The Importance of Prayer
- Categories: Fiqh of Prayer -
Q: What is the Importance of Prayer?
A: Praise be to Allaah.
The importance of the prayer in Islam cannot be understated. It is
the first pillar of Islam that the Prophet (peace be upon him)
mentioned after mentioning the testimony of faith, by which one
becomes a Muslim. It was made obligatory upon all the prophets and
for all peoples. Allah has declared its obligatory status under
majestic circumstances. For example, when Allah spoke directly to
Moses, He said,
"And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you.
Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so
worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance." [Taha
13-14].
{وَأَنَا اخْتَرْتُكَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا
يُوحَى (13) إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا
فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي}
Transliteration: Wa 'Anā Akhtartuka Fāstami` Limā Yūĥá, 'Innanī
'Anā Allāhu Lā 'Ilāha 'Illā 'Anā Fā`budnī Wa 'Aqimi Aş-Şalāata
Lidhikrī
Similarly, the prayers were made obligatory upon the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his ascension to heaven.
Furthermore, when Allah praises the believers, such as in the
beginning of surah al-Muminoon, one of the first descriptions He
states is their adherence to the prayers.
Once a man asked the Prohpet (peace be upon him) about the most
virtuous deed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that the most
virtuous deed is the prayer. The man asked again and again. The
first three times, the Prophet (peace be upon him) again answered,
«The prayer», then on the
fourth occasion he stated, «Jihad in
the sake of Allah» [This is from a hadith recorded by Ahmad
and ibn Hibban. According to al-Albani, the hadith is hasan.
Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani, Sahih al-Targheeb wa al-Tarheeb
(Beirut: al-Maktab al-Islami, 1982), vol. 1, p. 150].
The importance of prayer is demonstrated in the many of the
Prophet's statement. For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him)
said,
«The first matter that the slave will
be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If
it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is
bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad» [Narrated by
al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih
al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503].
The importance of the prayers lies in the fact that no matter what
actions one performs in his life, the msot important aspect is
one's relationship to Allah, that is, one's faith (imaan),
God-consciousness (taqwa), sincerity (ikhlas) and worship of Allah
(`ibaadah). This relationship with Allah is both demonstrated and
put into practice, as well as improved and increased, by the
prayer. Therefore, if the prayers are sound and proper, the rest of
the deeds will be sound and proper; and if the prayers are not
sound and proper, then the rest of the deeds will not be sound and
proper, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself stated.
In reality, the prayer is performed properly - with true
remembrance of Allah and turning to Him for forgiveness - it will
have a lasting effect on the person. After he finishes the prayer,
his heart will be filled with the remembrance of Allah. He will be
fearful as well as hopeful of Allah. After that experience, he will
not want to move from that lofty position to one wherein he
disobeys Allah. Allah has mentioned this aspect of the prayer when
He has said:
"Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds"
[al-Ankaboot: 45].
{إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ
الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ}
Transliteration: 'Inna Aş-Şalāata Tanhá `Ani Al-Faĥshā'i Wa
Al-Munkari
Nadwi has described this effect in the
following eloquent way:
"Its aim is to generate within the subliminal self of man such
spiritual power, light of faith and awareness of God as can enable
him to strive successfully against all kinds of evils and
temptations and remain steadfast at times of trial and adversity
and protect himself against the weakness of the flesh and the
mischief of immoderate appetites" (Nadwi, p. 24).
The overall affect that the properly
performed prayers should have upon humans is described in other
verses in the Quran:
"Verily, man was created impatient, irritable when evil touches him
and niggardly when good touches him. Except for those devoted to
prayer those who remain constant in their prayers…" [al-Maarij
19-23].
{إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعاً
(19) إِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوعاً (20) وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ الْخَيْرُ
مَنُوعاً (21) إِلَّا الْمُصَلِّينَ (22) الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَى
صَلَاتِهِمْ دَائِمُونَ}
Transliteration: 'Inna Al-'Insāna Khuliqa Halū`āan, 'Idhā Massahu
Ash-Sharru Jazū`āan, Wa 'Idhā Massahu Al-Khayru Manū`āan, 'Illā
Al-Muşallīna, Al-Ladhīna Hum `Alaá Şalātihim Dā'imūna
As for the Hereafter, Allah's forgiveness and pleasure is closely
related to the prayers. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
said,
«Allah has obligated five prayers.
Whoever excellently performs their ablutions, prays them in their
proper times, completes their bows, prostrations and khushu`
[Khushu` in the prayer is where the person's heart is attuned to
the prayer. This feeling in the heart is then reflected on the
body. The person remains still and calm. His gaze is also lowered.
Even his voice is affected by this feeling in the heart. For more
details on this concept (as well as the difference between it and
khudhu`), see Muhammad al-Shaayi, al-Furooq al-Laughawiyyah wa
Atharahaa fi Tafseer al-Quran al-Kareem (Riyadh: Maktabah
al-Ubaikaan, 1993), pp. 249-254.] has
a promise from Allah that He will forgive him. And whoever does not
do that has no promise from Allah. He may either forgive him or
punish him» [Narrated by Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Nasa'i
and others. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih
al-Jami, vol. 1, p. 616.] ]
The prayers are a type of purification for a human being. He turns
and meets with his Lord five times a day. As alluded to above, this
repeated standing in front of Allah should keep the person from
performing sins during the day. Furthermore, it should also be a
time of remorse and repentance, such that he earnestly asks Allah
for forgiveness for those sins that he committed. In addition, the
prayer in itself is a good deed that wipes away some of the evil
deeds that he performed. These points can be noted in the following
hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him):
«If a person had a stream outside his
door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would
have any filth left on him?», The people said, "No filth
would remain on him whatsoever." The Prophet (peace be upon him)
then said, «That is like the five
daily prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them» [Narrated
by al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In another hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, «The five daily prayers and the Friday
Prayer until the Friday prayer are expiation for what is between
them» [Narrated by Muslim].
Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo
Islam Q&A