is to worship Allah:
“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).” [Az-Zariyat 51:56]
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him…” [Al-Isra’ 17:23]
“Say (O Muhammad P.B.U.H): “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him….” [Al-An’am 6:151]
Every Muslim in His Five Prayers confirms this Belief:
“You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)” [Al-Fatihah 1:5]
Some of the verses that mention Monotheism are:
1. “And indeed when we heard the Guidance (this Qur’an), we believed therein (Islamic Monotheism), and whosoever believes in his Lord shall have no fear, either of a decrease in the reward of his good deeds or an increase in the punishment for his sins” [Al-Jinn 72:13]
2. “Say (O Muhammad P.B.U.H): “Who provides for you from the sky and the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who disposes the affairs?” They will say: “Allah.” Say: “Will you not then be afraid of Allah’s punishment (for setting up rivals in worship with Allah)?” [Yunus 10:31]
3. “Has he made the Alihah (gods) (all) into One Ilah (God – Allah). Verily, this is a curious thing!” [Surah Sad 38:5]
4. “That is Allah, your Lord!. There is no god but He, the Creator of all things. Then worship Him, and He has power to dispose of all affairs” [Al-An’am 6:102]
5. “And verily, if you ask them: “Who created the heavens and the earth?” Surely they will say: “Allah (has created them).” Say: “Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allah – if Allah intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm? Or if He (Allah) intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His Mercy?” Say: “Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him those who trust (i.e. believers) must put their trust.” [Az-Zumar 39:38]
6. “Were they created by nothing? Or were they themselves the creators?
Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, but they have no firm Belief.” [At-tur 52:35,36]
7. “And they say: “There is nothing but our life of this world, we die and we live and nothing destroys us except Ad-Dahr (time). And they have no knowledge of it: they only conjecture.” [Al-Jathiya 45:24]
8. “This is the creation of Allah. So show Me that which those (whom you worship) besides Him have created. Nay, the Zalimun (polytheists, wrongdoers and those who do not believe in the Oneness of Allah) are in plain error.” [Luqman 31:11]
9. “Say (O Muhammad P.B.U.H): “Think you about all that you invoke besides Allah? Show me. What have they created of the earth? Or have they a share in (the creation of) the heavens? Bring me a Book (revealed before this), or some trace of knowledge (in support of your claims), if you are truthful!”” [Al-Ahqaf 46:4]
10. “[Musa (Moses)] said: “Verily, you know that these signs have been sent down by none but the Lord of the heavens and the earth (as clear evidence i.e. proofs of Allah’s Oneness and His Omnipotence.). And I think you are, indeed, O Fir‘aun (Pharaoh) doomed to destruction!”” [Al-Isra 17:102]
11. “And they rejected those signs in iniquity and arrogance, though their souls were convinced there of…” [An-Naml 27:14]
12. “O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).
13. Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)” [Al-Baqarah 2:21,22]
14. “And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said to his father and his people: “Verily, I am innocent of what you worship, Except Him (i.e. Allah Alone) Who did create me; and verily He will guide me.” [Az-Zukhruf 43:26-7]
15. “There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.” [Al-Baqarah 2:256]
16. “…..Then anyone who violates his oath does so to the harm of his own soul. And anyone who fulfils what has been covenanted to Allah; Allah will soon grant his a great reward” [Al-Fath 48:10]
17. “And I have followed the religion of my fathers, – Ibrahim (Abraham), Ishaq (Isaac) and Ya‘qub (Jacob) [A.S], and never could we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allah. This is from the Grace of Allah to us and to mankind, but most men thank not (i.e. they neither believe in Allah, nor worship Him).” [Yusuf 12:38]
18. “And those who believe and whose offspring follow them in Faith: to them shall We join their offspring, and We shall not decrease the reward of their deeds in anything. Every person is a pledge for that which he has earned.” [At-Tur 52:21]
19. “And indeed We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people, and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. Will you not then be afraid (of Him i.e. of His punishment)?” ” [Al-Mu’minun 23:23-4]
20. “And recite to them the story of Ibrahim (Abraham). When he said to his father and his people: “What do you worship?” They said: “We worship idols, and to them we are ever devoted.” He said: “Do they hear you, when you call on (them)? “Or do they benefit you or do they harm (you)?” They said: “(Nay) but we found our fathers doing so.”” [As-Shu’ara 26:69-74]
21. “Those who took partners (in worship) with Allah will say: “If Allah had willed, we would not have taken partners (in worship) with Him, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything (against His Will).” Likewise belied those who were before them, (they argued falsely with Allah’s Messengers), till they tasted Our Wrath. Say: “Have you any knowledge (proof) that you can produce before us? Verily, you follow nothing but guess and you do nothing but lie.” [Al-An’am 6:148]
22. “And they said: “If it had been the Will of the Most Gracious (Allah), we should not have worshipped them (false deities).” They have no knowledge whatsoever of that. They do nothing but lie!” [Az-Zukhruf 43:20]
23. “And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad P.B.U.H) but We revealed to him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)], so worship Me (Alone and none else).” [Al-Anbiya 21:25]
“24. And ask (O Muhammad P.B.U.H) those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you: “Did We ever appoint Gods to be worshipped besides the Most Gracious (Allah)?”” [Az-Zukhruf 43:45]
25. “Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only. And those who take Protectors (helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): “We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah.” Verily Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever.” [Az-Zumar 39:3]
26. “And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: “These are our intercessors with Allah.” Say: “Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?” Glorified and Exalted is He above all that which they associate as partners (with Him)!” [Yunus 10:18]
27. “…..Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission?…..” [Al-Baqarah 2:255]
28. “And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with” [An-Najm 53:26]
29. “Verily! I am Allah! Lâ ilâha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) for My Remembrance” [Surah Ta-Ha 20:14]
30. “And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allah, any other God, of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! The Disbelievers will not be successful.” [Al-Mu’minun 23:117]
31. “…..False worship (shirk) is indeed the highest wrongdoing” [Luqman 31:13]
32. “Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives anything else to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin” [An-Nisa 4:48]
33. “….whoever assigns partners to Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place.” [Al-Hajj 22:31]
This is a brief description on Monotheism related Quranic verses but if we read Quran and Hadith, we come to know that they are full of teaching regarding Oneness of Allah. Sura Ikhlas summarizes Islamic monotheism in a comprehensive manner. Watch this video of Recitation of Surah Ikhlas:
Dhikr
Dhikr (Allah’s Remembrance)
Quran often reminds us to keep remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) at all times. Certainly this is quite a challenge for us forgetful humans to do Dhikr of Allah, but the merits of remembrance/ Zikr are so great that we must strive for continual remembrance of Allah in every moment. Remembrance of Allah (Zikr) is one of the easiest forms of worship, the mercy and honor that it brings cannot be achieved by any other means.
Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) says:
“Therefore remember Me, I will remember you and be grateful to Me, and never be ungrateful to me” [Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 152]
“O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance” [Soorah al-Ahzaab, Aayah 41]
“And for men and women who engage much in Allah’s remembrance, for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward” [Soorah al-Ahzaab, Aayah 35]
“And bring your Lord to remembrance in your [very] soul, with humility and remember without loudness in words, in the mornings and evenings; and be not of those who are unheedful” [Soorah al-A'raaf, Aayah 205]
Importance of Remembrance:
- The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:”The comparison of the one who remembers Allah and the one who does not remember Allaah, is like that of the living and the dead” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim 1/539]
- Uqbah Ibn Aamir (R.A) relates that Allah’s Messenger (P.B.U.H) came out when we were in as-Suffah and said: “Are there any of you who would wish to go every day to Buthaan or al-’Aeeq [i.e., the name of two ditches in al-Madeenah] in the early morning and return from it with two she-camels without incurring any sin or severing relations?” We [the companions] said: “We would indeed love that, O Messenger of Allah” He (P.B.U.H) said: “Then you should go to the mosque and acquire some knowledge, or recite two aayaat from the Book of Allaah, that would be better for you than two she-camels, and three aayaat are better than three she-camels, and four aayaat are better than four she-camels, and the same for a like number of male camels” [Muslim 1/553]
- The Prophet (P.B.U.H) Said: Whoever takes a seat and fails to remember Allah, has incurred upon himself a loss from Allah, and whoever lies down [relaxes] and fails to remember Allah, has incurred upon himself a loss from Allah” [Abu Daawood 4/264]
- Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) said: “Whenever people sit in a gathering in which they fail to remember Allah and send prayers upon the Prophet they incur a loss upon themselves and if Allah willed He would punish them and if He willed He would forgive them” [at-Tirmidhee]
- Our Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “Whenever people rise from a gathering in which they failed to remember Allaah, they rise as if they had arisen from the corpse of an ass and incurring upon themselves grief” [Abu Daawood 4/264 and Ahmad 2/389]
- In Another Hadith the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “Should I not inform you of the best of deeds, and the most sanctifying of deeds before your Lord, which does more to raise your positions [with Him], and are better for you than the disbursement of gold and money or battle with the enemy?” They [the companions] said: “Indeed! Inform us.” He (P.B.U.H) then said: “Remembrance of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala)” [at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah 2/1245]
- The Prophet (P.B.U.H) also said: Allaah says: “Indeed I am as My servant presumes Me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me, so if he remembers Me to himself I remember him to Myself, and if he remembers Me amongst a company I remember him amongst a company greater than it, and if he draws near to Me the span of a hand I draw near to him the span of an arm, and if he draws near to Me the span of an arm I draw near to him the span of two outstretched arms, and if he takes a step towards Me I hastily step towards him” [al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
- On the authority of Abdullaah Ibn Busr (R.A): “A man said to the Prophet (P.B.U.H): “O Messenger of Allaah, the rites of Islaam are much for me, so tell me of something that I might hold fast to” He (P.B.U.H) said: “Let not your tongue cease from the remembrance of Allaah” [at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah]
- The Prophet (P.B.U.H) also said: “Whoever recites a letter of Allah’s Book has for it, a merit and ten more like it, not to say that alif, laam, meem are one letter but rather alif is a letter, laam is a letter and meem is a letter” [at-Tirmidhee]
Importance of inshallah
Saying, ‘Insha’Allah’ (If Allah Wills) when Determining to do something in the Future.
The Importance Of Saying Insha’Allah
Allah says in Holy Quran
“AND NEVER SAY OF ANYTHING, ‘I SHALL DO SUCH AND SUCH THING TOMORROW.? EXCEPT (WITH THE SAYING): ‘IF ALLAH WILLS!’? AND REMEMBER YOUR LORD WHEN YOU FORGET” [SOORAH AL-KAHF (18): 23]
The Importance Of Saying Insha’AllahWhen Allah’s Messenger (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) declared Allah’s Oneness and proclaimed to be the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) and revelation of Divine Message. The disbelievers of Makkah sent some men to Jewish rabbis in al-Medina and said: “Ask them (the rabbis) about Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam), and describe him to them, and tell them what he is saying.
They are the people of the first Book, and they have more knowledge of the Prophets than we do.’ So they set out for al-Madina, they asked the Jewish rabbis about the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam). They described him to them and told them some of his teachings.
The rabbis said: ‘Ask him about three things which we will tell you to ask, if he answers them then he is a Prophet who has been sent (by Allah); if he does not, then he is saying things that are not true, in which case how you will deal with him will be up to you. Ask him about some young men in ancient times, what was their story? For there is a strange and wondrous tale. Ask him about a man who traveled a great deal and reached the east and the west of the earth. What was his story? And ask him about he Ruh (soul or spirit) what is it?
If he tells you about these things, then he is a Prophet, so follow him, but if he does not tell you, then he is a man who is making things up, so deal with him as you see fit.’ So, the men came back to Makkah and said: ‘O people! We have come to you with a decisive solution which will put an end to the problem between you and Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam). The Jewish rabbis told us to ask him about some matters,’ and they told them what they were. Then they came to the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) and said: ‘O Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) tell us,’ and they asked him about the things they had been told to ask.
The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: “I will tell you tomorrow about what you have asked me.” But he (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) did not say, ‘If Allah Wills.’
Allah Messenger (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) never spoke anything except with revelation. So, he waited for the revelation from Allah but fifteen days passed away without any revelation concerning those matter which the disbelievers asked, neither did Jibreel (alaihis-salaam) come to him. The people of Makkah started to doubt him and said: ‘Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) promised to tell us the next day and now fifteen days have gone by and he has not told us anything in response to the questions we asked.’
The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) felt sad because of the delay in revelation and was grieved by what the people of Makkah were saying about him.
Then Jibreel (alaihis-salaam) came with the revelation of Soorah al-Kahf, which contained answers to the questions and also the above mentioned verse explaining the correct etiquette when determining to do something in the future.
Determining to do something in the future should always be attributed to the Will of Allah, Who is the Knower of the Unseen and Who Alone Knows what was and what is yet to happen and what is not to be.
If Sulaiman (A.S) said InshaAllah:
It is reported in Saheeh al-Bukharee from Abu Hurayrah (radhiyallahu anhu), who said: “The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: “Sulaiman Ibn Dawood (alaihimus-salaam) said: ‘Tonight I will go around to all my seventy wives (according to some reports it is ninety or one hundred wives) so that each one of them will give birth to a son who will fight for the sake of Allah.’ It was said to him, (according to one narration, an Angel said to him), say, ‘If Allah Wills.’ But he did not say it. He went around to the women but none of them gave birth except for one, who gave birth to a half-formed child.” The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: “By the One, in Whose Hands is my soul, had he said, ‘If Allah wills,’ he would not have broken his oath, and that would have helped him to attain what he wanted.” [Saheeh Muslim (vol. 3, no. 1275)]
So, if one determines to do something in the future or even takes an oath, he should say, ‘If Allah Wills’ or ‘Insha’Allah.’ If one forgets to say, Insha’Allah then he should say when he remembers it even if it is a year later, as Ibn Abbas (radhiallahu anhu) explained.
Friday 21 January 2011
Mistakes in our salah
Salat (Salah, Namaz) or Prayer is the most important pillar of Islam which will be questioned on the day of Resurrection. Performing Prayers is obligatory for every adult Muslim. Salah is a ritual prayer having prescribed conditions and one must perform Salaah while fulfilling those conditions. Many times we perform Prayers or Salah as a practice or a part of habit only but tend to forget the basic essence of Namaz and make many mistakes during Prayers. 10 common mistakes and errors in Prayers or Salah are discussed:1. Delaying the Salah intentionally: While being busy in worldly affairs we often delay the Salah from its preferred time. This is the most common mistake in Prayer made by most of us. We think that Praying is last thing to do and we must attend to other matters first. Many workers delay Zuhr and Asr Prayer till night-time. Quran speaks strictly on guarding our Salat:
“Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e. Asr Prayers)” [2:238]
Here to safeguard the Salat means to perform it at its prescribed time and to be steadfast upon it.
Narrated Ibn Umar (R.A): Allah’s Messenger (P.B.U.H) said: “Whoever misses the Asr prayers (intentionally), then it is as if he lost his family and property.” [Al-Bukhari]
Another Hadith explains the importance of praying on time:
Narrated Abu Al-Malih (R.A): “We were with Buraidah in a battle on a cloudy day and he said, “Offer the Asr prayer early as the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said, “Whoever omits the Asr prayer, all his (good) deeds will be lost.” [Al-Bukhari]
2. Reciting Holy Quran fast in the Prayers: we must pause and take breaks while reciting Holy Quran during Salat. We should not recite the Surah’s so fast that that the verse get intermingled. One of the Hadith emphasizes this issue:
“The Prophet (P.B.U.H) used to pause after each verse of Surah al-Fatiha. [Abu Dawood]
3. Moving before the Imam in congregational prayers: one should not race with the imam i.e. try to move before the Imam or with the Imam because the correct ruling is when Imam says Allahu Akbar, then the person who’s following the Imam in Prayers should say Allahu Akbar. Not before Imam or with Imam. Like this Hadith of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) states:
“Surely the imam is there to be followed” [Muslim]
Another Hadith states:
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “Does not the one who raises his head before the Imam does fear that Allah would transform his head into a donkey’s head” [Muslim]
4. Performing the Salah hastily: Salat should be performed slowly and calmly. Rukoo or Sujood must be performed unhurriedly. In order to complete the Rukoo one must stay in Rukoo posture long enough to recite “Subhan Rabbi yal Adtheem” at least three times. In the same manner, for the Sujood the person should say “Subhan-na Rabbi yal-ala” three times slowly. This Hadith commands to complete the Rukoo and Sujood in proper manner:
The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) said: “The worst thief is the one who steals from his own prayer.” People asked: ‘Messenger of Allah! How could one steal from his own prayer?’ He said: “By not completing its rukoo and sujood” [at-Tabarani]
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “He who does not complete his rukoo and sujood, his prayer is void” [Abu Dawood]
perform sujood in Salah, Salat or prayer
5. Gazing right, left or upward during Salat: While performing Salah, one should concentrate on looking to the point where the head is placed during Sujood rather than looking upwards. Because this may lose concentration. In the Hadith recorded by Sahih Muslim the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:
“Let those who raise their gaze up during prayer stop doing so, or else their sights would not return to them” (i.e. they will lose their eyesight) [Muslim]
6. Performing Sujood improperly: most common mistake observed in Prayers is to perform Sujood by resting only the tip of head on floor.
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “I am commanded to prostrate on seven bones the forehead and the nose, the two hands [palms], the two knees, and the two feet” [Muslim]
- How to perform Sujood (Prostration)
7. Not performing Prayers during illness or while traveling: The Prophet (P.B.U.H) always used to perform Prayers even during His last days before death. He (P.B.U.H) never neglected it even during combats. Prayer is obligatory and must be performed in any condition. If a person cannot perform ablution due to his illness then he may perform tayammum (dry ablution). If he cannot stand in prayer, he may perform Salah while sitting or even laying down. Same is the case while traveling. The person can combine 2 Salah while traveling i.e. Zuhr Prayer and Asr Prayer. or Maghrib Prayer and Isha Prayer.
8. Crossing in front of a person who is performing Salah:
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “Were the one who crosses in front of a praying person to know the consequences of doing so, he would have waited for forty better than to cross in front of him” [Bukhari]
9. Going to Mosque for performing Salah with rapid walk: when the time of Prayer has approached and some person has fear that he might miss his Salah; for the fear of that most of us try to walk quickly or run for the fear of missing some part of the prayer. This is not allowed according to Hadith:
The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) said: “When prayer has already started, do not walk quickly to join in. Proceed calmly and reposefully; then join in whichever part you catch up, and complete whichever part you missed” [Bukhari and Muslim]
10. Eating food of bad smell before performing Prayers: consuming foods that have bad smell like the garlic or onion etc. should not be taken before the Salah because the bad smell may irritate the angels and the praying people.
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “He who eats from the smelly plant [garlic or onion], let him come not near our mosque; the angels are bothered by that which bothers men” [Muslim]
May Allah guide us to perform our Salah perfectly and help us to guard our Salat so when on the Day of Judgment we are questioned about our prayers, we may succeed. Ameen.
Importance of Prayer
"And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance." [Taha 13-14]
Similarly, the prayers were made obligatory upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his ascension to heaven. Furthermore, when Allah praises the believers, such as in the beginning of surah al-Muminoon, one of the first descriptions He states is their adherence to the prayers.
Once a man asked the Prohpet (peace be upon him) about the most virtuous deed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that the most virtuous deed is the prayer. The man asked again and again. The first three times, the Prophet (peace be upon him) again answered, "The prayer," then on the fourth occasion he stated, "Jihad in the way of Allah." [This is form a hadith recorded by Ahmad and ibn Hibban. According to al-Albani, the hadith is hasan. Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani, Sahih al-Targheeb wa al-Tarheeb (Beirut: al-Maktab al-Islami, 1982), vol. 1, p. 150]
The importance of prayer is demonstrated in the many of the Prophet’s statement. For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." [Recorded by al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503.
The importance of the prayers lies in the fact that no matter what actions one performs in his life, the msot important aspect is one’s relationship to Allah, that is, one’s faith (imaan), God-consciousness (taqwa), sincerity (ikhlas) and worship of Allah (`ibaadah). This relationship with Allah is both demonstrated and put into practice, as well as improved and increased, by the prayer. Therefore, if the prayers are sound and proper, the rest of the deeds will be sound and proper; and if the prayers are not sound and proper, then the rest of the deeds will not be sound and proper, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself stated.
In reality, the prayer is performed properly – with true remembrance of Allah and turning to Him for forgiveness – it will have a lasting effect on the person. After he finishes the prayer, his heart will be filled with the remembrance of Allah. He will be fearful as well as hopeful of Allah. After that experience, he will not want to move from that lofty position to one wherein he disobeys Allah. Allah has mentioned this aspect of the prayer when He has said,
"Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds" (al-Ankaboot 45). Nadwi has described this effect in the following eloquent way,
Its aim is to generate within the subliminal self of man such spiritual power, light of faith and awareness of God as can enable him to strive successfully against all kinds of evils and temptations and remain steadfast at times of trial and adversity and protect himself against the weakness of the flesh and the mischief of immoderate appetites. [Nadwi, p. 24]
The overall affect that the properly performed prayers should have upon humans is described in other verses in the Quran:
"Verily, man was created impatient, irritable when evil touches him and niggardly when good touches him. Except for those devoted to prayer those who remain constant in their prayers…" (al-Maarij 19-23).
As for the Hereafter, Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure is closely related to the prayers. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,
"Allah has obligated five prayers. Whoever excellently performs their ablutions, prays them in their proper times, completes their bows, prostrations and khushu` [Khushu` in the prayer is where the person’s heart is attuned to the prayer. This feeling in the heart is then reflected on the body. The person remains still and calm. His gaze is also lowered. Even his voice is affected by this feeling in the heart. For more details on this concept (as well as the difference between it and khudhu`), see Muhammad al-Shaayi, al-Furooq al-Laughawiyyah wa Atharahaa fi Tafseer al-Quran al-Kareem (Riyadh: Maktabah al-Ubaikaan, 1993), pp. 249-254.] has a promise from Allah that He will forgive him. And whoever does not do that has no promise from Allah. He may either forgive him or punish him." [Recorded by Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Nasa’I and others. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol. 1, p. 616.] ]
The prayers are a type of purification for a human being. He turns and meets with his Lord five times a day. As alluded to above, this repeated standing in front of Allah should keep the person from performing sins during the day. Furthermore, it should also be a time of remorse and repentance, such that he earnestly asks Allah for forgiveness for those sins that he committed. In addition, the prayer in itself is a good deed that wipes away some of the evil deeds that he performed. These points can be noted in the following hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him):
"If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?" The people said, "No filth would remain on him whatsoever." The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said, "That is like the five daily prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
In another hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"The five daily prayers and the Friday Prayer until the Friday prayer are expiation for what is between them." (Recorded by Muslim.)
In God’s presence, on a predestined day, all people, all living beings, the world, the sun, the moon, the stars, in brief, all the material world will disappear. In the Qur'an, this day is called the “Day of Resurrection”. This is “...the Day mankind will stand before the Lord of all the worlds” The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 83, Verse 6. On that day, a person will be too occupied to worry about others. He will even abandon his own mother, father, spouse and children.
The intensity and inconceivable terror of the Day of Resurrection will make everyone concern himself over his own affairs. God describes the Day of Resurrection as follows:
What will convey to you what the Day of Judgement is? Again! What will convey to you what the Day of Judgement is? It is the Day when a soul will have no power to help any other soul in any way. The command that Day will be God’s alone. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 82, Verses 17-19
When the Deafening Blast comes, that Day a man will flee from his brother and his mother and his father, and his wife and his children: on that Day every man among them will have concerns enough of his own. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 80, Verses 33-37
And thus the most precious social bonds in this life will come to a bitter end. The terror of that day will render all close relations and kinship meaningless. The only precious thing remaining will be faith:
Then when the Trumpet is blown, that Day there will be no family ties between them; they will not be able to question one another. Those whose scales are heavy are the successful ones. Those whose scales are light are the losers of their souls, remaining in Hell timelessly, for ever. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 23, Verses 101-103
No good friend will ask about his friend, even though they can see each other. An evil-doer will wish he could ransom himself from the punishment of that Day, by means of his sons, or his wife or his brother or his family who sheltered him or everyone else on earth, if only that meant that he could save himself. But no! It is a Raging Blaze. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 70, Verses 10-15
This “offer” is actually an indication of the pitiless and ungrateful nature of disbelievers which surface when their benefits are in question. This offer also warns of the vanity of this life. Often a person chases after trivial goals; for an admirable job, a beautiful house, or a woman, and for money he will work for a lifetime. However, as the Qur'an informs us, in his desperate efforts to be saved, a person will be willing to pay, not just a single woman, but all the women in the world or all possible possessions in ransom for his own personal salvation. However, these are all futile efforts. God is essentially the owner of all the possessions in the world. Salvation, on the other hand, remained behind, in the worldly life. It is too late now and, as promised, hellfire has already started burning.
