Translation: Hadhrat Ammaar bin Yaasir رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying: “When a person finishes his Salaah, he gets one tenth, one ninth, one eighth, one seventh, one sixth, one fifth, one fourth, one third or half of the full reward (according to the quality of Salaah performed by him).”
Note: Reward is granted according to the sincerity and concentration with which Salaah is performed. Therefore, some get only one tenth of the total reward. There are others who get a reward from one tenth to half of the total. Some people receive the reward in full and there are others who get no reward at all. It is stated in a Hadith that Allah Ta’ala has a special scale for Fardh Salaah. An account is kept of the measure by which a Salaah falls short of that standard.
It is mentioned in a Hadith that concentration in Salaah will be the first thing to be taken away from the world. Not a single person in the whole Jamaat will read his Salaah with proper concentration.
Translation: Hadhrat Anas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says that he heard Nabi ﷺ saying, “When a person reads his Salaah at its correct time with proper wudhu, with concentration and with qiyaam, ruku and sajdah done properly, such a Salaah rises up in a bright and beautiful form, making dua for the person saying: ‘May Allah Ta’ala guard you as you have guarded me.’ If a person is not punctual with his Salaah nor does he perform wudhu, qiyaam, ruku and sajdah properly, his Salaah rises up in an ugly and dark shape, cursing the person, saying, ‘May Allah Ta’ala destroy you as you have destroyed me!’ It is then flung like a dirty rag at the face of the person.”
Note: Fortunate are those whose Salaah is so perfect that their Salaah makes dua for them. What can we say about the Salaah of most people nowadays? They go into sajdah direct from ruku. They hardly raise their heads from the first sajdah and they go for the second like a crow pecking at something. The curse for such a person is mentioned in this Hadith. When Salaah is cursing us then what else can save us? This is the reason why the condition of the Muslims is so miserable in the entire world. This description is also given in another Hadith, with the addition that a Salaah read by a person with sincerity and concentration rises up very bright. The gates of Jannah are opened for it. It makes dua to Allah Ta’ala for its reader. Nabi ﷺ has said, “The likeness of a person not bowing fully in ruku is that of a pregnant woman aborting just before delivery.” In a Hadith, it is stated, “There are many people who fast but get nothing out of their fast except hunger and thirst. There are many who make lots of ibaadah at night but get nothing from their ibaadah except losing their sleep.” Hadhrat Aa’ishah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا says that she heard Nabi ﷺ saying, “Allah Ta’ala will save (from the punishment of the Aakhirah) that person who has read his five times daily Salaah at its correct time with sincerity and concentration after having made proper wudhu. As for a person who does not do so (i.e. he did not guard his Salaah), there is no guarantee for him; he may be forgiven by Allah Ta’ala’s special mercy or punished.” Once, Nabi ﷺ came to his Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ and said. “Do you know what Allah Ta’ala has said?” The Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ replied, “Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul ﷺ know best.” He repeated the question and the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ gave the same reply each time. He then said, “Allah Ta’ala says: ‘By My Greatness and My Glory, I will certainly enter into Jannah that person who reads his five daily Salaah at its correct times. As for the person who does not read his Salaah, I may forgive him by My mercy or punish him.”
Hadith 3: NAFL ACTS WILL COMPENSATE FOR THE DEFICIENCY IN THE FARDH
Translation: Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “We heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, ‘The first thing that a person will be questioned about on the Day of Qiyaamah shall be his Salaah. A person will be successful if his Salaah is accepted, and he will be a miserable loser if it is rejected. If any deficiency is found in his Fardh Salaah, Allah Ta’ala will say (to the Malaaikah): ‘Look at his nafl Salaah.’ Whatever shortage is found in his Fardh Salaah will be covered up by his nafl Salaah. The rest of his ibaadah (Fast, Zakaat, etc.) will be treated in the same manner.”
Note: This Hadith shows that we should read abundant Nafl Salaah to make up for any deficiency in our Fardh Salaah. It is a habit with many people to say, “It is enough to read the Fardh Salaah. Nafl Salaah is meant for the very pious.” No doubt it is enough to offer the Fardh Salaah properly, but is it so easy to read it absolutely correctly? There will always be some shortfall, and there is no way to make up for that shortfall except through Nafl Salaah. There is another Hadith which deals with this point in more detail. It says, “Salaah is the most important duty ordered by Allah Ta’ala. It is the first thing to be presented before Allah Ta’ala, and the first thing that will be asked about on the Day of Qiyaamah. If the Fardh Salaah is of a poor quality, its shortfall will be made up through Nafl Salaah. Then the fasts of Ramadhaan will be asked about and any shortfall will be made good through the Nafl Fasts. Then Zakaat shall be asked about. If after adding the nafl, the good deeds are found to be heavier, this person shall be sent to Jannah. Otherwise he shall go to Jahannam.” When anyone accepted Islam by Nabi ﷺ , the first thing he taught him was Salaah.
Hadith 4: THE FIRST THING TO BE QUESTIONED ABOUT ON THE DAY OF QIYAAMAH WILL BE SALAAH
Translation: Hadhrat Abdullah bin Qurt رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying: “Salaah will be the first thing to be asked about on the Day of Qiyaamah. If this is found to be satisfactory, the rest of the actions will also be so. If this is not proper, the remaining actions are sure to be found deficient.”
Note: During his khilaafat, Hadhrat Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ had given an order to all his officials, saying, “I regard Salaah as the most important duty. A person who guards his Salaah, will follow the other laws of Islam. If he neglects his Salaah, he will most definitely destroy the rest of Islam.” The above saying of Nabi ﷺ and the order of Hadhrat Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ are also explained in another Hadith, “Shaytaan is scared of a Muslim if he is mindful of his Salaah, and if he neglects his Salaah, then shaytaan becomes hopeful of misleading him. He can then easily be led to do more serious wrongs and sins.” This is exactly what is meant by Allah Ta’ala when He says,
Translation: Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abi Qataadah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, Rasulullah ﷺ once said, “The worst thief is one who steals from his Salaah.” The Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ asked, “How can one steal from his Salaah, O’ Nabi of Allah?” He replied, “When one does not do his ruku and sajdah properly.”
Note: There are many other Ahaadith with the same meaning. Stealing is a very disgraceful act and a thief is hated by everybody. What do we say about a person who is called ‘the worst thief’ by Nabi ﷺ himself? Hadhrat Abu Darda رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “Once Nabi ﷺ looked up towards the sky and said, ‘The knowledge of Deen is soon to be taken away from this world.’ Ziyaad رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , who was also present, asked, ‘How can the knowledge of Deen be taken way, O Nabi of Allah ﷺ , when we teach the Qur-aan to our children and this process will continue?’ Nabi ﷺ replied, ‘Ziyaad! I always thought you to be an intelligent person. Don’t you see that the Jews and the Christians also teaching their scriptures to their children. Has this prevented their decline?’” One of Hadhrat Abu Darda’s رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ student says, “On hearing this Hadith from Hadhrat Abu Darda رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , I went to Hadhrat Ubaadah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and narrated the Hadith to him.” He said, “Abu Darda رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ is quite right. May I tell you the first thing that will be taken away from this world? It is concentration in Salaah. You will not find a single person in the Jamaat performing his Salaah with concentration.” Hadhrat Huzayfah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was also heard saying, “Concentration in Salaah shall be the first thing to disappear.” It is said in a Hadith, “Allah Ta’ala does not pay attention to that Salaah in which ruku and sajdah are not performed properly.”
Another Hadith says, “A person has been reading Salaah for sixty years, but not a single Salaah of his is accepted by Allah Ta’ala. This is because he has been careless in his ruku in some Salaahs and in his sajdah in others.” Great stress is laid on the proper performance of Salaah in the famous writings of Mujaddid Alf-e-Saani (Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi) رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ . This subject covers a good portion of the writings. In one of them he writes, “We should keep the fingers of our hands together while in sajdah and separated while in ruku. These rules are not without a reason.” He also writes, “To look at the place of sajdah while standing, on our feet while in ruku, on our nose while in sajdah, and on our hands while in Qa’dah, which helps with concentration in Salaah.” When these rules, which are mustahab (preferable), increase the value of our Salaah, you can well imagine how much benefit we will derive if we are careful of the other rules, which are either Sunnah or more important.
Translation: Hadhrat Ummu Roomaan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا (the mother of Hadhrat Aa’ishah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا ) says, “I was reading my Salaah, when I unknowingly began leaning sometimes to one side and sometimes to the other. Hadhrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ saw me doing this. He scolded me so harshly that I was about to break my Salaah out of fear. He told me that he had heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, ‘When a person stands for Salaah, he should keep his body still and he should not behave like the Jews. Remaining still is one of the qualities of Salaah.’”
Note: Keeping the body still during Salaah is ordered in many Ahaadith. Initially it was the habit of Rasulullah ﷺ to look towards the heavens, expecting Hadhrat Jibra-eel رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ to bring some Wahi (message from Allah Ta’ala), so much so that his eyes would sometimes look up unconsciously even during Salaah. When the following Aayaat were revealed, he began looking down in Salaah.
قَدْ افْلَمَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ في الَّذِيْنَ هُمْ فِي صَلَانِهِمْ حَشِعُوْنَ
Translation: “Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their Salaah.”
Translation: (Surah Mu’minoon – Aayah 1-2)
It is said about the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ that in the beginning they would look around during their Salaah. After these Aayaat were revealed, they gave up this habit of looking around. Explaining these Aayaat, Hadhrat Abdullah bin Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “When the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ stood for Salaah, they never looked here and there. They remained attentive in Salaah with their eyes looking at the place of sajdah, totally absorbed in Allah Ta’ala.” Someone asked Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , “What is Khushoo?” He replied, “Khushoo is a state of the heart/mind.” (i.e. to remain focused with ones heart and mind in Salaah.) It also includes that one should not turn his attention towards anything else whilst in Salaah. Hadhrat Ibn-e-Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “Khushoo (mentioned in the above Aayaat) are those who fear Allah Ta’ala and remain still in Salaah.” Hadhrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “Once Nabi ﷺ said, ‘Seek refuge in Allah Ta’ala from a hypocritical devotion.’ We inquired, ‘What is hypocritical devotion, O Nabi of Allah! ﷺ .’ He replied, ‘To pretend to have concentrate, but there is nifaaq (hypocrisy) in the heart.’” Hadhrat Abu Darda رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ relates a similar Hadith in which Nabi ﷺ is reported to have said, “Hypocritical devotion is that in which a person outwardly pretends concentration, while his heart is devoid of that” Hadhrat Qataadah رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ says, “For devotion in Salaah, the heart should be full of the fear of Allah Ta’ala and the gaze should be kept down.”
Nabi ﷺ once saw a person playing with his beard while in Salaah. He remarked, “If his heart was blessed with khushoo’, then his entire body would be at ease.” Hadhrat Aa’ishah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ once asked Nabi ﷺ about looking around whilst in Salaah. He said, “This is how shaytaan snatches away (the rewards) of salaah.” Nabi ﷺ said, “People who are in the habit of looking upwards while in Salaah should give up that habit, otherwise their sight may be taken away from them and it may not return to them.”
It has been said by many of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ and their successors that Khushoo means calmness in Salaah. Rasulullah ﷺ said, “Read each Salaah with such (devotion) as if it was the last Salaah of your life.”
Translation: 'Indeed! Salaah stops you from shameful and bad actions.’” (Surah A’nkaboot – Aayah 45) He replied, “Salaah is no Salaah if it does not save you from shameful and bad actions.”
Note: No doubt, Salaah is a very valuable ibaadah and if it is read properly, it will save one from all bad actions. If it does not, there is something seriously wrong with our Salaah. There are many other Ahaadith with this meaning. Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا says, “Salaah has the power to stop you from sins.”
Hadhrat Abul Aaliyah رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ explaining the same Aayah of the Qur-aan, writes: “There are three important parts of Salaah: Sincerity, fear of Allah Ta’ala, and His zikr. Salaah is no Salaah if these three are missing. Sincerity causes you to do good actions, fear of Allah Ta’ala stops you from sin, and His zikr is the Qur-aan, which in itself is guidance towards good and a guard against evil.” Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا says that Rasulullah ﷺ once said, “The Salaah that does not prevent you from shameful and bad actions, instead of bringing you closer to Allah Ta’ala, drives you away from Him.”
Hadhrat Hasan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ has also narrated the same thing from Rasulullah ﷺ that a Salaah which does not prevent a person from sins is in reality not a Salaah. Such a Salaah actually distances a person away from Allah Ta’ala. Hadhrat Ibn-e-Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ has also narrated a similar topic from Rasulullah ﷺ . Hadhrat Ibn Mas’ood رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, “A person who does not follow the demands of Salaah, has actually offered no Salaah. To follow up the demands of Salaah means to avoid shamelessness and sin.” Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “A person came to Rasulullah ﷺ saying that a certain man was in the habit of offering Salaah for the whole night and then involved himself in burglary and theft before the morning.” Rasulullah ﷺ said, “His Salaah will very soon prevent him from that sin.” Reading Salaah with proper sincerity is a means of getting rid of evil habits. It is difficult to make taubah for each and every bad habit. It is easier and quicker to read Salaah properly and then through the blessings that follow it, bad habits are sure to disappear one by one. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the strength to perform our Salaah properly! Aameen.
Hadith 8: THE VIRTUES OF READING LONG RAKAATS IN SALAAH
Translation: Hadhrat Jaabir رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, “The best Salaah is one with long rakaats.”
وَقُوْمُوْا لِلَّهِ قْنِتِيْنَ
Translation: “And stand up humbly (obediently and silently) before Allah Ta’ala.” (Surah Baqarah – Aayah 238)
Mujahid رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ while explaining the above Aayah says, Qunoot includes making proper ruku, (khushoo) devotion, long rakaats, keeping the eyes down and lowering of the shoulders in submission and fear of Allah Ta’ala. When the Sahaabah of Rasulullah ﷺ stood for Salaah, they would not look here and there or play and fiddle with anything, or think of any worldly thing intentionally due to the fear of Allah Ta’ala.
Note: Many meanings have been given to the word Qunoot, which comes in the Qur-aan in the Aayah mentioned in this Hadith. According to one of the meanings, Qunoot means silence. In the beginning of Islam, it was permissible to talk or to make salaam during Salaah, but when this Aayah was revealed, talking during Salaah was absolutely forbidden. Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “In the beginning, whenever I visited Nabi ﷺ , I would greet him with ‘assalamu alaykum’ and he would reply with ‘wa alaykumus salaam’ even if he was performing Salaah. Once I visited him while he was in Salaah and greeted him as usual, but he did not reply. I became worried, fearing that his silence might be because Allah Ta’ala was displeased with me. All sorts of worried thoughts began to enter my mind. I would think Nabi ﷺ was angry with me due to something that had happened. When Nabi ﷺ finished his Salaah, he said, “Allah Ta’ala changes His commandments as He pleases. He has now forbidden any talking during Salaah.” He then recited the above Aayah, ‘And stand up with ‘Yarhamukallaah’. The Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ stared at me. As I did not know then that we were not allowed to talk in Salaah, I protested saying, ‘Why are you all giving me angry looks?’ By showing me a sign, they asked me to keep quiet. I could not understand their behaviour, but I decided to then keep quiet. When Salaah was over, Rasulullah ﷺ called me. He did not hit or scold me. He simply said, ‘It is not permitted to talk in Salaah. Salaah is the occasion for praising Allah Ta’ala and reciting the Qur-aan.’ By Allah Ta’ala, never before or after have I met a teacher as kind as Rasulullah ﷺ .” Another meaning is given by Hadhrat Ibn-e-Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ in which he says that Qunoot means devotion. The words of Mujaahid رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ given above are based on this interpretation. Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا says, “In the beginning, Rasulullah ﷺ would tie himself up with a string while in Tahajjud, so that he would not fall off to sleep. It was for this reason that the following Aayah was revealed in the Qur-aan:
مَا انْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرَانَ لِتَشْقَى
Translation: “We have not revealed the Qur-aan to you (Muhammad ﷺ ) to cause you difficulty.” (Surah Taahaa – Aayah 2)
It is said in many Ahaadith that the feet of Rasulullah ﷺ would get swollen due to standing for long hours during Tahajjud Salaah. However, due to his kindness and affection for us, he advised us to be moderate in our Ibaadah, because if any person over exerts himself then it may cause him to leave out making Ibaadat altogether. That is why we find him stopping a woman from tying herself up for avoiding sleep during Salaah. We should remember that a Salaah with long rakaats is surely superior and more valuable, provided a person does not over exert himself. After all, there is some meaning in Nabi’s ﷺ offering such lengthy Salaah that would give him swollen feet. When the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ requested him to reduce his effort in his ibaadah because he had been guaranteed forgiveness as stated in Surah Fath:
Translation: “So that Allah Ta’ala may forgive you (O Muhammad ﷺ ) for your past shortcomings and those that may occur in the future.” (Surah Fatah – Aayah 2)
He used to say, “Should I not be a grateful slave of Allah Ta’ala?” It is stated in a Hadith that, when Nabi ﷺ offered his Salaah, his chest would give a constant groaning sound, which resembled that of a grinding mill. In another Hadith, this sound is compared to a boiling kettle. Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates, “On the night of the Battle of Badr, I noticed that Rasulullah ﷺ stood under a tree, busy in Salaah and crying before Allah Ta’ala all night long till the morning.” It is said in a number of Ahaadith that, “Allah Ta’ala is very pleased with certain people, one of them is he who leaves his bed shared with his dear and lovely wife and engages in Tahajjud Salaah on a cold winters night. Allah Ta’ala is very pleased with him, takes pride in him and in spite of being All-knowing, asks the Malaaikah, ‘What made this slave of mine leave his bed and stand up like this?’ The Malaaikah reply, ‘The hope of winning Your Bounty and Grace, and the fear of your displeasure.’ At this Allah Ta’ala says, ‘Listen, I give him what he hopes for and grant him refuge from what he is afraid of.’” Rasulullah ﷺ says, “No one receives a better reward from Allah Ta’ala than he who reads two rakaats of Salaah.” It has often been mentioned in the Qur-aan and Ahaadith that the Malaaikah are always busy in ibaadah. There are some who remain forever in ruku and others in sajdah. Allah Ta’ala has joined all these postures in our Salaah, so that we may get our share from each type of their ibaadah. Reading of the Qur-aan in Salaah is an extra devotion, over and above these postures.
THERE ARE 12 000 VIRTUES IN SALAAH
The Sufis write: There are 12 000 virtues in Salaah, which can be achieved through twelve points. If a person wants to get the full benefit from Salaah, then he must take care of these points. Sincerity is of course essential at every step. These points are as follows:
1. Knowledge: An action performed without knowledge is far inferior to the one done with full knowledge about it. We should therefore know:
(a) What is fardh and what is sunnat in Salaah. (b) What is fardh and what is sunnat in wudhu and Salaah. (c) How shaytaan causes distraction in our Salaah.
2. Wudhu: We must try to:
(a) Clean our heart of jealously and malice, just as we wash the other parts of our body. (b) Keep ourselves clean of sins. (c) We must neither waste nor use too little water but rather be moderate.
3. Dress: It should be:
(a) obtained through honest living. (b) clean.
(c) according to the Sunnat, e.g. the ankles should not be covered. (d) simple, and should not display vanity and pride.
4. Time: We should be:
(a) able to tell correct time at any moment. (b) always watchful about the Azaan. (c) particular about the time of Salaah, lest we should be too late for it.
5. Qiblah: There are three things to be ensured in facing Qiblah:
(a) We must face the Qiblah physically. (b) Have the heart in union with Allah Ta’ala, for He is the Qiblah of the heart. (c) Be as attentive as a slave is before his master.
6. Intention: For this we need to be particular about three things:
(a) We must be sure as to what Salaah we are performing. (b) Remain constantly conscious of our presence before Allah Ta’ala, Who always sees us. (c) Have perfect Imaan that Allah Ta’ala knows all that is in our hearts.
7. Takbeer Tahreemah (The First Takbeer): The essentials of Takbeer Tahreemah are:
(a) To pronounce the words correctly. (b) To raise both hands right up to the ears. This signifies that we have cut-off our connection with all, except Allah Ta’ala. (c) To feel the greatness of Allah Ta’ala in our heart when we say Allahu Akbar.
8. Qiyaam (Standing Posture): While in Qiyaam we should:
(a) Keep our gaze at the place of sajdah. (b) Feel in our heart that we are standing before Allah Ta’ala.
(c) Not to think of anything else. It is said that the person who looks around in salaah is like the example of a beggar who has come in the presence of the king. Now, when the king turns his attention towards him, he starts looking around here and there. How can the king then focus his attention to him?
9. Qiraat: The essentials of Qiraat are:
(a) To recite the Qur-aan with Tajweed. (b) To ponder on the meanings of what we recite.
(c) To practice on what we recite.
10. Ruku: The essentials of Ruku are:
(a) To keep the back straight i.e. the whole body above the legs should be in one straight line. (b) To hold the knees firmly with fingers spread apart. (c) To recite Tasbeeh with respect, humility and devotion.
11. Sajdah: The essentials of Sajdah are:
(a) To place the hands flat and close to the ears. (b) To keep the elbows raised above the ground. (c) To recite Tasbeeh with respect and devotion.
12. Qa’dah (Sitting Posture): The essentials of Qa’dah are:
(a) To sit up on the left foot, keeping the right one erect. (b) To recite Tashahhud with devotion, keeping the meaning in mind, for it contains Salaams for Rasullulah ﷺ and Dua for the Muslim Ummah. (c) To consider the concluding Salaam a definite greeting to the Malaaikah as well as the people on the right and on the left.
It has already been mentioned that, sincerity is the essence of all these points, which requires us:
1. To perform Salaah only to please Allah Ta’ala.
2. To understand that it is only through the grace and favour of Allah Ta’ala that we are able to perform Salaah.
3. To hope for the reward promised by Allah Ta’ala.
THE TRANSLATION OF SANAA AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE
Salaah is really a very blessed and auspicious practice. Every word said in it is filled with the greatness and blessedness of Allah Ta’ala. Sanaa, the opening Dua of Salaah, contains extremely virtuous and sacred meaning;
(1) Subhaanakallaahumma: O, Allah! I praise Your Sanctity. You are free from all faults and defects. (2) Wabihamdika: I praise Your Glory. All virtues and beauties are admittedly for You and befit You. (3) Watabaarakasmuka: Your name is blessed and in fact so blessed that it blesses everything over which it is mentioned. (4) Wata’aalaajadduka: Your eminence is most exalted. Your magnificence is most sublime. (5) Walaailaaha ghairuk: There is no deity but You. None has ever been and none shall ever be fit to be worshipped but You. Similary in ruku we recite “Subhaana Rabbiyal Azeem,” which means: “My magnificent and great Allah Ta’ala is free from all faults. I express my humbleness and weakness before His Greatness by bowing my head before Him (for the bowing of head is the symbol of humbleness and submission, just as a stiff neck is the sign of haughtiness and pride). I submit before all your commandments and I take it as my responsibility to obey You and be at Your service. I am at Your command. You are really very great and I submit before Your greatness.” Similarly, in Sajdah, we recite “Subhaana Rabbiyal A’alaa. We express our submission before Allah Ta’ala the Highest, and declare Him above all defects. Our head, which is considered as the most excellent part of our body along with our eyes, ears, nose and tongue, is placed on the ground before Him in the hope that He would show mercy and grant His blessings on us.
Standing with our hands folded before Him was the first expression of our humbleness and submission. This was further supported and reinforced by the bowing of our head in ruku and it reached its peak when we placed our head on the ground before Allah. In fact the whole Salaah is an indication of humbleness and submission and therefore a means of success in the world and in the Aakhirah. May Allah Ta’ala, through His Kindness, give me and all the Muslims taufeeq to offer such a Salaah. Mujaahid رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ has mentioned that this was the kind of Salaah read by the Sahaabah. When they used to stand up for Salaah they feared Allah Ta’ala.
INCIDENTS OF THE PIOUS AND THEIR FEAR FOR ALLAH
1. HADHRAT HASAN’S رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ PREPARATION FOR SALAAH
It is said about Hadhrat Hasan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ that, whenever he performed wudhu, he became very worried. When someone asked him why, he replied. “It is time to stand before Allah Ta’ala the Greatest and the most Powerful King.” On reaching the gate of the Masjid he would say;
Translation: “O Allah! Your slave is at Your door, O the most Beneficent! Here is a sinner before You. You have ordered the good amongst us to forgive the faults of the bad. O Allah! You are good and I am bad, so for the sake of all that is most beautiful in You, forgive all that is evil in me, O! The Most Bountiful.”
He would then enter the Masjid.
2. THE SALAAH OF ZAINUL AABIDEEN رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ
Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ used to read 1000 rakaats of Nafl Salaah daily. He never missed his Tahajjud, whether he was on a journey or at home. His face became pale when he performed his wudhu. He would tremble when he stood in Salaah. Somebody asked him the reason for that, he said, “Don’t you know before Whom am I going to stand?” Once when he was busy in Salaah, a fire broke out in his house.
He continued his Salaah most calmly. When asked about it, he said, “The fire of Jahannam caused me to forget the fire of this world.” He once said, “The person who is proud surprises me. The day before, he was a drop of dirty fluid and tomorrow he will be carrion and still he is proud.” He used to say, “It is strange that people do so much for the world, which is temporary, and do nothing for the Aakhirah where they are going to live for ever.” He used to help the poor in the darkness of night in such a way that they did not even know who helped them. People only came to know after his death that he was supporting more than 100 families.
3. THE REACTION OF HADHRAT ALI رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ AT THE TIME OF SALAAH
It is said about Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ that the colour of his face would change and he would tremble when the time of Salaah approached. When he was asked by someone he said, “This is the time for fulfilling the trust which the Heaven and the Earth and even the mountains were afraid to bear. I do not know if I shall be able to fulfil it.”
4. THE REACTION OF HADHRAT ABDULLAH BIN ABBAAS رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ ON HEARING THE AZAAN
It is said about Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ that when he heard the Azaan, he wept so much that his shawl would get wet. His veins would swell and his eyes would become red. Somebody said to him, “We do not see anything in the Azaan that should cause you to be terrified.” He replied, “If people understood what the Muazzin announced to them,
5. THE SALAAH OF ZUNNOON MISRI رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ
A person says, “I read my Asr Salaah with Zunnoon Misri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ . When he said ‘Allah’ (in takbeer), he was so overawed with the greatness of Allah Ta’ala, that he almost passed away. When he said ‘Akbar’ I felt as if my heart would burst with the fear of Allah Ta’ala.”
6. UWAIS QARNI رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ SPENDING THE NIGHT IN RUKU OR SAJDA
Uwais Qarni رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ , a famous saint and the highest of all the Taabi’een, would spend the whole night either in ruku or in sajdah.
7. I’SAAM رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ ASKS HAATIM ZAAHID BALKHI رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ HOW HE READ HIS SALAAH
I’saam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ once asked Haatim Zaahid Balkhi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ how he read his Salaah. He replied: “When it is time for Salaah, I perform my wudhu properly and go to the place of Salaah. When I stand for Salaah, I picture the Ka’bah Shareef in front of me, the Pul-Siraat (bridge over Jahannam) under my feet, Jannah on my right, Jahannam on my left and the Angel of death over my head. I think this to be my last Salaah so that I may not have the opportunity to say another Salaah again. Allah Ta’ala alone knows what goes through my heart at that time. I then say ‘Allahu Akbar’ with total humility and recite the Qur-aan Shareef, pondering over its meaning. I perform my ruku and sajdah with complete humbleness, finishing my Salaah calmly, hoping that Allah Ta’ala will accept it through His mercy, and fearing that it may be rejected if it is judged on its quality.” I’saam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ asked him, “Since when have you been reading this type of Salaah?” Haatim رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ replied, “I have been doing it for the last thirty years.” I’saam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ wept and said, “I have not been fortunate enough to read a single Salaah like that.”
It is said that Haatim رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ once missed his Salaah with Jamaat and felt extremely remorseful over it. A few people came to comfort him on this loss. He started weeping and then said, “If I had lost one of my sons, half the population of Balkh would have come to sympathise with me, but on the loss of my jamaat, you are the only person sympathising with me. It is only because people regard the afflictions in the Aakhirah as lighter than the affliction of this world.”
8. SA’EED BIN MUSAYYAB رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ IN THE MASJID BEFORE AZAAN
Sa’eed bin Musayyab رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ says, “For the last twenty years, I have never been out of the Masjid at the time of the Azaan.”
9. MUHAMMAD BIN WAASI رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ LOVES SALAAH WITH JAMAAT
Muhammad bin Waasi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ says, “I love only three things in this life; a friend who could warn me on my mistakes, just enough sustenance which is obtained without a fight and Salaah with Jamaat such that Allah Ta’ala may forgive its faults and give me reward for anything good in it.
10. THE ATTACK OF SHAYTAAN ON HADHRAT ABU UBAIDAH BIN JARRAAH رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ WHILE HE WAS IN SALAAH
Hadhrat Abu Ubaidah bin Jarraah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was once leading the Salaah. When the Salaah was over, he said; “Shaytaan made a dangerous attack on me while I was leading the Salaah. He caused me to think that I am the best of all of you. I shall never lead the Salaah again.”
11. MAIMOON BIN MAHRAAN رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ MISSES JAMAAT
Maimoon bin Mahraan رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ once reached the Masjid when the Jamaat was over. He recited ‘Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilaihi It is said that the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ would mourn for three days if they happened to miss the first takbeer and for seven days if they missed Jamaat.
12. SPEAK TO ALLAH TA’ALA AT ANY TIME YOU DESIRE VIRTUES OF Bakr bin Abdullah رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ once said, “You can speak to Allah Ta’ala, Who is our master, at any time you desire.” “How?” asked somebody. He replied, “Perform your wudhu properly and stand up for Salaah.”
13. THE BEHAVIOUR OF RASULULLAH ﷺ AT THE TIME OF SALAAH
Hadhrat Aa’ishah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا says, “Rasulullah ﷺ would be talking with his family members, but at the time of Salaah, he would suddenly behave as if he had never known us. He would become completely absorbed in Allah Ta’ala.”
14. SA’EED TANNOOKHI رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ CRYING IN SALAAH
It is said of Sa’eed Tannookhi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ that, as long as he remained in Salaah, tears would flow from his eyes continuously.
15. KHALAF BIN AYYUB رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ IS NOT DISTRACTED IN SALAAH
Somebody asked Khalaf bin Ayyub رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ , “Don’t the flies annoy you in Salaah?” He answered: “Even the criminals patiently bear the lashes of the police and boast of their endurance. Why should I be disturbed by flies whilst standing in front of my Creator?”
16. SALAAH MORE VALUABLE THAN WORLDLY POSSESSIONS
It is written in a kitaab titled ‘Bahjatun Nufoos’ that one of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ was once reading Tahajjud when a thief took away his horse. He noticed it, but did not break his Salaah. Somebody asked him, “Why did you not break your Salaah and catch the thief?” He replied, “I was busy in something far more valuable than a horse.”
17. ARROW REMOVED FROM THE THIGH OF ALI اللّه عَنه WHILST HE WAS IN SALAAH
It is said about Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ that once an arrow got stuck in his thigh. This could not be removed because of the severe pain felt by him. When he was busy in Nafl Salaah, the people removed the arrow. On finishing his Salaah, he asked the people; “Have you gathered to remove the arrow?” When they told him that it was already removed, he informed them that he had not felt any pain.
18. THE TALKING OF FAMILY MEMBERS DOES NOT DISTRACT MUSLIM BIN YASAAR رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ IN SALAAH
Muslim bin Yasaar رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ would say to his family members when standing up for Salaah, “You may keep on talking; I shall not be aware of what you talk.” Rabi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ says that, “When I stand in Salaah, I get so overcome with this concern that what will I be questioned about.”
19. AAMIR BIN ABDULLAH رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ IN THE THOUGHTS OF AAKHIRAH IN SALAAH
It is said of Aamir bin Abdullah رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ that, he would not even hear the beating of a drum while in Salaah, leave alone the talking of people around him. A person asked him, “Are you aware of anything while in Salaah?” He replied, “Yes, I know that I have to stand one day before Allah Ta’ala, and I shall either be sent to Jannah or Jahannam.” The person said, “No, I do not mean that. Do you hear what we talk?” He replied, “It is better that spears cut through my body than I hear your 20. A LIMB IS AMPUTATED WHILST PERFORMING SALAAH
One person had some sickness in a limb which needed to be amputated. People suggested that when he starts his Salaah, then it should be amputated. He won’t even know that it is cut off. Thus, whilst he was performing Salaah, that limb was amputated.
SALAAH 21. A PIOUS MAN IS NOT DISTRACTED BY THE THOUGHTS OF THIS WORLD IN SALAAH
A pious man was asked, “Do you ever think of this world while you are in Salaah?” He replied, “I never think of this world, either in Salaah or out of it.” Another such man was asked, “Do you think of anything whilst in Salaah?” He replied, “Is there anything more attractive than Salaah itself to think of?”
22. SHAIKH BUSIES HIMSELF IN SALAAH AND ZIKR
In ‘Bahjatun Nufoos’ it is written about a person who came to meet a saint whilst he was busy offering the Zuhr Salaah. He sat down to wait for him. When he completed his Fardh Salaah, he immediately commenced with Nafal Salaah until the Asar Salaah. This person kept on waiting. Then he started off the Asar Salaah. After the Asar Salaah, he got busy engaged in dua till Maghrib. After performing the Maghrib Salaah he commenced with Nafal Salaah till Esha. This poor person kept on waiting. After performing the Esha Salaah, he once again commenced with Nafal Salaah until the morning. Then he performed the Fajar Salaah and started making Zikr and reading other Wazaaif. Whilst sitting on the musalla he was overpowered by sleep. Immediately he rubbed his eyes and woke up reciting Istighfaar and the following Dua:
Translation: “I seek refuge in Allah from the eye that does not get satisfied with sleep.”
23. A SAINT SPENDS THE NIGHT IN SALAAH
It is said about another Shaikh that he would go to bed. When he could not fall off to sleep, he would get up and busy himself in Salaah saying, “O Allah! You know very well that it is the fear of the Fire of Jahannam that has caused my sleep to disappear.”
There are so many stories about the pious people spending their nights in the ibaadah of Allah Ta’ala which cannot be covered in this book. We have in fact lost the taste for the pleasure of ibaadah, so much so that we have begun to doubt the truth of such stories. These stories have been told so often and continuously that if we doubt them, then we can as well doubt history. If a story is told frequently and continuously, then its authenticity is guaranteed without dispute. We see people spending the entire night (sometimes even standing) in a cinema. They neither get tired nor does sleep overpower them. When such sinful actions have such an attraction, then what makes us doubt that Deeni sacrifices can be so attractive and tasteful?. People sacrificing for Deen are specially gifted with additional spiritual strength and stamina by Allah Ta’ala. The only reason we doubt these stories is because of our ignorance, which is like that of an immature child about the experiences of puberty. May Allah Ta’ala enable us to attain the heights where we may be able to taste the pleasures of His ibaadah.
According to the Sufis, Salaah is in fact a dua and speech with Allah Ta’ala and therefore needs thorough concentration. In the case of other practices, we do not need to be so attentive. For example, the spirit of Zakaat is to spend money for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. Spending in itself is so hard on a person that, even if he does it absent-mindedly, he would still feel the pinch of it. Similarly, fasting requires giving up eating, drinking and fulfilling your carnal desires. All these restrictions are really very hard, even if not observed by paying proper attention and Ta’ala pays no attention to a Salaah that is offered inattentively and without concentration.
Even if our Salaah is not up to standard, as compared with that of the pious people in the past, we should not give up the practice. It is absolutely incorrect to think that there is no use in offering Salaah unless it is perfect. To offer an imperfect Salaah is far better than to give it up completely, as this will result in us being punished in the Aakhirah. Some Ulama have declared a person to be a kaafir who intentionally leaves out Salaah (as discussed in full in chapter one). It is therefore important for us to make sincere and genuine efforts to do justice to our Salaah and make dua to Allah Ta’ala to grant us the taufeeq (ability) to offer Salaah similar to that of the pious people of the past, so that we may have at least one Salaah of that nature to our credit to present before Allah Ta’ala. In conclusion, it may be pointed out that the Muhadditheen are rather liberal in accepting the authenticity of the Ahaadith relating to the rewards of different Deeni practices. As for the stories about saints and pious people, these are part of ordinary history and therefore its status is far below the level of Ahaadith.
Translation: My ability is only from Allah. Only on him do I rely and only to Him do I turn. O our Rabb! We have oppressed our souls and if You do not forgive us and show mercy to us, we will surely be of the losers. O our Rabb! Do not take us to task if we forget or make mistakes. Our Rabb, do not place such responsibilities on us as You had placed on those before us. Our Rabb, do not impose on us that which we do not have the strength to bear. Overlook (our sins), forgive us and have mercy on us. You are our Protector, so assist us against the nation of the disbelievers. And may Allah Ta’ala send salutations on the best of His creation, the leader of the first and the last and on his family and his companions and his followers and those who carry forward the pristine Deen by Your mercy, O! the most merciful of those who show mercy.