The Pillars of The Prayer (2/2)

There is also the hadeeth of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “The shrewd person is the one who subjects himself and works for what comes after death. And the feeble person is the one who allows his soul to follow its vain desires, while aspiring for Allah to grant his ambitions.” [Reported by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah and Al-Haakim]

“Iyyaaka Na’budu” (You Alone do we worship): meaning we don’t worship anyone except You. This is a covenant between the servant and his Lord that he will not worship anyone besides Him.     

“Wa Iyyaaka Nasta’een” (And in You Alone do we seek assistance): This is a covenant between the servant and his Lord that he will not seek the assistance of anyone besides Allah.

 “Ihdinaas-Siraat-al-Mustaqeem” (Guide us to the Straight Path) means direct us, show us the way and keep us firm on as-Siraat (the Path), meaning Islaam. It is also believed that it refers to the Messenger and likewise that it refers the Qur’aan. All of these meanings are true. What is meant by Mustaqeem (Straight) is that which has no deviations in it.

 “Siraat-aladheena An’amta ‘alayhim” (The Path of those You bestowed Your Favor on): meaning the way of those who have received your Bounty. The proof for this is Allah’s saying:

 “And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Favor, such as the prophets, the first to believe (in the prophets), the martyrs and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!” [Surah An-Nisaa: 69]

“Ghayr-il-Maghdoobi ‘alayhim” (Not those who earned Your Anger): They are the Jews since they have knowledge but do not act on it. We ask Allah to protect you from their way.

 “Wa laad-Daalleen” (Nor of those who went astray): This refers to the Christians, who worship Allah based on ignorance and misguidance. We ask Allah to protect you from their way. The proof for those who went astray is Allah’s saying:

 “Say: Shall we inform you of the greatest losers with respect to their deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought they were acquiring good by their deeds.” [Surah Al-Kahf: 103-105]

And there is also the hadeeth of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “You will indeed follow the ways of those who came before you, in exactly the same manner, to the point that if they were to enter the hole of a lizard, you would also enter it.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, do you mean the Jews and the Christians?” He (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Who else?” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported it.]

And the second hadeeth is: “The Jews split up into seventy-one sects and the Christians split up into seventy-two sects. And this ummah (of Muslims) will split up into seventy-three sects. All of them will be in the Hellfire except for one.” They said: “Who are they O Messenger of Allah?” He (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Those who are upon the same way that I and my Companions are upon.”

The Fourth Pillar: Bowing               

The Fifth Pillar: Rising from the bowing position.

The Sixth Pillar: Prostrating on one’s seven limbs.

The Seventh Pillar: Erecting oneself from that.

The Eighth Pillar: Sitting between the two prostrations. The proof for these (last five) pillars is Allah’s statement:

 “O you who believe! Bow and prostrate (in prayer).” [Surah Al-Hajj: 77]

And also the hadeeth of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “I was ordered to prostrate on seven body limbs.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Ninth Pillar: Being in a state of tranquility during all of the acts.

The Tenth Pillar: Following a sequential order between these pillars. The proof for these (i.e. last two pillars) is the hadeeth about the man who prayed badly, narrated by Abu Hurairah (radyAllahu ‘anhu), who said: “One day we were sitting with the Prophet when a man entered and prayed. (Then he rose from prayer) and greeted the Prophet with Salaam. So the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told him: ‘Go back and pray for you have not prayed.’ This occurred three times, and finally the man said: ‘I swear by the One who sent you as a prophet in truth, I cannot do better than this, so teach me (the correct way to pray).’ So the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘When you get up to pray, say the Takbeer (Allahu Akbar). Then recite what is easy for you from the Qur’an. Then bow until you feel tranquility bowing. Then rise until you feel tranquil standing. Then prostrate until you feel tranquility whilst prostrating. Then rise from it until you feel tranquility sitting. Then do this in all of your prayers.’”

The Eleventh and Twelfth Pillar: The final Tashahhud is an obligatory pillar, as is stated in the hadeeth reported by Ibn Mas’ood (radyAllahu ‘anhu), who said: “Before the tashahhud was made obligatory on us, we would say: ‘As-Salaamu ‘alaaAllahi min ‘Ibaadihi. As-Salaamu ‘alaa Jibreel wa Mikaa’eel.’ [Peace be on Allah from His servants. Peace be on Jibreel and Mikaa’eel]. So the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Do not say: Peace (Salaam) be on Allah, for indeed Allah, He is AsSalaam. Instead say: At-Tahiyyaatu Lillaahi was-Salawaatu wat-Tayyibaat. AsSalaamu ‘alayka ayyuhaan-Nabee wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh. As-Salaamu ‘alaynaa wa ‘alaa ‘Ibaadillaahis-Saaliheen. Ash-hadu an Laa Ilaaha IllaaAllah wa Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluh.’

{Translator’s Note: This means “All acts of praise, supplications, and good are for Allah. Peace be on you O Prophet, and also the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be on us, and on the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that no one has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.”}  [Reported by Al-Bukhari in his Saheeh]