All in Good Faith

Author(s): Jean Potter, Marcus Braybrooke
Publisher: World Congress of Faiths

Page 52

8. THE PRAYER IN ISLAM
Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid
Prayer is the essence and manifestation of faith. It is the symbol of humble reverence before the Creator of the heavens, the earth and everything above and below. In the Holy Qur'an Allah (Subhanhu Wa Taala) says: 'Establish regular prayer, for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds, and remembrance of Allah the Creator is the greatest thing of life without doubt'. Prayer is the pillar of Islamic faith, the mainstay of its conviction, 'the chief of good works and the best act of obedience', said the Prophet of Islam, Muhammed, peace and blessing of God be upon him. 'On the day of Resurrection, three people will find themselves on the ridge of black musk. They will have no reckoning to fear, nor any cause for alarm while human accounts are being settled. First, a man who recites the Qur'an to please God, Great and Glorious is He, and who leads the Prayer to the people's satisfaction. Second, a man who gives the call to prayer in a Mosque, inviting people to God, Great and Glorious is He, for the sake of His good pleasure. Third, a man who has a hard time making a living in this world, yet is not distracted from the work of the Hereafter.'
Said the Prophet, on him be peace and blessing of God:
'There are five Prayers which God has prescribed for His creation. For those who perform them properly, without disrespectful omissions, there is a guarantee that God will admit them to Paradise. To those who do not observe them, however, God offers no such guarantee: he may admit them to paradise, as He wills. 'These five times of prayer may be compared to a stream of fresh water, flowing in front of your house, into which you plunge five times each day. Do you think that would leave any dirt on your body?' When they replied: 'None at all!' The Prophet, on him peace, said: 'Indeed, the five Prayers remove sins, just as water removes dirt. When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close to them. I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My Call, and believe in Me: that they may walk in the right way.'
The Prophet Muhammed said that prayer is one of the five pillars upon which Islam is raised. Just as a building loses its stability when one of its pillars falls, neglect of prayer will cause a person to lose his sense of morality and piety.
The institution of Prayer has been completely and perfectly established by the Holy Prophet Muhammed, peace and blessing of God be with him. In prayer a Muslim asks Him to guide him to the right way of life, and to help him overcome all forms of corruption, shameful behaviour and evil thoughts in order that we may be happy in this life and in the hereafter. Prophet Muhammed felt so strongly about the institution of prayer that in one of his last
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