14- Prayer
14- Prayer Ocia_a18
All praise to Allah who made the confession of monotheism a protection and fortification for His servants. His is praise, blessing and dominion.
Allah praise and give peace to our Master Mohammed, his family and pure, righteous companions.
Servants of Allah, I exhort you and myself to have taqwa (wariness) of Allah and obedience to Him. And I warn you and myself of rebellion against Him and disobeying His order. There are many significant features for this day.
Allah says ''All praise to Allah who made the confession of monotheism a protection and fortification for His servants. His is praise, blessing and dominion.
O Allah praise and give peace to our Master Mohammed, his family and pure, righteous companions.
Servants of Allah, I exhort you and myself to have taqwa (wariness) of Allah and obedience to Him. And I warn you and myself of rebellion against Him and disobeying His order. There are many significant features for this day. And Allah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.''
Muslims, The five prayers are among the best acts of worship that the Muslim performs. Performing them is the best deed after having the correct belief in God and His Messenger. Prayer in Islam, is worship of Allah the Almighty, Praising and Thanking Him, acknowledging His Sovereignty and committing oneself to obey and remember Him at all times. It is the central part of a way of life, which is based on submission to the Owner of all. The Muslim must seek to remember Allah at all times. Allah says "Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e. the best prayer - ‘Asr ). And stand before Allah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salat (prayers)]."
He must be mindful that everything he is, everything he does, everything he knows and understands, is due to the Mercy of Allah. In acknowledging this, he remembers the fact that death lies in wait and he does not know when he will depart from this worldly life. Five times a day, he stands in prayer. Focusing all his thoughts on the Creator. He praises, thanks and acknowledges the Greatness of Allah and seeks His forgiveness. His sins pass before his consciousness and render him humble before the Majesty of the One who owns all things, including the Day of Judgment. He stands, conscious that Allah Sees Him at all times and that in prostration he is the closest to His Maker. The Muslim realizes that the Angel of death could be behind him at any time, that Jannah (Paradise) lies on his right and the fire of hell is on his left. Allah says "And perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and bow down (or submit yourselves with obedience to Allah) along with Ar-Raki‘un" He also says "And enjoin As-Salat (the prayer) on your family, and be patient in offering them [i.e. the Salat (prayers)]. We ask not of you a provision (i.e. to give Us something: money): We provide for you. And the good end (i.e. Paradise) is for the Muttaqun (the pious )". The truth of his actions and their consequences are unknown to him and as he prayers, his heart is moved by sincere intent to strive harder, work more, study more, forgive more and share more.
He comes out of the state of prayer, feeling renewed; more determined to use what remains of his time in the most beneficial way. An angry shout or unkind word, stops on the same lips that recite the Quran and remembers Allah. Hands reaching forth in greed and hate, retreat to find better solutions. Hasty careless words, dismal thoughts and attitudes disappear beneath the light that shrouds the mind of the one who prays because of their love and fear of Allah.
Allah has warned Muslims of skipping prayers "So woe unto those performers of Salat (prayers) (hypocrites), Those who delay their Salat (prayer from their stated fixed times)." He Also says "Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up As-Salat (the prayers) [i.e. made their Salat (prayers) to be lost, either by not offering them or by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times] and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell.''
Brother Believers, Praying Five times a day allows a Muslim to remember Allah often, as we are created to remember him. Praying enables us to remember him and it is also a form of thankfulness for all he has given us. A Muslim who observes the daily prayers becomes somebody who is more conscious of what he/she does or says, remembering that in a few hours time or minutes time he will have to perform the prayer before the Allah, hence abstaining from inappropriate behavior. Allah says "Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; And niggardly when good touches him. Except those who are devoted to Salat (prayers). Those who remain constant in their Salât (prayers);"
Muslims, Praying help us avoid committing sins, Allah says "Recite (O Mohammad) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Quran), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat). Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha’ (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed) and the remembering (praising) of (you by) Allah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising) of Allah in prayers. And Allah knows what you do. I say this and Ask Allah to forgive you and I.