Forty Hadith on the Importance of Prayers
The Rank of Prayers in Islam
1 - The Special Rank of Prayers
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )):Ãóæøóáõ ãóÇ ÇÝúÊóÑóÖó Çááøñåõ Úóáì ÃõãøóÊöí ÇáøóáóæóÇÊõ ÇáúÎóãúÓõ æó Ãóæøóáõ ãóÇ íõÑÝóÚõ ãöäú ÃóÚúãóÇáöåöãú ÇáøóáóæóÇÊõ ÇáúÎóãúÓõ æó Ãóæøóáõ ãóÇ íõÓúÃóáõæäó ÚóÜäúåõ ÇáøóáóæóÇÊõ ÇáúÎóãúÓõ 
.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “The first thing that Allah made obligatory upon my Ummah was the five prayers; and the first thing from their acts of worship that shall be taken up will be the five prayers; and the first thing that they will be questioned about will be the five prayers.”
2 - The Pillar of Religion
Úóäú ÃóÈöí ÌóÚúÝóÑò )Ú) ÞóÇáó:Èõäöíó ÇáÅööÓúáÇóãõ Úóáóì ÎóãúÓò Úóáì ÇáøóáÇÉö æó ÇáÒøóßóÇÉö æó Çáøóæúãö æó ÇáúÍóÌöø æó ÇáúæöáÇóíóÉö .
Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) has said: “Islam has been founded and established on five things: Prayers, Zakat, Hajj, Sawm (Fasting) and Wilayah.”
3 - The Parable of Prayers
Úóäú ÃóÈöí ÌóÚúÝóÑò )Ú) ÞóÇáó: ÃóáøóáÇóÉõ ÚóãõæÏõ ÇáÏöøíäö ãóËóáõåóÇ ßóãóËóáö ÚóãõæÏö ÇáúÝõÓúØóÇØö ÅöÐóÇ ËóÈóÊó ÇáúÚóãõæÏõ ËóÈóÊó ÇáÃóæúÊóÇÏõ æó ÇáÃóØúäóÇÈõ æó ÅöÐóÇ ãóÇáó ÇáúÚóãõæÏõ æó ÇäúßóÓóÑó áóãú íóËúÈõÊú æóÊöÏñ æó áÇó ØõäõÈñ .
Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) has said: “The prayer is the pillar of religion and its parable is that of the prop of a tent – when the prop remains upright, the pegs and ropes remain straight and upright, but when the prop bends or breaks neither the pegs nor ropes remain straight.”
4 - A Means of Salvation
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )):ÎóãúÓõ óáóæóÇÊò ãóäú ÍóÇÝóÙó Úóáóíúåöäøó ßóÇäóÊú áóåõ äõæÑÇð æó ÈõÑúåóÇäÇð æó äóÌóÇÉð íóæãó ÇáúÞöíóÇãóÉö .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “One who adheres to the five (daily) prayers diligently, they shall be a means of illumination and salvation for him on the Day of Judgment.”
5 - Illumination of the Heart
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )):óáÇóÉõ ÇáÑøóÌõáö äõæÑñ Ýöí ÞóáúÈöåö Ýóãóäú ÔóÇÁó ãöäúßõãú ÝóáúÜíõäóæöøÑú ÞóáúÜÈóåõ .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: “The prayer of a person is (in reality) a light in his heart, so whoever desires, can illuminate his heart (by means of prayers).”
6 - A Measure of Acceptance of Deeds
ÞóÇáó ÇáøóÇÏöÞõ )Ú): Ãóæøóáõ ãóÇ íõÍóÇÓóÈõ Èöåö ÇáúÚóÈúÏõ ÇáøóáÇÉõ ÝóÅöäú ÞõÈöáóÊú ÞõÈöáó ÓóÇÆöÑõ Úóãóáöåö æó ÅöÐóÇ ÑõÏøóÊú ÑõÏøó Úóáóíúåö ÓóÇÆöÑõ Úóãóáöåöþ .
Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “The first thing for which a person shall be subjected to reckoning is prayers. If they are accepted, all his other deeds shall (also) be accepted. But if rejected, all his other deeds shall (also) be rejected.”
7 - The Conduct of the Prophets
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )):ÃóáøóáÇóÉõ ãöäú ÔóÑóÇÆöÚö ÇáÏöøíäö æó ÝöíåóÇ ãóÑúÖóÇÉõ ÇáÑøóÈöø ÚóÒøó æó Ìóáøó æó åöíó ãöäúåóÇÌõ ÇáÃóäúÜÈöíóÇÁö .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “The prayer is one of the (primary) dictates of religion, in it lies the pleasure of the Lord, the Mighty and the Glorious, and it is the conduct of the Prophets.”
8 - The Standard of Islam
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )):Úóáóãõ ÇáÅöÓúáÇóãö ÇáøóáÇÉõ Ýóãóäú ÝóÑøóÛó áóÜåóÇ ÞóáúÈóåõ æó ÍóÇÝóÙó ÚóáóíúåóÇ ÈöÍóÏöøåóÇ æó æóÞúÜÊöåóÇ æó ÓõÜäóÜäöåóÇ Ýóåõæó ãõÄúãöäñ .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “The prayer is the standard of Islam. Whosoever loves prayers, and observes their limits, timings and methods, is a true believer.”
9 - The Benefits of Prayers
ÞóÇáó ÇáøóÇÏöÞõ)Ú): Åöäøó ãóáóßó ÇáúãóæúÊö íóÏúÝóÚõ ÇáÔøóíúØóÇäó Úóäö ÇáúãõÍóÇÝöÙö Úóáì ÇáøóáÇÉö æó íõáóÞöøÜäõåõ ÔóåóÇÏóÉó Ãóäú áÇó Åöáñåó ÅöáÇøó Çááøñåõ æó Ãóäøó ãõÍóãøóÏÇð ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö Ýöí Êöáúßó ÇáúÍóÇáóÉö ÇáúÚóÙöíãóÉö .
Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “Surely the Angel of Death repels Satan from the proximity of one who had adhered to and guarded his prayers, and makes him speak out the testimony of ‘There is no God except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’ during that terrifying and frightening state (of death).”
10 - Prayers and Children
Úóäö ÇáúÈóÇÞöÑö )Ú) ÞóÇáó: ÅöäøóÇ äóÃúãõÑõ öÈúíóÇäóäóÇ ÈöÇáøóáÇóÉö ÅöÐóÇ ßóÇäõæÇ Èóäöí ÎóãúÓö Óöäöíäó ÝóãõÑõæÇ öÈúíóÇäóßõãú ÈöÇáøóáÇóÉö ÅöÐóÇ ßóÇäõæÇ Èóäöí ÓóÈúÚö Óöäöíäó .
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) advised: “We command our children to offer prayers when they are five years old, so you too order your children to offer prayers (but only) when they are seven years of age.”
Importance and Virtues of Prayers
11 - Value of Prayers
ÞóÇáó ÃóÈõæ ÚóÈúÏö Çááøñåö (Ú): óáÇóÉñ ÝóÑöíÖóÉñ ÎóíúÑñ ãöäú ÚöÔúÑöíäó ÍóÌøóÉð æó ÍóÌøóÉñ ÎóíúÑñ ãöäú ÈóíúÊò ãóãúáõæÁò ÐóåóÈÇð íõÊóóÏøóÞõ ãöäúåõ ÍóÊøóì íóÝúÜäóì .
Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “One obligatory prayer is better than performing Hajj twenty times, and the performance of one Hajj is better than giving away a house full of gold.”
12 - The Face of Religion
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )): áößõáöø ÔóíúþÁò æóÌúåñ æó æóÌúåõ Ïöíäößõãõ ÇáøóáÇóÉõ ÝóáÇó íóÔöíäóäøó ÃóÍóÏõßõãú æóÌúåó ÏöíúÜäöåö .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “For every thing there is a face and the face of your religion is prayers. So see to it that none from amongst you damages and disfigures the face of his religion.”
13 - Importance of Prayers
ÞóÇáó ÇáäøóÈöíøõ )): ãóÇ ãöäú óáÇóÉò íóÍúÖõÑõ æóÞúÜÊõåóÇ ÅöáÇøó äóÇÏóì ãóáóßñ Èóíúäó íóÏóíö ÇáäøóÇÓö ÃóíøõåóÇ ÇáäøóÇÓõ ÞõæãõæÇ ÅöáÜì äöíÜÑóÇäößõãõ ÇáøóÊöí ÃóæúÞóÏúÊõãõæåóÇ Úóáì ÙõåõæÑößõãú ÝóÇØúÝöÆõæåóÇ ÈöóáÇóÊößõãú .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “Whenever the time of each prayer arrives, an Angel announces to the people: (O’ People Stand up and extinguish, with prayers, the fire which you have set alight for yourselves.”
14 - The Blessings of Prayers
ÞóÇáó Úóáöíøñ )Ú): Åöäøó ÇáÅöäúÓóÇäó ÅöÐóÇ ßóÇäó Ýöí ÇáøóáÇóÉö ÝóÅöäøó ÌóÓóÏóåõ æó ËöÜíóÇÈóåõ æó ßõáøó ÔóíþÁò Íóæáóåõ íõÓóÈöøÍõ .
Imam `Ali (peace be upon him) has said: “Surely, when a person engages in prayers, his body, his clothes and everything around him glorify Allah.”
15 - The Rank of Prayers
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )): ãóæúÖöÚõ ÇáøóáÇóÉö ãöäó ÇáÏöøíäö ßóãóæÖöÚö ÇáÑøóÃúÓö ãöäó ÇáúÌóÓóÏö .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “The position of prayers with respect to religion is similar to that of the head with respect to the body.”
16 - Purification of the Soul
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )):ãóËóáõ ÇáøóáóæóÇÊö ÇáúÎóãúÓö ßóãóËóáö äóåúÑò ÌóÇÑò ÚóÐúÈò Úóáì ÈóÇÈö ÃóÍóÏößõãú íóÛúÊóÓöáõ Ýöíåö ßõáøõ íóæãò ÎóãúÓó ãóÑøóÇÊò ÝóãóÇ íóÈÞóì Ðñáößó ãöäó ÇáÏøóäóÓö .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “The example of the five (daily) prayers is like that of a clear-water river flowing in front of your houses in which a person washes himself five times a day – cleansing him from all dirt.”
17 - The Covenant of Allah
Úóäú ÑóÓõæáö Çááøñåö )): ÞóÇáó Çááøñåõ ÊóÚóÇáÜì:ÅöÝÊóÑóÖúÊõ Úóáì ÃõãøóÊößó ÎóãúÓó óáóæóÇÊò æó ÚóåöÏÊõ ÚöäúÏöí ÚóåúÏÇð Ãóäøóåõ ãóäú ÍóÇÝóÙó Úóáóíúåöäøó áöæóÞúÜÊöåóÇ ÃóÏúÎóáúÜÊõåõ ÇáúÌóÜäøóÉó æó ãóäú áóãú íõÍóÇÝöÙú Úóáóíúåöäøó ÝóáÇó ÚóåúÏó áóåõ ÚöäúÏöí .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) states that Allah, The Exalted has said: “I have made the five prayers obligatory upon your Ummah and have made a covenant with Myself that one who maintains his prayers with respect to their timings, I shall place him in Paradise. As for the one, who does not maintain the timings, I have no covenant (with him).”
18 - Remembrance of Allah
ÞóÇáó ÇáúÈóÇÞöÑõ )Ú):ÐößúÑõ Çááøñåö áöÃóåúáö ÇáøóáÇóÉö ÃóßúÈóÑõ ãöäú ÐößúÑöåöãú ÅöíøóÇåõ ÃóáÇó ÊóÑóì Ãóäøóåõ íóÞõæáõ }ÝóÇÐúßõÑõæäöí ÃóÐúßõÑúßõãú {
Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) has said: “Allah’s remembrance of ‘people who pray’ is greater and superior to their remembrance of Him. Do you not observe that He has said (in the Noble Qur’an): {Remember Me and I shall remember you.}”[8]
19 - The Mercy of Allah
ÞóÇáó Úóáöíñ )Ú): ÅöÐóÇ ÞóÇãó ÇáÑøóÌõáõ ÅöáÜì ÇáøóáÇóÉö ÃóÞúÈóáó ÅöÈúáöíÓõ íóäúÙõÑõ Åöáóíúåö ÍóÓóÏÇð áöãóÇ íóÑóì ãöäú ÑóÍúãóÉö Çááøñåö ÇáøóÊöí ÊóÛúÔóÇåõ .
Imam `Ali (peace be upon him) said: “When a person stands up for prayers, Iblis approaches him and looks at him with envy and jealousy, as he sees the Mercy of Allah encompassing the person.”
20 - Refraining from Sins
Ñõæöíó Ãóäøó ÝóÊóì ãöäó ÇáÃóäúóÇÑö ßóÇäó íõóáöøí ÇáøóáÇóÉó ãóÚó ÑóÓõæáö Çááøñåö )) æó íóÑúÊóßöÈõ ÇáúÝóæóÇÍöÔó ÝóæõöÝó Ðñáößó áöÑóÓõæáö Çááøñåö )) ÝóÞóÇáó Åöäøó óáÇóÊóåõ ÊóäúåóÇåõ íóæúãÇð ãóÇ Ýóáóãú íóáúÈöËú Ãóäú ÊóÇÈó.
It has been reported that a youth from the Ansar, who used to offer his prayers with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny), used to indulge in sinful and corrupt deeds. When this was brought to the notice of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny), he said: “A day shall come when his prayers shall refrain him from committing sins. Before long, the youth repented.”
Notes:
[8] The Noble Qur’an, Suratul Baqarah, Verse 152
Importance of Prayer-Times
21 How and When?
ÞóÇáó ÃóÈõæ ÚóÈúÏö Çááøñåö ÇáøóÇÏöÞõ )Ú): ÅöÐóÇ óáøóíúÊó óáÇÉð ÝóÑöíÖóÉð ÝóóáöøåóÇ áöæóÞúÊöåóÇ óáÇóÉó ãõæóÏöøÚò ÊóÎóÇÝõ Ãóäú áÇó ÊóÚõæÏó ÅöáóíúåóÇ .
Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “When you offer an obligatory prayer, offer it at its stipulated time in a manner as if it is your last prayer and you fear you shall never get a chance to offer any prayer again.”
22 - Importance of the Times of Prayers
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )): ÞóÇáó Çááøñåõ ÚóÒøó æó Ìóáøó:Åöäøó áöÚóÈúÏöí Úóáóíøó ÚóåúÏÇð Åöäú ÃóÞóÇãó ÇáøóáÇóÉó áöæóÞúÊöåóÇ Ãóäú áÇó ÃõõÚóÐöøÈóåõ æó Ãóäú ÃóÏúÎõáóåõ ÇáúÌóäøóÉó ÈöÛóíÑö ÍöÓóÇÈò .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) has reported that Allah, the Mighty, the Glorious has said: “I have a covenant with My servant that if he offers his prayers at their stipulated times, I shall not chastise him and shall place him in Paradise without any reckoning.”
23 - The Noble Prophet and Prayers
ÞóÇáóÊú ÚóÇÆöÔóÉõ: ßóÇäó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )) íõÍóÏöøËõäóÇ æó äõÍóÏöøËõåõ ÝóÅöÐóÇ ÍóÖóÑóÊö ÇáøóáÇóÉõ ÝóßóÃóäøóåõ áóãú íóÚúÑöÝúäóÇ æó áóãú äóÚúÑöÝúåõ .
`Aishah narrates: “We would be engaged in conversation with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny), but with the arrival of the time of prayers it would appear as if he neither knew us nor we knew him.”
24 - Prayers at their Times
ÞóÇáó ÇáøóÇÏöÞõ )Ú): Åöäøó ÇáúÚóÈúÏó ÅöÐóÇ óáøóì ÇáøóáÇóÉó Ýöí æóÞúÜÊöåóÇ æó ÍóÇÝóÙó ÚóáóíúåóÇ ÇÑúÊóÝóÚóÊú ÈóíúÖóÇÁó äóÞöíøóÉð ÊóÞõæáõ ÍóÝöÙúÊóäöí ÍóÝöÙóßó Çááøñåõ æó ÅöÐóÇ áóãú íõóáöøåóÇ áöæóÞúÊöåóÇ æó áóãú íõÍóÇÝöÙú ÚóáóíúåóÇ ÇÑúÊóÝóÚóÊú ÓóæúÏóÇÁó ãõÙúáöãóÉð ÊóÞõæáõ ÖóíøóÚúÊóäöí ÖóíøóÚóßó Çááøñåõ .
Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “When a person maintains his prayer and offers it at its stipulated time, it ascends in the form of a pure white light and calls out to him: “You have guarded me, may Allah protect you.” But if he does not maintain his prayer and does not offer it at its decreed time, it ascends as a dark and gloomy form and says to him: You have destroyed me, may Allah destroy you.”
25 - A Beloved Entity
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )):ÃóÍóÈøõ ÇáÃóÚúãóÇáö ÅöáÜì Çááøñåö ÇáøóáÇóÉõ áöæóÞúÊöåóÇ Ëõãøó ÈöÑøõ ÇáúæóÇáöÏóíäö Ëõãøó ÇáúÌöåóÇÏõ Ýöí ÓóÜÈöíáö Çááøñåö .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: “The most beloved of deeds in the eyes of Allah are: offering prayers at the stipulated times; (then) goodness and kindness towards parents; (and then) Jihad in the way of Allah.”
Negligence and Carelessness towards the Prayers
26 - Regarding the Prayers as Insignificant
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )):áóíúÓó ãöäöøí ãóäö ÇÓúÊóÎóÝøó ÈöóáÇóÊöåöáÇó íóÑöÏõ Úóáóíøó ÇáúÍóæúÖó áÇó æó Çááøñåö .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: “One who considers the prayers to be insignificant and trivial is not from me. By Allah! He shall never come close to me at the pool of Kauthar.”
27 - Debasement of Prayers
ÞóÇáó ÇáøóÇÏöÞõ )Ú): ÔóÝóÇÚóÊõäóÇ áÇó ÊóäóÇáõ ãõÓÊóÎöÝøðÇ ÈöóáÇóÊóöåö .
Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Our intercession shall never reach one who considers his prayers to be inconsequential and unimportant.”
28 - Destroying Prayers
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö)): áÇó ÊõÖóíöøÚõæÇ óáÇóÊóßõãú ÝóÅöäøó ãóäú ÖóíøóÚó óáÇóÊóåõ ÍõÔöÑó ãóÚó ÞóÇÑõæäó æó åóÇãóÇäó æó ÝöÑúÚóæúäóþ .
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: “Do not destroy your prayers for verily one who destroys his prayers shall be resurrected in the company of Qarun, Haman and Fir`awn.”
29 - The Incorrect Prayers
Úóäú ÃóÈöí ÌóÚúÝóÑò )Ú) ÞóÇáó ÈóíúäóÇ ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )) ÌóÇáöÓñ Ýöí ÇáúãóÓúÌöÏö ÅöÐú ÏóÎóáó ÑóÌõáñ ÝóÞóÇãó íõóáöøí Ýóáóãú íõÊöãøó ÑõßõæÚóåõ æó áÇó ÓõÌõæÏóåõ ÝóÞóÇáó )) äóÞóÑó ßóäóÞúÑö ÇáúÛõÑóÇÈö áóÆöäú ãóÇÊó åñÐóÇ æó åñßóÐóÇ óáÇóÊõåõ áóíóãõæÊóäøó Úóáì ÛóíúÑö ÏöíÜäöí .
Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) narrates: One day the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) was seated in the mosque when a person entered and began praying, but in a manner such that neither did he perform his ruku’ (bowing), nor his sujood (prostration) in a correct manner. Observing this, the Messenger of Allah commented: “(This person) pecks as a crow pecks. Should he die and the state of his prayers be as they are now, he shall surely not die upon my religion.”
30 - Carelessness Towards Prayers
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )): ÃóáøóáÇóÉõ ÚöãóÇÏõ ÇáÏöøíäö Ýóãóäú ÊóÑóßó óáÇóÊóåõ ãõÊóÚóãöøÏÇð ÝóÞóÏú åóÏóãó Ïöíäóåõ æó ãóäú ÊóÑóßó ÃóæúÞóÇÊóåóÇ íóÏúÎõáõ Çáúæóíúáó æó Çáúæóíúáõ æóÇÏò Ýöí Ìóåóäøóãó ßóãóÇ ÞóÇáó Çááøñåõ ÊóÚóÇáóì }Ýóæóíúáñ áöáúãõóáöøíäó ÇáøóÐöíäó åõãú Úóäú óáÇóÊöåöãú ÓóÇåõæäó {
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: “Prayer is the pillar of your religion and one who intentionally forsakes his prayer has destroyed his religion. And one who does not guard the times of the prayers, shall be made to enter ‘Wayl’, which is a valley in Hell, as Allah, the Exalted, has said: “So woe to the praying ones, who are unmindful of their prayers.”[9]
31 - The Consequence of Abandoning Prayers
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )):áÇó ÊóÊúÑõßóäøó ÇáøóáÇóÉó ãõÊóÚóãöøÏÇð ÝóÅöäøóåõ ãóäú ÊóÑóßó ÇáøóáÇóÉó ãõÊóÚóãöøÏÇð ÝóÞóÏú ÈóÑöÆóÊú ãöäúåõ ÐöãøóÉõ Çááøñåö æó ÑóÓõæáöåö...
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: “Do not abandon your prayers intentionally for surely the obligations of Allah and His Messenger cease to cover one who forsakes his prayers intentionally.”
32 - A Death of Disbelief
ÞóÇáó ÇáäøóÈöíøõ )): ãóäú ÊóÑóßó óáÇóÉð áÇó íóÑúÌõæ ËóæóÇÈóåóÇ æó áÇó íóÎóÇÝõ ÚöÞóÇÈóåóÇ ÝóáÇó ÃõÈóÇáöí ÃóíóãõæÊõ íóåõæÏöíøðÇ Ãæú äóúÑóÇäöÜíøðÇ Ãæú ãóÌõæÓöíøðÇ .
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: “If a person abandons his prayer such that he neither desires its rewards nor fears its chastisement, for such a person I do not care if he dies a Jew, a Christian or a Magian.”
33 – Chastisement
ÞóÇáó ÇáäøóÈöíøõ )(: ãóäú ÊóÑóßó óáÇóÊóåõ ÍóÊøóì ÊóÝõæÊóåõ ãöäú ÛóíúÑö ÚõÐúÑò ÝóÞóÏú ÍóÈöØó Úóãóáõåõ¡ Ëõãøó ÞóÇáó: Èóíúäó ÇáÚóÈúÏö æó Èóíúäó ÇáßõÝúÑö ÊóÑúßõ ÇáøóáÇóÉö .
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: “The good deeds of one who, without any appropriate excuse does not offer his prayer until its time passes away, are annulled.” He then said: “The divide between a believer and disbelief is the abandonment of prayers.”
34 - Door of Hell
ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøñåö )):ãóäú ÊóÑóßó ÇáøóáÇóÉó ãõÊóÚóãöøÏÇð ßõÊöÈó ÅöÓúãõåõ Úóáì ÈóÇÈö ÇáäøóÇÑö ãöãøóäú íóÏúÎõáõåóÇ .
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: “The name of one who forsakes his prayer intentionally is written upon The door of Hell from which he shall (eventually) enter.”
Notes:
[9] The Noble Qur’an, Suratul Ma’un, Verse 4 and 5
Etiquette of Prayer And Conditions for its Acceptance
35 - Conditions for Acceptance of Prayers
ÞóÇáó ÇáøóÇÏöÞõ )Ú): ÞóÇáó Çááøñåõ ÊóÚóÇáÜì ÅöäøóãóÇ ÃóÞúÈóáõ ÇáøóáÇóÉó áöãóäú ÊóæóÇÖóÚó áöÚóÙóãóÊöí æó íóßõÝøõ äóÝúÓóåõ Úóäö ÇáÔøóåóæóÇÊö ãöäú ÃóÌúáöí æó íóÞúØóÚõ äóåóÇÑóåõ ÈöÐößúÑöí æó áÇó íóÊóÚóÇÙóãõ Úóáì ÎóáúÞöí æó íõØúÚöãõ ÇáúÌóÇÆöÚó æó íóßúÓõæ ÇáúÚóÇÑöíó æó íóÑúÍóãõ ÇáúãõóÇÈó æó íõÄúæöí ÇáúÛóÑöíÈóþ .
Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said that Allah, the Exalted has said: “I shall accept the prayers of one who: exhibits humility before My Greatness; restrains himself from his base and carnal desires for My sake; passes his day in My remembrance; does not seek to show his greatness over My creation; feeds the hungry ones; clothes the bare ones; acts with kindness and mercy to those in misery and trouble; provides shelter to those who are strangers (in his city) and away from their homes.”
36 - Prayers Accepted? In What Measure?
Úóäú ÃóÈöí ÚóÈúÏö Çááøñåö (Ú) ÞóÇáó: ãóäú ÃóÍóÈøõ Ãäú íóÚúáóãó ÃóÞõÈöáóÊú óáÇóÊõåõ Ãóãú áóãú ÊõÞúÈóáõ ÝóáúíóäúÙóÑú åóáú ãóäóÚóÊúåõ óáÇóÊõåõ Úóäö ÇáÝóÍúÔóÇÁö æó ÇáúãõäúßóÑö ÝóÈöÞóÏúÑö ãóÇ ãóäóÚóÊúåõ ÞõÈöáóÊú ãöäåõ .
Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “One who desires to know whether his prayers have been accepted or not should observe if his prayers have restrained him from evil and sinful acts. (If yes,) then the measure in which they have restrained him is the measure of his prayers that have been accepted.”
37 - Prayers and the Wilayah of the Ahlul Bayt
ÞóÇáó ÇáÑøóÌõáõ áöÒóíäö ÇáúÚóÇÈöÏöíäó )Ú): ãóÇ ÓóÈóÈõ ÞóÜÈõæáöåóÇ¿ ÞóÇáó )Ú): æóáÇóíóÊõäóÇ æó ÇáúÈóÑóÇÁóÉõ ãöäú ÃóÚúÏóÇÆöäóÇ .
Once a person asked Imam Zainul `Abidin (peace be upon him): “What is the criterion for the acceptance of prayers?” The Imam (peace be upon him) replied: “Acknowledging our Wilayah and dissociating oneself from our enemies.”
38 - Obligatory and Recommended Prayers
Úóäú ÃóÈöí ÌóÚúÝóÑò )Ú) ÞóÇáó: Åöäøó ÇáúÚóÈúÏó áóíõÑúÝóÚõ áóåõ ãöäú óáÇóÊöåö äöúÝõåóÇ Ãóæú ËõÜáõÜËõåóÇ Ãóæú ÑõÈõÚõåóÇ Ãóæú ÎõãõÓõåóÇ ÝóãóÇ íõÑúÝóÚõ áóåõ ÅöáÇøó ãóÇ ÃóÞúÈóáó Úóáóíúåö ÈöÞóáúÈöåö æó ÅöäøóãóÇ ÃóãóÑúäóÇ ÈöÇáäøóÇÝöáóÉö áöíóÊöãøó áóåõãú ÈöåóÇ ãóÇ äóÞóõæÇ ãöäó ÇáúÝóÑöíÖóÉö .
Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) has said: “The prayer that is offered by a person, sometimes half of it ascends upwards, while at other times it is only one-third, or one-fourth or one-fifth that ascends. Only that portion of the prayer which the person has offered with concentration and mindfulness of the heart is made to ascend. (And so) the people have been ordered to offer the recommended prayers so that they can make up for what has been left incomplete of their obligatory prayers.”
39 - Prayers with Adhan & Iqamah
ÞóÇáó ÃóÈõæ ÚóÈúÏö Çááøñåö )Ú): ãóäú óáøóì ÈöÃóÐóÇäò æó ÅöÞóÇãóÉò óáøóì ÎóáúÝóåõ óÝøóÇäö ãöäó ÇáúãóáÇóÆößóÉö æó ãóäú óáøóì ÈöÅöÞóÇãóÉò ÈöÛóíúÑö ÃóÐóÇäò óáøóì ÎóáúÝóåõ óÝøñ æóÇÍöÏñ ãöäó ÇáúãóáÇóÆößóÉö. ÞõáúÊõ áóåõ: æó ßóãú ãöÞúÏóÇÑõ ßõáöø óÝòø. ÝóÞóÇáó )Ú): ÃóóóÞóáøõåõ ãóÇ Èóíúäó ÇáúãóÔúÑöÞö ÅöáÜÜì ÇáúãóÛúÑöÈö æó ÃóßúËóÑõåõ ãóÇ Èóíúäó ÇáÓøóãóÇÁö æó ÇáÃóÑúÖöþ .
Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “One who offers his prayers along with Adhan and Iqamah, two rows of angels pray behind him, while one who offers his prayers with only the Iqamah and without the Adhan, one row of angels pray behind him.” The Imam (peace be upon him) was asked: “And how long is each row?” The Imam (peace be upon him) replied: “At the very minimum, its length is the distance between East and West, while at the maximum, its length is the distance between the earth and the heavens.”
40 - Prayers and Supplications
Úóäú ÃóÈöí ÚóÈúÏö Çááøñåö )Ú) ÞóÇáó: Åöäøó Çááøñåó ÝóÑóÖó Úóáóíúßõãõ ÇáøóáóæóÇÊö ÇáúÎóãúÓó Ýöí ÃóÝúÖóáö ÇáÓøóÇÚóÇÊö ÝóÚóáóíúßõãú ÈöÇáÏøõÚóÇÁö Ýöí ÅöÏúÈóÇÑö ÇáøóáóæóÇÊö .
Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “Verily, Allah has made obligatory upon you the five prayers at timings that are the best of times, so it is important that you supplicate to Him at the end of these prayers.”