Prayer, Our Haven

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Prayer (Salaat) is of the greatest obligation in Islam.

إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتۡ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبً۬ا مَّوۡقُوتً۬ا

"...Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at appointed time." Qur'an An-Nisa 4:103

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Islam is built on five." [(1)Testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the Messenger of Allah, 2)Perform prayers, 3)Give zakaah, 4)Fast in Ramadhan, and 5)Perform hajj to the House if you are able to do so]

These five acts are the foundations of the building of Islam. If these five acts are flimsy then we can't hope much for the survival and the strength of the building which we are building upon these foundations. The greatest of these foundations is the prayer.

Everyone knows Muslims pray five times a day. This is the basic thing people know about Islam.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked, "What is the best of works?" He replied, "Prayer at its times." (Bukhari)

"The five prayers and Friday to Friday are expiation of whatever happens between them, as long as one avoids the major sins." (Muslim)

Of the major sins a person can commit in his life is neglecting the prayer and neglecting the times of the prayer.

The prayer itself is the most powerful of the act of worship in Islam. Suffice us to know that Allah commands us to pray five times a day. It is the most central act of worship to us. We do hajj once in a lifetime to purify ourselves; we fast Ramadhan once a year to purify ourselves but with the prayer, we can't go a day without doing it at least five times. This is to help keep us going and to keep us going towards our Lord. This tells us that we need the prayer. Allah does not need our prayers. Allah ordains upon us to make sure that we keep praying at times which are spread out throughout the day so we keep afloat, keep connected, keep aware of our Lord. Without the prayers we become distant; we become cut off; we become lost.

We are in need and we are poor. Prayer is what Allah bless us with to enrich us. As for Allah, He is free of need of everything which He ever created.

Of the great wonders of prayer is that Allah didn't obliged it upon us on earth. Allah obliged it upon us when the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was in heaven on the night of the Isra' (the ascension). It is an act whoever stays with it, it becomes his haven which he retreats to throughout his day. It becomes his support and his comfort.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "O Bilal! Comfort us with it (call to prayer)." So we can go back to our haven.

Prayer is of the most powerful of spiritual works for he who maintains it throughout his life, whether healthy or sick; traveling or staying at home; studying or having exams; watching kids or entertaining guests; shopping or working; or in cold temperature or hot weather; it will leave its mark on the person.

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَٲعُونَ (٨) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٲتِہِمۡ يُحَافِظُونَ (٩) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثُونَ (١٠) ٱلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلۡفِرۡدَوۡسَ هُمۡ فِيہَا خَـٰلِدُونَ (١١)

"...And those who strictly guard their prayers, these are indeed the inheritors, who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever." Qur'an A-Mu'minun 23:9-11

May Allah make us steadfast with our prayers. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam