Worship (2/4)

Prayer Places One Under Divine Protection 

Part of a long tradition by Muadh ibn Jabal goes like this: “Do not omit to offer an obligatory (farz) prayer, for one who makes this omission renders himself unfit for God’s protection.”  (Reported by Al-Tabarani)

Congregational Prayer Brings One Closer To God 

Before the emigration to Madinah, the Prophet sent written instructions to Musab ibn Umair concerning congregational acts of worship. One of the clauses ran as follows: “When, on Fridays, the midday sun begins to decline, seek proximity to God by praying two rakahs.”  (Reported by Al-Daraqutni)

Self-Seeking Places One Far From God 

Self-seeking religious scholars are the subject of one tradition in which the Prophet records these words of God: “The least I will do to them is extinguish the joy of prayer in their hearts.”  (Reported by Jami‘ Bayan Al ‘Ilm)

A Show Of Piety Is Not Reverence 

One day Aishah noticed a man walking along in a manner that very obviously suggested he was bowed down in submission to God. “Why is he walking in that feeble manner?” she enquired. She was told that he read extensively from the Qur’an and was constantly worshipping and imparting knowledge. On hearing this, Aishah said: “Umar used to read the Qur’an more than anyone, but he had a strong gait, talked in a forceful tone and would beat forcefully too.” 

Keeping Within The Bounds Of Propriety When Fasting 

Anas ibn Malik relates how two women sat together, ostensibly on a fast, but indulging in slander and giving vent to their grudges. When the Prophet heard of this, he said: “They cannot be said to have fasted. How can they have fasted when they have been eating the flesh of their fellows?”  (Reported by Abu Dawud, Sunan) 

Another account records the Prophet as saying: “They have abstained from that which God has made lawful. What broke their fast was indulgence in that which God has prohibited. One sat with the other and they started biting into the skins of others.”  (Al-Targheeb Wa Al-Tarheeb) 

The State Induced By Prayer Should Be Abiding 

Abu Ramtha recounts how, when he was praying along with the Prophet, and the latter had just pronounced the salutations marking the end of the prayer, a man who had participated in the prayer from the start, arose, and began offering voluntary prayers.  Umar sprang to his feet and seizing the man by the shoulders, said, “Don’t you know that the People of the Book did not have a gap between their prayers and that was their undoing?” The Prophet looked up, and addressing Umar, said: “Ibn Khattab, through you God has communicated what is true and correct.”  (Reported by Abu Dawud, Sunan) 

God Can Hear Even The Smallest Whisper 

Certain individuals once asked the Prophet whether God was close enough for them to make whispered supplications to Him, or whether he was so far away that they should call His name out loud. This verse of the Qur’an was revealed in reply to their question: “When my servants question you concerning Me, tell them that I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls on Me ...” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:186)

Abu Musa Al-Ashari relates how on certain journeys there were a few people who raised their voices in prayer. “Do not strain yourselves,” the Prophet told them. “You are not calling upon a Being who is deaf or absent. You are calling upon One who hears and is close to you, closer to anyone of you than the neck of his mount.”  (Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

Religion Is Worthless If Its End Is Material Gain 

Abu Hurayrah records the Prophet as saying: “A person who, for the sake of worldly aggrandizement, seeks that knowledge, which should be sought with the sole aim of seeking God’s good pleasure, will not savour the fragrance of Paradise on the day of Judgement.”  (Reported by Abu Dawud, Sunan) 

True Worship Entails Meekness And Humility Before God 

During the days of ignorance that preceded Islam, there was an extremely generous and hospitable man called Abdullah ibn Judaan. A cousin of the Prophet’s wife Aishah, he died before the commencement of the Prophet’s mission. Aishah once mentioned to the Prophet that Abdullah ibn Judaan had rendered immense services to humanity and had always been a generous host. She wondered whether these acts would benefit him on the Day of Judgement. The Prophet replied in the negative: “For never once did he pray: Lord, forgive my sins on the day of Retribution.”  (Reported by Muslim, Sahih)

God Loves The Humble Cry Of His Servant 

“When a servant of God calls upon his Lord and his call is pleasing to God, He orders Gabriel not to hasten the fulfillment of His servant’s prayer, for He likes to hear the voice of one making supplication to Him.”  (Reported by Jami‘ Al-Ulum Wa Al-Hikam)

How To Be Prudent 

Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz maintained that in matters where the path of right guidance is clear, one should follow it. Where it was clear that advancing along a certain path would be to one’s detriment, one should avoid doing so. “As for matters about which one is in two minds, they should be left to God.” 

Mention What Is Good: Pass Over What Is Evil 

Abu Harun tells of how he once went to Abu Hazim, and after invoking God’s mercy upon him, asked him how one could offer thanks for one’s two eyes. “When you behold good, make mention of it and when you behold evil, pass over it,” replied Abu Hazim. Then Abu Harun asked him how one could offer thanks for one’s ears. “When you hear something good, pass it on,” said Abu Hazim, “and when you hear something evil, make no mention of it.” 

Three All-Embracing Duties 

The mother of Anas once asked the Prophet to give her good counsel. “Forsake sin, for that is the best emigration; and observe your obligatory duties, for that is the best crusade; and remember God frequently, for there is nothing more pleasing to God than that one should remember Him much,” said the Prophet.  (Reported by Al-Tabarani) 

(Continued)