By Editorial Staff
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “The first of man’s deeds for which he will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection will be Salah (i.e. Prayer). If it is found to be perfect, he will be safe and successful; but if it is incomplete, he will be unfortunate and a loser. If any shortcoming is found in the obligatory Salah, the Glorious and Exalted Lord will command to see whether His slave has offered any voluntary Prayer so that the obligatory Prayer may be made up by it. Then the rest of his actions will be treated in the same manner.” (At- Tirmidhi)
The hadith alarms us about the seriousness of prayer from among other acts of worship such as fasting, Zakah (obligatory charity), Hajj (pilgrimage), etc. which may seem more costing or harder. Salah stands as a direct link and relationship between God and His slaves in which the praying person relieves himself of the filths of sins, the defects of the soul, the vices of manners and the hardships of life.
Salah consists of special actions and deeds that involve submission, humbleness, imploration, supplication, love, and cordiality with God. During Salah, the worshipper humbles himself before Allah to be elevated in the heavens and earth because the submissiveness to Allah is undoubtedly a means of honor and superiority. Prayer washes out ones sins, cleanses ones heart and elevates one’s esteem. Those who are keen to perform it as prescribed and at its due times are among the most guided ones who have perfect faith in Allah and the Last Day. God says,
The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah , for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided. (At-Tawbah 9:18)
Regarding the importance and secrets of Salah as well as the rulings regarding the correct performance of prayer, Sheikh Abdur Raheem McCarthy gives this very interesting lecture. You are advised to watch this speech to know more about the significance, virtues, facts, rulings and merits of prayer by Sheikh Abdur Raheem McCarthy.
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Source: DigitalMimbar Youtube Channel