Salat (Prayer)

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) That: ” When, the son of Adam recites the Ayat of Sajdah (prostration) and then falls down in prostration, the Satan goes into seclusion and weeps and says: Alas, and in the narration of Abu Kuraib the words are: Woe unto me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated and Paradise was entitled to him and I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused and am doomed to Hell.” Sahih Muslim :Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 144

It is narrated on the authority of Jabir (Radi Allah Anhu) that he heard the Apostle (may peace and blessings be upon him) saying
“Verily between man and between polytheism and unbelief is the negligence of prayer.” Sahih Muslim : Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 146

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Zubair (Radi Allah Anhu) that he heard Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Radi Allah Anhu) saying. I heard the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) observing this: “Between man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of salat.“ Sahih Muslim : Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 147

It is narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah b. Mas’ud (Radi Allah Anhu) that he observed. I asked the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) which deed was the best. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Prayer at its appointed hour. I (again) said: Then what? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Kindness to the parents. I (again) said: Then what? He replied: Earnest endeavour (Jihad) in the cause of Allah. And I would have not ceased asking more questions but out of regard (for his feelings). Sahih Muslim : Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 151

It is reported on the authority of ‘Abdullah (Radi Allah Anhu) that the Apostle of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) observed:
“The best of’ the deeds or deed is the (observance of) prayer at its proper time and kindness to the parents.” Sahih Muslim : Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 155

“Ha’. Mim. This is a revelation
from the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate;
A Book whose verses have been well-expounded;
An Arabic Qur’an for those who have knowledge;
A herald of good news and a warner,
but most of them turn aside so they hear not.”
[41. Surah Fussilat : Ayah 1-4]

What Qur’an says about Qur’an?

Who Sent Qur’an?
“And this Qur’an is such that it could not be composed by any unless it be revealed from Allah. It is a confirmation of the revelation made before it and a detailed exposition of the Book. Beyond doubt it is from the Lord of the universe.” [10. Surah Yunus: Ayah 37]

“Do they not ponder about the Qur’an? Had it been from any other than Allah, they would surely have found in it much inconsistency.” [4. Surah Nisaa: Ayah 82]

On Whom Qur’an is Descended?

“(O Prophet Sall’Allahu alaihi wasallam), indeed We have revealed the Qur’an to you in portions.” [76. Surah Dahr : Ayah 23]

“And thus did We reveal this Arabic Qur’an to you that you may warn the people of the Mother of Cities (to wit, Makkah) and those who dwell around it; and warn them of the Day of Gathering concerning which there is no doubt: whereon some will be in Paradise, and some in the  Blazing Fire.” [42. Surah Ash-Shura : Ayah 7]

“Ask them: ‘Whose testimony is the greatest?’ Say: ‘Allah is the witness between me and you; and this Qur’an was revealed to me that I should warn you thereby and also whomsoever it may reach.’ Do you indeed testify that there are other gods with Allah? Say: ‘I shall never testify such a thing.’ Say: ‘He is the One God and I am altogether averse to all that you associate with Him in His divinity.” [6. Surah Al-An'am : Ayah 19]

For Whom Qur’an is Descended?

“Ha’. Mim. This is a revelation from the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, a Book whose verses have been well-expounded; an Arabic Qur’an for those who have knowledge, A herald of good news and a warner, but most of them turn aside so they hear not.” [41. Surah Fussilat : Ayah 1-4]

“… So exhort with the Qur’an all those who fear My warning.” [50. Surah Qaaf : Ayah 45]

When Qur’an is Descended?

“The month of Ramazan is that in which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days. …” [2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 185]

Why Qur’an is Descended?

“We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an, in order that ye may learn wisdom.” [12. Surah Yusuf : Ayah 2]

“Ta Ha. We have not sent down the Qur’an to you to put you in distress. This is an Admonition for every such person who fears (Allah). This has been sent down by that Being, Who has created the earth and the high heavens. The Merciful is sitting on the throne of the Kingdom* (of the universe).” [20. Surah Ta-ha : Ayah 1-5]

(*That is, “After creating the universe, He is ruling over it and conducting all the affairs of its management.)

“We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an, in order that ye may learn wisdom.”

“And we have sent down this Qur’an piecemeal so that you may recite it to the people gradually piece by piece, and We have sent it down by gradual Revelations * (to suit particular occasions).”[17. Surah Bani Israel : Ayah 106, 9-10]

(*This is an answer to this objection: “Why has not Allah sent down His Message as a whole? Why is He sending it piecemeal?)

“Indeed the Qur’an shows that way which is perfectly straight: To those who believe in it and do good deeds, it gives the good news that there is a great reward for them.”

“And to those who do not believe in the Hereafter, it gives the warning that a painful torment has been made ready for them.*”

(*This means to warn those persons or people or nations who do not take a lesson from the admonitions of the Qur’an to be ready to undergo that chastisement which Israelites had to suffer.)

“But, in accordance with justice, the wife’s rights (with regard to their husbands) are equal to the (husband’s) rights with regard to them, although men are a degree above them; and Allah is Almighty, Wise.“ (Qur’an, Al Baqarah : 228)

The statement that men are a degree above women means that authority within the household has been give to the husband in preference to the wife because a heavier burden has been placed on his shoulders by another verse of the Quran which says:

“Men shall take full care of women, because Allah has given the one more strength than the other, and because they support them with their means.” (Qur’an, An Nisaa : 34)

ADVICES TO HUSBANDS:
Jabir narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, gave these instructions in his sermon during Farewell Pilgrimage: “Fear God regarding women; for you have taken them [in marriage] with the trust of God.“ [Mishkat]

Narrated Aisha, God’s messenger said: “Among the believers who show most perfect faith are those who have the best disposition, and are kindest to their families.“ [Tirmidhi]

Narrated Abu Huraira, God’s messenger said: “The believers who show the most perfect faith are those who have the best disposition and the best of you are those who are best to their wives.” [Tirmidhi]

Hadrat Aisha has related that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, would enter the house with a pleasing disposition and a smile on his lips. [Uswa-i-Hasana]

Narrated Al-Aswad: “I asked Aisha, `What did the Prophet, peace be upon him, do at home?’ She said, `He used to work for his family and when he heard the call for the prayer, he would go out.‘” [Bukhari]

Narrated Abu Huraira: “Allah’s Apostle, peace be upon him, said, `The woman is like a rib; if you try to straighten her, she will break. So if you want to get benefit from her, do so while she still has some bent.‘” [Bukhari]

Narrated Abu Huraira: “The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, `Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should not hurt (trouble) his neighbor. And I advise you to take care of women, for they are created from a rib and the most crooked portion of the rib is its upper part; if you try to straighten it, it will break, and if you leave it, it will remain crooked, so I urge you to take care of women.“ [Bukhari]

Narrated Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As: “Allah’s Apostle, peace be upon him, said, `O Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast all the day and stand in prayer all night?’ I said, `Yes, O Allah’s Apostle!’ He said, `Do not do that! Observe the fast sometimes and also leave them at other times; stand up for the prayer at night and also sleep at night. Your body has a right over you and your wife has a right over you too.‘” [Bukhari]

Narrated Ibn Umar: “The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, `All of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards. The ruler is a guardian and the man is a guardian of his family; the lady is a guardian who is responsible for her husband’s house and his offsprings; and so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards.”

Men should forbear any shortcomings of women in view of the following verse of Quran:

“Live with them in kindness; even if you dislike them, perhaps you dislike something in which God has place much good.” (Qur’an, An Nisaa : 19)

ADVICES TO WIVES
Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a woman observes the five times of prayer, fasts during Ramadan, preserves her chastity and obeys her husband, she may enter by any of the gates of paradise she wishes (in other words nothing will prevent her from entering paradise).” [Mishkat]

Ummu Salama reported God’s messenger as saying, “Any woman who dies when her husband is pleased with her will enter Paradise.“ [Tirmidhi]

Abu Huraira told that when God’s messenger was asked which woman was best, he replied, “The one who fills [her husband] with joy when he sees her, obeys him when he directs and does not oppose him by displeasing him regarding her person or property.” [Mishkat]

PROVIDING FOR WIFE AND FAMILY
Quran teaches us to be reasonable and fair to our wives and families.

House women wherever you reside, according to your circumstances, and do not harass them in order to make life difficult for them. (Qur’an, At Talaq : 6)

The statement of Allah in the chapter `Woman’:

“Men are protectors and maintainers of women.” (Qur’an, An Nisaa : 34)

Bukhari quotes the following verse under the heading: .. the superiority of providing for one’s family:

(O Mohammed!) They ask you what they ought to spend. Say: That which is beyond your needs. Thus Allah make clear to you His Signs in order that you may give thought (to it) in this worldly life and the Hereafter.” (Qur’an, Al Baqarah : 219-22)

Narrated Abu Masud Al-Ansari: “The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, `When a Muslim spends something on his family intending to receive Allah’s reward, it is regarded as Sadqa (spending in the name of God) for him.”

We should always remember that Allah is the one who gives us, we are just the mere trustees of the funds.
Narrated Abu Huraira: “Allah’s Apostle, peace be upon him, said, `Allah said, O the son of Adam! Spend, and I shall spend on you.‘”

Narrated Abu Huraira: “Allah’s Apostle, peace be upon him, said, `The best alms is that which you give when you are rich, and you should support your dependants first.’“ [Bukhari]

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger, peace be upon him, as saying: “Of the dinar (unit of currency) that you spend as a contribution in God’s path, or to set free a slave, or as charity given to a needy, or to support your family, the one yielding the greatest reward is that which you spent on your family.” [Muslim]

“After the passing away of the Prophet (peace be upon him), I said to an Ansari friend of mine: ‘The Prophet is not now with us. But a large number of Sahabah are still among us. Let us go to them and get knowledge of the Islamic practices.’ He said: ‘ Who is going to approach you for learning a regulation in the presence of these eminent Sahabah?’ I was not discouraged. I kept up my quest for knowledge and approached every person who was supposed to have heard something from the Prophet.

I managed to gather substantial information from the Ansar. If on my visit to someone of the Sahabah, I found him asleep, I spread my shawl at the gate and sat waiting. Sometimes my face and body would get covered with dust, but I kept sitting till they woke and I was able to contact them.
Some of them said: ‘Abdullah you are the cousin of the Prophet; you could have sent for us. Why did you take the trouble of coming to our places?’ I said to them: ‘I must come to you, for I am a student and you are my teachers.’

Some people for whom I had waited said: ‘Since when have you been waiting for us?’ I informed them that I had been sitting there for a pretty long time. They said: ‘What a pity! You could have awakened us from our sleep.’ I said: ‘I did not like to disturb you for my own sake.’
I thus carried on my pursuits, till there came a time when people began to flock to me for learning. My Ansari friend realized this at that time and remarked: ‘This boy has surely proved himself more sensible than us.’”

(Source: From the book “Stories of the Sahabah” by Shaikh Muhammad Zakariyya Kaandhlawi.)

Besides our quest for knowledge to earn a livelihood in this world, we must as well gain sufficient knowledge of Islam. No matter what age group we belong to at this moment, we should at-least have that much Islamic knowledge with which we can turn our 24 hours life into worship. Those with knowledge and practice will be exalted in this world and in the hereafter.

Invoke blessing after Adan
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-’As (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: When you hear the Mu’adhdhin (who says Adhan), repeat what he says, then invoke a blessing on me, for everyone who invokes a blessing on me will receive ten blessings from Allah: then beg from Allah al-Wasilah for me, which is a rank in Paradise fitting for only one of Allah’s Servants, and I hope that I may be that one. If anyone who asks that I be given the Wasilah, he will be assured of my intercession.
Sahih Muslim Number 747

Allah elevates the ranks (of man)
Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: Should I not suggest to you that by which Allah obliterates the sins and elevates the ranks (of man). They (the hearers) said: Yes, Messenger of Allah. He said: Performing the ablution thoroughly despite odds, traversing of
more pace towards the mosque, and waiting for the next prayer after observing a prayer, and that is mindfulness.
Sahih Muslim Number 485

Establish Straight rows in prayer
Narrated by Abu Huraira(Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wasallam)(directed us thus):Establish rows in prayer, for the making of a row (straight) is one of the merits of prayer.
Sahih Muslim Number 873

Excellence lies in the first rows
Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: If you were to know, or if they were to know, what (excellence) lies in the first rows, there would have been drawing of lots (for filling them); and Ibn Harb said: For (occupying) the first row there would have been drawing of lots.
Sahih Muslim Number 880

Man is nearest to Allah when he is prostrating
Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).
Sahih Muslim Number 979

Supplication of prostrating
Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) used to say while prostrating himself: O Lord, forgive me all my sins, small and great, first and last, open and secret.
Sahih Muslim Number 980

Friday Prayer
Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: Five prayers and from one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer is an expiation (of the sins committed in between their intervals) if major sins are not committed.
Sahih Muslim Number 448

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Since childhood we men see our mothers and sisters working in the kitchen , doing the daily routine household chores of our home.

After we grow up , we behave in the same way and like the “King who enters in his house” (and does nothing) , we start commanding thing and start getting it done by the wife or the servant.

We only remember the ayat from the Qur’an “wherein men are allowed to have 4 wives…” but easily forget how the Prophet behaved when he was in his home.

So what did Prophet do when he would spend time in his home. ?
Order everyone to clean the house ?? NO
Lie down on the bed and leave as it is ?? NO
Order nicest dishes to be prepared ?? NO
Eat and Sleep ?? NO

So what did Prophet do when he would spend time in his home. ?
The Apostle of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) occupied himself at his home like a common man.

As Aishah relates, he used to clean his clothes, milk the sheep and himself do his odd jobs. She also says that he would mend his clothes, repair his shoes and do similar other works.

When asked how the Prophet occupied himself at home, she replied, “He used to keep himself busy in household chores and went out when the time for prayer came.”

In another report related on her authority, she is reported to have said, “The Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to repair his shoes, mend his clothes and occupied himself at home even as any of you occupy yourself.”

Aishah relates, “Allahs Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was very softhearted, the kindliest of all. He laughed often and smiled much.”

Anas says that “he had not seen a man who was more clement and nice to his household members than the Apostle of Allah.”

It is related on the authority of Aishah that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The best of you is one who is most nice to his wife and children and I am the nicest among you.”

The Arabic term denoting prayers, salat, is derived from the same root as silah, which means ‘tie, bond, or means of communication’. Hence, scholars often describe Islamic prayer as a bond between man and God. We feel this tie as we address God, appeal for His forgiveness of our sins, and request His mercy and help. We expect His reward, feeling that it comes as we go about, conducting our life affairs and seeking His guidance.

Yet there is more to prayer than this, as the following Hadith suggests. Abu Hurayrah quotes the Prophet as saying: “Different angels come and join you during the night and during the day. They congregate at Fajr and Asr prayers. Then those who were with you during the night ascend to heaven where God, who knows best, asks them: ‘In what condition you have left My servants?’ They answer: ‘We have left them praying, and we had arrived among them as they were praying.’” [Related by al-Bukhari].

This Hadith tells us that these two congregational prayers are joined by angels. We know that angels witness all our prayers, but these two are given more emphasis because of their timing. Fajr is offered between dawn and sunrise, while Asr has a time range extending from mid-afternoon to sunset. This means that they require more effort to attend to on time, because we need to rise from sleep in order to attend to Fajr prayer while, generally speaking, Asr prayer becomes due when we are either fully engaged with our work or relaxing after a hard working day. Hence there is more emphasis on attending to these two prayers.

The Hadith tells us that angels join us in two shifts, starting with these two prayers. Those who are with us during the day begin their shift at Fajr prayer and offer it with us. They continue until they have offered the Asr prayer when they ascend to heaven. The other group start with Asr prayer and continue until they have prayed Fajr with us. Thus, both groups of angels attend both prayers and pray for the forgiveness of our sins. As each group ascends God asks them how they have left us. He certainly knows better, but He wants their testimony so that He increases the reward He grants for such prayers.

It should be noted that in their answer, the angels reverse the time order. Had they followed the proper sequence of events, they would have said: ‘Your servants were praying when we joined them and they were praying just before we left them.’ They, however, mention the state at their departure first, because God’s question is: ‘In what condition you have left My servants?’ The angels give a direct answer, replying to the point of question first.

There can be no stronger encouragement to attend these congregational prayers than the fact that the angels are in attendance, praying for our benefit.

Adil Salahi | Arab News

1- While eating daily meals you mostly speak with whom you’re eating with.

2- When you meet one of your friends or neighbors even if you both were standing.

3- When sitting with your classmates or work colleagues.

4- When sitting with your spouse and children chatting together.

5- While driving home with your spouse or friends.

6- While attending a lecture, a seminar or a forum.

Look what you do by applying these Sunnahs you keep:

· Praising Allah several times, which keeps you always in contact with Allah.
· Repenting and asking for Allah’s forgiveness for whatever happens during those meetings.
· Testifying that there is no god but Allah.

The benefits of applying these sunnahs on a daily basis is forgiveness of whatever happens during those meetings with others.
Note: Arabic version of Du’as is preferable.