SALAAH: A PATH TO ALLAH'S MERCY

The Rewards of Salah According to the Qur’an and Sunnah

  إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۗ (45)

"Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing."

 

(Qur'an 29:45)

 

 

Salah is the second pillar of Islam and the greatest act of worship after the testimony of faith. It is the believer's direct connection with Allah, a source of purification, mercy, forgiveness, and success in this world and the Hereafter. The following authentic ahadith highlight the immense virtues and importance of preserving the five daily prayers.

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1. The Five Daily Prayers Erase Sins

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ

«أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهْرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ، هَلْ يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ؟»

قَالُوا: لَا يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ قَالَ

«فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ، يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِنَّ الْخَطَايَا»

Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"Tell me, if there was a river at the door of one of you in which he bathed five times every day, would any dirt remain on him?"

They replied, "No dirt would remain on him."

He ﷺ said:

"That is the example of the five daily prayers by which Allah wipes away sins."

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari (528); Sahih Muslim (667) 

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2. Purification Is the Key to Salah

عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رضي الله عنه، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ

«مِفْتَاحُ الصَّلَاةِ الطُّهُورُ، وَتَحْرِيمُهَا التَّكْبِيرُ، وَتَحْلِيلُهَا التَّسْلِيمُ»

 

Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"The key to prayer is purification; its beginning is the Takbeer, and its ending is the Tasleem."

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud (61); Jami' at-Tirmidhi (3); Sunan Ibn Majah (275)

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3. The Delight of the Prophet ﷺ Was in Salah

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ

حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا النِّسَاءُ وَالطِّيبُ، وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاةِ

Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"From this world, women and perfume have been made beloved to me, and the comfort and delight of my eyes has been placed in prayer."

Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i (3940); Musnad Ahmad (12293)

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4. Guarding the Five Prayers Protects from Hell

عَنْ حَنْظَلَةَ الْأُسَيْدِيِّ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ

مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ، عَلَى وُضُوئِهَا، وَمَوَاقِيتِهَا، وَرُكُوعِهَا، وَسُجُودِهَا، وَعَلِمَ أَنَّهُنَّ حَقٌّ لِلَّهِ عَلَيْهِ، حَرَّمَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّارِ

Hanzalah al-Usaydi (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"Whoever guards the five daily prayers, their wudu, their appointed times, their bowing and prostration, and recognizes that they are a duty owed to Allah, Allah will make the Fire forbidden for him."

Reference: Musnad Ahmad (17636)

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5. Allah's Covenant for Those Who Guard Salah

 

عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ بْنِ رِبْعِيٍّ رضي الله عنه قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ، قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «إِنِّي افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ، وَعَهِدْتُ عِنْدِي عَهْدًا أَنَّهُ مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهِنَّ لِوَقْتِهِنَّ أَدْخَلْتُهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهِنَّ فَلَا عَهْدَ لَهُ عِنْدِي»

Abu Qatadah ibn Rib'i (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ narrated that Allah, the Most High, said:

"I have made five prayers obligatory upon your Ummah and have taken a covenant upon Myself that whoever preserves them at their appointed times, I will admit him into Paradise. Whoever does not preserve them has no such covenant with Me."

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud (430); Sunan Ibn Majah (1403)

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6. The Five Daily Prayers, Jumu'ah and Ramadan Expiate Sins

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ، وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ، وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ، مُكَفِّرَاتٌ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِذَا اجْتُنِبَتِ الْكَبَائِرُ

Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"The five daily prayers, one Friday prayer to the next, and one Ramadan to the next are expiations for the sins committed between them, so long as major sins are avoided."

Reference: Sahih Muslim (233)

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7. Salah Will Be a Light, Proof and Salvation

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو رضي الله عنهما، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ ذَكَرَ الصَّلَاةَ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ: «مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ نُورًا وَبُرْهَانًا وَنَجَاةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ لَهُ نُورًا وَلَا بُرْهَانًا وَلَا نَجَاةً، وَكَانَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَعَ قَارُونَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَأُبَيِّ بْنِ خَلَفٍ

Abdullah ibn 'Amr (رضي الله عنهما) reported that the Prophet ﷺ mentioned Salah and said:

"Whoever guards it, it will be a light, a proof and a means of salvation for him on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever does not guard it will have neither light, proof nor salvation, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be with Qarun, Fir'awn, Haman and Ubayy ibn Khalaf."

Reference: Musnad Ahmad (6576); Sunan ad-Darimi (2721)

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8. The Best Time for Du'a

عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ قِيلَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَيُّ الدُّعَاءِ أَسْمَعُ؟ قَالَ:

«جَوْفُ اللَّيْلِ الْآخِرِ، وَدُبُرَ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْمَكْتُوبَاتِ»

Abu Umamah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked:

"Which supplication is most readily accepted?"

He ﷺ replied:

"The supplication made during the last part of the night and after the obligatory prayers."

Reference: Jami' at-Tirmidhi (3499)

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9. The Virtue of Fajr and 'Asr

عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ رُوَيْبَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ

«لَنْ يَلِجَ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ صَلَّى قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا»

يعني : الفجر والعصر.

'Umarah ibn Ruwaybah (رضي الله عنه) reported:

"I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: 'No one who prays before sunrise and before sunset will enter the Fire.'"

Meaning : Fajr and 'Asr prayers.

Reference: Sahih Muslim (634)

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10. Whoever Performs Fajr Is Under Allah's Protection

عَنْ جُنْدَبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رضي الله عنه قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ

«مَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فَهُوَ فِي ذِمَّةِ اللَّهِ، فَلَا يَطْلُبَنَّكُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ ذِمَّتِهِ بِشَيْءٍ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَطْلُبْهُ مِنْ ذِمَّتِهِ بِشَيْءٍ يُدْرِكْهُ، ثُمَّ يَكُبُّهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ

Jundub ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"Whoever performs the Fajr prayer is under the protection of Allah. Therefore, let none violate Allah's protection, for whoever does so, Allah will seize him and cast him headlong into the Fire."

Reference: Sahih Muslim (657)

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11. Proper Wudu and Humble Salah Expiate Sins

عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ

مَا مِنِ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ تَحْضُرُهُ صَلَاةٌ مَكْتُوبَةٌ، فَيُحْسِنُ وُضُوءَهَا، وَخُشُوعَهَا، وَرُكُوعَهَا، إِلَّا كَانَتْ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا قَبْلَهَا مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ، مَا لَمْ تُؤْتَ كَبِيرَةٌ، وَذَلِكَ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ

'Uthman ibn 'Affan (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"There is no Muslim who attends an obligatory prayer, performs its wudu well, prays it with humility, and perfects its bowing, except that it becomes an expiation for the sins committed before it, so long as major sins are avoided. This continues throughout one's lifetime."

Reference: Sahih Muslim (228)

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12. The Best Deed Is Prayer at Its Earliest Time

عَنْ أُمِّ فَرْوَةَ رضي الله عنها قَالَتْ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ

أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟قَالَ : الصَّلَاةُ لِأَوَّلِ وَقْتِهَا

Umm Farwah (رضي الله عنها) reported:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked,

"Which deed is the best?"

He ﷺ replied:

"Prayer at the beginning of its prescribed time."

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud (426); Jami' at-Tirmidhi (170)

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13. Abandoning Salah Is the Barrier Between Faith and Disbelief

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رضي الله عنهما قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: إِنَّ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ وَبَيْنَ الشِّرْكِ وَالْكُفْرِ تَرْكَ الصَّلَاةِ

Jabir ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنهما) reported:

"I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: 'Between a man and polytheism and disbelief is the abandonment of Salah.'"

Reference: Sahih Muslim (82)

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14. Teach Your Children Salah

عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ رضي الله عنه قَالَ:قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ : مُرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَ اضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرِ سِنِينَ، وَفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ

'Amr ibn Shu'ayb narrated from his father, from his grandfather (رضي الله عنهم) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, discipline them for neglecting it when they are ten years old, and separate their beds."

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud (495); Musnad Ahmad (6756)

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Conclusion

Allah says:

إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ

 

"Indeed, prayer restrains from immorality and wrongdoing."

(Surah Al-'Ankabut 29:45)

And He says:

حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ

 

"Guard strictly all the prayers, especially the middle prayer, and stand before Allah in devotion."

(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:238)

May Allah make us among those who establish the prayer with sincerity, guard it at its proper times, and meet Him while He is pleased with us.

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمُحَافِظِينَ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ، وَاجْعَلْهَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنِنَا، وَاخْتِمْ لَنَا بِحُسْنِ الْخَاتِمَةِ، آمِينَ