PRAYER (NAMAAZ)
It is an undeniable fact that we have to taste death and go in the grave some day. And we all have to face Allah Tabarak Wa Ta’ala on the judgement day (Qayamat). Of all our deeds, namaaz will be the first obligatory deed we will be questioned about on this day.
Imagine not getting a seal of approval in the presence of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ while answering about Namaaz in the court of Allah Ta’ala. We don’t want our beloved Prophet ﷺ to be dejected on the judgement day because of our failure. Therefore, we must establish prayer (Namaaz).
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported to have said: “qurratu ainee fis-salaah”. ‘namaaz is the coolness for my eyes’
By not establishing Namaaz, we are snatching away the coolness from the eyes of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and hurting his feelings. Whoever hurts the feelings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is worthy for the torment and punishment of Hell.
It is obvious that most people neglecting Namaaz are the ones hanging out with friends and family members during Namaaz time. Will the family members and friends save us from the torment and punishment of Hell?
Allah Ta’ala states in The Holy Quran:
“That day man will flee from his own brother”
“And from his mother and father”
“And from his wife (husband) and children”
(Surah Abasa. verse 34,35,36)
Allah Ta’ala states in The Holy Quran:
“For every man, that day, shall be occupied for himself”
On the judgement day, people will be so anxious and apprehensive about their deeds, that they will be oblivious to the presence of other people including their own family members. No person will have the capability of lending any support to any other people. No one earns any deed, but for oneself. Each one will be for them only.
Allah Ta’ala states in The Holy Quran:
“And no soul bearer of burden will bear the burden of another. And if anyone heavily loaded any other to share its load, no one will bear anything from its burden even though he may be a near relation. O Beloved Prophet your warning is only useful for those who fear your lord without seeing and establish salaah. And whoso purifies for his own good. And to Allah is the return”
(Surah Faatir. verse 18)
The state of affairs of Muslims in the present time is such that people answer the call of prominent personalities, but ignore the call for prayer.
Allah Ta’ala states in The Holy Quran:
“Undoubtedly, the prayer forbids one from indecency and evil thing”
(Surah An-Kaboot. verse 45)
No doubt, Namaaz averts one from indecency, obscenely and sins.
Hazrat Imran bin Haseen(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that in reference to this verse, Prophet ﷺ has said ‘if the Namaaz of an individual does not avert the person from indecency, obscenely and sin, then that Namaaz is not worthy of being a Namaaz’.
Hazrat Aa’isha(Radi Allahu Anha) once asked Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about people ‘looking around’ whilst performing Namaaz. Prophet ﷺ replied that ‘such is the Namaaz of a shaitaan (iblees).
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported to have said that whilst performing Namaaz, one should think about that Namaaz as his ‘last’ Namaaz.
With regard to Namaaz, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has said: ‘worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion, you must consider that He surely sees you’.
In another instance, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has said: “assalaatu mi’raj ul mu’mineen”.
‘Namaaz is the mi’raj of a Mu’min’.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has also said: ‘don’t make Namaaz a habit, but make it a divine worship’.
It is a divine commandment to stand in Namaaz with modesty, humbleness and submissiveness. Perform Namaaz with calmness, dignity and in fear of Allah Ta’ala. Such a Namaaz will avert one from indecency, obscenely and sins.
Allah Ta’ala states in The Holy Quran:
“And without doubt, prayer is difficult but to those who are humble and god-fearing”
(Surah Al-Baqara. verse 45)
Namaaz for sure is burdensome, but is not burdensome to one who prays with modesty, humbleness and submissiveness. That is to say that Namaaz is burdensome to a hypocrite, but easy to a Mu’min, because Namaaz is the mi’raj for a Mu’min.
Namaaz is the best divine worship of Allah Tabarak Wa Ta’ala because Namaaz was given to Prophet ﷺ on the ‘arsh’-the seventh layer of the sky. But, all other divine worship was given to Prophet ﷺ on the earth.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was gifted with Namaaz whilst on mi’raj. And it is for this reason Namaaz is regarded as the mi’raj of the Mu’min.
Different prophets performed different Namaaz. Hazrat Adam(alaihis salaam) performed the Fajr Namaaz. Hazrat Ibrahim(alaihis salaam) performed the Zohar Namaaz. Hazrat Yunus (alaihis salaam) performed the Asr Namaaz. Hazrat Yakub(alaihis salaam) performed the Magrib Namaaz and Hazrat Musa(alaihis salaam) performed the Isha Namaaz.
Therefore, performing the five obligatory prayers of the day is fulfilling the sunnah of five prophets.
Astonishingly, there are Muslims who don’t perform Namaaz as per instructions and requirements.
Allah Ta’ala states in The Holy Quran:
“So curse to be those offering salaah, who are neglected of their salaah”
(Surah Al-Ma’oon. verse 4,5)
There is unpleasantness and harshness for such worshipers who are careless, deceit and deceptive in offering their prayers.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported to have said that ‘in-between faith (imaan) and infidelity (kufr) is the difference of neglecting Namaaz’.
A person deliberately missing Namaaz exits from the fold of imaan and Islam, and will be extravagated in kufr and shirk. Such a person is a hypocrite and an infidel.
There are also Muslims who perform Namaaz for ‘show off’- to show to people that they are devotees of Allah Ta’ala. Prophet ﷺ has referred to such people as ‘hidden kafir’.
Allah Ta’ala states in The Holy Quran:
“Those who show it (to others)”
(Surah Al- Ma’oon. verse 6)
A Mu’min will always pray Namaaz without delay.
Allah Ta’ala states in The Holy Quran:
“And bid your family for prayer, and be steadfast over it”
(Surah Taha. verse 132)
Instruct your household members to establish prayer and you, yourself be steadfast in establishing Namaaz.
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This article is an abridged English translation of Urdu sermons delivered by his eminence, Peer Syed Imroz Dean Saifi, Hanfi, Maturidi of Masjid Anwaar e Madina, Surrey BC Canada
If there is an inaccurate translation, please pardon it and not let it be a means to negatively reflect on the honoured presenter.
