PRAYER: A PILLAR OF ISLAM

PRAYER: THE ASCENSION FOR A BELIEVER

After Allah's Messenger (pbuh) was commissioned for Prophet hood, the first thing he was commanded to do by Allah was to pray. The angel Jibra’il (Gabriel) came to him, and a spring of water gushed out from the rocks in front of them. Jibra’il then showed the Prophet (pbuh) how to do ablution. He then showed him how to offer prayers to Allah. The Messenger (pbuh) of Allah began to pray two Raka twice a day; once in the morning and once in the evening. He then went home and showed his wife Khadija R.A. what he had learned from angel Jibra’il. Since that time, the Prophet never went through a day without praying. Just before his migration (Hijra) to Al-Madinah, Allah's Messenger (pbuh) was taken by night to Jerusalem and then to the heavens (Miraj). During this journey, Allah almighty commanded him to pray five times a day. This prayer was a gift given to every believer to enable him to experience a spiritual ascension five times in every day. The Prophet (pbuh) explained that “The prayer is the Miraj of the believer." It gives every Muslim the opportunity to communicate with his Lord.

      During each prayer, the worshipper recites Surah Al Fatiha.

This recitation is not a dull monologue by the believer, but Allah promises that it is a conversation between Him and the worshipper. The Messenger (pbuh) reported that Allah Almighty says:

"When My slave says (in his sprayer): 'All praise is for Allah, the Lord of the worlds', I say: 'My slave has praised Me.' when he says: ' the Merciful, the Compassionate, Master of the Day of Judgment', I say: 'My slave has praised and glorified Me'. When he says: ' You Alone we worship, and Your Aid we seek, ' I say: 'This is between my slave and me.' When he says: 'Show us the Straight Path, the path of those on whom you have bestowed Your Grace, neither of those who earned your anger nor of those who went astray.' I say: 'This is for my slave, and I give my slave what he wants." (Hadith Qudsi)

The numbers of prayers in a day have been set at five by Allah almighty. The believer has no choice in the matter but to obey. To reduce the number of prayers would not only be disobedience, it would also lose the benefits of prayer.

For example, a room is only good fro residence if it has four walls and a roof. If only one wall or the roof were to be removed, what use could it be? Similarly, the prayer will only achieve its purpose and be of use on the Day when nothing except one's deeds will be of use, if it is observed in the prescribed manner.

 Let Us Pray

PRAYER: A PILLAR OF ISLAM

Allah's Messenger (pbuh) once said:

"Prayer is the pillar of religion."

The Prophet (pbuh) also said:

"Islam is erected on five pillars: to testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger; to establish prayer; to pay Zakat; to perform Hajj to the Sacred House, and to fast in the month of Ramadan." (Bukhari, Muslim)

This Hadith makes the image very clear. Islam is like a building, supported by five columns. Remove just one column, and the entire building weakens.

If strong winds batter the town, the building which will certainly collapse is the one with a pillar missing. In the same way, when a person stops praying, his Faith becomes weak and the mildest of blows can cause it to crumble.

The prayer is of such vital importance that the Prophet (pbuh) said: "Verily, between men and between polytheism and unbelief is the negligence of prayer." (Muslim)

How true is this statement! If you look at people walking down the road, it may be difficult to distinguish Muslims from non-Muslims. Islam is not marked upon a believer's forehead, and neither is Kufr stamped on an infidel's face. But at the time of prayer, you can separate the two groups with ease. The believer will abandon his work, his business to join the rows of Muslims in prayer, while the disbeliever will carry on with his worldly affairs.

Surah Al-Muddathir narrates an interesting dialogue which will take place on the Day of Judgment. The believers will ask the people of Hell-fire:

    "What has caused you to enter Hell?" They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer their prayers. Nor we used to feed the poor; and we used to talk falsehoods (all that which Allah hated) with vain talkers, and we used to belie the Day of Recompense. Until there came to use (the death) that is certain." (72:42-47)

The rejecters of truth are silent in this world, but in the next world they will themselves speak the truth.

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

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