PRAYING (SALAAT) Is Like Whispering With God!

 

Praying (Salaat) Is Like

Whispering With God

“Pray as you have seen me praying!”

– Muhammad (s.a.w.)

(M. Javed Naseem)

Prayer (Salaat) is one of the most important pillars of the Faith of Islam. Some scholars have called it ‘Furqan’ (the distinguisher) as it distinguishes between a Muslim and non-Muslim. There are numerous commands of Allah in the Quran that emphasize the establishing of ‘Salaat’ and paying of ‘Zakaat’ (poor-due) – It is probably more than the commands for any other obligation! And that’s the reason many scholars have gone too far to declare that the one who does not offer obligatory prayer (Salaat) is not a Muslim.

وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلاَةَ طَرَفَى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفاً مِّنَ ٱلْلَّيْلِ

إِنَّ ٱلْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ ٱلسَّـيِّئَاتِ

ذٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ
“And establish regular prayers at the two ends

of the day and at the approaches of the night.

For those things, that are good, remove those

that are evil. Be that the word of remembrance

to those who remember (their Lord).”

(al-Quran 11:114)

The deciding factor between the occupants of Paradise and Hell on the Judgment Day, would be the remembrance of Allah. Remembering Allah means that you fulfill all commands of Allah and obey Him in discharging all obligations. Muslims are required to offer five obligatory prayers (Salaat) in a 24-hour period every day. As a result, prayer should become an essential part of our daily routine or habit. Allah tells us to keep and preserve that habit and give special attention to the middle prayer.

حَافِظُواْ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَاتِ وٱلصَّلاَةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ

وَقُومُواْ للَّهِ قَانِتِينَ
“Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers,

especially the Middle Prayer; and stand

before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).”

(al-Quran 2:238)

Scholars are of the view that the ‘Middle Prayer’ means the Salaat of ‘Asr’ (late afternoon).

Allah, the Almighty, has commanded the believers to glorify His name day and night. Similarly, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) also told us to remember God as much as possible. Religious teachers recommend that we do Dhikr (Zikr) after every obligatory prayer (Salaat) and offer ‘Nawafil’ (optional prayers), especially at night.

It has been narrated that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said:

"The coolness of my eyes is in Salaat".

Don’t over-do it!

Remembering Allah and offering prayers is an excellent thing to do but at the same time we should remember that Allah made us to live in this world so that we have to handle the affairs of this world too. We need to keep the balance. We should not force or kill ourselves in the name of ‘prayers’ by over-doing it. As a matter of fact, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) prohibited it.

It has been narrated Aayesha, (r.a.a.):

“Once the Prophet (s.a.w.) came while a woman was sitting with me. He said, "Who is she?"

I replied, "She is so-and-so," and told him about her (excessive) prayers.

He said disapprovingly: "Do (good) deeds which are within your capacity (without being overtaxed) as Allah does not get tired (of giving rewards) but (surely) you will get tired and the Deen (good, righteous deed, act of worship) loved most by Allah is that which is done regularly”. (Bukhari, Book 2, chapter 32, No.43).

Note: This means: Don’t over-burden yourself! Do good deeds or prayers regularly and that which you can easily do. Don’t force yourself nor get yourself hurt! Relax when you get tired, but Allah never gets tired to bestow His blessings on you. Do as much as is comfortable and easy to do everyday without troubling yourself!

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