“And I did not create man...except to worship Me Alone” (Quran 51:56)

In the name of Allah, The Beneficent,
The Merciful and Compassionate.

All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds. And all blessings and peace to Muhammad saw, his family, and companions.

For Muslims prayer is a set of ritual movements and words performed at fixed times, five times per day.  God says in Quran, “Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours”.  (Quran 4:103)  Muslims pray in the early morning before sunrise, in the middle of the day, in the afternoon, at sunset and at night.  Muslims pray in obedience to God because they believe God created humankind for no other purpose except to worship Him.

“And I did not create man...except to worship Me Alone” (Quran 51:56)

Consequently, for a believer, worship is a way of life.  Prayer at fixed times  serves as a reminder of why we are here and helps to direct a person’s thoughts and actions away from sin and onto remembrance of God.  Prophet Muhammad emphasised the importance of prayer when he explained its ability to remove sin.  He said, “What would you think if there was a river by the door of any one of you and he bathed in it five times a day, would there be any trace of dirt left on him?”  They said, “No trace of dirt would be left on him.”  He said, “That is like the five daily prayers, with it God erases sin.”

The Holy Qur'an says, "Then woe to those prayer performers. Who are heedless of their prayers (Part 30, Surah Ma-oon, verse 4-5)

The Importance of Praying to Allah swt. In Islam

 Muslims do not believe in the concept of "vicarious atonement" but rather believe in the law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day of Judgment Muslims believe that every person will be resurrected and will have to answer to God for their every word, thought, and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous.

It will be a major sin to leave Salah all together. It is also a sin to allow a prayer not to be prayed in its time. However, whilst the prayer is still in its time it may be prayed at any time that is convenient for you.

However one should be mindful not to delay Asr Salah right till the end time. Maghrib Salah also should not be delayed as the Messenger has emphasized that it be prayed quickly. Isha Salah should not be delayed to the passing of half the night.

Let me present some Noble Verses from the Noble Quran regarding this issue:

"What led you into Hell-Fire? They will say; 'We were not of those who prayed;' (The Noble Quran, 74:42-43)"

"So woe to the worshippers who are neglectful of their Prayers, those who (want but) to be seen (of men). (The Noble Quran, 107:4-6)"

Hypocrites (Munafiq) were very lazy about their prayers. That is because they had apparently accepted Islam but did not believe in Allah Ta'ala or the day of judgement in their hearts. There was no importance given to prayer by them, if they prayed, they prayed. If they missed it, it was no big deal to them. If they prayed they were not expecting any reward for it. If they missed it there was no fear of any reprisal or punishment. If they were amongst people they would pray. If they were on their own they would not bother, or would not pray it at the correct times. They would sit around swapping stories, and when the time would almost be up, they would stand, move up and down quickly a few times and claim that they had prayed. They would not pray with the sincerity or humility that it should be prayed with. They would never truly busy themselves in worship or the remembrance of Allah Ta'ala.

"Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not to provide sustenance: We provide it for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for Righteousness. (The Noble Quran, 20:132)"

"The hypocrites--they think they are over-reaching Allah but He will over-reach them: When they stand up to Prayer, they stand without earnestness, to be seen of men, but little do they hold Allah in remembrance. (The Noble Quran, 4:142)"

"Their eyes will be cast down--ignominy will cover them; seeing that they had been summoned aforetime to bow in adoration, while they were whole (and had refused). (The Noble Quran, 68:43)"

"So he gave nothing in charity, nor did he pray! (The Noble Quran, 75:31)"

"And when it is said to them, 'Prostrate yourselves!' they do not so.  Ah woe, that Day, to the rejecters of Truth! (The Noble Quran, 77:48-49)"

 It is related by Abu Hurairah (R.A.) that (once) the Apostle of Allah (Sallallaahu alaihi Wasallam) was sitting to one side in the mosque that a man came in and offered his Salah (Prayer). Afterwards, he came to the holy Prophet (SAW) and paid his respects to him. The Holy Prophet (SAW) returned the salutation and remarked: "Go and offer the Salah (Prayer) again. You have not said it properly." He went back and said the prayers again and returned to the Holy Prophet (SAW), and paid his respects. The Holy Prophet (SAW), returning the salutation, once again remarked: "Go and offer the Salah (Prayer) again. You have not said it properly". After offering Salah (Namaaz, Prayer) for the third (and the fourth) time, the man said to the Holy Prophet (SAW): "Sir, tell me how to offer Salah (Prayer)". The Holy Prophet (SAW) replied: "When you decide to offer Salah (Namaaz (Prayer), first perform Wudu thoroughly and well, then turn to Qiblah, then begin the Salah (Prayer), after uttering Takbir-i-Tahrima. After it recite some part of the Holy Qur’an. Which you know by heart and can recite easily. (In other Traditions relating to the same incident it is stated that the Apostle of Allah (SAW) told the questioner, specifically, to recite Surah- Fatiha and whatever he liked, in addition to it). Then after the recital, perform Ruku till you are still and at ease in Ruku. Then, arise from Ruku till you stand erect. Then, perform the Sajadah till you are still and at ease in Sajadah. Then arise till you sit up comfortably. (According to another narrator, the Holy Prophet (SAW), instead of it, said: "Then arise till you stand erect). Then, do like that throughout the Salah (Prayer) (i.e., in every Ruku, Sujud, Qauma and Jalsa in a calm and collected manner)." (Bukhari and Muslim)

The incident mentioned above related to Hadrat Khalid bin Rafah (RA), the brother of the well-known Sahabi, Khalid bin Rafah (RA) had offered up two Rak’ah of Salah (Namaaz, Prayer) in the Holy Prophet’s (SAW) mosque but some other commentators suggest that these Rak’ah were of Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid which Hadrat Khalid (RA), had said rather hurriedly, and upon it, he was reproached by the Holy Prophet (SAW) and told to offer them up again.

It shows that the Holy Prophet (SAW) did not plainly tell Hadrat Khalid bin Rafah (RA), at the first time, what was wrong with his Salah, Prayer) and how it was to be said correctly but at the third or fourth time, and, then, at his own request. It was, probably, for the simple reason that a lesson imparted in such a manner suffices for a lifetime and gets talked about among others as well.

The practical teaching imparted in the above Tradition is that Salah, Prayer) should be offered up in a calm and composed manner and if it is offered hurriedly and without making the necessary pauses and carrying out the various acts properly it be as good as unsaid.

“The Sunna prayers after the obligatory prayers were legislated to make up for the deficiency in the obligatory prayer, and the Sunna prayers before the obligatory prayers are to cut the Devil from his greed.”

 “Worldly concerns lead to forgetting the remembrance of Allah Most High and …attaining the fruits of devotion perpetuating the animal aspect of human nature and confounding his angelic aspect.

It was therefore necessary to legislate something to polish [his heart] before the obligatory prayers so that they could be entered into with a purity of heart and concentration of spiritual ambition.

How often it is that a person does not pray such that he attains unto the benefits of the prayer. This is what was indicated by the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) when he said, ‘How many a worshipper has no share from his prayer except a half of it, or a third of it, or a quarter of it.’.

It was therefore necessary to legislate prayers after it as well to complete the purpose

‘Aisha’ (Allah be pleased with her) also said ‘The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was not more diligent about performing any supererogatory prayer more than the two [Sunna] rakaats of the Morning Prayer’ [Bukhari & Muslim]. 

Why did Allah Almighty allow praying in the public?

Allah Almighty loves to see unity and brotherhood among the Muslims. He loves to see us stand in organized lines to worship Him. He doesn't like individualism, because it helps Satan to isolate his prey. It also equalizes between all races.

When Muslims pray together they stand shoulder to shoulder. Their proximity to each other demonstrates unity.  No one person is better than another except by his or her piety.

Kings stand next to the poor, the white stand next to the black, Arabs stand beside Europeans.

Praying in Islam is very important. It should come as the first priority in our daily lives. Allah Almighty created His Servants to Worship Him only. True believers should perform prayers regularly.

It Only Takes One Hour.

Importance of Praying to Allah Almighty in Islam.  Praying in Islam can not be compromised. It has to be the first priority in our daily lives. My dear brothers and sisters, it only takes 2-5 minutes to wash our (hands, mouths, noses, faces, arms, necks, ears, hairs and feet) which is mandatory before every prayer unless you don't output gas from your body, then you can only wash yourself once if you never output gas after that, and 2-5 minutes to perform the actual prayer. So in other words, it takes a maximum of 1 hour to perform prayer everyday. Many of us spend long hours everyday at the gym trying to stretch and workout, while we can perform all of that in praying.

In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us and made us into tribes and nations That we may know each other, not that we may despise each other.
If the enemy inclines towards peace, do thou also incline towards peace, and trust God, for the Lord is the one that hearth and knoweth all things.
And the servants of God,
Most gracious are those who walk on the Earth in humility, and when we address them, we say "PEACE."

However, for those few minutes the believer was alone with God.  Whether he or she was praying alone or within a congregation, the connection was between God and the individual.  It was a moment of bliss, peace, and tranquillity.  Prayer is a reminder and a comfort.  Every hour of every day somewhere in the world, a Muslim is praying.  The believer is seeking the comfort that comes from feeling close to God andthe peace that comes from feeling God’s love and mercy.

..May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........

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And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen

P.S.: "Have fun praying    don’t forget to make dua for me.
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