Salah is a fundamental pillar of Islam – neglecting salah equates to doing shirk and kufr.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, between a man and idolatry and unbelief is abandoning the prayer.” Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 82
As Muslims we have to understand the importance of prayer and the necessity of observing salah regularly at the appointed times, fulfilling all the conditions and pillars and essential parts of the prayer. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ ۚ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا
“Verily, As-Salah (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.” [Sura al-Nisa 4:103]
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), “Which deed is most beloved to Allah?” He said, “Prayer performed on time.” He said, “Then what?” He said, “Honouring one’s parents.” He said, “Then what?” He said, “Jihad (fighting) for the sake of Allah.” Narrated by al-Bukhari (504) and Muslim (85).
When questioned what brought them to the fire – the people of jahannam will reply – we were not of those who prayed. Sura Al-Muddaththir
Among the five prayers Fajr has a special significance:
WITNESSED BY ANGELS
أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night1 and [also] the Qur’ān [i.e., recitation] of dawn.2 Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.Sura Al Isra 17:78
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، وَابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، رضى الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” فَضْلُ صَلاَةِ الْجَمِيعِ عَلَى صَلاَةِ الْوَاحِدِ خَمْسٌ وَعِشْرُونَ دَرَجَةً، وَتَجْتَمِعُ مَلاَئِكَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَمَلاَئِكَةُ النَّهَارِ فِي صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ ”. يَقُولُ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ اقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ {وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا}
Narrated Ibn Al-Musaiyab:
Abu Huraira said, “The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘A prayer performed in congregation is twenty-five times more superior in reward to a prayer performed by a single person. The angels of the night and the angels of the day are assembled at the time of the Fajr (Morning) prayer.” Abu Huraira added, “If you wish, you can recite:– ‘Verily! The recitation of the Qur’an in the early dawn (Morning prayer) is ever witnessed (attended by the angels of the day and the night).’ (17.78)
TWO RAKAH AT FAJR ARE BETTER THAN THE WORLD
حَدَّثَنَا صَالِحُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ التِّرْمِذِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا ” . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَائِشَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَقَدْ رَوَى أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ التِّرْمِذِيِّ حَدِيثَ عَائِشَةَ .
Aishah narrated that : Allah’s Messenger (S) said: “The two Rak’ah of Fajr are better than the world and what is in it.”
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
THEY WOULD COME EVEN IF THEY HAD TO CRAWL
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي عِيسَى بْنُ طَلْحَةَ، حَدَّثَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ “ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ وَصَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ لأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا ” .
‘Aishah said:
“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘If the people knew what (reward) there is in the ‘Isha’ prayer and fajr prayer, they would come even if they had to crawl.'”
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، مَوْلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا إِلَيْهِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي الْعَتَمَةِ وَالصُّبْحِ لأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots, and if they knew the reward of the Zuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they would race for it (go early) and if they knew the reward of `Isha’ and Fajr (morning) prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl.”
ALLAH WILL PREPARE FOR HIM WHO GOES TO MASJID AN HONORABLE PLACE IN PARADISE
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُطَرِّفٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرَاحَ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُزُلَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ كُلَّمَا غَدَا أَوْ رَاحَ ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah will prepare for him who goes to the mosque (every) morning and in the afternoon (for the congregational prayer) an honorable place in Paradise with good hospitality for (what he has done) every morning and afternoon goings.
AS THOUGH HE HAD PRAYED THE WHOLE NIGHT
وَعَنْ عُثْمَانَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «مَنْ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَامَ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَمَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَلَّى اللَّيْل كُله» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم
‘Uthman reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone prays the evening prayer in company, it is as though he had remained awake in prayer half the night; but if anyone prays the Morning Prayer in company, it is as though he had prayed the whole night.”
Muslim transmitted it.
GOING TO MASJID IN DARKNESS WILL TURN INTO LIGHT ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّاسٌ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ كَثِيرٍ أَبُو غَسَّانَ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْكَحَّالِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ الْخُزَاعِيِّ، عَنْ بُرَيْدَةَ الأَسْلَمِيِّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ بَشِّرِ الْمَشَّائِينَ فِي الظُّلَمِ إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ بِالنُّورِ التَّامِّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ مَرْفُوعٌ هُوَ صَحِيحٌ مُسْنَدٌ وَمَوْقُوفٌ إِلَى أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَمْ يُسْنَدْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
It was narrated from Buraydah al-Aslami (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Give glad tiding to those who walk to the mosque in darkness, of perfect light on the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 561; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
SATAN TIES THREE KNOTS
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Satan puts three knots at the back of the head of any of you if he is asleep. On every knot he reads and exhales the following words, ‘The night is long, so stay asleep.’ When one wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; and when one performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and when one prays the third knot is undone and one gets up energetic with a good heart in the morning; otherwise one gets up lazy and with a mischievous heart.”
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ يَعْقِدُ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَى قَافِيَةِ رَأْسِ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا هُوَ نَامَ ثَلاَثَ عُقَدٍ، يَضْرِبُ كُلَّ عُقْدَةٍ عَلَيْكَ لَيْلٌ طَوِيلٌ فَارْقُدْ، فَإِنِ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ، فَإِنْ تَوَضَّأَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ، فَإِنْ صَلَّى انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَأَصْبَحَ نَشِيطًا طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ، وَإِلاَّ أَصْبَحَ خَبِيثَ النَّفْسِ كَسْلاَنَ ”.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 1142
BEST SALAH IS FAJR SALAH IN JAMA’AH ON JUMU’A DAY
عن ابْنَ عُمَرَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ الصَّلَوَاتِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ صَلاةُ الصُّبْحِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ
2790 شعب الإيمان للبيهقي
Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the best of prayers to Allah is the dawn prayer in congregation on Friday.” Source: Shu’ab al-Imān 2790
UNDER PROTECTION OF ALLAH (SWT)
Jundab b. ‘Abdullah reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who prayed the morning prayer (in congregation) he is in fact under the protection of Allah. And it can never happen that Allah should demand anything from you in connection with the protection (that He guarantees) and one should not get it. He would then throw him in the fire of Hell. Reference : Sahih Muslim 657a
وَحَدَّثَنِي نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرٌ، – يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُفَضَّلٍ – عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جُنْدَبَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ مَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فَهُوَ فِي ذِمَّةِ اللَّهِ فَلاَ يَطْلُبَنَّكُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ ذِمَّتِهِ بِشَىْءٍ فَيُدْرِكَهُ فَيَكُبَّهُ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ ” .
PRACTICE OF THE PROPHET (PBUH)
The prescribed recitation in the Sunnahs of Fajr:
The messenger (PBUH) of Allah used to pray two light rakah of sunnah of Fajr at home. He used to recite Surah Al Kafirun after Sura Fatihah in the first rakah and Surah Al Ikhlas in the second. (Saheen Muslim 726).
Prescribed amount of recitation in obligatory rakah of Fajr prayer:
The messenger (PBUH) of Allah, usually, recited sixty to hundred (60 to 100) verses in the obligatory rakah of Fajr prayer.
He (PBUH) used to recite Sura Qaf (45 verses) or similar surahs. (sahee Muslim 458).
He (PBUH) recited forty nine verses of Surah Al Muminoon and went to ruku.
He (PBUH) recited Surah At Takweer which consists of twenty nine verses. (Saheeh Muslim 456).
He (PBUH) recited Surah Ar Room consists of sixty verses.
It is also established that once he recited Surah Al Falaq and Surah An Naas during a journey (Abu Dawood 462).
He (PBUH) recited Surah As Sijdah (thirty verses) and Sura Ad Dahr (thirty one verses) in the Fajr prayer on a Friday (Saheeh Bukhari 891).
RELEASE OF DOPAMINE IN EARLY MORNING
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain. It is an essential component of the basal ganglia motor loop as well as the neurotransmitter responsible for controlling the exchange of information from one brain area to the another. When dopamine is released in the brain, it creates feelings of alertness and wakefulness.
It plays vital roles in certain behavior such as – pleasure, movement, cognition and motivation.
Sleeping at night decreases the secretion of Dopamine.
Studies show that dopamine is released in large amounts in the morning and that levels naturally fall in the evening when it’s time to go to sleep.
This makes people more relaxed, psychologically better, and happier in the morning.
And Allah knows best.
May Allah make us of those who are regular in salah.
Related Links:
- Benefits of Fajr salah – Al Kaheel
- Importance of Fajr – Nouman Ali Khan
- The Angels Of Fajr And Asr – Beautiful Transition
