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Prayers (2019)
Written by: Abdurrazzak Taher Farih
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
22 Thul-Hejjah 1440
23 August 2019
Dearly beloved in Allah,
Prayers is the title of our talk on this blessed Friday. Prayers are the second foundation pillar of Islam. The messenger ppbu said: {Islam was built on five: the testimony of one and only God and Muhammad being the messenger of Allah, performing prayers, donating zakah and pilgrimage to the holy mosque and fasting Ramadan}.
Companion Muad Ebn-Jabal once asked the messenger ppbu: Tell me something I do which will get me closer to Paradise and get me further away from hellfire. The prophet ppbu said: {You have asked about a tremendous matter. Yet it is so easy for whom Allah makes it easy: It is to worship Allah and never associate anything with him. Perform prayers, and give donation (zakah), Fast the month of Ramadan and go for pilgrimage (Hajj) to the house of Allah}. Notice dearly beloved “Perform prayers”, this prayer (Salah) is the first practical pillar of the five pillars in Islam after uttering the two testimonies.
Prayers, Prayers is peace and calmness for the eyes of the believers. Prayers are genial, company for those who feel love. Prayers bring contentment into the eyes of those who believe in the one and only, just as it was for the prophet ppbu. He said: {My eyes become pleased and contented with the prayers}. Dear respected, Prayers are an oasis of rest. You whose are overwhelmed with worries, you who have been overcome with pain; you who cannot afford necessities due to lack of resources or money, you whom despite how broad and wide this earth is, still for you it feels so small and tight. You who is searching for money, who is searching for happiness, you who is searching for the ease of mind, you is searching for the easy breathing and rest in the chest, you lady who is searching for a pious husband, get you support and help from prayers. Allah says in the Quran: {And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]} 2:45.
Brothers and sisters, prayers are the link between the weak poor slave and the Rich, the Capable King. Only those who are ignorant of the status of Allah with all His names and characteristics, who are ignorant of the value and status of this relationship. Only those who know Allah with all His names, characters and perfectness; will know the true majesty of this relationship. Whoever becomes certain in knowing his God is the absolute rich then he will know himself as the absolute poor. Whoever becomes certain in knowing his God is the absolute knowledgeable; then he will know himself as the absolute ignorant. Whoever knows his God as absolute in dignity; then he will know himself as absolute in humiliation.
The messenger ppbu said: {All it takes a man to be a disbeliever (kafer) is stopping prayers}. The messenger ppbu also said: {the pledge between us and them is the prayers. So, whosoever ceases to do prayers then he has become a disbeliever (kafer)}. The messenger ppbu also said: {whoever intentionally or deliberately leaves one of the five dictated prayers then he is disowned or renounced by Allah’s accord or alliance}. The messenger ppbu was talking about prayers when he said: {Whoever maintains doing prayers then for him; it becomes light and evidence and salvation on the day of resurrection. And whoever does not keep it then it would not be light nor evidence nor salvation, and on the day of resurrection he shall be with Qaroon, Ferro, Haman and Obay ben-Khalaf}.
Ebn-Qayem commented on this by saying: Some people their riches may distract them away from prayers then they will be resurrected with Faro. Someone’s position as a minister may distract him away from prayers; then he is with Haman. Someone’s money may distract him from prayers; then he is with Qaroon. Someone’s business may distract him away from prayers; he is with Obay ben Khalaf.
Dear Muslims, you should know that we will not feel relaxed, peaceful or happy, nor feel tranquillity or assurance except when we are with Allah The Almighty. I make an oath with Allah the one and only God, that we will not feel true happiness in the status provided by our names or titles, or in money and riches, or with a beautiful partner, nor in a high status, nor with our children or with our clans or tribes except when you are with God. Except when you live in obedience to Allah. Allah says: {Say, "With God's grace and with His mercy they shall rejoice." This is far better than any wealth they can accumulate} 10:58.
Slaves of Allah, you need to know that Allah commanded us to maintain and keep on performing prayers. Allah says: {Maintain and strictly guard the prayers and especially the middle prayer, and stand before Allah with obedience and devotion} 2:248. Allah also says: {And they were only commanded that they should worship Allah being sincere to Him alone, and perform the prayers and give donation (Zakat); and that is the right and valuable religion} 98:5.
Here is some good news for those who maintain performing prayers in the houses of Allah, the messenger ppbu said: {Whoever goes to the mosque at morning (Fajr prayer) or in the evening [meaning Asr, Magrib and Isha prayers] Allah shall prepare for him/her a place of residence in paradise for each time he goes in the morning or in the evening}. This means that Allah will act as a host out of His grace, and you can only imagine what a place set up and prepared by the Most Generous would be like.
The messenger ppbu also said: {Good tiding and good news for the walkers to mosques in the dark. Absolute light in the day of resurrection}. Allah says: {… the Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and the believers with him, Their Light will flow before them and with their faith. They will say: "Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things} 66:8. It was commented that some of the believers; the followers of the prophet ppbu, those who perform prayers, the walkers to mosques in darkness, some of them their light will spread like a mountain, and some their light would be like a dates tree, and some; their light is just as a big as the height of a man standing, and for some their light only round his thumb flickering on and off. Some of them are surrounded by darkness in every direction. Allah says: {On the day when the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women will say to believers: Look on us that we may trace or borrow from your light! it will be said: Return backward and seek light! A wall will then be erected which will separate them; a wall from wherein it contains mercy, while the outer side thereof is toward the doom and punishment. They will cry unto them (saying): Were we not with you? (Meaning we were with you in the first life, we attended Friday prayers with you, and we did congregation prayers, we even fought with you battles and we did all the obligations like you) They will say: Yes, verily; but you tempted one another, and lurked and hesitated, and doubted, and you were lured and enticed with vain desires till the ordinance of Allah came to pass; and vanity and arrogance deceived you concerning Allah;} 57:13-14.
Notes:
Adhan - The call to prayer.
Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).
Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God. Aya (or Ayah):
is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day. Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Khalifa) Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help. Duaa:
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise. Ferdose:
Fiqh - Religious law.
is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list. Hadeeth:
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed. Hasana or hasanas:
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war." Jihad: is striving in the
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf. Ka'aba:
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
(in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib. Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified. Ommah:
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages. Qadr - (night of Qadr):
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed. Shirk -
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims. Sunna (
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
Faheem Bukhatwa, my
email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com
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