THE PRAYER (NAMAAZ/SALAAH)
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'And establish Prayer and pay Zakaat and whatever good you send forward for you will find it with Allah. Indeed, Allah is seeing over what you do'
(Surah Al-Baqara. verse 110)
'Those who believe with out seeing and establish Prayer and spend in Our path, out of our provided sustenance'
(Surah Al-Baqra. verse 3)
'And seek help through patience and prayer. And without doubt, Prayer is difficult but to those who are humble and God-fearing'
(Surah Al-Baqara. verse 45)
Hazrat Abdullah Bin Qurt(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, 'on the Day of Judgement, a slave will be questioned about his prayers first. If his prayers are good, his other deeds will be good too. If his prayers are bad, his other deeds will be bad too'. (Tabarani, Targhib)
Namaaz is an utmost important commandment of Islam, which is ranked next to faith (imaan). The astounding never-ending power of Namaaz to safeguard and protect faith and to keep devoted within the folds of Islam is very notable.
Namaaz stands for the fulfilment of the basic human desire to give expression to one's modesty, to submit oneself out of deep devotion and respect and come under the mercy of Allah Ta'ala.
Namaaz is the greatest cover and refuge of peace for the ummah. Namaaz is the sustenance for a Mu'min's soul, ointment for the wound and cure for the ills.
Namaaz is farz e aien, an individual obligation upon every responsible and accountable person.
Namaaz is farz upon every person who is of sane mind, and who has reached the age of puberty.
Whoever rejects Namaaz to be farz is an infidel (kaafir).
Whoever intentionally omits Namaaz even once, is a transgressor (faasiq)
BENEFITS OF NAMAAZ
Namaaz is an invaluable gift of Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ Mi'raj, and is the best among all possible means of worship (ibadat). Namaaz stands first amongst fundamental essentials of faith (imaan). (Fatawa Razviyah)
A Mu'min, before performing Namaaz performs ablution (wudu), at least five times daily. As a result, a Mu'min becomes a clean person. A Mu'min performing ruku, sajdah and then their standing up moves every part of the body, and therefore must be physically in good shape. A clean and active person maintains good health.
Standing behind the imaam in obedience in the five obligatory prayers is definitely a demonstration of discipline. Namaaz in congregation increases Islamic brotherhood.
By performing Namaaz, a Mu'min confesses the Supremacy of Allah Ta'ala. Namaaz creates the remembrance of Allah Ta'ala in the heart, and makes the Namaazi remember that Allah Ta'ala Hears and Sees us. Namaaz helps to attain the satisfaction of spiritual destiny. Namaaz is like a light leading the ummah away from darkness and difficulties.
Namaaz destroys the evil amongst the Muslims. A Namaazi will find ways to reform and get away from sins. Namaaz builds patience, tolerance, fear and abstinence (taqwa) and piety. Namaaz helps to build the love and fear of Allah Ta'ala, and the love for His special servants, the prophets and the saints.
Hazrat Jabir Ibne Abdullah(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, 'between faith and unbelief is abandoning the prayer'.
(Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Ibne Majah, Musnad Ahmad)
Hazrat Abdullah Ibne Mas'ud(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that he asked Prophet
Muhammad ﷺ, 'which action (good deed) is most beloved to Allah?' Prophet ﷺ replied, 'Namaaz in its appointed time, then to be kind to your parents, and then to make jihad in the way of Allah'. (Muslim, Bukhari)
Baihaqi reported from Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) that a person asked Prophet ﷺ, 'which deed is most beloved to Allah?' Prophet ﷺ replied, 'to perform Namaaz in its appointed time. One who has omitted his Namaaz has no deen; for Namaaz is the pillar of deen'.
Abu Dawood reported from Amr Bin Shu'aib who narrated from his father, who narrated from his grandfather that Prophet ﷺ said, 'when your children reach the age of seven, instruct them to perform Namaaz, and when they reach the age of ten, compel them to perform Namaaz, even if one has to hit them'. (Mishkaat)
* Hitting here does not mean severely beating the child. It merely means that one should be stern and reprimand the child so that he realizes the importance of Namaaz. It is not allowed to beat and abuse any child inhumanely under any circumstance.
