The Blessings
of Salaat
Prostrate and bring yourself closer to God - Quran
96:1
Salaat is the second most important pillar of
Islam after Iman (Faith). The word Salaat means attending to, praying to or
seeking nearness to God. Salaat has been prescribed for the believers and has
many virtues.
In the Quran
Let's see what the Quran states about the blessings of Salaat.
God's promise is the truth, and whose word
can be truer than God's? (4:122)
Salaat is the key to success
Certainly the believers have succeeded,
those who offer Salaat with Khusu (devotion) (23:1-2)
Salaat is a means of self purification
Establish Salaat, for Salaat restrains from
shameful and unjust deeds. (29:45)
Salaat is a source of Strength &
Patience
O you who believe! Seek help with patience
perseverance and Salaat. (2:152)
Salaat is a means of achieving nearness
to God
Prostrate (during Salaat) and bring yourself
closer to God (96:1)
Salaat is essential for receiving
guidance from the Quran
This is the Book about which there is no
doubt, a guidance for those who are conscious of God, who believe in the
unseen, and who establish Salaat (2:1-2)
Hadiths
Let's see what Prophet
Muhammad
 said
about the blessings of Salaat in the authentic Hadiths. God states in
the QuranAnd he speaks not
of his own desire. It is but a revelation revealed to him. (53:3-4)
Salaat is a means of attaining
God's Forgiveness
Prophet Muhammad
said
:"Tell me: if there be a river by the side of the door of someone wherein he
takes bath five times a day, will there remain any dirt (on his body)? "No",
said the companions. He then said: Thus are the five daily Salaat. God blots
out all sins therewith (provided the great sins are avoided.) (Bukhari,
Muslim).
When a Muslim observes his Salaat
(regularly) with due attention and devotion, he sheds his sins just like this
tree (autumn) is shedding its leaves. (Ahmad)
Salaat is one of the dearest things to
God
A mans asked : "Which action is dearest to
Almighty God"? Mohammed
said:
Salaat at its proper time. He then asked: Then what is next? He said:
Obedience to parents. He asked: Then what is next? He said: Struggle for God's
cause. (Muslim)
Summary
Salaat is a means of attaining righteousness and
piety. It is a source of strength and patience. It is essential for receiving
guidance from the Quran. It is also a means of bringing peace and tranquillity
to our hearts. Most important of all it brings us closer to God. Can we afford
to miss out on even one of these blessings?
If a man meets God when he has been
negligent of the prayer (salaat), God will not pay any attention to his other
virtues. (Al-Tabarani) How much attention will God pay to us on the day
of Judgment? Right now the choice is ours!
We ask God the Most High, the
All-Powerful, to teach us that which will benefit us, and to benefit us by
that which we learn.
=
Peace and Blessings of God be upon him.
|
