All praises and thanks are due to Allah for his excellence, perfection and his favours that essentiate appreciation towards him. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except him, he has no partners and he is deserving of utmost reverance due to his prestige. And I testify that Muhammad (SAW) is his servant and messenger – a caller towards his pleasure. Oh Allah, bestow blessings and peace upon him, his family, companions and brothers in faith.
Oh Servants of Allah! I advise you and myself to fear Allah and to “fear the day you shall be returned to him” (2:281). Know, that from the characteristics and features of the Muttaqeen (those who possess piety/god-consciousness/fear of Allah) is that they preserve and uphold their prayers.
How can you confront and face the volatile nature of this world except, through joining and standing firm in the rows in Prayer? Allah says:
إِنَّ الإِنسَانَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا * إِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوعًا * وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ الْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا
“Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; And niggardly when good touches him;” (Surat Al-Ma’arij Verses 19 – 21)
Who is the exception to this? (Allah says) –
إِلَّا الْمُصَلِّينَ
“Except, those who are devoted to prayers” (Al-Ma’arij Verse 22)
Who are these individuals who are devoted to the prayers? Are they those who do not pray except, the weekly Jumu’ah? Or are they those who offer only 2 prayers daily? Are they those who offer the before or after its timing? The answer lies in his words:
الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَى صَلاتِهِمْ دَائِمُونَ،
“Those who are constant in their prayer” (Al-Ma’arij Verse 23)
Thereafter, the fruits of their prayers is mentioned and the mannerisms and Khashya (divine fear) that emanates in their lives due to their mentality they possess and their affection to the prayer: –
Fear
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِمْ مُشْفِقُونَ * إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍ
“And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord – Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe –“ (Al-Ma’arij Verses 27 – 28).
Where does this fear come from? It comes from the preservation of one’s Salah.
Mannerisms
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ
“And those who keep their trusts and covenants;” (Al-Ma’arij Verse 32)
How can they fulfil their trusts and establish the rights that are binding (upon them) except, through the preservation of the prayers?
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ * إِلَّا عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ
“And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). Except with their wives and the (women slaves and captives) whom their right hands possess, for (then) they are not to be blamed,” (Al-Ma’arij Verses 29 – 30)
How can they guard their chastity and lower their gaze unless, they are amongst those who are constant in their Salah?
Thus, when persistence and preservation (of the prayer) come together – listen, to the end-result, BarakAllahu feek..
أُوْلَئِكَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ مُكْرَمُونَ
“Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured.” (Al-Ma’arij Verse 35)
By Allah! You will never attain nearness to Allah through an act that is greater than preserving the prayers!
Anas reports: We were sitting before the prophet SAW when a man whom we did not recognise entered upon us. He said “Where is the descendant of ‘Abdil Mutalib? We said “He is the white individual there”. So, he went to him and said “Oh descendant of Abdil Mutalib, I am an enquirer with questions for you”. He was reclining and then sat up. The questioner asked “Oh Muhammad! Who has raised the heavens?”. He replied “Allah”. The questioner asked “Oh Muhammad, who has spread out the earth?”. He replied “Allah”. The questioner asked “And who has erected the mountains?”. He replied “Allah”. Thereafter, the questioner asked “I ask you, by the one who has raised the heavens, spread out the earth and erected the mountains, did Allah send you as a messenger to us?”. The prophets face turned red and he replied “Yes”. The questioner then asked “I ask you by the one who has raised the heavens, spread out the earth, erected the mountains and sent you as a messenger to us, did Allah command you to order us with the performance of 5 daily prayers through the night and day? He replied “Yes”. He asked “Did Allah command you to order us with fasting?”. He replied “Yes”. He then asked “Did Allah command you to order us to fulfil the obligation of Zakah? (on those whom it is waajib upon)”. He replied “Yes”. He asked “Did Allah command you to order us with Hajj?”. He replied “Yes”. The questioner asked “By the one who raised the heavens, spread out the earth, erected the mountains and sent you as a messenger to us, those who preserve their prayers, fast during Ramadan, pay Zakah, perform the pilgrimage and not increase upon that…..then he went and the prophet SAW said “If a person is truthful (upon that which has been mentioned), he shall enter Jannah”. Meaning that if a person preserves his prayer, fasts during Ramadan, pays Zakah and makes the pilgrimage to the Haram – he will enter Jannah.
Contemplate, May Allah bless you! The obligation of Zakah is lifted when you have no wealth, the obligation of fasting is dropped when you have a valid excuse (Al-Baqarah v.184) and Hajj is only obligatory for the one who has the means to accomplish it – However, can anyone say to me that you are excused from the obligation of prayer in any circumstance (without a legislated concession i.e. A woman on her cycle), especially, when the one who safeguards his Salah shall enter Jannah?
For it comes in the hadeeth, that the prophet SAW said “It is a right upon Allah that he will admit into Jannah the one who who meets Allah whilst, having safeguarded his prayer. Abu Dhar said “..Even if he was to commit fornication and steal? The prophet replied “Even if he was to commit fornication and steal. Abu Dhar repeated “Oh messenger of Allah, even if he was to commit fornication and steal? The prophet replied “Even if he was to commit fornication and steal. Abu Dhar re-iterated this 3 times (all together) to which the prophet replied “Even in defiance of Abu Dhar”.
5 daily prayers – the one who performs them when they hear the call (of Adhan) – it will be a source of illumination, radiance and proof for him on the day of Qiyamah. And whoever neglects them; then he has no one to blame except himself!
Adapted from the speech of Sheikh Khalid Rashid – Hafidhahullah
Mukhtas ~ المختص 