TAG: Prayer
Friday Explained By The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)
“O you who believe! when the call is made for (the Congregational) Prayer on Friday then hasten to extol the name of Allah and leave off all business. That is best for you if you only knew.” [ALLAH’S Quran – 62:9]
The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has said:
1. [Sunan Abudawud, Book #3, Hadith #1051] Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The Friday prayer is obligatory on him who hears the call.
2. [Sunan Abudawud, Book#3, Hadith #1062] Narrated Tariq ibn Shihab: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The Friday prayer in congregation is a necessary duty for every Muslim, with four exceptions; a slave, a woman, a boy, and a sick person.
3. [Sunan Abudawud, Book #1, Hadith #0342] Narrated Hafsah, Ummul Mu’minin: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: It is necessary for every adult (person) to go for (saying) Friday (prayer), and for everyone who goes for Friday (prayer) washing is necessary.
4. [Bukhari, Book #13, Hadith #6] Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, “Any person who takes a bath on Friday like the bath of Janaba and then goes for the prayer (in the first hour i.e. early), it is as if he had sacrificed a camel (in Allah’s cause); and whoever goes in the second hour it is as if he had sacrificed a cow; and whoever goes in the third hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a horned ram; and if one goes in the fourth hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a hen; and whoever goes in the fifth hour then it is as if he had offered an egg. When the Imam comes out (i.e. starts delivering the Khutba), the angels present themselves to listen to the Khutba.”
5. [Bukhari, Book #13, Hadith #51] Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “When it is a Friday, the angels stand at the gate of the mosque and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the mosque in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the mosque in the earliest hour is that of one offering a camel (in sacrifice). The one coming next is like one offering a cow and then a ram and then a chicken and then an egg respectively. When the Imam comes out (for Jumua prayer) they (i.e. angels) fold their papers and listen to the Khutba.”
Follow The Exemplar
[ALLAH’S Quran – 33:21] You people have always had an exemplar of the Messenger of Allah who displays a good quality as well as a magnificent attribute of a great master whose conduct induces imitation by the one in whose bosom hope springs eternal of Allah’s mercy and of the bliss of the hereafter and applies remembrance to Allah often enough.
Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) Prayed for forgiveness.
[Muslim, Book #035, Hadith #6563] Abu Musa Ash’ari reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) used to supplicate in these words:” O Allah, forgive me my faults, my ignorance, my immoderation in my concerns. And Thou art better aware (of my affairs) than myself. O Allah, grant me forgiveness (of the faults which I committed) seriously or otherwise (and which I committed inadvertently and deliberately). All these (failings) are in me. O Allah, grant me forgiveness from the fault which I did in haste or deferred, which I committed in privacy or in public, and Thou art better aware of (them) than myself. Thou art the First and the Last and over all things Thou art Omnipotent.”
[Bukhari, Book #75, Hadith #319] Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying. ” By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.”
Instruction f Prayer In Quran
Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them; (2:3)
And be steadfast in prayer; practice regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship).(2:43)
Nay, seek (Allah’s) help with patient perseverance and prayer: It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit, (2:45)
And be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity: And whatever good ye send forth for your souls before you, ye shall find it with Allah: for Allah sees Well all that ye do.(2:110)
O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. (2:153)
Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind). (2:238)
Salat (Prayer)
And abandon open and secret sin; surely they who earn sin shall be recompensed with what they earned. 6. Surah Al-An’am : Ayah 120
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) said. 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 endeavor (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
Prayer An Expiation For Past Sins
Narrated by Uthman ibn uffan (Radhiallaho anho):
I heard Allah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) say: When the time for a prescribed prayer comes if any Muslim performs ablution well and offers his prayer) with humility and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin; and this applies to all times.
Sahih Muslim Number 441
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 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 at 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
Prayers Attended By Angels
Congregational prayer is a feature of Islamic worship to which much importance is attached. In addition to the fulfillment of the duty God requires all Muslims to fulfill, it has a social role, cementing the feelings of unity within the Muslim community. It brings people into the local mosque where they join in a simple exercise of devotion, addressing God directly, reading His revealed words, declaring their submission to Him alone, acknowledging Him as the Master, Creator, Owner, and Controller of the universe and everything in it. They realize that He sees them at every moment and listens to their prayers and supplication. He grants them all that they pray to Him for. Thus, their unity is established on the basis of a bond of faith that is far stronger than any other tie.
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].
Stealing In Prayer
One of the worst forms of theft or cheating is cheating in prayer.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: The worst type of thief is the one who steals from his prayer.
The people asked, O Messenger of Allah, how can a person steal from his prayer?
He said: By not doing rukoo and sujood properly.
(Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 5/310; see also Saheeh al-Jaami, 997).
This lack of composure and failure to pause in rukoo and sujood and to stand up straight after rukoo or sit up properly between sujoods may be observed in many of those who pray, and hardly any mosque is free of examples of people who do not have the proper composure in prayer. Correct composure is one of the pillars of prayer, without which prayer is invalid.
This is a serious matter.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: A man’s prayer is not good enough until his back is straight in rukoo and sujood.
(Reported by Abu Dawud, 1/533; see also Saheeh al-Jaamia 7224).
A Best Comprehensive Supplication
Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) made many supplications that we did not memorize. We said to him:
O Messenger of Allah! (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) You have made many supplications of which we do not remember anything.
The Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) said, Should I not show you such a comprehensive dua that includes all duas? Say,
(O Allah, I beg to You the good which Your Prophet Muhammad (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) begged of You;
and I seek refuge in You from the evil where Your Prophet Muhammad (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) sought refuge.
You are the One from Whom help is sought and Your is the responsibility to communicate (the truth). There is no power or strength except with Allah the Exalted, the Great.
[At-Tirmidhi]
Commentary:
For those who do not remember many prayers, or cannot remember them, this is the best supplication to make. This shows part of Allah’s Mercy upon his slaves and part of the easiness of practicing Islam.
Supremacy Of Congregational Prayer
Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said:
The congregational prayer of anyone amongst you is more than twenty (five or twenty-seven) times in reward than his prayer in the market or in his house, for if he performs ablution completely and then goes to the mosque with the sole intention of performing the prayer, and nothing urges him to proceed to the mosque except the prayer, then, on every step which he takes towards the mosque, he will be raised one degree or one of his sins will be forgiven. The angels will keep on asking Allah’s forgiveness and blessings for every one of you so long as he keeps sitting at his praying place. The angels will say, O Allah, bless him! O Allah, be merciful to him! as long as he does not do Hadath or a thing which gives trouble to the other.
The Prophet further said, One is regarded in prayer so long as one is waiting for the prayer.
[Sahih Al-Bukhari: Volume 3, Book 34 Sales and Trade , Number 330]
Allah Says in The Holy Quran Chapter 29 Surah Ankabut Verse 45 Regarding Some Of The Wisdom Behind The Act Of Salaah :
O Prophet, Recite This Book (Al Quran) Which Has Been Revealed To You, And Establish The Salaat. Surely The Salaat Restrains From indecent And Evil Acts, And The Remembrance Of Allah is indeed The Greatest. And Allah knows Whatever You Do.