TAG: Isha
The Importance Of Fajr Prayer
It is easy to understand how the idea of Muslims praying five mandatory prayers a day is misunderstood to mean that they pray only those five observances and no more.
Muslims should know the great status of fajr in the sight of Allah. Allah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) “Establish regular prayers at the sun’s decline till the darkness of the night, and the recital of the Quran in the Fajr prayer, for the recital of the fajr, is witnessed” (Al-Israa 17:78)
In addition, The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Whoever prays the fajr prayer in congregation, it is as if he (or she) had prayed the whole night long.” [Muslim & Tirmidhi].
Now, to show the seriousness of missing this prayer, we present the hades of the prophet (PBUH) “the most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are Isha and Fajr, but if they only knew what they contain, they would come even if they had to crawl.” [Ahmad]
The Fajr (dawn) prayer is amongst the most important acts of worship, being one of the five obligatory prayers. unfortunately, many of us have become so used to missing it at its prescribed time – which ends at sunrise – that we have forgotten its position in our religion, and barely feel anything is wrong when we wake up in the morning for work or school without having performed the fajr prayer. on the other hand, if one of us was to miss a job interview or a flight, we all know how disappointed he or she would feel the fajr (dawn) prayer is amongst the most important acts of worship, being one of the five obligatory prayers.
Do not let satan benefit from his actions. do not put off a good that you intended to do as you never know how much reward you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good.
Easy Actions Equal In Reward To Hajj
Muslim reported that the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, “?Hasn’t Allah made for you Salat Al-`Ishaa’ in congregation equal to Hajj, and the Fajr prayer in congregation equal to `Umrah.”
“Whoever walks to an obligatory prayer in congregation, it is like Hajj, and whoever walks to a voluntary prayer, it is like a voluntary `Umrah.” (Saheeh Al Jaami`, 6432)
“Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the Sun rises, then prays two units of prayer, he will receive the reward of Hajj, and `Umrah – complete, complete, complete.” (Saheeh Al Jaami`, 6222)
It is authentically reported that people said, “O Messenger of Allah! The rich took the reward of akhirah, they do Hajj and we do not; they engage in jihaad, and we do not. So the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said, “Shall I not guide you to something that, if you stick to it, you will come with what is better than what one of them will come with: that you say Allahu Akbar 34 times, and Subhan Allah 33 times, and Alhamdulillah 33 times, at the end of every prayer.”
“When one prays for one’s brother, the angel says: ‘Amin, and for you the same.'” (Saheeh Al Jaami`, 2143) So pray for your brother pilgrim that Allah accepts his Hajj and gives him its reward.
Sunnat-O-Nawafil Ki Fazeelat
Merits Of Offering Five Daily Prayers
Let me start by saying that there are many passages in the Qur’an, which directly order us to obey Allah and His messenger. When we take Islam as our way of life, we are voluntarily surrendering to the commands of Allah and we are choosing to follow the practice (sunnah) of the prophet (peace be upon him).
In Surah Al-Isra verse 78, we are told:
Perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) from mid-day till the darkness of the night (i.e. the Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha prayers), and recite the Qur an in the early dawn. Verily, the recitation of dawn Qur an (i.e. the morning – Fajr prayer) is ever witnessed.
Then, from the time the sun declines, which is mid-day, until the darkening of the night, includes Zuhr (noon prayer), Asr (evening prayer), Maghrib (sunset prayer), and Isha (night prayer). These five prayers were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the Isra a and Mi`raj and were performed by him in their specified number of rak’aas. He also taught them to Muslims, who performed them in that sequence and form ever since.
There is no secret in the number of prayers. It is simply that they are related to the course of the day and relevant to the different states of nature (day and night) that are linked to the biological clock of any Muslim. Thus, the Muslim is in continuous connection with God, throughout the different phases of the day. The day starts with Fajr (dawn) prayers, to renew the oath of worship and obedience. Then, the workday of a Muslim society should start after that. Zuhr is in the middle of the day, and Asr is a bit later. As for Maghrib, it is with sunset and Isha is when the night falls.
The prayer times are also related to the manners and times of rest in social life. There are verses in the Qur’an, which say that before Fajr, after Zuhr, and after Isha, Muslim parents are allowed a time of privacy and that other family members should respect that. Also, a Muslim is encouraged to perform prayers with a group of Muslims (jama a), these are also times of social gathering in mosques. Such gatherings are where people can simply meet and discuss their communal affairs and grass root lobbying, for societal causes. The number of prayers is simply appropriate for such social structures, relations, neighborhoods, and community ties. It is also suitable for the special structure of worship, which connects the Muslim to his Creator throughout the long day.
In a modern economy, where family members are located in different areas and where the workplace introduces new forms of communication and personal relations, the times of prayers re-formulate these relations. They remind people of their relation to Allah and to each other as well.
Hence, the competitive capitalist atmosphere of modern businesses is rendered milder. The embedded values of submission to Allah and remembering the hereafter and the socio-religious bond of Islam, keep the balance of the human self intact. One should read in our current global economy how the daily routine can result in the corrosion of character. Herein, the wisdom and philosophy of the five daily prayers in Islam, gain new meanings and implications.