Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

FortyAhadith onSalat

Essence of Worship:Salat

Publisher(s): Islamic Education Board of the World Federation of KSIMC

www.alhassanain.org/english

Table of Contents

Preface 4

Introduction 5

Notes 6

Prayers in The Noble Qur’an 7

The Rank of Prayers in Islam 8

1. The Special Rank of Prayers 8

2. The Pillar of Religion 8

3. The Parable of Prayers 8

4. A Means of Salvation 8

5. Illumination of the Heart 8

6. A Measure of Acceptance of Deeds 9

7. The Conduct of the Prophets 9

8. The Standard of Islam 9

9. The Benefits of Prayers 9

10. Prayers and Children 9

Importance and Virtues of Prayers 11

11. Value of Prayers 11

12. The Face of Religion 11

13. Importance of Prayers 11

14. The Blessings of Prayers 11

15. The Rank of Prayers 11

16. Purification of the Soul 11

17. The Covenant of Allah 12

18. Remembrance of Allah 12

19. The Mercy of Allah 12

20. Refraining from Sins 12

Note 13

Importance of Prayer-Times 14

21. How and When? 14

22. Importance of the Times of Prayers 14

23. The Noble Prophet and Prayers 14

24. Prayers at their Times 14

25. A Beloved Entity 14

Negligence & Carelessness towards the Prayers 16

26. Regarding the Prayers as Insignificant 16

27. Debasement of Prayers 16

28. Destroying Prayers 16

29. The Incorrect Prayers 16

30. Carelessness Towards Prayers 16

31. The Consequence of Abandoning Prayers 17

32. A Death of Disbelief 17

33. Chastisement 17

34. Door of Hell 17

Note 17

Etiquette of Prayer And Conditions for its Acceptance 18

35. Conditions for Acceptance of Prayers 18

36. Prayers Accepted? In What Measure? 18

37. Prayers and the Wilayah of the Ahlul Bayt 18

38. Obligatory and Recommended Prayers 18

39. Prayers with Adhan & Iqamah 19

40. Prayers and Supplications 19

Preface

The Noble Prophet (peacebe upon him and his progeny) has said:

مَنْ حَفِظَ عَـلـى أُمَّتِـي أَرْبَعِينَ حَدِيثًا يَـنْتَفِعُونَ بِهَا بَعَـثَهُ اللهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَقِيهاً عَالِـماً

“The person from amongst my nation who memorizes forty traditions pertaining to those issues of religion which he is in need of, Allah shall resurrect him on the Day of Judgment as a scholar with a deep insight into the faith.”

In following the abovehadith , The Islamic Education Board of The World Federation of KSIMC (IEB - WF) has decided to publish a series of booklets of 40ahadith on different subjects. Theahadith , which have been selected from various sources, are short and simple and therefore easy to understand and memorize. It is envisaged that the booklets will not only be useful forZakireen ,Madrasah teachers and students, but will be of benefit to theUmmah at large.

The collection of theahadith , together with their translation in English, was carried out byShaykh Shahnawaz Mahdavi . IEB - WF would like to thankShaykh Mahdavi for his efforts in the compilation and translation of this work. May Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) accept this work as a further attempt by IEB - WF to propagateIslam.

Introduction

For the introduction for the 40ahadith on prayers, we could not think of anything that could be more complete, interesting and profound than what appears in the beginning of the chapter on prayers in theTawdhihul Masail ofAyatullah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hence we have selected it with the hope that all those who love theAhlulBayt (peacebe upon them) and that greatgnostic may derive abundant benefits from their invaluable words and statements.

“The prayers are the most important of the religious acts such that if they are accepted by Allah, all the other acts of worship shall also be accepted. However if the prayers are not accepted, then the other acts too shall not find acceptance.”

And just as a person who washes himself five times a day has no dirt and uncleanness remaining on his body, similarly the five daily prayerscleanse a person from his sins.

It is befitting that the prayers are offered as soon as their time sets in, andone who considers the prayers to be trivial is like one who does not offer his prayers. The Noble Prophet (peacebe upon him and his progeny) has said: “One, who does not attach importance to (his) prayers and considers them to be inconsequential, deserves the chastisement of the hereafter.”

One day, while the Noble Prophet (peacebe upon him and his progeny) was present in the mosque, a person entered it and engaged himself in prayers. However, the manner in which he offered them was such that he neither performed hisruku (bowing) correctly, nor hissujood (prostration). Observing this, the Noble Prophet (peacebe upon him and his progeny) remarked: “If this person happens to die and his prayers are like this, he would not have died upon my religion!”

Hence, a person must exhibit care that he does not offer his prayers in haste. Whilst offering his prayers, he should remember Allah (s.w.t ), possess a dignified, humble and submissive demeanor, should know withWhom he is conversing, and consider himself absolutely trivial and minor before the greatness and exaltedness of the Lord of the Worlds.

If the person were to focus on these aspects in their entirety, he would become oblivious of himself. He would be just likeAmirul Mo’minin (peacebe upon him) who was oblivious to the removal of the arrow which was taken from his foot whilst he was engrossed in his prayers.

A person who prays should also repent (for his past misdeeds), and refrain from sins that hinder the acceptance of prayers such as jealousy, pride, backbiting, consumingharam food and wealth, drinking intoxicants, withholdingzakat andkhums , etc… Rather, he should refrain from all sins!

It is also befitting that he should desist from committing acts that reduce the rewards of prayers such as offering prayers in a state of drowsiness, or while withholding one’s urine, or looking up at the sky while offering prayers.

At the same time he should perform acts that increase the rewards of prayers such as wearing an agate (Aqiq ) ring, wearing clean clothes, brushing the teeth, combing the hair and applying perfume.”1

We conclude this introduction by narrating a beautiful2 tradition from the Noble Prophet (peacebe upon him and his progeny). He has said:

“MyUmmah consists of four groups:

1. One group offers the prayers, however yet are unmindful of their prayers, and they shall be placed in ‘Wayl ’. ‘Wayl ’ is the name of one of the bottom-most levels of hell. Allah has said:

فَوَيلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاَتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ

“So woe to the praying ones, who are unmindful of their prayers.” 3

2. One group is such that it occasionally offers the prayers, and so, ‘Ghayy ’ is the abode for the people of this group. ‘Ghayy ’ is the name of another of the bottom-most levels of hell. Allah has said:

فَخَلَفَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ اتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ فَسَوْفَ يُلْقَونَ غَيًّا

“But there came after them an evil generation, who neglected prayers and followed the sensual desires, so they will meet perdition.” 4

3. The third group consists of those, who never offer their prayers, and for them is ‘Saqar ’, which is also the name of another of the low levels of hell and about which Allah has said:

مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ

“(The inmates of paradise shall ask the inmates of hell)What has brought you into hell? They shall say: We were not of those who prayed.”5

4. The fourth group consists of those, who offer their prayers regularly and are humble in them. Allah has said:

قَدْ أَفلَحَ الْمُؤمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلاَتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ

“Successful indeed are the believers,Who are humble in their prayers.”6 and7

We pray to Allah (Glory and Greatness to Him) that He decrees all of us to be of the fourth group.

Mahmud Sharif

Notes

1.Tawdhihul Masa’il ofAyatullah Khomeini, pg. 84 (before issue Number 727).

2. The beauty of this tradition is in the fact that the Noble Prophet has derived this classification from the Noble Qur’an and has also mentioned the verses related to each group.

3. Noble Qur’an,Suratul Ma’un , Verses 4 & 5.

4. Noble Qur’an,Surah Maryam , Verse 59

5. Noble Qur’an,Suratul Muddathir , Verses 42, 43

6. Noble Qur’an,Suratul Mu’minun , Verses 1 & 2

7. Al-Mawaidhul `Adadiyyah , Chapter 4, Page 122.

Prayers inThe Noble Qur’an

وَ أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ تَنْهَى‏ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ لَذِكْرُ اللٌّهِ أَكْبَرُ

“And keep up prayer; surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil. And the remembrance of Allah is the greatest.”

Noble Qur’an,Suratul `Ankabut , Verse 45

The Rank of Prayers in Islam

1. The Special Rank of Prayers

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): أَوَّلُ مَا افْتَرَضَ اللٌّهُ عَلى أُمَّتِي الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَ أَوَّلُ مَا يُرفَعُ مِنْ أَعْمَالِهِمْ الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَ أَوَّلُ مَا يُسْأَلُونَ عَـنْهُ الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “The first thing that Allah made obligatory upon myUmmah was the five prayers; and the first thing from their acts of worship that shall be taken up will be the five prayers; and the first thing that they will be questioned about will be the five prayers.”

Kanzul `Ummal , Volume 7, Tradition 18859

2. The Pillar of Religion

عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (ع) قَالَ: بُنِيَ الإِِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ عَلى الصَّلاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الْحَجِّ وَ الْوِلاَيَةِ

Imam Al-Baqir (peacebe upon him) has said: “Islam has been founded and established on five things: Prayers,Zakat , Hajj,Sawm (Fasting) and Wilayah.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 234

3. The Parable of Prayers

عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (ع) قَالَ: أَلصَّلاَةُ عَمُودُ الدِّينِ مَثَلُهَا كَمَثَلِ عَمُودِ الْفُسْطَاطِ إِذَا ثَبَتَ الْعَمُودُ ثَبَتَ الأَوْتَادُ وَ الأَطْنَابُ وَ إِذَا مَالَ الْعَمُودُ وَ انْكَسَرَ لَمْ يَثْبُتْ وَتِدٌ وَ لاَ طُنُبٌ

Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) has said: “The prayer is the pillar of religion and its parable is that of the prop of a tent – when the prop remains upright, the pegs and ropes remain straight and upright, but when the prop bends or breaks neither the pegs nor ropes remain straight.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 218

4. A Means of Salvation

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهِنَّ كَانَتْ لَهُ نُوراً وَ بُرْهَاناً وَ نَجَاةً يَومَ الْقِيَامَةِ

The Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny) said: “One who adheres to the five (daily) prayers diligently, they shall be a means of illumination and salvation for him on the Day of Judgment.”

Kanzul `Ummal , Volume 7, Tradition 18862

5. Illumination of the Heart

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ نُورٌ فِي قَلْبِهِ فَمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْكُمْ فَلْـيُنَوِّرْ قَلْـبَهُ

The Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny) has said: “The prayer of a person is (in reality) a light in his heart, so whoever desires, can illuminate his heart (by means of prayers).”

Kanzul `Ummal , Volume7, Tradition 18973

6. A Measure of Acceptance of Deeds

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ (ع): أَوَّلُ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ الصَّلاةُ فَإِنْ قُبِلَتْ قُبِلَ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ وَ إِذَا رُدَّتْ رُدَّ عَلَيْهِ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ‏

Imam As-Sadiq (peacebe upon him) has said: “The first thing for which a person shall be subjected to reckoning is prayers. If they are accepted, all his other deeds shall (also) be accepted. But if rejected, all his other deeds shall (also) be rejected.”

Wasa’ilush Shi`a , Volume 3, Page 22

7. The Conduct of the Prophets

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): أَلصَّلاَةُ مِنْ شَرَائِعِ الدِّينِ وَ فِيهَا مَرْضَاةُ الرَّبِّ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ هِيَ مِنْهَاجُ الأَنْـبِيَاءِ

The Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny) said: “The prayer is one of the (primary) dictates of religion, in it lies the pleasure of the Lord, the Mighty and the Glorious, and it is the conduct of the Prophets.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 231

8. The Standard of Islam

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): عَلَمُ الإِسْلاَمِ الصَّلاةُ فَمَنْ فَرَّغَ لَـهَا قَلْبَهُ وَ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا بِحَدِّهَا وَ وَقْـتِهَا وَ سُـنَـنِهَا فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ

The Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny) said: “The prayer is the standard of Islam. Whosoever loves prayers, and observes their limits, timings and methods, is a true believer.”

Kanzul `Ummal , Volume 7, Tradition 18870

9. The Benefits of Prayers

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ(ع): إِنَّ مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ يَدْفَعُ الشَّيْطَانَ عَنِ الْمُحَافِظِ عَلى الصَّلاةِ وَ يُلَقِّـنُهُ شَهَادَةَ أَنْ لاَ إِلٌهَ إِلاَّ اللٌّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالَةِ الْعَظِيمَةِ

Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “Surely the Angel of Death repels Satan from the proximity of one who had adhered to and guarded his prayers, and makes him speak out the testimony of ‘There is no God except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’ during that terrifying and frightening state (of death).”

Wasa’ilush Shi`a , Volume 3, Page 19

10. Prayers and Children

عَنِ الْبَاقِرِ (ع) قَالَ: إِنَّا نَأْمُرُ صِبْيَانَنَا بِالصَّلاَةِ إِذَا كَانُوا بَنِي خَمْسِ سِنِينَ فَمُرُوا صِبْيَانَكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ إِذَا كَانُوا بَنِي سَبْعِ سِنِينَ

Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) advised: “We command our children to offer prayers when they are five years old, so you too order your children to offer prayers (but only) when they are seven years of age.”

Wasa’ilush Shi`a , Volume 3, Page 12

Importance and Virtues of Prayers

11. Value of Prayers

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ (ع): صَلاَةٌ فَرِيضَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ عِشْرِينَ حَجَّةً وَ حَجَّةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ بَيْتٍ مَمْلُوءٍ ذَهَباً يُتَصَدَّقُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يَفْـنَى

Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “One obligatory prayer is better than performing Hajj twenty times, and the performance of one Hajj is better than giving away a house full of gold.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 227

12. The Face of Religion

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَجْهٌ وَ وَجْهُ دِينِكُمُ الصَّلاَةُ فَلاَ يَشِينَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ وَجْهَ دِيْـنِهِ

The Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny) said: “Forevery thing there is a face and the face of your religion is prayers. So see to it that none from amongst you damages and disfigures the face of his religion.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 209

13. Importance of Prayers

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ (ص): مَا مِنْ صَلاَةٍ يَحْضُرُ وَقْـتُهَا إِلاَّ نَادَى مَلَكٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ النَّاسِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قُومُوا إِلـى نِيـرَانِكُمُ الَّتِي أَوْقَدْتُمُوهَا عَلى ظُهُورِكُمْ فَاطْفِئُوهَا بِصَلاَتِكُمْ

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “Whenever the time of each prayer arrives, an Angel announces to the people: (O’ People!) Stand up and extinguish, with prayers, the fire which you have set alight for yourselves.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 209

14. The Blessings of Prayers

قَالَ عَلِيٌّ (ع): إِنَّ الإِنْسَانَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّ جَسَدَهُ وَ ثِـيَابَهُ وَ كُلَّ شَي‏ءٍ حَولَهُ يُسَبِّحُ

Imam `Ali (peacebe upon him) has said: “Surely, when a person engages in prayers, his body, his clothes and everything around him glorify Allah.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 213

15. The Rank of Prayers

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): مَوْضِعُ الصَّلاَةِ مِنَ الدِّينِ كَمَوضِعِ الرَّأْسِ مِنَ الْجَسَدِ

The Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny) said: “The position of prayers with respect to religion is similar to that of the head with respect to the body.”

Kanzul `Ummal , Volume 7, Tradition 18972

16. Purification of the Soul

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): مَثَلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ كَمَثَلِ نَهْرٍ جَارٍ عَذْبٍ عَلى بَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلُّ يَومٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ فَمَا يَبقَى ذٌلِكَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “The example of the five (daily) prayers is like that of a clear-water river flowing in front of your houses in which a person washes himself five times a day – cleansing him from all dirt.”

Kanzul `Ummal , Volume 7, Tradition 18931

17. The Covenant of Allah

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللٌّهِ (ص): قَالَ اللٌّهُ تَعَالـى: إِفتَرَضْتُ عَلى أُمَّتِكَ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ وَ عَهِدتُ عِنْدِي عَهْداً أَنَّهُ مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهِنَّ لِوَقْـتِهَا أَدْخَلْـتُهُ الْجَـنَّةَ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهِنَّ فَلاَ عَهْدَ لَهُ عِنْدِي

The Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny) states that Allah, The Exalted has said: “I have made the five prayers obligatory upon yourUmmah and have made a covenant with Myself that one who maintains his prayers with respect to their timings, I shall place him in Paradise. As for the one, who does not maintain the timings, I have no covenant (with him).”

Kanzul `Ummal , Volume 7, Tradition 18872

18. Remembrance of Allah

قَالَ الْبَاقِرُ (ع): ذِكْرُ اللٌّهِ لِأَهْلِ الصَّلاَةِ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ ذِكْرِهِمْ إِيَّاهُ أَلاَ تَرَى أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ }فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ {

Imam Al-Baqir (peacebe upon him) has said: “Allah’s remembrance of ‘people who pray’ is greater and superior to their remembrance of Him. Do you not observe that He has said (in the Noble Qur’an): {Remember Me and I shall remember you.}” 1

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 199

19. The Mercy of Allah

قَالَ عَلِيٌ (ع): إِذَا قَامَ الرَّجُلُ إِلـى الصَّلاَةِ أَقْبَلَ إِبْلِيسُ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ حَسَداً لِمَا يَرَى مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللٌّهِ الَّتِي تَغْشَاهُ

Imam `Ali (peace be upon him) said: “When a person stands up for prayers,Iblis approaches him and looks at him with envy and jealousy, as he sees the Mercy of Allah encompassing the person.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 207

20. Refraining from Sins

رُوِيَ أَنَّ فَتَى مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الصَّلاَةَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللٌّهِ (ص) وَ يَرْتَكِبُ الْفَوَاحِشَ فَوُصِفَ ذٌلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللٌّهِ (ص) فَقَالَ إِنَّ صَلاَتَهُ تَنْهَاهُ يَوْماً مَا فَلَمْ يَلْبِثْ أَنْ تَابَ

It has been reported that a youth from theAnsar , who used to offer his prayers with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny), used to indulge in sinful and corrupt deeds. When this was brought to the notice of the Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny), he said: “A day shall come when his prayers shall refrain him from committing sins. Before long, the youth repented.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 198

Note

1. The Noble Qur’an,Suratul Baqarah , Verse 152.

Importance of Prayer-Times

21. How and When?

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ الصَّادِقُ (ع): إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ صَلاةً فَرِيضَةً فَصَلِّهَا لِوَقْتِهَا صَلاَةَ مُوَدِّعٍ تَخَافُ أَنْ لاَ تَعُودَ إِلَيْهَا

Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “When you offer an obligatory prayer, offer it at its stipulated time in a manner as if it is your last prayer and you fear you shall never get a chance to offer any prayer again.”

Al-Mahajjatul Baidha , Volume 1, Page 350

22. Importance of the Times of Prayers

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): قَالَ اللٌّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: إِنَّ لِعَبْدِي عَلَيَّ عَهْداً إِنْ أَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا أَنْ لاَ أُُعَذِّبَهُ وَ أَنْ أَدْخُلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ بِغَيرِ حِسَابٍ

The Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny) has reported that Allah, the Mighty, the Glorious has said: “I have a covenant with My servant that if he offers his prayers at their stipulated times, I shall not chastise him and shall place him in Paradise without any reckoning.”

Kanzul `Ummal , Volume 7, Tradition 19036

23. The Noble Prophet and Prayers

قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص) يُحَدِّثُنَا وَ نُحَدِّثُهُ فَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَكَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَعْرِفْنَا وَ لَمْ نَعْرِفْهُ

`Aishah narrates: “We would be engaged in conversation with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny), but with the arrival of the time of prayers it would appear as if he neither knew us nor we knew him.”

Al-Mahajjatul Baidha , Volume 1, Page 350

24. Prayers at their Times

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ (ع): إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا صَلَّى الصَّلاَةَ فِي وَقْـتِهَا وَ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا ارْتَفَعَتْ بَيْضَاءَ نَقِيَّةً تَقُولُ حَفِظْتَنِي حَفِظَكَ اللٌّهُ وَ إِذَا لَمْ يُصَلِّهَا لِوَقْتِهَا وَ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهَا ارْتَفَعَتْ سَوْدَاءَ مُظْلِمَةً تَقُولُ ضَيَّعْتَنِي ضَيَّعَكَ اللٌّهُ

Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “When a person maintains his prayer and offers it at its stipulated time, it ascends in the form of a pure white light and calls out to him: “You have guarded me, may Allah protect you.” But if he does not maintain his prayer and does not offer it at its decreed time, it ascends as a dark and gloomy form and says to him: You have destroyed me, may Allah destroy you.”

Al-Mahajjatul Baidha , Volume 1, Page 340

25. A Beloved Entity

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): أَحَبُّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلـى اللٌّهِ الصَّلاَةُ لِوَقْتِهَا ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَينِ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَـبِيلِ اللٌّهِ

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: “The most beloved of deeds in the eyes of Allah are: offering prayers at the stipulated times; (then) goodness and kindness towards parents; (and then) Jihad in the way of Allah.”

Kanzul `Ummal , Volume 7, Tradition 18897

Negligence & Carelessness towards the Prayers

26. Regarding the Prayers as Insignificant

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): لَيْسَ مِنِّي مَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِصَلاَتِهِ لاَ يَرِدُ عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ لاَ وَ اللٌّهِ

The Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny) has said: “One who considers the prayers to be insignificant and trivial is not from me. By Allah! He shall never come close to me at the pool ofKauthar .”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 224

27. Debasement of Prayers

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ (ع): شَفَاعَتُنَا لاَ تَنَالُ مُستَخِفًّا بِصَلاَتَِهِ

ImamAs- Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Our intercession shall never reach one who considers his prayers to be inconsequential and unimportant.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 227

28. Destroying Prayers

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّه ِ(ص): لاَ تُضَيِّعُوا صَلاَتَكُمْ فَإِنَّ مَنْ ضَيَّعَ صَلاَتَهُ حُشِرَ مَعَ قَارُونَ وَ هَامَانَ وَ فِرْعَوْنَ‏

The Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny) has said: “Do not destroy your prayers for verily one who destroys his prayers shall be resurrected in the company ofQarun , Haman andFir`awn .”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202

29. The Incorrect Prayers

عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (ع) قَالَ بَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص) جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إِذْ دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَقَامَ يُصَلِّي فَلَمْ يُتِمَّ رُكُوعَهُ وَ لاَ سُجُودَهُ فَقَالَ (ص) نَقَرَ كَنَقْرِ الْغُرَابِ لَئِنْ مَاتَ هٌذَا وَ هٌكَذَا صَلاَتُهُ لَيَمُوتَنَّ عَلى غَيْرِ دِيـنِي

Imam Al-Baqir (peacebe upon him) narrates: One day the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) was seated in the mosque when a person entered and began praying, but in a manner such that neither did he perform hisruku ’ (bowing), nor hissujood (prostration) in a correct manner. Observing this, the Messenger of Allah commented: “(This person) pecks as a crow pecks. Should he die and the state of his prayersbe as they are now, he shall surely not die upon my religion.”

Al-Mahajjatul Baidha , Volume 1, Page 34

30. CarelessnessTowards Prayers

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): أَلصَّلاَةُ عِمَادُ الدِّينِ فَمَنْ تَرَكَ صَلاَتَهُ مُتَعَمِّداً فَقَدْ هَدَمَ دِينَهُ وَ مَنْ تَرَكَ أَوْقَاتَهَا يَدْخُلُ الْوَيْلَ وَ الْوَيْلُ وَادٍ فِي جَهَنَّمَ كَمَا قَالَ اللٌّهُ تَعَالَى فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاَتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ

The Messenger of Allah (peacebe upon him and his progeny) has said: “Prayer is the pillar of your religion and one who intentionally forsakes his prayer has destroyed his religion. And one who does not guard the times of the prayers, shall be made to enter ‘Wayl ’, which is a valley in Hell, as Allah, the Exalted, has said:

“So woe to the praying ones, who are unmindful of their prayers.” 1

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202

31. The Consequence of Abandoning Prayers

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): لاَ تَتْرُكَنَّ الصَّلاَةَ مُتَعَمِّداً فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ تَرَكَ الصَّلاَةَ مُتَعَمِّداً فَقَدْ بَرِئَتْ مِنْهُ ذِمَّةُ اللٌّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ

The Noble Prophet (peacebe upon him and his progeny) has said: “Do not abandon your prayers intentionally for surely the obligations of Allah and His Messenger cease to cover one who forsakes his prayers intentionally.”

Kanzul `Ummal , Volume 7, Tradition 19096

32. A Death of Disbelief

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ (ص): مَنْ تَرَكَ صَلاَةً لاَ يَرْجُو ثَوَابَهَا وَ لاَ يَخَافُ عِقَابَهَا فَلاَ أُبَالِي أَيَمُوتُ يَهُودِيًّا أوْ نَصْرَانِـيًّا أوْ مَجُوسِيًّا

The Noble Prophet (peacebe upon him and his progeny) has said: “If a person abandons his prayer such that he neither desires its rewards nor fears its chastisement, for such a person I do not care if he dies a Jew, a Christian or aMagian .”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202

33. Chastisement

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ (ص): مَنْ تَرَكَ صَلاَتَهُ حَتَّى تَفُوتَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ عُذْرٍ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: بَيْنَ العَبْدِ وَ بَيْنَ الكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلاَةِ

The Noble Prophet (peacebe upon him and his progeny) has said: “The good deeds of one who, without any appropriate excuse does not offer his prayer until its time passes away, are annulled.” He then said: “The divide between a believer and disbelief is the abandonment of prayers.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202

34. Door of Hell

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): مَنْ تَرَكَ الصَّلاَةَ مُتَعَمِّداً كُتِبَ إِسْمُهُ عَلى بَابِ النَّارِ مِمَّنْ يَدْخُلُهَا

The Noble Prophet (peacebe upon him and his progeny) has said: “The name of one who forsakes his prayer intentionally is written upon The door of Hell from which he shall (eventually) enter.”

Kanzul `Ummal , Volume 7, Tradition 19090

Note

1. The Noble Qur’an,Suratul Ma’un , Verse 4 and 5.