Chapter 2: SALAAH

When a Muslim has firmly believed in the Kalimah Tayyibah, he has made a promise to obey all the commandments of Allah Ta’ala; the first and foremost of which is Salaah which must be observed by every adult, male or female, five times a day. In other words, those who perform Salaah regularly, after believing in the Kalimah, they practically fulfil their promise with Allah Ta’ala, made through the Kalimah; and those who are not regular with Salaah, they practically go against their promise with Allah Ta’ala, i.e. to be His faithful servants. Rasulullah ﷺ mentions about those who go against their promise that, “Whoever neglects Salaah intentionally, becomes a kaafir.” In another Hadith he says, “Whoever gives up Salaah, will be raised among Qaaroon, Fir’own, his minister Haamaan and the famous disbeliever, Ubayy bin Khalaf on the Day of Qiyaamah.” Next to the Kalimah, Salaah is the most important of all good deeds. It has been mentioned in the Hadith that the first thing to be brought to account on the Day of Qiyaamah, will be Salaah. If one’s Salaah is perfect in every respect, he will certainly be forgiven; otherwise he will be deprived of all the blessings and favours of Allah Ta’ala and will suffer a great loss. Therefore, one should perform Salaah at the correct times, with perfect wudhu and complete devotion, so that one will not be raised up with the kuffaar and sent to Jahannam. Whatever is read in Salaah (for example Thana (Subhaanak-Allahumma) and Tashahhud (Attahiyyaat) etc.), should be learnt well so that no mistakes occur whilst performing Salaah. One must know the Faraaidh, the Sunnan, all the conditions of Salaah, and also have concentration in Salaah, so that it is performed correctly. One should increase the quality of his Salaah by ensuring that all his limbs viz. the hands, feet, head, waist, nose, forehead, tongue etc., are all completely devoted to Allah Ta’ala, that is every part of his body is engaged in obedience to the commandments of Allah Ta’ala. If a Muslim performs Salaah with all its conditions, it is unlikely that any of his limbs will commit sins out of Salaah. It has been mentioned in the Qur-aan-e-Kareem that Salaah prevents a Muslim from shameful and forbidden things. The believers have been commanded hundreds of times in the Qur-aan-e-Kareem to perform Salaah properly. Salaah has been enjoined and emphasized many a time in the Ahaadith. For instance, Rasulullah ﷺ said, “One’s sins between one Salaah to the next Salaah are forgiven by Allah Ta’ala.” In another Hadith he says, “If one has a stream at his door and has a bath in it five times a day; he will have no dirt left on his body. Similarly, if one performs Salaah five times a day, his sins will be forgiven by Allah Ta’ala, and he will be cleansed of them.” In another Hadith Rasulullah ﷺ says, “When your children are seven years old, instruct them to perform Salaah, but when they are ten years old, beat them to perform Salaah.”

Rasulullah ﷺ says in a Hadith, “Salaah with Jamaat is rewarded twenty seven times more than Salaah performed alone.” It has also been mentioned in a Hadith that Rasulullah ﷺ intended to burn the houses of those who did not visit the masjid to perform their Salaah with Jamaat, but he refrained from doing so, because of the children and women. Ibn Mas’ood رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “During the time of Rasulullah ﷺ only that person who was an open Munaafiq (hypocrite) dared to neglect his Salaah.” It has also been mentioned in a Hadith that performing Esha Salaah with jamaat causes one to get the reward of being in Salaah till half the night; and thereafter performing Fajr Salaah with Jamaat causes one to get the reward of being in Salaah the entire night.

Rasulullah ﷺ says in a Hadith, “Allah does not look at the Salaah of one who does not keep his waist straight in Salaah (i.e. he performs Salaah lazily).” In another Hadith he says, “The worst kind of thief is one who steals in Salaah.” The Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ asked, “What is meant by stealing in Salaah?” Rasulullah ﷺ answered, “Stealing in Salaah is not to perform the rukoo (bowing posture) and sajdah (prostrating posture) properly, with spending sufficient time and devotion.”

Rasulullah ﷺ said, “It is the Salaah of a munaafiq to cause delay in the Salaah and to wait for sunset; so when it becomes dull, he gets up to perform it just as a custom and he remembers Allah Ta’ala but little.”