Allaah Almighty Says:
وَاسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاَةِ
وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلاَّ عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ
"And the Prayer is a difficult matter except
upon those who fear Allaah; who are certain that they will meet their Lord, and
that they will return to Him."[Quran 2:45-46]
The uniqueness of the Prayer lies in the fact that
it is repeated not once a year or a month nor a day, but indeed five times a
day. It is the most remarkable distinction of a believer's life. However,
because of this continuous and demanding nature of the Prayer, it may be a
cause of difficultly for some who lack its understanding and piety, or those
who are new to it.
Abu 'Amr ash-Shaybani said, "The owner of this
house (and he pointed at the house of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud) said, "I asked
the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ
؟ قَالَ: « الصَّلَاةُ عَلىَ وَقْتِهَا » . قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ: « ثُمَّ بِرُّ
الْوَالِدَيْنِ » . قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ: « ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
»
“Which action Allah loves best. He
replied, 'Prayer (exactly) at its proper time.' 'Then what?' I asked. He said,
'Then kindness to parents." I asked, 'Then what?' He replied, 'Then jihad
in the Way of Allah.'" Shaheeh narrated by Al-Bukhari no. 5970 )
If approached with sincerity and patience, the
Prayer can become the greatest pleasure of our daily life: " QURRATUL A'YUUN - the coolness of
eyes" as a Hadeeth put it.
وَجُعِلَ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاةِ
“The Coolness of My Eyes Lies in Shalah”
( Shaheeh narrated by Ahmad no. 12293,
An-Nasa-I no. 3939, Graded Shahih by Syaikh Al-Albani see Shaheeh Jami’ush
Shoghir no. 3124 and also Silsilah Ahaadits Ashahihah no. 1809)
Here are
"TEN THINGS" that can
make the Prayer easy and pleasurable.
1. Know its worth
If one does not know the merits and necessity of the
Prayer, the immense bounties that come with it, and the unspeakable spiritual
pleasure and bliss of the company of Allaah Almighty that is the reward of an
attentive Prayer, one is likely to be tired of it.
The Prayer separates the believer from the
disbeliever. The Prophet Shallallahu'alaihi wassalam said in an authentic
Hadeeth,
بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ وَبَيْنَ الشِّرْكِ
وَالْكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلَاةِ
Between a person and disbelief and polytheism is the
abandoning of the prayer” (Hadeeth
Shaheeh – narrated by Muslim no. 82
(134)).
On that terrifying Day of Reckoning, the first thing
a servant will be asked about is the Prayer: if s/he is successful in it, the
rest is easy: If not, the rest is ruined as well. This is based on authentic
Hadeeth:
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ
الْمُسْلِمُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، الصَّلَاةُ الْمَكْتُوبَةُ، فَإِنْ أَتَمَّهَا، وَإِلَّا
قِيلَ: انْظُرُوا هَلْ لَهُ مِنْ تَطَوُّعٍ؟ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ تَطَوُّعٌ أُكْمِلَتِ
الْفَرِيضَةُ مِنْ تَطَوُّعِهِ، ثُمَّ يُفْعَلُ بِسَائِرِ الْأَعْمَالِ الْمَفْرُوضَةِ
مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ
"The first matter that the Muslim servant will
be questioned about on the Day of Judgment is the obligatory prayers, whether
he had performed them properly or not. If not, then it will be said "Look
if he has performed any voluntary prayers." If he has, then the deficits
in his obligatory prayers will be filled by the voluntary ones and the same
will be done with the other obligatory acts." ( Shaheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah no. 1425 and graded Shaheeh
by al-Albaanee in Shaheeh wa Da'eef Sunan Ibn Maajah no. 1425 and in Shaheeh
Jamiius Shagheer no. 2020. The Hadeeth also has many Shawaahid (witnesses) from
other reports.
2. Delaying the pleasure is the way to success
Any worth-mentioning achievement in this world,
whether it is excellence at work or at school, all-nighters in colleges or some
other task, all require a degree of self-control and curbing of immediate
desires. In fact, experts discover that, in general, the wisest of people even
in worldly transaction is one who can curb his desires and delay the pleasure.
Such a person is a successful businessman, a productive scientist and an
outstanding student. What, then, about the real test of this life, the reward
for which is nothing less then the Paradise of your Lord?
The Prayer requires this attitude of patience,
curbing of desires and delaying of pleasures. However, as one does it
regularly, it also trains the worshipper to curb desires and delay the pleasure
in all other aspects of life, thus making him or her a successful person in all
aspects of life, worldly or religious.
حُفَّتِ الْجَنَّةُ بِالْمَكَارِهِ، وَحُفَّتِ
النَّارُ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ
"Paradise is surrounded with things that are
not pleasant to the soul and Hell is surrounded with things that are pleasant
to the soul.” (Hadeeth Shaheeh – Narrated by Muslim no. 2822 from Anas Bin
Malik radhiallahu’anhu).
Hellfire is surrounded by tempting things and sin
appears attractive to us. On the other hand, Jannat is surrounded by difficult
things such as sharing wealth, exercising self control and sacrifice.
3. Fight laziness and procrastination
Performing the Prayer in time is a trial. Indeed,
the Hellfire is surrounded by whims and desires, whereas Paradise is surrounded
by adversity. Everyone faces this difficulty proportional to the level of his
or her faith. The weaker the faith, the higher the difficulty. Accordingly, the
Prayer is hardest on the hypocrites.
Be determined to fight the laziness. As you win
these fights, your faith increases and performing the Prayer becomes easier.
Allaah Almighty Says in a Sacred Hadeeth:
إِذَا تَقَرَّبَ العَبْدُ إِلَيَّ شِبْرًا
تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا، وَإِذَا تَقَرَّبَ مِنِّي ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ مِنْهُ
بَاعًا، وَإِذَا أَتَانِي مَشْيًا أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً
"“if he draws near to Me a handspan, I draw
near to him an arm’s length; if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw
near to him a fathom’s length; if he comes to Me walking, I come to him with a
quick pace (in a manner befitting His Majesty)”
(Hadeeth Shaheeh – Narrated by
Al-Bukhari no. 7536) ”
4. Do not wait for the last minute
Rather, hasten to Prayer in the first hour, and it
will become easier on you. The Prophet warned against delaying the Prayer and
indicated that this is the sign of a hypocrite. Gradually, it becomes a habit
to perform the Prayer well and it hurts to not do it right. If you know that
the Dzuhur prayer is 12.45 – iqamah, you should come early (like at 12.25 - you
should stop your activities and lets prepare for the prayer – wudhu’ ablution,
etc) as you can do the sunnah prayer or to read at least 5 ayah of Quran or
more.
5. Worship is nourishment for the soul
Ibn-ul-Qayyim mentioned that Ibn Taymiyyah used to
wait after the Fajr (Dawn) Prayer remembering Allaah until the sun had risen.
He used to say, "This is my nourishment", meaning the means of his
sustenance. "Should I not consume it, then I would not have the strength
to last through the day." Similarly, it has been reported from a number of
righteous Salaf (predecessors) that they did not use to regret missing anything
from the matters of this life, like they would in missing such acts of worship.
Therefore, if you were to wonder how you could reach
that same level of righteousness, your answer is: by faith and actions. Just
wishing by itself is not enough and just because one is able
to reach the lower level of worship does not
necessitate that one will automatically be able to reach the more advanced
level. Indeed, all of this is dependent on patience and hard work. Allaah
Almighty Says :
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ
بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ
"And We appointed leaders from among them who
guided (people) under Our command, when they observed patience, and kept firm
belief in Our verses." [Quran
32:24]
6. Train yourself to be enthusiastic about the
Prayer
Rest assured that your enthusiasm to every matter is
based upon your quickness or slowness in performing it. Thus, if you were to
come to it early and quickly, you would find yourself forthcoming and spirited
in performing it. However, were you to come to it lethargically, you would find
it burdensome and hope that you could be free from it. If you want a suitable
example, then look at the one who comes to the Prayer early. You will find him
the last to leave and the opposite goes for the one who comes in late.
Similarly, in yourself you will also find the same.
In the Prayer that you came early to, look at the manner in which you offered
it and your disposition after it and the manner in which you made your
supplications after it. On the other hand, in the Prayer that you came late to,
remember how you hurried up the Prayer and hardly did that which comes later on
from supplications or supererogatory prayer. This matter is not just limited to
the Prayer only; rather it is for all matters and examples.
7. Love it because of Allah, and it will give you
Sow the seeds of love for the Prayer in your heart
and harvest its fruits by the will of Allaah Almighty. How can that not be so
when it is a link between the servant and his Lord? It is a door from the doors
of Paradise and a vast river that flows past our doors cleansing us of all
dirty deeds. It is expiation for sins between it and the next. Its benefits are
so numerous that to mention them all would run into many volumes.
8. When hesitant, remind yourself of the Hereafter
This is because the time of hesitation is the time
that Satan tries to affect you. So, if you were unwavering then you would find
the Satan humiliated and disgraced. Just as when hesitating at the time of
taking out money for charity and the amount of it. If you remember the
Hereafter, then Satan would not be able to distract or deter you. After you had
given charity, then you would never accept it back even if you were to be given
millions in return. This is because it was the Hereafter that you were aiming
for then. Similarly, at the point when you are standing at the door to your
house about to enter and suddenly hear the call to Prayer and hesitate between
entering the house or answering the call, then take a minute to wait and think.
If you were to enter your house, then you would not feel anything. Rather, it
would be the easy thing to do.
However, if you were to sacrifice an insignificant
amount of your time and proceeded to the Mosque, then you would feel an
overwhelming sense of satisfaction, insight and understanding that would demonstrate
the ease of what you are doing and the mistake and loss of those who are not
doing similar. So, whoever repents to Allaah then he it is that will remember
and ponder, and whoever forgets then it was he who was unrepentant.
This truly is the decisive factor. One can be
punctual in offering the Prayer during free time and energy, such as the Dhuhr
(noon) Prayer during holidays. However, is this also the case when work piles
up and the requirements increase or at times of lethargy? Do you give the Prayer
secondary important at such times?
9. Establish it by answering its call
It is important to know that the command to Prayer
has never come in the Quran except with the word "Iqaamah" (i.e.,
establishment). Similarly, it is known when someone can be said to have truly
established an action. To establish an action is to carry it out to the highest
level of performance. Thus, whoever does not establish it, it is not surprising
that he does not truly like it, nor finds himself turning to it. This
ultimately leads to his Prayer being deficient.
One of the greatest means to establishing the Prayer
is to have the presence of the heart, to understand meanings of the words that
are recited and of the actions that are done. Ibnul-Qayyim says, "If you
see a person in Prayer perfecting his bowings and prostrations, then he has
performed the Prayer correctly in its outer aspects. As for the inner aspect,
then Allaah knows best about it." Ibnul-Qayyim said this about the one who
offers his Prayer correctly outwardly. So, what can we say about the one who is
deficient even in his outward performance of the Prayer? When saying:
"Alhamdulillah" in your Prayer, be sure to make your heart ponder
about its meaning. Do the same while you say "Subhaana
Rabiyyal-adheem", "Subhaana Rabiyyal-A'laa", "Ashadu an-laa
Ilaaha Ilallaah", while bending your back, bowing to Allaah and putting
your forehead on the earth in prostrating to Him. If you were to loose
concentration throughout the Prayer, then try your best even if it comes at the
last minute in the fourth Rak'ah. Truly, the best of supplications is that
which is done by the heart as well as the tongue.
10. Supplication is the surest way to Allaah's
Pleasure
In addition, we know that Allaah does not disappoint
the one who calls upon Him. Knowing this, then what do you think about someone
who supplicates and asks for help and aid in performing that which Allaah loves
and is pleased with? Allaah Almighty Said in a Sacred Hadeeth, "O my
slaves, all of you are astray except whom I have guided; so ask me for guidance
and I will guide you.”
Therefore, we must make a part of our supplications
for the Hereafter. Have you not seen how the Khalilullah, Ibraaheem say,
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ
وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
"O my Lord and Sustainer! Make me and my
progeny from those who establish the Prayer! O our Lord! Accept my plea!” (Quran: 14:40)
By Allaah, how many times have we said this? Or, do
we think that the matter will be established even though we have not asked the
One and only to make us from those who establish it? Never will this be the
case.
If we were to call upon Allaah Almighty and He knew
us to be truthful in our request, He will never deny us. So, call on Allaah,
and be certain of His answer.
Through The Prayers we can achieve the discipline
for our habit.
"The regulation of a man's conduct within one
system of life is one of the most important reasons of success and stability.
The absence of this regulation is one of the greatest crises a man suffers from
in his life. This happens when man is left without guidance from Allaah, The
Most High, or without proper upbringing based on the Divine Guidance. Under
these circumstances, man's life becomes miserable on this earth and he will be
amongst the losers in the Hereafter".
It is only from the infinite wisdom and mercy of
Allaah that we have been given a system of belief that instructs and assists in
guiding our actions and behavior. By participating in the daily obligations of
our faith outlined in the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad we are
more likely to enjoy Allaah's bounty in this life, and reap the rewards in the
Hereafter. Allaah Almighty ordered all believers to be disciplined in their
worship, and not to disobey Him. In the Quran, Allaah Says:
فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ وَمَن تَابَ
مَعَكَ وَلاَ تَطْغَوْاْ إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
"So, stand firm (on faith) as you have been
commanded, as well as those who having repented (from disbelief) have joined
you, and do not cross the limits. Surely, He is watchful of what you
do." [Quran 11: 112]
The intensity of our faith changes throughout our
lives. There are times when we are of strong faith, and times when we struggle.
Many brothers and sisters who proudly claim Islam as their religion
unintentionally find themselves "slipping" in their religious duties.
Seemingly overnight their lives go from pleasurable and carefree to darkness
and confusion. You may begin to acknowledge that you have landed in such a
state because of the choices you made, but you are lost as to how to go about
changing things.
Being steadfast in our duties to Allaah Almighty is
what keeps you from languishing during your darker moments. Remember that your
ultimate return is to Him Almighty, so you must develop discipline and a
consistency in your daily routine to keep your faith from sinking.
Developing discipline
Recognizing your shortcomings is the first step
towards becoming more disciplined. Allaah Almighty Says:
إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ
حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ
Indeed, Allaah will not change the condition of a
people until they change what is in themselves..." [Quran 13: 11]
When you decide to change for the sake of Allaah
Almighty, Allaah will help you change.
When you decide to change for the sake of Allaah
Almighty, Allaah will help you change. And you may start with the simple thing
and do it continuously, your continuity on performing acts of obedience (even
if they are small) is the key of success on the Day of the Great Demonstration.
Hadeeth Shaheeh:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا،
أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ: سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَيُّ الأَعْمَالِ
أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «أَدْوَمُهَا وَإِنْ قَلَّ» وَقَالَ: «اكْلَفُوا مِنَ
الأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ»
Narrated Aishah (radiallahu anha): “The Prophet (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam) was asked, “What deeds are loved most by Allah?” He said, “The
most regular constant deeds even though they may be small.” He added, ‘Don’t
take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability.” [ Shaheeh
Narrated by Al-Bukhori no. 6465].
Each one is responsible for oneself and will be
questioned accordingly on the Day of Judgment, with no one to intercede on your
behalf. You must make the choice to live your life according to Allaah's Will
on your own. You will not benefit from being told about what you need to do and
how you need to change in order to have a more fulfilling life. You must take
an interest in making those changes for yourself. Only then can you reap the
rewards. Think about the wives of the Prophets Noah and Loot, may Allaah exalt
their mention. Each Prophet tried unsuccessfully to offer the best guidance to
his wife, but because there was no real interest on their part, it was said to
each of women.
اُدْخُلاَ النَّارَ مَعَ الدَّاخِلِينَ
"…Enter the Fire with those who
enter!" [Quran 66: 10]
There are many things you can do to establish
discipline in your daily life. Such consistency not only balances our faith,
but all other aspects of our lives as well:
Evaluate yourself regularly to make certain you are
doing all that you can spiritually.
Perform your daily prayers punctually each day.
Read the Quran regularly, (even only one page) with
an effort to truly understand what you are reading.
Seek knowledge regularly, religious and other,
through books, CDs/tapes, classes and lectures.
Keep company with righteous people.
Have confidence in your faith and, more importantly,
in Allaah Almighty.
Regularly spend some time alone in contemplation and
worship (like tahajjud).
Islam is a complete way of life. As believers, we
should desire the discipline that allows us to regulate our lives and keep
chaos away. In choosing this way of life, peace and contentment are your right.
Discipline comes as a result of performing certain duties consistently. Ask
Allaah to help you to establish discipline in your religious commitment and to
be able to submit to all that pleases Him Almighty.
Wallaahu a’lam bishshawwaab.
Abu Kayyisa,Dubai, 3 Jumadha Akhir 1433 H/24 April
2012.
http://belajarhadits.com/
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