VIRTUES OF SALAH
Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"Whoever recites Aayatul Kursi after every Fard (Fard Salat). Only death is keeping him/her from entering Jannah. (As soon as he/she dies, will enter Jannah)
(Nisai, Ibn Habban)
Buraidah (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"Convey glad tidings to those who walk to the mosque in the darkness. For they will be given full light on the Day of Resurrection.''
[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported:Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"He who goes to the masjid in the morning or in the evening, Allaah prepares for him a place in Jannah whenever he goes to the masjid in the morning and returns from it in the evening.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"He who purifies (performs Wudu') himself in his house and then walks to one of the houses of Allaah (masjid) for performing an obligatory Salaat, one step of his, will wipe out his sins and another step will elevate his rank (in Jannah).''
[Muslim].
Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said, "He who says after the Adhan:
"ash-hadu al laa ilaaha illallaahu WaH-dahu laa shareeka Lahu; wa ash-hadu anna MuHammadan 'Abduhu wa Rasooluh, raDHItu Billaahi Rabban, wa bi MuHammadin Rasoolan, wa bil Islaami Deenan"
[I testify that there is no true god except Allaah Alone; He has no partners and that MuHammad (Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam ) is His slave and Messenger; I am pleased with Allaah as my Rabb, with MuHammad (Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam )as my Messenger and with Islaam as my Deen]
his sins will be forgiven.''
[Muslim].
'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As (RA) reported: I heard Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam saying,
"When you hear the Azaan, repeat what the Mu'adhdhin says.
Then ask Allaah to exalt my mention because everyone who does so will receive in return ten rewards from Allaah.
Then beseech Allaah to grant me Al-Wasilah, which is a high rank in Jannah, fitting for only one of Allah's slaves; and I hope that I will be that man.
If any one asks Al-Wasilah for me, it becomes incumbent upon me to intercede for him.''
[Muslim]
Anas (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said: "The supplication made between the Azaan and the Iqamah is never rejected.''
[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
"Prayer in congregation is superior to praying individually twenty-seven times." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prayer will be the first deed that the Muslims will be asked about in the Day of Judgement.
Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam says,
"The first act that the slave will be accountable for on the Day of Judgement will be prayer. If it is good, then the rest of his acts will be good. And if it is evil, then the rest of his acts will be evil"
[at-Tabarani]
Aishah (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"Allah and His angels invoke blessings upon those who are on the right side of the rows.''
[Abu Dawud].
Uthman bin 'Affan (RA) reported: I heard Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam saying:
"One who performs 'Isha' prayer in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat for half of the night. And one who performs the Fajr prayer in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat the whole night.''
[Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said:
"Were people to know the blessing of pronouncing Azaan and the standing in the first row, they would even draw lots to secure these privileges. And were they to realize the reward of performing Salat early, they would race for it; and were they to know the merits of Salat after nightfall ('Isha') and the dawn (Fajr) Salat, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
"Sujood is the closest you can come to Allaah." (Muslim)
'Aishah (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"The two Rak'ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all it contains.''
[Muslim]
Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam is reported to have said:
"Whoever did not perform the sunnah of fajr should perform it after the sun rises". [Tirmidhi, no. 423]
'He who performs Fajr Salat with Jamaat and remains seated in the same place while engaging in zikr until after sunrise and thereafter performs 2 Rakaats Nafil Salat, (Ishraaq), he will obtain the Thawaab of one Hajj and one Umrah.' (Tirmidhi).
Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam is reported to have said that:
whoever prayed twelve rakaats at the time of Chasht, then Allaah will, as a reward, prepare a palace of gold for him in Paradise.
[Mishkat, Tirmizi, Ibn Majah]
Umm Habibah (RA) the Mother of the Believers reported: I heard Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam saying,
"A house will be built in Jannah for every Muslim who offers twelve Rak'ah of optional Salat (sunnat e muakhkadah) other than the obligatory Salaat in a day and a night (to seek the Pleasure of Allaah).''
[Muslim].
Umm Habibah (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said, "Whoever observes the practice of performing four Rak'ah before Zuhr prayer and four after the Zuhr prayer, Allaah will shield him against the Fire (of Hell).
[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
'Aishah (RA) reported: If Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam could not perform four Rak'ah before Zuhr prayer, he would perform them after it (i.e., after the obligatory prayer).
[At-Tirmidhi].
Ibn 'Umar (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"May Allaah have mercy on a man who performs four Rak'ah before the 'Asr prayer.''
[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
Rafa'a bin Rafie' Az-Zirqi (RA) said:
"One day we were praying behind Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam and when he raised his head from the position of ruku', he said:
"Sami 'Allaahu liman Hamidah"
[Allaah hears the one who praises Him]
A man from behind said:
"Rabbanaa wa lakal Hamd - Hamdan katheeran Tayyiban mubaarakan fiyh" [Our Lord, all praise is due to You - praise which is abundant, excellent and blessed...]
When we finished [the salaat] Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam asked:
"Who spoke?"
The man said: "I did".
He said, "Indeed I saw some 30- something Angels all scuffling to see which one of them could record it."
[Bukhari & Muslim]
Hazrat Abu Ma'mar (RA) has said that the Sahaabah (RA) used to consider 4 rakats after the Fardh of maghrib to be mustahab. [Qiyaamul-Layl of Marwazi pg.58]
Hazrat Sa'eed Ibn Jubair (RA) narrates that the Sahaabah (RA) used to regard the performing of four rakats before the fardh of isha as mustahab. [ibid. pg.58]
Abu Musa narrates that Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said:
"The one who gets the greatest reward for a prayer is the one who walks the farthest distance." [Muslim]
Zaid ibn Thabit reports that Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said:
"A person's salaah in his house is better than his salaah in my mosque, except for the fard salaah." (Abu Dawud)
Abu Hurairah (RA) reports that Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said:
"Whoever makes ghusl on the day of Jumu'ah and then goes to the masjid and prays what has been prescribed for him, and remains quiet while the imam delivers the khutbah, and then prays with the imam, he will have forgiven for him what is between that Jumu'ah and the next and an additional three days." but he who touches pebbles has caused an interruption.''
[Muslim].
Abu Amama (RA) narrates that Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam was asked which dua has the greatest acceptance. To this, he replied that the dua recited in the latter part of the night (Tahajjud time) and after the fard Salaat.
(Tirmidhi)
Narrated Abu Huraira (RA):
Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"If anyone of you can get one Rak'ah of the 'Asr prayer before sunset, he should complete his prayer. If any of you can get one Rak'ah of the Fajr prayer before sunrise, he should complete his prayer." (Bukhari 1:531)
'Umar bin 'Ata reported that Nafi' bin Jubair sent him to Sa'ib bin Ukht Namir to ask him about something that Mu'awiyah had seen him doing in Salat (prayer).
He said: "Yes, I performed the Friday prayer along with him in the enclosure (Maqsurah), and when the Imam concluded the Salat with Taslim, I stood up in my place and performed the Sunnah prayer.
When Mu'awiyah went home, he sent for me (and when I came) he said:
"Never do again what you have done. When you have observed the Friday prayer, you must not start another Sunnah prayer till you have spoken to some one or have shifted your place; because Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam ordered us not to follow up the congregational Salat with any other Salat until we have talked (to some one) or moved from the place."
[Muslim].
Buraidahu (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"He who misses the 'Asr Salaat (deliberately), his deeds will be rendered nul and void.''
[Al-Bukhari].
Anas (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"Keep your rows straight (during Salat in congregation), for keeping the rows straight is part of the perfection of Salaat.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Buraidah (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"That which differentiates us from the disbelievers and hypocrites is our performance of Salaat. He who abandons it, becomes a disbeliever.''
[At-Tirmidhi].
Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam says,
"Whoever guards and observes his prayer, they will be a light and a proof and a saviour for him on the Day of Resurrection.
Whoever does not guard and observe them, they will not be a light or a proof or a saviour for him.
On the Day of Resurrection, he will be with Qarun, Fir'aun, Haman and Ubayy ibn Khalf"
[Ahmed]
Ibn Jawzi (RA) wrote in his tafsir Elmugni: Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) said that, "When the time of a daily prayer of salaat comes, angels say, 'O the sons of Adam, stand up! Extinguish the fire prepared to burn human beings by performing salaat.
In another Hadith
"A person neglecting salaah though he makes it up later, shall remain in hell for a period of one huqb. A huqb is equal to eighty years of 360 days each and a day in the hereafter shall equal to 1,000 years of this world." May Allah save the believers from such punishment! Imagine the punishment of one who rejects and neglects salah all together.
"Between a man and disbelief is (only) the abandonment of salaah." (Muslim)
Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said, 'The covenant that stands between us and them is Prayer; whoever gives up Prayer is a non-Muslim' (At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah).
After performing the dawn [Fajr] or sunset [Maghrib] Prayer, before you utter another word, read this..
"Allaahumma ajirnee minnan naar"
O Allaah, save me from the Fire. (7 times).
For if you then die allaah will save you from the fire. [Abu Dawud]
"Establish salaah at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night.Verily, good deeds remove evil deeds. This is a reminder for the mindful." (Hud 11:114)
PAINFUL TORMENT AT THE TIME OF DEATH, IN GRAVE, ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT AND IN HELL.
A hadith shareef, quoted in the book 'Qurratul'uyun,' declares, "If a person does not perform salaat though he has no good excuse, will recieve fifteen kind of punishments. Six of them will come in the world, three will come at the time of death, three will come in the grave, and three will come when rising from the grave.
The six plagues in the world are:
1-Person who does not perform salat will not have barakat {blessings} in his life.
2-He will not have the beauty,the lovable ness peculiar to those who are loved by Allaah ta'AAla.
3-He will not be given reward for any good he does.
4-His supplications (duas) will not be accepted.
5-No one will like him.
6-Blessings that (other) Muslims invoked on him will do him no good.
Kinds of torment he will suffer when dying are:
1-He will expire in an abhorrent, unsightly, repugnant manner.
2-He will die hungry.
3-Much water as he may have, he will die with painful thirst.
Kind of torment he will suffer in the grave are:
1-The grave will squeeze him. His bone will intertwine.
2-His grave will be filled with fire, which will scorch him day and night.
3-Allaah ta'AAla will send him a huge snake to his grave. It is not like terrestrial serpents. It will sting him at every prayer time each day. It will never leave him alone any moment.
Kinds of torment he will suffer after rising are:
1-Angels of torment that will drag him to hell will never leave him alone.
2-Allaah ta'AAla will meet him with wrath.
3-His accounts will be settled in a very vehement manner, and he will be flung into hell.
(Fabricated hadith, but a VERY Serious Warning)
(May Allaah save us!! Ameen)
On the other hand, we see that one who performs salat five times a day his sins are forgiven.
Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said, "Whoever guards and observes his prayer, it will be a light and a proof and a savior for him on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever doesn't guard and observe them, they will not be a light or a proof or a savior for him... " [Ahmad, at-Tabaraani, Ibn Hibban]
Those Who Pray Shall Have Nothing to Fear on the Day of Judgment:
"Truly, those who believe and do righteous deeds, and perform Salah, and give Zakah, they will have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." (2:277)
"Those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allaah; verily in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find rest." (13:28)
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (RA) reported: Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam said,
"When you see a man frequenting the masjid, testify that he is a believer because Allaah says: "Allaah's mosques are visited only by those who believe in Allaah and the Last Day."
[Tirmidhi]
"And Allaah says of the people of Hell: '"What has caused you to enter Hell?"' They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer the Salah (prayers)"' (74:42-43)
The scholars agree that it is obligatory for one who has forgotten the salah or slept through its time to make up the missed [qadha) prayer.
This opinion is based on the hadith of Rasoolullaah Sollallaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam mentioned :
"There is no negligence while one is asleep but forgetfulness occurs when one is awake.
If one of you forgets the prayer or sleeps through its time, then he should perform the salah when he recalls it." (Muslim)
If one falls unconscious, then he need not repeat the salaah, unless he regains his consciousness with enough time to purify himself and perform the salaah within its proper time.
Rabbij 'Alniy muqeemaS Salaati wa min dhuriy-yatiy, rabbanaa wa taqabbal du'AA.
014.040 O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer.
wa maa tawfeeqi illaa billaah
Wa aakhiri dA'waanaa Anil Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil 'AAlameen.
