Learning How to Pray Part 3

It Has Numerous Virtues

Textual evidence from the Qur’an and the Prophet’s traditions attest to the numerous virtues of the prayer. The following are some of them:

1) It wipes off the minor sins, as the Prophet r said, “The five daily prayers and the Friday prayer to the next Friday prayer wipe off whatever minor sins may be committed in between, so long as the major sins are avoided.”(Saheeh Muslim: 233; Sunan At-Tirmidhee: 214)

2) It is a light that enlightens a Muslim’s life, guides him to all that is good and keeps him away from evil, as the Qur’an states, “The prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds.”(Soorat Al-‛Ankaboot, 29:45) The Prophet r also said, “The prayer is a light.” (Saheeh Muslim: 223)

3) It will be the first act people will be questioned about on the Day of Judgement: If it is accepted, the rest of their acts will be accepted; if, however, it is not accepted, none of the other acts will be accepted, as the Prophet r said, “The first act that the servant of Allah will be accountable for on the Day of Judgement will be his prayers. If they are good, the rest of his acts will be good. But if they are bad, the rest of his acts will be bad.” (At-Tabaraanee’s Al-Mu‛jam Al-Awsat: 1859)

The sweetest moments a believer experiences is during the prayer, for when he engages in making humble and devout supplication to his Lord, he experiences peace and tranquillity in His presence. Indeed, it was the greatest joy for the Prophet r who once observed, “The prayer is the source of my greatest joy.” (Sunan An-Nasaa’ee: 3940)

He would even ask Bilaal t, his caller to the prayer, to call the prayer so he would experience spiritual peace and tranquillity. “Call [the people] to prayer, Bilaal,” he would say to him. “Let us be comforted by it.” (Sunan Abu Daawood: 4985)

Also, whenever something distressed him, he would turn to prayer. (Sunan Abu Daawood: 1319)