![]() Salah and its status in Islam
Dr. Amin ibn `Abdullah Ash-Shaqawy
All praise be to Allah
and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). I bear
witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner, and
I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.
Islam dignified Salah and
raised its status as the greatest pillar of Islam after the Shahadah
(Testimony of Faith). Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with
him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Islam
is based on (the following) five (principles): 1. To testify that
none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is
Allah's Messenger. 2. To perform the (compulsory congregational)
Salah dutifully and perfectly. 3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory
charity). 4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Makkah) 5. To
observe fast during the month of Ramadan."
[1]
Salah is the first
matter a person is asked about on the Day of Recompense. `Abdullah
ibn Qurt (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The
first action a person is held accountable for on the Day of
Recompense is Salah. If it is complete, his entire actions shall be
complete, however it is incomplete, his entire action shall be
incomplete."
[2]
Salah is the difference
between a Muslim and non-Muslim. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "But
if they repent, perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give Zakât,
then they are your brethren in religion. (In this way) We explain
the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations,
etc.) in detail for a people who know." [Surat At-Tawbah:
11].
Jabir (may
Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon
him) said: "Verily between man and
between polytheism and unbelief is the negligence of Salah."
[3]
Salah is a barrier
between a person and sins. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Verily,
As-Salât (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahshâ' (i.e. great sins of
every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse) and Al-Munkar (i.e.
disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed)."
[Surat Al `Ankabut: 45].
The last recommendation
of the Prophet (peace be upon him) at the agonies of his death was:
"Salah! Salah! And fear Allah in
regard of the slaves you own."
[4]
Salah has great virtues,
of which: Salah is an expiation for sins. Allah (may He be Exalted)
says: "And perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât),
at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night [i.e. the
five compulsory Salât (prayers)]. Verily, the good deeds remove the
evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the
mindful (those who accept advice)." [Surat Hud: 114].
Abu Hurayrah (may
Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace 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?"
"That is the example of
the five Salah with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds."
[5]
Of
which: This Salah is a light for a person. Abu Malik Al
Ash`ary (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Cleanliness
is half of faith, Al Hamdu Liliah (Praise be to Allah)
fills the scale, and Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah) and
Al Hamdu Liliah (Praise be to Allah) fill up what is
between the heavens and the earth, and Salah is a light, and charity
is proof (of one's faith) and endurance is brightness and the
Glorious Qur'an is a proof on your behalf or against you. All people
go out early in the morning and sell themselves, either freeing it
or bringing about its ruin."
[6]
Of
which: A Muslim would reach by Salah, Zakah, and fasting the
status of the truthful and martyrs. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah
be pleased with him) narrated: "Two men from Banu Quda`ah
embraced Islam with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) but
one of them was martyred and the second died one year after. Talhah
ibn `Ubaydullah said: I have seen Paradise and I saw the
one who died latter entered Paradise before the martyr. I was
stunned by that and when it was the morning I mentioned that to the
Prophet (peace be upon him) or that was mentioned to the Messenger
of Allah (peace be upon him) who said: "Did not he (the latter)
observed the fast of Ramadan after him and offered 6000 Rak`ah
(unit of Prayer) or such and such Rak`ah (unit of Prayer)
during the whole year?"
[7]
Salah should be
performed in its fixed time. Allah (may He be Exalted) said: "Verily,
As-Salât (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours."
[Surat An-Nisa': 103].
Al Bukhari said:
A time that was fixed upon them.
Performing Salah in its
due time is one of the greatest actions in the sight of Allah.
`Abdullah in Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "Which
deed is the dearest to Allah?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at
their early stated 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 Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's cause."
[8]
Of the Hadiths that were
reported in warning against delaying Salah in its due time is the
lengthy Hadith of vision reported from the Prophet (peace be upon
him): "Last night two persons came to me (in a dream) and woke me up
and said to me: 'Proceed!' I set out with them and we came across a
man Lying down, and behold, another man was standing over his head,
holding a big rock. Behold, he was throwing the rock at the man's
head, injuring it. The rock rolled away and the thrower followed it
and took it back. By the time he reached the man, his head returned
to the normal state. The thrower then did the same as he had done
before. I said to my two companions, 'Subhan Allah! Who are
these two persons?' They said, 'Proceed!' So we proceeded and came
to a man Lying flat on his back and another man standing over his
head with an iron hook, and behold, he would put the hook in one
side of the man's mouth and tear off that side of his face to the
back (of the neck) and similarly tear his nose from front to back
and his eye from front to back. Then he turned to the other side of
the man's face and did just as he had done with the other side. He
hardly completed this side when the other side returned to its
normal state. Then he returned to it to repeat what he had done
before....They said to me: 'We will inform you: As for the first man
you came upon whose head was being injured with the rock, he is the
symbol of the one who studies the Quran and then neither recites it
nor acts on its orders, and sleeps, neglecting the enjoined prayers.'"
[9]
This Salah should be
performed in the houses of Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted).
Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "When
you (O Messenger Muhammad peace be upon him) are among them, and
lead them in As-Salât (the prayer), let one party of them stand up
[in Salât (prayer)] with you taking their arms with them; when they
finish their prostrations, let them take their positions in the rear
and let the other party come up which have not yet prayed, and let
them pray with you taking all the precautions and bearing arms.
Those who disbelieve wish, if you were negligent of your arms and
your baggage, to attack you in a single rush, but there is no sin on
you if you put away your arms because of the inconvenience of rain
or because you are ill, but take every precaution for yourselves.
Verily, Allâh has prepared a humiliating torment for the
disbelievers."
[Surat An-Nisa': 102].
The Ayah
explained the obligation of congregational Salah during war, so it
is more obligatory in the state of peace.
Abu Hurayrah (may
Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon
him) said: "The most difficult and the
hardest prayers for the hypocrites are the 'Isha' (prayer)
and the Fajr (prayer.)" He added: "Had they known what is (the
reward of) the 'Atma ('Isha') and Fajr (prayers)?
They would have come to attend them even if they had to crawl. I
sometimes thought of giving orders for firewood to be collected,
then for proclaiming the Adhan for Salat. Then I would appoint an
Imam to lead Salat, and then go to the houses of those who do not
come to perform Salat in congregation, and set fire to their houses
on them."
[10]
Some people of knowledge
said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) would not have done that
except when those people had committed a terrible sin.
It was reported among
the seven types of people whom Allah shall protect by His Shade on a
day where is no shade but His: man whose heart is connected with
Masjids."
[11]Masjids are the houses of Allah and whoever enters them
shall be the guest of his Lord. So, there is no heart more kind and
more happy than a soul became a guest of the Lord in His House and
under His Custody. Abu Ad-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with
him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Masjid
is the house of every pious. Moreover, Allah undertakes that a
person whose house is the masjid (a metaphor for connecting
with masjids) would have tranquility, mercy, and passing
the Sirat (a fine road on the Hell which is finer than a hair and
sharper than a sword) to the pleasure of Allah and to Paradise."
[12]
This hospitality is done
by tranquility, happiness, and comfort that a person enjoys in the
world and by honor and bliss that they shall have in Heaven.
Praised be to Allah, the
Lord of the worlds [i.e., people]. May Allah send His Peace and
Blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his
Companions!
[1] Sahih Al Bukhari (1/20) No. (8) and
Sahih Muslim (1/45) No. (16).
[2] Reported by At-Tabarany in Al Awsat
(2/240) No. (1859) and Al Albany (may Allah bestow
mercy on his soul) graded it as authentic in As-Silsilah
As-Sahihah No. (1358).
[3] Sahih Muslim (1/88) No. (82).
[4] Sunan Ibn Majah, (2/900) No. (2697)
[5] Sahih Al Bukhari (1/184) No. (528) and
Sahih Muslim (1/463) No. (667).
[6] Sahih Muslim (1/203) No. (223)
[7] Musnad (Hadith compilation of) Imam
Ahmad (2/333).
[8] Sahih Al Bukhari (1/184) No. (527) and
Sahih Muslim (1/89) No. 85.
[9] Sahih Al Bukhari (4/311) No. [7047]
[10] Sahih Al Bukhari (1/218) No. (657) and
Sahih Muslim (1/451) No. (252).
[11] Sahih Al Bukhari (1/219) No. (660) and
Sahih Muslim (2/715) No. (1031).
[12] At-Tabarany in Al Mu`jam Al Kabir
and Al Awsat (6/254) No. (6143) Al Mundhiry
said in his Book Al Targhib Wat-Tarhib (1/298).
Reported by At-Tabarany in Al Mu`jam Al Kabir
and Al Awsat and Al Bazzar who said: Its
chain of narration is good.
Al Albany graded it as good in
Sahih At-Targhib Wat-Tarhib (1\253), No. (330).
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