Performance of Prayer

Prayer is the second pillar of the pillars of Islam, and it is the most important one. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) made it mandatory for Muslims. There are two types of prayers in Islam, one is compulsory, which are the five daily prayers, and the other is voluntary, which the Muslim performs to gain Allah’s love, and it is thanks and gratitude to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) for His uncountable graces.

Prayer has a great effect on purity of heart, behavior modification, and strength of faith; therefore, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has made it mandatory for previous prophets and nations.

There is no divine law without the order of prayer, the Holy Qur’an mentions Allah’s (Glorified and Exalted be He) order regarding prayer to His prophets and their people. Abraham, the father of prophets, prayed asking Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to make his offspring prayer performers, he said, “O my Lord! Make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring.” (Holy Qur’an, Surah lbrahim, 14:40).

Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) answered his prayer and made his son Ishmael perform it, and “He used to enjoin on his people Prayer and Charity, and he was most acceptable in the sight of his Lord.” (Holy Qur’an, Surah Maryam, 19:55).

After these prophets, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) spoke to Moses (Peace be upon him) saying, “Verily, I am Allah: There is no god but I: So serve thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise.” (Holy Qur’an, Surah Ta-Ha, 20:14), ordered Mary (Peace be upon her) to pray, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) said, “O Mary! Worship Thy Lord devoutly: Prostrate thyself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down.” (Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-‘Imran, 3:43), and Jesus (Peace be upon him) declared Allah’s (Glorified and Exalted be He) order to him to perform prayer. While he still in his cradle, he (Peace be upon him) said, “I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet; And He hath made me blessed wherever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live.” (Holy Qur’an, Surah Maryam, 19: 30-31).

Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also took a covenant from the Children of Israel to keep their prayer. He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, “And remember We took a covenant from the Children of Israel (to this effect): Worship none but Allah; treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer; and practice regular charity.” (Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:83).

After them, our Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) announced what his prophet-hood brothers had announced before, that is to glorify, worship, and to pray to Allah. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) ordered Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) to pray saying, “Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not to provide sustenance: We provide it for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for righteousness.” (Holy Qur’an, Surah Ta-Ha, 20:132).

In His revelation to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) speaks highly of the people who perform prayer, He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, “Those who establish regular Prayer, and give regular Charity, and have (in their hearts) the assurance of the Hereafter. These are on (true) guidance from their Lord: and these are the ones who will prosper.” (Holy Qur’an, Surah Luqman, 31: 4-5), and Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) promised them paradise as a reward for it. “And who (strictly) guard their prayers; these will be the heirs, who will inherit Paradise: they will dwell therein (forever).” (Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23: 9-11).

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) kept on reminding and asking Muslims to keep praying. His servant and companion Anas said, “The last advice of the messenger of Allah was, ‘Prayer, Prayer, and fear Allah when dealing with women whom your right hands possess.’”[1]

When Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) ordained prayer and other worship, it was not to increase anything belonging to Him, nor was it to strengthen Him, for the obedience of the obedient will not increase Him, nor the rejection of the unbelievers will decrease Him.

Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) ordained prayer for the good of His servants, the pureness of their souls, the direction of their conscience, the correction of their behaviour, and the goodness of their life here and in the hereafter.

The first effect of prayer on the believer is that it lightens and comforts his/her life by praising Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and worshipping Him. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) described it as a light. He said, “Whomsoever keeps his prayer, it will be light, evidence, and it will save him at the Day of Judgment.”[2]

He (Peace be upon him) also said, “The prayer is Light, the charity is proof, and patience is light.”[3] The meaning of Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace be upon him) words “the prayer is Light”, is that prayer will prevent the person from committing sins, drive him/her away from evil deeds, and guide him/her to the right path as the light.

The reason for that is that prayer reminds the Muslim – every now and then – that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is watching him/her; therefore, he/she will do their best to avoid sins. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, “Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of God is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do.” (Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Ankabut, 29: 45).

A Man told Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) about another man, who prays at night and steals in the morning, he (Peace be upon him) said, “What is he saying will correct him”[4], Meaning, that his prayer performance will guide him one day to correct his behaviour.

In addition, prayer is a means of Allah’s forgiveness for minor sins, which individuals commit intentionally or unintentionally. With prayer, one will get closer to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), because it is a connection between the person and his Lord. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said, “Performing the five daily prayers, Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan, grants forgiveness of sins that occurred during the time between them, except the great sins.[5]”

One day, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) asked his companions, “Suppose that one of you have a river in front of his house, in which he/she bath five times a day, will you notice any body dirt on him?” They answered: no, no dirt will remain. He (Peace be upon him) added, "That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds.[6]”

Prayer is also a chance for Muslims to rest and take a break from life’s problems and hassles. The Muslim, when he/she performs prayer, will feel tranquility in his/her heart because of this performance. “Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” (Holy Qur’an, Surah Ar-Ra’d, 13: 28).

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) used to tell Belal (the prophet’s companion who used to proclaim for prayer), “Belal, comfort us with prayer.[7]”

In addition, he (Peace be upon him) used to perform it whenever he felt stressed or depressed, he said, “My ease, comfort, and relaxation are what I feel when I perform prayer.[8]”

Finally, for the importance of this worship, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) named it the “column of Islam”, and he said that this is the first thing that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) will ask people about in the Day of Judgment. He (Peace be upon him) said, “The first act that the person will be liable for on the Day of Judgment will be the Prayer. If it was good, then he/she is a winner, and if it was bad, then he/she is a looser.[9]"