We often find ourselves complaining of various afflictions that have fallen upon us. It is clear that many of these trials are a direct result of our own sinfulness or negligence in our adherence to Islamic practices and principles in every aspect of our lives. If we were to analyze the situation closely we would likely find that the root of our problem lies with the fact that so many of us have neglected what should be a fundamental and firm practice. Indeed it is the salaah (prayer) that is enjoined upon us five times a day. How many do we find who neglect the prayer, or lessen its importance? In areas where the masjid (mosque) should be filled we find only sparse attendance. Perhaps even worse is its neglect even in the home.
Two anecdotes come to mind. One is that of an Imaam who was leading the ‘Eid Prayer and thought that before commencing with the prayer that he would remind those attending the ‘Eid ground to be sure they had made their Fajr salaah if they had not already done so. He half-jokingly said this and even turned his back to the audience but out of curiosity he took a peek to see and found over half the Muslims standing to pray! Another is an oft repeated story about the observation made by a Zionist who was looking at the Muslims in salaat with a friend who commented something like ‘Shouldn’t we be worried about these Muslims...?’ to which the other replied ‘We have nothing to worry about until the Fajr prayer becomes like the Friday prayer.”
If we Muslims have any hope of improving our overall situation, defeating our enemies, forwarding Islamic da’wah effectively, and most importantly, gaining the pleasure of Allah, then we must first look at ourselves and seek to reform any of those aspects of our character and practice that do not conform with Islamic tenets and rid ourselves of sinful or corrupt behavior. This cannot possibly be accomplished until we make the salaah our priority, as did the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his Companions (radiallahu ‘anhum) and all the best of the Muslims in times since. It must be a salaah that is heartfelt and not merely routine and performed in order to rid ourselves of its burden. What follows is a long excerpt from the book The Prayer its Effect In Increasing Eemaan & Purifying The Soul by Husayn Al-‘Awaayishah which we recommend to every English reading Muslim.
Allah, the One free and far removed from all defects, says:
"Verily, Salaah prevents one from shameful and evil deeds." [Al-Qur’aan 29:45]
So Allah, the Most High, explains in this Aayah that the Salaah done with humility and attentiveness, and performed correctly must certainly lead the person away from wickedness and evil actions, and lead him to doing good. Therefore you will find those who pray in the mosques are the best of the people, despite any faults they may have, and any faults they do have or sins they commit, then this will be found to a far greater degree in others.
However if the Salaah does not prevent us from wickedness and evil actions then we must carefully examine what is going wrong and how to correct it. Indeed the Salaah must be rectified and prayed with full humility and attentiveness. So let us look closely at the causes and strive to find the cure. Just as we seek to treat our bodies from illness, then it is even more appropriate that we should seek to find the cure for our souls. This will help us to understand the saying of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam):
"The first thing for which the person will be accountable on the Day of Resurrection is the Salaah. So if it is in order, then the rest of his actions will be in order. But if it is defective then the rest of his actions will be defective." [Reported by At-Tabaraani in Al-Awsat and Ad-Diyaa, from Anas (radiallahu ‘anhu), and it is found in Saheehul-Jaami (no.2570).
If the Salaah is corrected then the rest of the actions will be corrected, since it is like the head with regard to the rest of the body. Furthermore, the closest that a servant is to his Lord is when he is in Salaah, calling upon his Lord, seeking His forgiveness, turning to Him and weeping before Him. Then the Salaah cannot be corrected unless one’s ‘aqeedah (creed and belief) is corrected, and what that comprehends: being mindful of Allah, the Most High, and fearing Him, and remembering that one will have to stand before Him for the Reckoning, and being terrified of His Fire. So that when he is tempted to commit sins he finds in his heart the ability to repel and reject them, since he looks at the present and temporary pleasure, and at the bliss which never ends and the happiness which never ceases, and he prefers the lasting good to that which will perish and pass away.
The Salaah of a person is ruined by his failing to be mindful of Allah, the Most High, and by weakness of taqwaa, thus this person does not have such fear as will prevent him from committing sins. As occurs in the hadeeth:
"Indeed there is in the body a piece of flesh which if it is sound then the whole body is sound and if it is corrupt then the whole body is corrupt. Indeed it is the heart." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
This asserts that the soundness of the whole body depends on the soundness of the heart, and if the heart is corrupt then the whole body shall be corrupt. If the heart is sound then the hand shall be sound and shall not steal, nor reach for that which is forbidden nor commit fornication by the forbidden touch. The feet also shall be sound and so shall not walk to that which is forbidden. The ear shall be sound and so shall not listen to music, to tale carrying, nor to backbiting. The tongue shall be in good condition and shall not speak except good. But if the heart is corrupt then it shall not lead the rest of the body except in corruption.
The heart will be rectified or corrupted through the Salaah, so if the Salaah is perfect and correct then this shows that the heart is benefiting and is sound, but if not then it indicates that it is not benefiting properly and that it is corrupted, so that it manifests evil which covers the rest of the body.
Know that each Salaah that is prayed with humility and attentiveness incites the heart towards righteous actions and good deeds, just as every good deed outside the Salaah increases ones humility and attentiveness in it. There occurs in the hadeeth:
"Perform the Night Salaah (Qiyaamul-Layl), since it was the practice of the pious before you, and draws one near to Allah, the Most High, and is a prevention of evil deeds, and an expiation of sins." [Ahmed, At-Tirmidhee and others]
So the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) made clear that the Night Salaah (Qiyaamul-Layl) is a prevention of evil deeds, since it forbids a person from sin and evil and commands him to good. So we must observe and increase in Salaah, and must observe the Night Salaah, standing fearfully and humbly before Allah, the One free and far removed of all defects, weeping from our hearts due to our failings and shortcomings, and hoping for the mercy of our Lord, the Most High, supplicating Him that He should make us firm upon the truth, and to make our Salaah and our standing at night of benefit to us.
It was said to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam): So and so prays all the night, but in the daytime he steals! So he replied: What you say will prevent him, or he said: His Salaah will prevent him. [Ahmad, Al-Bazzaar]
If the servant’s Salaah reaches its required level as prevention from sins, then it will be written for the person in the register of righteous deeds in the seventh heaven (‘Illiyyoon) as occurs in the hadeeth:
"Salaah followed by Salaah with no idle talk between them is recorded in ‘Illiyyoon."
[Abu Dawood]
Also do not forget that the Salaah is a means of preventing you from entering upon evil or going out to it due to what Abu Hurairah (radiallahu ‘anhu) reports from the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) that he said:
"When one of you is going to leave his house then let him pray two rak‘ahs, they will prevent you going out to evil and when you enter your house then pray two rak‘ahs, they will prevent you from entering upon evil." [Al-Bazzaar, Al-Bayhaqi]
The moral and material degeneration we find in supposedly Muslim societies and the ensuing turmoil is almost undoubtedly a direct result of the loss of proper understanding as well as practice of the salaah as commanded by Allah ta’aala. How could anyone claiming to follow the religion of Islam accept the sorry picture of Muslims who bear little resemblance to the examples we have in the Companions (radiallahu ‘anhum) and the righteous of later generations, much less that of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)? Indeed it is saddening for the believer to see Muslims who are little conscious of their own religion or the richness and salvation that Islamic practice provides. They are far more greatly influenced by practices and philosophies that are foreign and even antithetical to Islam. Too many are content to be ethnically from Muslim cultures and consider themselves loyal to Islam, yet their personal lives are largely void of evidence for their claim and in fact they constantly fall into what Islam views as major errors.
Yes, it is incredible to witness Muslimaat (Muslim women), for example, who make a shameful display of themselves in the streets, universities, the workplace, and in television, films etc. who turn right around and put on a cloth to complete the prayer and quickly toss it aside to resume whatever they were doing before! The same goes for men who stop to pray but right afterwards light up a smoke or whose business is steeped in the haraam! All such acts committed by those who pray fall under the same umbrella of sin. We do not dare blanketly thrust such people out of the fold of Islam, yet could they possibly be making the kind prayer as described in the ahadeeth and ayaat above? Could they have the proper understanding of Islam and be of the soundest eemaan? It is not possible. No doubt they are committing major errors, but if such people are at least praying perhaps they have a chance of guidance. The same goes for those who commit even graver crimes even in the name of Islam. All are in serious error and face grave punishment from Allah for their offenses, for He misses nothing. But what of the one who prays not at all!?
We seek refuge in Allah and beg Him to help us all to avoid hypocrisy and the abandonment of prayer. We ask that He make the salaah dear to us and a prime motivating positive force in our lives and that He bless us with understanding of religion, Ameen.
From Al-Haramain Online Monthly Newsletter Vol. 2 Issue 7