Special favor of G

Hazrat Moses (a.s) who is one of messenger of great messengers (Ulul Azm). Hazrat Moses (a.s) had special favor of God.  There are many verses in holy Quran regarding Hazrat Moses (a.s).

الا بذکرلله تطمئن القلوب and translation here[1]

Prayer can bring us calmness and peace. Pray with all its conditions, governs hearts and makes easy to die, Moving to the next world will be easy. Pray can make the death sweeter than the honey; and human will be able to say Labiak to God.

 “یا ایتها النفس المطمئنه، ارجعی الی ربک راضیه مرضیه”, and translation of this verse here[2]

Hazrat Luqman[3] (a.s):

Hazrat Luqman the great and the wise man, he was always fighting with his selfishness and always was working on purification of the soul, God sent his blessings on him. Hazrat Luqman says to his son:

“یا بنی اقم الصلوه و امر  بالمعروف  و انه عن المنکر واصبر علی ما اصابک ان ذالک من عزم الامو,ر”, verse and translation[4]

Hazrat David (a.s) and prayers:

The great scholar Allama Majlesi, who is one of the unique scholars of shia, has got explanation about the verses of holy Quran which are regarding Hazrat David (a.s) and his life. Allama Majlesi quotes a tradition about hazrat David (a.s) that how he used to love prayer and how he was fond of pray, he says: “Hazrat David (a.s) had made many altars (Mehrabs) at his home in different place of the house, because he wanted to perform his prayer in all places of the his house, he had divided his time into four parts. A day for solving the problems of people, a day for his wife and family, a day for pray and do worship of God in caves or close to the rivers and a day for pray and worship in different places of house”.

Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: while he (Hazrat David (a.s)) used to pray, God used to talk to him[5].

  Hazrat Suliman[6] (a.s) and prayer:

The precious book named ‘Ershad Delemi’ quotes: clothes of Hazrat Suliman were ordinary clothes, he had everything but he didn’t transfer anything to his generation. He used to pass his all nights in prayers. Used to cry a lot, his all life expenditure were from his own efforts, his own working.[7]

Ahle Sunneh Scholar in interpretation of 30 to 33 verses of surah Suad, believe once Hazrat Suliman while he was busy in checking fighter horses he forgot his afternoon prayer (Asr pray), and in time of sunset he came to know he has forgotten his afternoon prayer, became very deep sad. The God ordered sun to comeback, so that Hazrat Suliman (a.s) can offer his afternoon (Asr) prayers. So the sun came back to that place where the prayer was supposed to be prayed, and hazrate Suliman prayed his prayer on time.

Hazrat Ameerul Moemineen Ali (a.s) and Hazrat Baqir (a.s) reject this idea which is mentioned above, and the Idea of Kabul Ahbar, and Imam Ali (a.s) and Imam Baqir (a.s) Say, greatness of hazrat suliman (a.s) shows that he has not missed his prayer in his whole life.

According to shia tradition it’s quoted that Hazrat Suliman couldn’t offer his prayer on its excellence time, because of that Hazrat Suliman was so sad, and God ordered sun to come back to the time of excellence time of prayer, so Hazrat Suliman can offer his prayer on excellence time of prayer. [8]

According to Islamic science, how shai do believe is that, all prophets are innocents; they never commit any type of sin at all. Even before they come on their prophecy they have such a quality, and when they become messenger surely they are away from any even small mistake.

Hazrat Younis[9] (a.s) and prayer:

Hazrat Younis (a.s) who was the messenger of Allah and was very pious man; tried his best to invite people of Nineveh to the monotheism and to worship only the God. He always used to try to ask people to get away from idolatry and polytheism, but they didn’t listen to him. People of Nineveh ignored Hazrat Younis (a.s) and his knowledge, and they had become very proud on their own, and they made Hazrat Younis (a.s) tired and disappointed. When hazrat Younis (a.s) became disappointed from the people of Nineveh, He cursed on them and asked God to send his torment on them. After his cursing he moved away from the people of Nineveh. When the people felt that they are going to be punished, they repented and asked God to forgive them. Hazrat Younis (a.s) came back to the people of Nineveh and saw that they are forgiven by God. Hazrat Younis (a.s) lef the people again and went to the sea, due to the high and big waves got into the stomach of a fish. God has talked about the reason of his salvation in Holy book of Quran, Says: “فلولا انه کان من”[10] this verse and translation here

There is a quotation from great interpreter Mr. Qattadeh in Majmaol Al-Bayan where he says:  Tasbeeh of Hazrat Younis in the verse mean prayer.[11]

Hazrat Zakaria[12] (a.s) and prayer:

Quran talks about the prayer of Hazrat Zakaria (a.s). It says: “هنالک دعا زکریا ربه قال رب هب لی .............”[13] and translation here.

Hazrat Jesus[14] (a.s) and prayer:

The story of Hazrat Jesus (a.s) and his mother Hazrat Maryam (a.s) who was infallible and pure, is wonder of the history.

God the most beneficent and merciful for showing his power and greatness has talked about this story in holy book of Quran, so others can take lessons from this story.  

One of the extraordinary act and miracle of Hazrat Jesus (a.s) was his talks just after his birth. Hazrat Jesus (a.s) just after few hours of his birth, he talked about the greatness of God and said he is ordered for prayers.

“قال انی عبد الله آتانی الکتاب و جعلنی نبیا و جعلنی مبارک این ما کنت و ا.........”[15] and translation goes here   

Hazrat Muhammad[16] (peace be upon him) and prayer:

How affairs regarding the prayer are discussed in the period of the prophet (peace be upon him) are incomparable with any other period or culture. Prayer in Islam is the comprehensive reality. Human under the shadow of the prayer can come to the right path, can get morality, and can move on the mysticism and divine path. Prayer in the in Islam is like a wing which can get help to the humans to reach to the high degree of piety and get close to the God.

Wise and mystics say: prayer is kind of mixture which includes special blessings of God. Every part of it has got hidden philosophy and has got good deeds. The best act of human being is to do prostration. There are traditions that ask to touch seven parts of the body with the ground while some one is doing prostration, put his eyes down on the ground and request God with crying.

It’s quoted from the prophet (peace be upon him) that he stated: “انما العلم ثلایه: ایه محکمه، او فریضه عادله او سنه قائمه”[17]

ایه محکمه is interpreted as monotheism and divine knowledge. And فریضه عادله is explained as moral and pureness of self. And سنت القائمه is interpreted as brightness of the religious law of the prophet (peace be upon him). Prayer is a kind of mixture which includes these three diamonds, these three fountains, these three sciences, and all these are in Islam the law of the prophet (peace be upon him).

Prayer is the base of monotheism, because prayer gets start with the name of only God, Allah Akbar. Calling name of God in prayer is known as Takbeer, and takbeer means: count God only one, and reject any partner from him. Raising ten fingers for performing Takbeer, mean pointing to the qualities of God. There are two types of qualities. The first type is known as Jalaleiyeh, and the second type is known as Jamaleiyeh. When a person is performing prayer should pay attention to the meaning of these qualities.

Prayer is the base of moral and purification of the soul. There are two types of Purity and cleans (Taharat), first type is geting cleans from apparent unclean things (Nijasat), the second type is getting cleans from interior and bottom of hearts. Apparently cleans is main condition for performing prayer, heart cleans and pureness is condition for getting our prayer accepted.   

Prayer is the base of the Islamic law (Shariet) because it’s the greatest worship in Islamic and religious law; there is no any act like prayer. Prayer is full of lessons; prayer is Islamic manner and Islamic reality and its connection to the sky.

Human can get close to God through this prayer, and will get the ocean of blessings. There is a quotation from our infallibles which says:

قال رسول الله (ص) اذا قام العبد الی الصلوات الملکتوبه مقبلا الی الله تعالی بقلبه و سمعه و بصره و انصرف و قد خرج من ذنوبه کیوم ولدته امه[18]

The prophet (peace be upon him) stated: when my follower, any person from my nations stands for performing his prayer, and he or she offers his/her prayers with all concentration, with the attention of heart, ears and eyes to it, when he/she finishes hi/her prayer has become clean and pure just like a person who is just born.

There is an another important tradition which says: when a man stands for performing prayer all curtains between prayer performer and the Lord is taken away, that person will face his God with all his blessings. All angels from the person who is performing pray till the sky have made queue both sides, when he pray and does supplications, angels say Aameen. Everything which is close to him is doing worship (doing Tasbeeh).

Some other traditions say:

 الصلواه نورالمؤمن[19], prayer is the light for faithful person.

الصلوه نور[20], prayer is a light

افضل الاعمال بعد الایمان الصلوه[21], the best act after getting strong believes is Prayers.

الصلوه کفارات الخطایا[22], prayer is atonements of sins.

الصلوه معراج المؤمن [23], prayer is ascension.

ان اول الوقت رضوان الله و اخر الوقت عفوالله [24] offering prayer on the time pleases God, and on the last moment is forgiveness of God.

علم الایمان الصلوه [25], prayer is sign of faith.

المصلی یناجی ربه [26], prayer is litany for prayer performer with God.

It’s quoted from the prophet (peace be upon him) that he stated: when a person decides to offer prayer with his all concentrations and stands to the direction of Kaaba and says Allah Akbar, will be clean from sins like a baby who is just born. When the person says اعوذ بالله من الشیطان الرجیم for each one hair on his body gets the reward of one year worship, when he recites a sura Fatiha he gets reward of a hajj and Umra, when he does genuflects (does Ruku) and praise to God there; he gets reward of alms; like he has given Gold as weight of his body, and has read all books related to divine faith. When the person says: سمع الله لمن حمده God will look at him with his merciful look. When he does prostration and praise to God there, God gives him the reward of a day of a prophet. When he does Tashahud, he gets the reward of patients. When he does Salam and finishes his prayer God opens the doors of the heaven for him, so on the Day of Judgment he can enter into the heaven from any gate he wants.

The prophet (peace be upon him) and his followers are order to offer the prayer, its obligatory (Wajib) for all, men and women.   

[27]“وَ أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهارِ وَ زُلَفاً مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَناتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئاتِ ذلِكَ ذِكْرى لِلذَّاكِرين ”   

And keep up prayer in the two parts of the day and in the first hours of the night; surely good deeds take away evil deeds this is a reminder to the mindful.

[28]“أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كانَ مَشْهُوداً”

Keep up prayer from the declining of the sun till the darkness of the night and the morning recitation; surely the morning recitation is witnessed.

God is ordering the prophet (peace be upon him) in holy book of Quran to offer his prayer and ask his family to offer pray and firmly stand on it.

 [29]“وَ أْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلاةِ وَ اصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْها لا نَسْئَلُكَ رِزْقاً نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ وَ الْعاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوى ”

And enjoin prayer on your followers, and steadily adhere to it; we do not ask you for subsistence; we do give you subsistence, and the (good) end is for guarding (against evil).

Prayer issue is such an important issue that God orders separately to wives of the prophet (peace be upon him) for pray.

 [30]“وَ أَقِمْنَ الصَّلاةَ وَ آتينَ الزَّكاةَ وَ أَطِعْنَ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَه ”

And keep up prayer, and pay the poor-rate, and obey Allah and His Apostle.

Muslim nation and prayer:

The value of the prayer is so high and important, that’s why God has not made any exception in performing this act. God doesn’t want anyone to miss prayer’s deed and reward. God gives good deeds and benefits of prayer in this world and next world. Because of that like all nations before the prophetic mission were ordered to perform their prayer, Muslim nation (follower of the prophet (peace be upon him)) were ordered to offer their prayers too.

[31]“فَأَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ كانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنينَ كِتاباً مَوْقُوتا”

Keep up prayer; surely prayer is a timed ordinance for the believer

[32]“وَ أَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّكاةَ وَ ارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعين ”

And keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and bow down with those who bow down.

[33]“وَ أَنْ أَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ اتَّقُوهُ وَ هُوَ الَّذي إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ”

And that you should keep up prayer and be careful of (your duty to) Him; and He it is to whom you shall be gathered.

[34]“حافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَواتِ وَ الصَّلاةِ الْوُسْطى وَ قُومُوا لِلَّهِ قانِتينَ”

Attend constantly to prayers and to the middle prayer and stand up truly obedient to Allah.

[35]“ِ فَأَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّكاةَ وَ اعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلاكُم ”

Therefore keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and hold fast by Allah; He is your Guardian

[36]“ُ وَ أَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّكاةَ وَ أَقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً”

And keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and offer to Allah a goodly gift

These were some verses of Quran which had orders of Allah regarding prayer, and it shows the value of the payer how important it is.

Hopefully all Muslims men and women don’t miss prayer rewards, and when they leave this world, shouldn’t have any lack of prayer reward and good deeds.  

The holy book of Quran and books of traditions gives high value to pious person, and pious person is focused after God, Prophets and Imams.

Pious person is considered as moon of the sky, sun of the world, light of the earth and sky.

[37]“قال النبی (ص) مثل المؤمن عندالله کمثل ملک مقرب، و ان المؤمن اعلی عندالله من ملک مقرب”

The prophet (peace be upon him) stated: pious man is like a angel to God, indeed pious man is closer to God than angel.

\"ان رسول الله (ص) نظر الی الکعبه فقال: مرحبا بالبیت ما اعظمک و ما اعظم حرمتک علی الله! والله للمؤمن اعظم حرمه منک لان الله حرم منک واحده و من المؤمن ثلاثه: ماله و دمه و ان یظن به ظن السوء\"[38]

There is a quotation from the prophet (peace be upon him), while the prophet (peace be upon him) was looking at the Kaaba said: Oh Kaaba praise on, what a great value you’ve got in eyes of Allah, but O’ Kaaba pious person has got the value more and higher than you. O’ Kaaba you’ve got one great respect but the pious person has got three great respects in eyes of God, his property respect, his blood respect and his honor respect. Nobody is allowed to be suspicious of him.

Imam Jafer Sadiq (a.s) states: “قال الصادق (ع) المؤمن اعظم حرمه من الکعبه”[39] pious person is more respected than Kaaba.

Great Islamic scholars have got great values and have got special qualities which show their strong believes to God, strong believes on the Day of Judgment and cleans. The holy book of Quran and books of Islamic traditions has got quotations regarding pious people and their qualities, these quotations wants to give lessons to people and wants to give introduction of pious people to them. Prayer is one of the important qualities of pious people, prayer after believing on God and believing on Day of Judgment is closer than all to pious person.

If this book just gives the part of verses of holy Quran and traditions which are related to the prayer, it might will be reduced the worth of verses and traditions, so we are going to give complete verses and traditions related to the prayer, and through those complete verses and traditions we can know other qualities of pious people.

Due to not to make this book so long, there is a point to be indicated here that we are not going to give verses and traditions with their Arabic text, just we’ll give their translations.

The verses of Holy book of Quran:

It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the Book and the prophets, and give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate; and the performers of their promise when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of conflicts-- these are they who are {rue (to themselves) and these are they who guard (against evil).[40]     

Surely they who believe and do good deeds and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate they shall have their reward from their Lord, and they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.[41]

  But the firm in knowledge among them and the believers believe in what has been revealed to. You and what were revealed before you, and those who keep up prayers and those who give the poor-rate and the believers in Allah and the last day, these it is whom we will give a mighty reward.[42]

Only Allah is your Vali and His Apostle and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow.[43]

And (as for) those who hold fast by the Book and keep up prayer, surely we do not waste the reward of the right doers.[44]

Dear readers these were the verses in which the God has counted prayer as one of the sign of believers. If you want to know some further verses of Holy Quran, follow some following verses.

Annam: 92, Toubeh: 71, Ra’ed:22, Abraham: 31, Hajj: 35-41, Noor: 37, Moumenoon: 2, Namal: 3, Luqman: 4, Fatir: 18 and 19, Shoura: 38, Bayeneh: 5, and Maarej: 23.

Prayer is one of the sign of believers which has come in verses of Holy book of Quran. Any believer; man or woman who has come into the age and the prayer is obligatory for him/her, but he/she doesn’t pray, according to the verses is out of faith and the religion, and it all will cause to make him/her away from the God.    

Traditions:

Hazrat Imam Baqir (a.s) said to Jaber Joufi, Jaber joufi who was the great narrator of traditions and was close to the Imam (a.s). Imam Baqir (a.s) stated:

Those who are our fond and are called our shia, is that enough for them just to be called our shia? Or is that enough to be our lover, to get salvation? Oath of Allah, our shia is only one who, keeps himself away because of Allah, and follow the right path, the path of Allah.

Our shia is known as, humble, honest, always remembers God, offers his prayer, helps and obeys his father and mother, knows how his neighbors are, helps poors, needy people and Orphans, always speaks true, recites Quran and never bothers others.[45]   

Who doesn’t have these qualities is not a shia, Shia is a honest and trustworthy of his tribe.

The prophet (peace be upon him) stated: there are three characters for a believer, fasting, prayer and charity.[46]

The prophet (peace be upon him) stated to the Abuzer: O’ Abuzer God has put the light of my eyes in prayer. Prayer to me is just like a food for hunger man and water for thirsty one. O’ Abuzer, food fed up hunger man, water quenches thirsty man but I never fed up from praying. [47]

Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) stated: three acts gives honor to human, three things are atonements for human, three sins are killer for human and three qualities are salvation for human.

The three acts which gives the honor to human:

1.     Doing salam to other people.

2.     Feed any hunger

3.     Midnight prayer 

The three things which are atonements for human:

1.     Taking complete ablution (Widho) in peak of cold.

2.     Participate in congregation prayer (Jamaet).

3.     Deep concentrate to the daily prayer.

The three sins which are killer for human:

1.     Suspicion on right things

2.     Following selfishness.

3.     Just thinking about him/her self

The three qualities which bring salvation for human:

1.     Being afraid of God

2.     Being always mild-mannered, though you are rich or poor.

3.     Speaking always right, thought there is your own benefit or not.[48]

Hazrat Imam Sadiq (a.s) says:  

Our followers (shia) has got fourteen qualities: honesty, working hard and move on the right path, piety, trustee, come true on their promises, worship to only God, offer 51 rak’at prayer in a day, keep awake at nights, fasting, pays charity, perform Hajj and being away from all sins.[49]

Imam Raza (a.s) stated: Look at yourself and get honesty, don’t stop yourself from moving on the right path, if you take any deposit from anyone give him/her back on the time, always be truthful, behave nicely with your neighbors, these are the principles that the prophet (peace be upon him) came for.  

Then Imam Sadiq (a.s) continues and said: offer prayer in your tribe so you can be the exemplar for them, visit the sick person, don’t ignore funeral processions, let people to know us nicely by your behaviors, don’t do any act which cause us to be blamed, your acts will show them how we (Ahlul-Baits) are, if your acts are good; people will think of us good, if your acts are bad people will think of us bad, so be away from the acts which cause people to be pessimistic for us (Ahlul-Baits). Train people to love us, whatever good characters are; we deserve it, whatever bad acts are; we are innocent from all bad acts. Appreciation and thanks to Lord of the world. [50]

In all condition, its order of God to pray, whoever doesn’t obey the order and ignore it will get permanent punishment on the Day of Judgment. Greatness and importance of an order or demand is known by someone who is going to order and demand. Importance of prayer is known by someone who has demanded and ordered, who is higher and greater than God? God is perfect and all perfect characters belong to God.

Order of God is the highest order, whatever he orders is the highest order and it should be accepted and following that order is obligatory for all. When Allah orders to do something; that order includes all benefits for a person who obeys this order, so if a person who follows and obeys the order will get benefits for himself and if he doesn’t follow that order will get its harm for himself.

Prayer is the order of Allah, never think about it that God needs our prayers, we are the ones that we need these prayers. It’s obligatory for us to pray, because God has ordered, God whose acts are according to justice, and on the base of best interest, God who is most merciful, who is generous, and who is forgiver of sins.

Following orders of Allah is obligatory for all of us, obeying his order bring happiness to him, and it creates our success. Disobedience makes him unhappy which brings punishment for us in this world and in the next world.

Prayer is a worship which is consisted a lot in holy book of Quran, under this act human being can reach to all success. Prayer cleans life of human from all negative influences and prevents devils to reach to him. Because of that we all human are ordered to offer prayer. In every condition; God, all prophets, all Imams, all mystics, advice givers, all pious and wise men have asked us to offer our prayers.

The holy book Quran says:

And perform the prayer, and pay the alms, and bow with those that bow.[51] 

And when We took compact with the Children of Israel: `You shall not serve any save God; and to be good to parents, and the near kinsman, and to orphans, and to the needy; and speak good to men, and perform the prayer, and pay the alms.\' Then you turned away, all but a few of you, swerving aside.[52]

Have you not seen those to whom it was said: Withhold your hands, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate; but when fighting is prescribed for them, lo! a party of them fear men as they ought to have feared Allah, or (even) with a greater fear, and say: Our Lord! Why hast Thou ordained fighting for us? Wherefore didst Thou not grant us a delay to a near end? Say: The provision of this world is short, and the hereafter is better for him who guards (against evil); and you shall not be wronged the husk of a date stone.[53]

Then when you have finished the prayer, remember Allah standing and sitting and reclining; but when you are secure (from danger) keep up prayer; surely prayer is a timed ordinance for the believers.[54]

And that you should keep up prayer and be careful of (your duty to) Him; and He it is to whom you shall be gathered.[55]

And keep up prayer in the two parts of the day and in the first hours of the night; surely good deeds take away evil deeds this is a reminder to the mindful.[56]

Keep up prayer from the declining of the sun till the darkness of the night and the morning recitation; surely the morning recitation is witnessed.[57]

In last two verses of Quran (Hud: 114 and Isra:78) prayer’s time is shown three times, Five prayers in three period of time.

1.     Midday: from noon to just starting of sunset. This one time of period for two prayers, Zuhr and Asr, which are known Zuhrain in Islamic law. [58]

2.      Sunset: from sunset to just starting of rising the dawn. This period of time is for Magrib and Esha prayers these two prayers are called Eshaein in Islamic law.[59]

3.     Dawn: from rising of dawn to sunrise. This is third period of time for dawn prayers.

So according to Quran we come to know that there are three period of times for daily five times prayers. All these seventeen rakkat can be offered in these three periods. It’s recommended you give short time distance between Magrib and Esha’s prayers and Zuhr and Asr’s prayers.

In following Sura of Holy Quran, Noor (56), Ankaboot (45), Room (31), Ahzab (33) and Jummeh (9) is insisted for prayers. Each of these verses shows the importance and greatness of prayer.

 [1] . Surah Rad (13): 28.