[ابوالوليد المسلم]

The Benefits of Performing Prayers (2/2)

Imam Shamsu ed-Deen Dhahabi





Hence, we should increase our supererogatory worshipping to complete the obligatory ones if they fall shorter. The punishment of he who misses the congregational Prayer though he is able to do, Allah, the Almighty Says,
“The Day that the shin shall be laid bare and they shall be summoned to prostrate, but they shall not be able, their eyes will be cast down, ignominy will cover them; seeing that they had been summoned aforetime to bow in adoration, while they were whole, (and had refused.)” (Surat AI-Qalam: 42-43)
Sa'id Ibn AI-Musaiyyib commented, although they were whole in this world, they did not answer the caller to Prayer. On the other hand, Ka'b AI-Ahbar said, “By Allah, this Ayah is only revealed concerning those who missed the congregational Prayer. O' what a severe torture awaiting for those who are able to perform the Prayer in congregation, but they do not."
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said,
"I have considered having a man lead people at Prayer and going myself to those who hang back from attending the Prayer in congregation to burn their houses down upon them.”[1].
Behold, this threat cannot be issued unless there is something obligatory left.
It was related that once, a blind man came to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and said,
"O Messenger of Allah, I have nobody to lead me to the mosque." Then he asked for a permission to pray at home. Thereby, the Prophet permitted him. But before leaving, the Prophet called him and said, "Do you hear the Call to Prayer?” He said, yes. The Prophet said, "Then you have to respond to it.”[2].
Once, 'Amr Ibn Umm Maktum came to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and said,
"O Messenger of Allah, in Madina there are numerous number of reptiles and beasts whereas I am a blind man and live far away from the mosque. Further, I have an inconvenient guide. Shall I have a dispension to pray at home? "Then, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) asked, "Do you hear the words of the Call to Prayer?" He said, yes. The Prophet said, "Then, you have to respond to it, I have no dispension to you.”[3].
Behold, that is a blind man and faces many hardships in his way to the mosque and has no guide, yet the Prophet does not permit him to pray at home. How about the sightful people who have no excuse?
Therefore, when Ibn 'Abbas is asked about someone who fasts the day and prays the night but does not attend the Friday or congregational Prayer. He replied, "If he dies doing that he will enter the Hell-Fire.”[4].
Abu Hurayrah said, "It is better for one's ears to be filled with molten lead than to hear the Call to Prayer without answering it."
Ibn 'Abbas related that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said,
"Whoever heard the caller to Prayer and did not answer not because of an excuse.” Someone asked, "What kind of excuse is that, Messenger?" He said, "Fear or sickness, he will not have his Prayer accepted.”[5] i.e., the Prayer which he performed at home.
Ibn ' Abbas also related that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said,
"There are three people whom Allah cursed: Whoever leads a group of people in Prayer who dislike him, a woman whose husband spends the night angry with her and whoever heard the call to Prayer but he does not answer.”[6].
'Ali Ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "A Prayer of a neighbor of a mosque is only accepted in the mosque." Someone asked, "Who is a neighbor of a mosque?" He said, "Whoever hears the call to Prayer."
`Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud related that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said,
"A person who likes to meet Allah tomorrow (on the Day of Judgment) as a true Muslim, he should then take care of those Prayers where (and when) he is summoned for them. This is necessary as Allah has laid down some practices and rules for us to follow (which have reached us) through our Prophet (Peace be upon him) and these Prayers are among them. If you offer Prayers at your houses as this good for nothing person is doing, you will be guilty of neglecting the way of your Prophet (Peace be upon him) then you go astray. I have seen the people in condition when only known hypocrites used to be out of the lines of congregation. Some of us used to be brought to the mosque with the help of two men on account of their weakness or illness, until they could stand in line.”[7].
Ar-Rabie Ibn Khutham had a disease in his leg. He used to go out for Prayer leaning on two men. They advised him, "O father of Muhammad, Allah has permitted you to pray at home as you have a legal excuse." He said, "Ok, but I hear the call to Prayer. Whoever could answer even if he creeps or crawl, it is better to do so."
Hatim AI-Asam said, "One day, I missed a Prayer in congregation but no one lead me except Abu Ishaq AI-Bukhari. However, if one of my children died, there would be ten thousand people who offer me condolence. This is because a trial in religion is easier than a one at the sight of people.
Someone of early Muslims said, a congregational Prayer is missed because of sins. Ibn 'Umar narrated, "Once Umar was in his garden, when coming back, he found that the people had performed the Asr Prayer. Thereby, he said, "We will surely return to Allah! I missed the Asr Prayer in congregation. May you witness that I gave my garden in charity to the needy so as to expiate what 'Umar had done."
It is recommended to pay more attention to 'Isha' and Fajr. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "The hypocrites find dawn (Fajr) and night (Isha') Prayers in congregation as very oppressive. If they could know the virtues of these two Prayers, they would certainly join them, even if they had to go crawling.”[8].
Ibn 'Umar said, "When missing a man in the congregational Prayer of Isha and Fajr, we might think that he was a hypocrite."
'Ubaydallah Ibn Amr Al-Qawarir said, "I have never missed Isha Prayer in congregation. One night I had a grief which occupied me from performing the' Isha' Prayer in congregation. Thereby, I sought for another mosque all over AI-Basra to realize the Prayer but of no avail all the mosques were closed. Then I went home and decided to apply what is stated in the hadith, "Recompense for Prayer offered along with the congregation is twenty seven times more than the Prayer offered in home or.”[9].
Therefore, I performed' Isha' Prayer twenty seven times. Afterwards, I slept. I dreamt that I was riding my horse racing some other people who were also riding their horses but I could not catch them. Then one turned to me and said, "Do not get your horse toiled, you would never catch us. I asked him why? He said, we performed the 'Isha' Prayer in congregation but you did alone. Then I got up so sad.
We seek Allah's help and guidance for He is the Most Generous, the Most Bounteous.

[1] Reported by Bukhari and Muslim.

[2] Reported by Bukhari and Muslim.

[3] Reported by Muslim.

[4] Reported by At- Tirmidhi.

[5] Reported by Abu Dawud, AI-Hakim and Ibn Hibban.

[6] Reported by At- Tirmidhi.

[7] Reported by Muslim.

[8] Reported by AI-Bukhari.

[9] Reported by Muslim.