The Importance and Status of Prayer

Introduction | Definition | Importance of Prayer I

In this post I’m going to cover the first 10 points that emphasize the high status of Prayer as an obligation and act of worship. My hope is that you will think over some of these ideas and that they will help you shape your own understanding of what makes Prayer important as well as  how you discuss Prayer with others in the future.

1) A Direct Link

Prayer is a direct link between you (the servant) and Allah (swt) and it’s an act that Allah (swt) answers directly. This is discussed in the hadith recorded by Muslim where Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

“Allah, the Exalted, said, ‘I have divided the prayer into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My Servant shall have what he asks for.’ If he says, ‘[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds’ Allah says, ‘My servant has praised Me.’ When the servant says, ‘The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,. Allah says, ‘My servant has glorified Me.’ When he says, ‘Sovereign of the Day of Judgment.’ Allah says, ‘My servant has related all matters to Me.’ When he says, ‘It is You we worship and You we ask for help.’ Allah says, ‘This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he sought.’ When he says, ‘Guide us to the straight path. The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.’ Allah says, ‘This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for’.” Muslim (1:296)

So as the hadith states prayer is like have a discussion with Allah (swt) and we should regard it as such. If I told you that you were going to be meeting the president of your country tonight, you would make sure you were dressed in your best outfit, arrive early and pay full attention to every moment. Meeting Allah (swt) is the most important occasion we can experience, and it deserves far more attention and concern than we currently are giving it. Think about this hadith, and try to keep it in mind the next time you stand up to pray.

2) We were given a direct order

In the chapter if Taha verses #14 and #15, Allah (swt) says,

“Verily I am Allah, there is no God but Me: so worship [and obey] Me and establish the Prayer [properly] for My Remembrance” (Taha #14)

In this verse the order to perform Prayer comes immediately after Allah (swt) proclaims His Unity. So after believing in Allah (swt) as the one God, Muslims are ordered to pray (in the same sentence). This emphasizes that believing in Allah alone (Tawheed) has to be backed up by Prayer.

3) It was the first act of belief

Early in the prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh) the chapter of Al-Muzzamil came down and in the second verse of that surah, Allah (swt) orders the messenger (pbuh) to pray.

“O you who wraps himself [in clothing] , Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little –” (Muzzamil #1 – 2)

4) Obligated in Al-Isra wal Miraaj

During the messenger of Allah’s night-journey above the seven heavens in a place where even the angels were forbidden to enter, the order to perform prayer was revealed. This order was not revealed to the Prophet (pbuh) through an angel, but directly. The way the order was revealed emphasizes how important Prayer is.

5) 5 Prayers = 50

Initially 50 daily prayers were obligatory, but then the number was brought down to five. This not only shows us the value of Prayer but its importance as well.

6) Obligated even in battle

The Prayer is so important that it may not be left or overlooked even on the battlefield while facing the enemy. This is in contrast to giving Zakaat (Obligatory Charity) or Fasting, Prayer is still required even under those strenuous conditions, although they aren’t required to face the Qiblah (The direction Muslims pray towards – Makkah) at that time.

7) Fire for those who made him miss it

The prophet (pbuh) made a Dua’a (supplication) to Allah (swt) to fill with fire the graves of those who made him miss his Asr Prayer (During the Battle of the Confederates). There were many instances where the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was harmed by people and he still prayed for them, like when he went to At-Ta’if and the people there mistreated him and humiliated him, but when he had the option of having them punished, he asked that they be spared, because they may become Muslims in the future (which they did).  My point is that the messenger of Allah (pbuh) took extreme caution when dealing with Prayer and this story shows how much it means to him.

8 ) Praying until his feet bled

The Prophet (pbuh) would often pray until his feet bled, and when people asked him about it, he would reply, with a question and ask, “Should I not be grateful to my Lord?” That was the messenger of Allah, what about us? We spend our days and nights doing things we have no business doing and making mistakes and we hardly get our 5 Prayers a day done. Let alone praying  Sunnah (additional) or Qiyam (during the night). This point shows how the Prophet (pbuh) understood the true value of prayer and treated it accordingly.

9) Soundness of Prayer affects other deeds

The first thing to be judged on the Day of Judgment is the Prayer. If your Prayer is good, the rest is good if it’s weak then the rest are weak too. This is explained in the hadith below narrated by Imam Ahmed, An Nisai’i and Abu Dawuud The messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

The first thing people will be accountable for on the Day of Judgment is Prayer. Allah will say to His angels (even though He already knows), “Look at My servants’ Prayers. Were they complete or not?” If they are complete, they will be written as complete. If they are not complete, Allah will say, “See if My servant has Voluntary Prayers.” If he has them, Allah will say, “Complete his Obligatory Prayer shortage with his Voluntary Prayers.” Then the rest of his deeds will be dealt with in the same manner.

10) The most beloved act to Allah (swt)

In a hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari the messenger of Allah (pbuh) tells us that the most beloved act to Allah (swt) is for a person to pray on time. Why? This is because it shows that you put Allah (swt) before everything else. When the call to prayer is made you get up and give it the priority over everything else. As we say several times during prayer and in the call to prayer itself “Allahu Akbar” – Literally God is the Greatest, meaning the most important and actions speak louder than words. So try your absolute best to pray on time, every time.