Importance of Salat

Thursday Halaqa
MCA Santa Clara, CA

Sr. Fatenah Tailakh

9/5/13

Importance of Salat

• Prayer is the second pillar of Islam.

• Salat is ‘Imad al deen - the pillar of religion. Just like a building needs pillars or else it will fall, your deen needs pillars in order to be standing straight. 

• It was the first thing made obligatory on a Muslim.

• Allah obligated it in the heavens. (The command for salat was given by Allah to Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) during his miraculous journey to Heaven or Mi’raaj.) 

• When you die, the first thing you will be accountable for on the Day of Judgement is your Salat. Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:“ The first thing that a person would be called to account for on the Day of Judgment is the Salat. If it is performed properly, all his deeds become in order, and if it is improper then all his deeds are in vain”. (Bukhari)

• The last knot of Islam to be held onto in the end of days. Salaat is the last thing that will be left of the religion before the Day of Judgement. 

• One of the things that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked us to do in his last sermon before he died. “O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.”

• The last words of Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) before he died - “As-Salat As-Salat - The Prayer The Prayer.” He suffered to say this to us when he was weak and dying. If we could remember this one sentence, we would be able to stop and say ‘It’s ok i’ll take 10 minutes to pray before I go out.’ 

Salat is Obligatory in all Situations

• Salat is obligatory on every adult, sane, awake person. Prayer is important to the degree that we are obligated to pray even in sickness, travel and war.

• In Surat Al-Nisaa, Allah taught the Muslims how to pray Salat al Khawf, prayer in time of fear. "When you are with them, and stand to lead them in salat, Let one party of them stand up (in salat) with you. Taking their arms with them: When they finish their prostrations, let them take their position in the rear, and let the other party come up which has not yet established salat- and let them establish salat with you." (4:102) Groups would take turns praying, guarding the ones who are praying, and fighting.

• Prayer erases sins. "Establish the prayer at the two ends of the day and in the first part of the night. Good actions eradicate bad actions." (11:114) { وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلاَةَ طَرَفَيِ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفاً مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ إِنَّ ٱلْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ ٱلسَّـيِّئَاتِ ذٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ } We need to think about our sins and bring ourselves to account. Just like when we raise our children we have to keep reminding them to brush their teeth. We have to raise ourselves too. We have to keep reminding ourselves. We can do this if we put goals in front of us.

The Importance of Praying On Time

• In Surat Al Maun, Allah gives a warning: “Woe to those who pray, But who are heedless of their prayer. Fawaylun lil musaleen. Allatheena hum ‘an salatihum saahun”. { فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلاَتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ }This is a person who prays but keeps delaying. They say ‘Oh i’ll do some dishes, i’ll clean this thing, etc.’ We are supposed to pray at the beginning of the time. That way we will get the most reward. A man who prays at the masjid has to wait for the salat at the masjid. But if you are a woman at home and you are not going to pray in the masjid - it is most loved to pray in it’s time - Al salat bi waqtiha. 

• In Surat Maryam, Allah says “But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires. Fa khalafa min ba’dihim khalfon adhaa’ol salaata.” (19:59) { فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُواْ ٱلصَّلَٰوةَ وَٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَونَ غَيّاً }This is a person who prayed but either lost his khushoo, did not perform one of the obligatory actions of the Salat, or he kept delaying it until he missed it’s time.

• If you had an appointment at 4am, you would get up and get yourself ready because it is important for you not to miss it. The prayer is the same. You have to feel the importance of it.

• So if you are at the mall and say ‘O I will pray when I go home.’ This is not right. 

• But there are priorities - if your child is crying or you have a pot on the stove - and the athan comes, you can finish a priority thing and then pray in a calm way. Ask yourself ‘If I pray, will I have khushoo?’ If not then finish that thing then pray.

• The best way to pray on time is to arrange your day around the prayers. If you want to go out, pray first - then you won’t have to worry about praying in public or missing a prayer. 

• What is the ruling of leaving the salat?
• First group - people who don’t pray because they are not convinced that it is necessary. They say ‘why should I pray... I don’t need to pray.’ Those who say this are disbelieving in something Allah ordered us to do - Yunkir amr Allah. - This person is considered kaafir.
• Second group - people who believe in prayer and want to pray, but are lazy (Kasl). This person is not considered kaafir, but faasiq - a sinner. He needs to repent. 

Advice on Teaching Kids to Pray

• The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Teach your children to pray when they are seven years old, and smack them (lightly) if they do not pray when they are 10 years old, and separate them in their beds.” (Al-Albaani)

• وَأۡمُرۡ أَهۡلَكَ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱصۡطَبِرۡ عَلَيۡہَا‌ۖ لَا نَسۡـَٔلُكَ رِزۡقً۬ا‌ۖ نَّحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُكَ‌ۗ وَٱلۡعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰ
• Surat Al-Baqarah “And enjoin As-Salât (the prayer) on your family, and be patient in offering them. We ask not of you a provision. We provide for you. And the good end (i.e. Paradise) is for the Muttaqûn (pious and righteous persons).” (2:2)

• When a child turns 7, tell him to pray, then wastabir - and be patient in reminding him. You have to get them used to it slowly. And be patient in that in the beginning they won’t have wudu, won’t pray all the rak’as etc. That's ok. Get them used to the prayer first.

• At the age of 10, hit them - not a real hitting, but in the sense of not giving them a choice to pray anymore. In the age of 7 kids will listen to you. You can encourage them with a new toy etc. But at the age of 10, if he won’t listen, you have to be more serious and forceful.

• If your son wants to lead you in prayer, make the intention that you are praying alone and he is praying alone. But let him pray in front of you. Make him think he is the Imam. (A child can lead the prayer after they hit the age of puberty.)

Advice on Praying Outside the Home

• Sometimes we are outside the home and the time for salat comes and we find ourselves in a situation where we will miss a prayer, so we go to our car and pray sitting. This is not correct. We are only allowed to pray sitting if we are physically unable to stand from illness or pain, or if you are praying a sunnah prayer. In the 5 Fard obligatory prayers, standing up in Salat is required and without it your prayer is not valid. Standing in Salat, Qiyam, is a pillar of Salat.  

• Some ideas: 
• Drive to a nearby masjid. 
• If you are at the mall, pray in a fitting room.
• Drive to a store with a fitting room. 
• Pray at a friend’s house. 
• Pray next to the car or next to a tree. If you are with someone, you could take turns standing and guarding each other. If you feel afraid to do this, remember that people will more likely respect you and admire you for your confidence and spirituality. Perhaps you will inspire someone to learn more about Salat and Islam. And remember that it is only for 2 minutes. So ask Allah to protect you.

• In general, we should try to arrange our day around the prayers so that we don't risk missing a prayer.