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.
“قال النبی (ص) مثل المؤمن عندالله کمثل ملک مقرب، و ان المؤمن اعلی عندالله من ملک مقرب”
The prophet (PBUH) stated: pious man is like an 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"
There is a quotation from the prophet (PBUH), while the prophet (PBUH) 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 (AS) states: “قال الصادق (ع) المؤمن اعظم حرمه من الکعبه” 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]).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hazrat Imam Baqir (AS) said to Jaber Joufi, Jaber joufi who was the great narrator of traditions and was close to the Imam (AS). Imam Baqir (AS) 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 follows 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. Who doesn’t have these qualities is not a Shia; Shia is an honest and trustworthy of his tribe. The prophet (PBUH) stated: there are three characters for a believer, fasting, prayer and charity.
The prophet (PBUH) 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. Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqir (AS) 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 Salaam to other people.
2. Feed any hunger
3. Midnight prayer
The three things which are atonements for human:
1. Taking complete ablution (Widho) in the 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.
Hazrat Imam Sadiq (AS) 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. Imam Reza (AS) 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 (PBUH) came for.
Then Imam Sadiq (AS) 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.
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.
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 well to men, and perform the prayer, and pay the alms.' Then you turned away, all but a few of you, swerving aside.
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 fears 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In last two verses of Quran (Hood: 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.
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.
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.
.Jameu Al-Akhbar: 85, chapter 41; Beharul Al-Anwar :10/367, chapter 20, tradition number 6 (with some differences)
"لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ لكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَ الْكِتابِ وَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ آتَى الْمالَ عَلى حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبى وَ الْيَتامى وَ الْمَساكينَ وَ ابْنَ السَّبيلِ وَ السَّائِلينَ وَ فِي الرِّقابِ وَ أَقامَ الصَّلاةَ وَ آتَى الزَّكاةَ وَ الْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذا عاهَدُوا وَ الصَّابِرينَ فِي الْبَأْساءِ وَ الضَّرَّاءِ وَ حينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولئِكَ الَّذينَ صَدَقُوا وَ أُولئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ"
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous. (177)
"إِنَّ الَّذينَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ وَ أَقامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتَوُا الزَّكاةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَ لا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ لا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ"
Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (277)
"لكِنِ الرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ مِنْهُمْ وَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِما أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَ ما أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَ الْمُقيمينَ الصَّلاةَ وَ الْمُؤْتُونَ الزَّكاةَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ أُولئِكَ سَنُؤْتيهِمْ أَجْراً عَظيما"
But those firms in knowledge among them and the believers believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you. And the establishers of prayer [especially] and the givers of zakah and the believers in Allah and the Last Day - those we will give a great reward. (162)
"إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذينَ آمَنُوا الَّذينَ يُقيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكاةَ وَ هُمْ راكِعُون"
According to all honest Quran interpreters this verse was descended on behalf of Imam Ali (A.S). Imam Ali (A.S) was the best in praying and giving charity after the prophet (PBUH).
"وَ الَّذينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِالْكِتابِ وَ أَقامُوا الصَّلاةَ إِنَّا لا نُضيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحين"
But those who hold fast to the Book and establish prayer - indeed; we will not allow to be lost the reward of the reformers. (170)
. (Al-Kafi: 2/ 74, chapter AlTaeh, tradition 3; Vasael Shieh: 15/234, chapter 18, tradition number 20362)
"عن جابر بن ابی جعفر (ع) قال: قال لی: یا جابر أیکتفی من انتحل التشیع أن یقول بحبنا أهل البیت فو الله ما شیعتنا ألا من اتقی الله و أطاعه و ما کانوا یعرفون یا جابر ألا بالتواضع و التخشع والأمانة و کثرة ذکر الله و الصوم والصلاة والبر بالوالدین والتعاهد للجیران من الفقراء و اهل المسکنة والغارمین والأیتام و صدق الحدیث و تلاوة القرآن و کف الألسن عن الناس"
. Tuhfatul Al-Uqool: 10; Beharul Al-Anwar: 74/66, chapter 3, tradition 5
"یا علی أن للمؤمن ثلاث علامات الصیام و الصلاة و الزکاة "
. Maaneh Al-Akhbar: 314, tradition number 1; Beharul Al-Anwar: 75/183; chapter 22, tradition number 9
"عن أبی جعفر (ع) قال: ثلاث درجات و ثلاث کفارات موبقات و ثلاث منجیات فأما الدرجات فأفشاء السلام و أطعام الطعام و الصلاة باالیل و الناس نیام و أما الکفارات فأسباغ الوضوء فی السبرات و المشی باالیل و النهار إلی الجماعات والمحافظة علی الصلوات و أما الموبقات فشح مطاع و هوی متبع و أعجاب المرء بنفسه و أما المنجیات فخوف الله فی السر و العلانیه و القصد فی الغنی و الفقر و کلمه العدل فی الرضا و السخط"
. Sifat Al-Shieh: Tradition number 1; Vasaeil Al-Shieh: 4/57, chapter 13, tradition 4498
"عن أبی بصیر قال: قال الصادق (ع) شیعتنا أهل الورع و الاجتهاد و أهل الوفاء و الآمانة و أهل الزهد والعبادة أصحاب أحدی و خمسین رکعة فی الیوم واللیلة القائمون بالیل الصائمون بالنهار یزکون أموالهم و یحجون البیت و یجتنبون کل محرم."
. Fiqh-Reza: 356, chapter 95; Beharul Al-Anwar: 75/348, chapter 26, tradition Number 5.
"عن العالم (ع) أنه قال: علیکم بتقوی الله والورع و الاجتهاد و أداء الامانة و صدق الحدیث و حسن الجوار فبهذا جاء محمد (ص) صلوا فی عشائرکم و صلوا أرحامکم و عودوا مرضاکم واحضروا جنائزکم و کونوا زینا ولا تکونوا شینا حببونا إلی الناس و لا تبغضونا جروا إلینا کل مودة وادفعوا عنا کل قبیح و ما قیل فینا من خیر فنخن إهله و ما قیل فینا من شر فما نحن کذالک و الحمد لله رب العالمین."
"وَ أَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّكاةَ وَ ارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعين "
And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience]. (43)
"وَ إِذْ أَخَذْنا ميثاقَ بَني إِسْرائيلَ لا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَ بِالْوالِدَيْنِ إِحْساناً وَ ذِي الْقُرْبى وَ الْيَتامى وَ الْمَساكينِ وَ قُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْناً وَ أَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّكاةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلاَّ قَليلاً مِنْكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمْ مُعْرِضُون"
And [recall] when we took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], "Do not worship except Allah; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakah." Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing. (83)
"أَ لَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذينَ قيلَ لَهُمْ كُفُّوا أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَ أَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّكاةَ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقِتالُ إِذا فَريقٌ مِنْهُمْ يَخْشَوْنَ النَّاسَ كَخَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ أَوْ أَشَدَّ خَشْيَةً وَ قالُوا رَبَّنا لِمَ كَتَبْتَ عَلَيْنَا الْقِتالَ لَوْ لا أَخَّرْتَنا إِلى أَجَلٍ قَريبٍ قُلْ مَتاعُ الدُّنْيا قَليلٌ وَ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِمَنِ اتَّقى وَ لا تُظْلَمُونَ فَتيلاً "
Have you not seen those who were told, "Restrain your hands [from fighting] and establish prayer and give zakah"? But then when fighting was ordained for them, at once a party of them feared men as they fear Allah or with [even] greater fear. They said, "Our Lord, why have you decreed upon us fighting? If only you had postponed [it for] us for a short time." Say, the enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who fears Allah. And injustice will not be done to you, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]." (77)
"فَإِذا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلاةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ قِياماً وَ قُعُوداً وَ عَلى جُنُوبِكُمْ فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنْتُمْ فَأَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ كانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنينَ كِتاباً مَوْقُوتا
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times. (103)
"وَ أَنْ أَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ اتَّقُوهُ وَ هُوَ الَّذي إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ"
And to establish prayer and fear Him." And it is He to whom you will be gathered. (72)
"وَ أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهارِ وَ زُلَفاً مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَناتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئاتِ ذلِكَ ذِكْرى لِلذَّاكِرين"
And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember. (114)
"أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كانَ مَشْهُودا"
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed. (78)
source : Aspect of Prayer By Husayn Ansarian
