The Chapter on the Virtues of Prayer
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 31
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Book 1, Chapter 31
The Chapter on the Virtues of Prayer
21 hadiths · 3 commentaries
قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «اَلصَّلاَةُ مِيزَانٌ فَمَنْ وَفَّى اِسْتَوْفَى.
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Prayer is a balance, so whoever fulfils it properly will receive their due reward."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «إِنَّ طَاعَةَ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خِدْمَتُهُ فِي اَلْأَرْضِ وَ لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ مِنْ خِدْمَتِهِ يَعْدِلُ اَلصَّلاَةَ فَمِنْ ثَمَّ نَادَتِ اَلْمَلاَئِكَةُ زَكَرِيَّا عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ « وَ هُوَ قٰائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي اَلْمِحْرٰابِ »
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Obedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, is to serve Him on earth, and there is nothing among His acts of service that equals prayer. This is why the angels called out to Zakariya عليه السلام 'while he was standing in prayer in the sanctuary' (Surah Ale ‘Imran 3:39)”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «مَا مِنْ صَلاَةٍ يَحْضُرُ وَقْتُهَا إِلاَّ نَادَى مَلَكٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اَلنَّاسِ أَيُّهَا اَلنَّاسُ قُومُوا إِلَى نِيرَانِكُمُ اَلَّتِي أَوْقَدْتُمُوهَا عَلَى ظُهُورِكُمْ فَأَطْفِئُوهَا بِصَلاَتِكُمْ.
The Prophet, said: "There is no prayer whose time arrives except that an angel calls out in front of the people, 'O’ people, stand up to extinguish the fires you have ignited upon your backs with your prayers.'".
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ اَلْمَسْجِدَ وَ فِيهِ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ «تَدْرُونَ مَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ» قَالُوا اَللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ «إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ يَقُولُ إِنَّ هَذِهِ اَلصَّلَوَاتِ اَلْخَمْسَ اَلْمَفْرُوضَاتِ مَنْ صَلاَّهُنَّ لِوَقْتِهِنَّ وَ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهِنَّ لَقِيَنِي يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ وَ لَهُ عِنْدِي عَهْدٌ أُدْخِلُهُ بِهِ اَلْجَنَّةَ، وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُصَلِّهِنَّ لِوَقْتِهِنَّ وَ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهِنَّ فَذَاكَ إِلَيَّ إِنْ شِئْتُ عَذَّبْتُهُ وَ إِنْ شِئْتُ غَفَرْتُ لَهُ.
"The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم entered the mosque where some of his companions were present and said: "Do you know what your Lord عز وجل has said?" They replied: "Allah سبحانه وتعالى and His Messenger know best." He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Your Lord عز وجل says: 'These five obligatory prayers—whoever performs them at their appointed times and maintains them, will meet Me on the Day of Judgment with a promise from Me to admit him into Paradise. And whoever does not perform them at their appointed times and does not maintain them, then that is up to Me—if I wish, I will punish him, and if I wish, I will forgive him.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «أَوَّلُ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ اَلْعَبْدُ عَلَى اَلصَّلاَةِ فَإِذَا قُبِلَتْ قُبِلَ مِنْهُ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ وَ إِذَا رُدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ رُدَّ عَلَيْهِ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "The first thing a servant will be held accountable for is prayer. If it is accepted, the rest of his deeds will be accepted; and if it is rejected, the rest of his deeds will be rejected."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «إِنَّ اَلْعَبْدَ إِذَا صَلَّى اَلصَّلاَةَ فِي وَقْتِهَا وَ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا اِرْتَفَعَتْ بَيْضَاءَ نَقِيَّةً، تَقُولُ حَفِظْتَنِي حَفِظَكَ اَللَّهُ وَ إِذَا لَمْ يُصَلِّهَا لِوَقْتِهَا وَ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهَا اِرْتَفَعَتْ سَوْدَاءَ مُظْلِمَةً تَقُولُ ضَيَّعْتَنِي ضَيَّعَكَ اَللَّهُ.
Imam عليه السلام said: "When a servant performs prayer at its prescribed time and maintains it, it ascends as a pure, white light, saying, 'You preserved me, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى preserve you.' But if he does not perform it at its prescribed time and does not maintain it, it ascends as a dark, black shadow, saying, 'You neglected me, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى neglect you.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونَ اَلْعَبْدُ إِلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ هُوَ سَاجِدٌ
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "The closest a servant is to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, is when he is in prostration (Sujood)”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
قَالَ اَللَّهُ تَعَالَى « وَ اُسْجُدْ وَ اِقْتَرِبْ »
And Allah سبحانه وتعالى Almighty said: "Prostrate and draw near [to Me]." (Surah Al-‘Alaq 96:19)
وَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا يَقُومُ إِلَى اَلصَّلاَةِ إِلاَّ اِكْتَنَفَتْهُ بِعَدَدِ مَنْ خَالَفَهُ مَلاَئِكَةٌ يُصَلُّونَ خَلْفَهُ وَ يَدْعُونَ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ»
Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام said: "There is no servant from among our followers (Shiite) who stands for prayer except that an equal number of angels, matching those who oppose him, surround him and pray behind him, invoking Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, for him until he completes his prayer."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ عَنِ اَلصَّادِقِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «صَلاَةٌ فَرِيضَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ عِشْرِينَ حَجَّةً وَ حَجَّةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ بَيْتٍ مَمْلُوءٍ ذَهَباً يُتَصَدَّقُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يَفْنَى.
It has been narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام: "An obligatory prayer (fardh) is better than twenty pilgrimages (Hajj), and one Hajj is better than a house filled with gold given in charity until it is depleted."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «إِيَّاكُمْ وَ اَلْكَسَلَ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ رَحِيمٌ يَشْكُرُ اَلْقَلِيلَ إِنَّ اَلرَّجُلَ لَيُصَلِّي اَلرَّكْعَتَيْنِ يُرِيدُ بِهِمَا وَجْهَ اَللَّهِ تَعَالَى فَيُدْخِلُهُ اَللَّهُ بِهِمَا اَلْجَنَّةَ وَ إِنَّهُ لَيَتَصَدَّقُ بِدِرْهَمٍ تَطَوُّعاً يُرِيدُ بِهِ وَجْهَ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَيُدْخِلُهُ اَللَّهُ بِهِ اَلْجَنَّةَ وَ إِنَّهُ لَيَصُومُ اَلْيَوْمَ تَطَوُّعاً يُرِيدُ بِهِ وَجْهَ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَيُدْخِلُهُ اَللَّهُ بِهِ اَلْجَنَّةَ.
Imam عليه السلام said: "Beware of laziness, for your Lord عز وجل is Merciful and appreciates even the smallest acts. Indeed, a person may pray two rak'ahs (units of prayer) sincerely seeking the Face of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (The Aimmah عليه السلام), and Allah سبحانه وتعالى will admit him into Paradise because of them. And indeed, a person may give a single dirham in charity with sincerity, seeking the Face of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى will admit him into Paradise because of it. And indeed, a person may fast one day as a voluntary act, sincerely seeking the Face of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى will admit him into Paradise because of it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «لاَ تَجْتَمِعُ اَلرَّغْبَةُ وَ اَلرَّهْبَةُ فِي قَلْبٍ إِلاَّ وَجَبَتْ لَهُ اَلْجَنَّةُ فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتَ فَأَقْبِلْ بِقَلْبِكَ عَلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ يُقْبِلُ بِقَلْبِهِ عَلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي صَلاَتِهِ وَ دُعَائِهِ إِلاَّ أَقْبَلَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِ بِقُلُوبِ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَيْهِ وَ أَيَّدَهُ مَعَ مَوَدَّتِهِمْ إِيَّاهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Desire (for Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى mercy) and fear (of His displeasure) do not gather together in a heart except that Paradise becomes obligatory for it. So when you pray, turn your heart fully toward Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, for there is no believing servant who turns his heart fully toward Allah سبحانه وتعالى in his prayer and supplication except that Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, turns the hearts of the believers toward him, strengthens him with their love, and grants him Paradise along with their affection”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «إِذَا زَالَتِ اَلشَّمْسُ فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ اَلسَّمَاءِ وَ أَبْوَابُ اَلْجِنَانِ وَ اُسْتُجِيبَ اَلدُّعَاءُ فَطُوبَى لِمَنْ رُفِعَ لَهُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ.
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "When the sun passes its zenith (noon), the gates of the heavens and the gates of Paradise are opened, and supplications are answered. Glad tidings to the one whose good deeds are raised at that time."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ سَأَلَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ وَهْبٍ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ أَفْضَلِ مَا يَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ اَلْعِبَادُ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ وَ أَحَبِّ ذَلِكَ إِلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا هُوَ فَقَالَ «مَا أَعْلَمُ شَيْئاً بَعْدَ اَلْمَعْرِفَةِ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ هَذِهِ اَلصَّلاَةِ أَ لاَ تَرَى أَنَّ اَلْعَبْدَ اَلصَّالِحَ عِيسَى اِبْنَ مَرْيَمَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ «وَ أَوْصٰانِي بِالصَّلاٰةِ ».
Muawiya ibn Wahb asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام about the best means by which the servants can draw closer to their Lord عز وجل and what is most beloved to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic. Imam عليه السلام replied: "I do not know of anything, after knowledge (of Allah سبحانه وتعالى), that is better than this prayer. Do you not see that the righteous servant, Jesus, son of Mary عليه السلام, said: 'And He has enjoined upon me prayer' (Surah Maryam 19:31)?".
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 34
وَ أَتَى رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَقَالَ اُدْعُ اَللَّهَ أَنْ يُدْخِلَنِي اَلْجَنَّةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ «أَعِنِّي بِكَثْرَةِ اَلسُّجُودِ.
A man came to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and said: "Pray to Allah سبحانه وتعالى to admit me into Paradise." The Prophet عليه السلام replied: "Help me [in achieving this for you] by increasing the number of your prostrations (Sujood)."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ - «لِلْمُصَلِّي ثَلاَثُ خِصَالٍ إِذَا هُوَ قَامَ فِي صَلاَتِهِ حَفَّتْ بِهِ اَلْمَلاَئِكَةُ مِنْ قَدَمَيْهِ إِلَى أَعْنَانِ اَلسَّمَاءِ وَ يَتَنَاثَرُ اَلْبِرُّ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَعْنَانِ اَلسَّمَاءِ إِلَى مَفْرِقِ رَأْسِهِ وَ مَلَكٌ مُوَكَّلٌ بِهِ يُنَادِي لَوْ يَعْلَمُ اَلْمُصَلِّي مَنْ يُنَاجِي مَا اِنْفَتَلَ.
Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام that He said: "The one who prays has three qualities: When he stands for prayer, the angels encompass him from his feet up to the highest part of sky, Goodness descends upon him from the highest part of the sky to the crown of his head, And an angel assigned to him calls out, 'If the one praying knew whom he is conversing with, he would never turn away (from the prayer).'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ أَبُو اَلْحَسَنِ اَلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «اَلصَّلاَةُ قُرْبَانُ كُلِّ تَقِيٍّ.
Abu Al-Hasan, Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha عليه السلام, said: "Prayer is the means of nearness for every pious person."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «أَحَبُّ اَلْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اَلصَّلاَةُ وَ هِيَ آخِرُ وَصَايَا اَلْأَنْبِيَاءِ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَمَا أَحْسَنَ مِنَ اَلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَغْتَسِلَ أَوْ يَتَوَضَّأَ فَيُسْبِغَ اَلْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ يَتَنَحَّى حَيْثُ لاَ يَرَاهُ أَنِيسٌ فَيُشْرِفَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِ وَ هُوَ رَاكِعٌ أَوْ سَاجِدٌ إِنَّ اَلْعَبْدَ إِذَا سَجَدَ فَأَطَالَ اَلسُّجُودَ نَادَى إِبْلِيسُ يَا وَيْلاَهْ أَطَاعُوهُ وَ عَصَيْتُ وَ سَجَدُوا وَ أَبَيْتُ.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "The most beloved of deeds to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, is prayer. It is the final counsel of the prophets عليه السلام. How beautiful it is for a person to perform ghusl (ritual bathing) or ablution (wudu'), perfecting it thoroughly, then to go to a place where no one can see him, and to humble himself before Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, in bowing (ruku') or prostration (Sujood). When a servant prostrates and prolongs his prostration, Iblis (Satan) cries out, 'Woe to me! They obeyed Him, while I disobeyed Him, and they prostrated while I refused.'".
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «مَثَلُ اَلصَّلاَةِ مَثَلُ عَمُودِ اَلْفُسْطَاطِ إِذَا ثَبَتَ اَلْعَمُودُ ثَبَتَتِ اَلْأَطْنَابُ وَ اَلْأَوْتَادُ وَ اَلْغِشَاءُ وَ إِذَا اِنْكَسَرَ اَلْعَمُودُ لَمْ يَنْفَعْ وَتِدٌ وَ لاَ طُنُبٌ وَ لاَ غِشَاءٌ.
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "The example of prayer is like the central pole of a tent. If the central pole is firmly established, then the ropes, pegs, and coverings remain firm; but if the central pole breaks, then neither the pegs, ropes, nor coverings are of any use."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ اَلصَّلاَةِ فِيكُمْ كَمَثَلِ اَلسَّرِيِّ وَ هُوَ اَلنَّهَرُ عَلَى بَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ فِي اَلْيَوْمِ وَ اَللَّيْلَةِ يَغْتَسِلُ مِنْهُ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ اَلدَّرَنُ مَعَ اَلْغُسْلِ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ وَ لَمْ تَبْقَ اَلذُّنُوبُ مَعَ اَلصَّلاَةِ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ.
Imam عليه السلام said: "The example of prayer among you is like that of a stream (sari), a river at the door of one of you, into which he bathes five times a day. No dirt remains with bathing five times, and similarly, no sins remain with the five daily prayers."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «مَنْ قَبِلَ اَللَّهُ مِنْهُ صَلاَةً وَاحِدَةً لَمْ يُعَذِّبْهُ وَ مَنْ قَبِلَ اَللَّهُ لَهُ حَسَنَةً لَمْ يُعَذِّبْهُ.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Whoever has one prayer accepted by Allah سبحانه وتعالى will not be punished, and whoever has one good deed accepted by Allah سبحانه وتعالى will not be punished."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ حَبَسَ نَفْسَهُ عَلَى صَلاَةٍ فَرِيضَةٍ يَنْتَظِرُ وَقْتَهَا فَصَلاَّهَا فِي أَوَّلِ وَقْتِهَا فَأَتَمَّ رُكُوعَهَا وَ سُجُودَهَا وَ خُشُوعَهَا ثُمَّ مَجَّدَ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ عَظَّمَهُ وَ حَمَّدَهُ حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ وَقْتُ صَلاَةٍ أُخْرَى لَمْ يَلْغُ بَيْنَهُمَا كَتَبَ اَللَّهُ لَهُ كَأَجْرِ اَلْحَاجِّ وَ اَلْمُعْتَمِرِ وَ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ عِلِّيِّينَ.
Imam عليه السلام said: "The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to say: "Whoever devotes himself to a prescribed prayer, waiting for its time, then prays it at its first appointed time, completes its bowing (ruku'), prostration (Sujood), and attentiveness (khushu'), and then glorifies, magnifies, and praises Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, until the time for the next prayer arrives without engaging in idle talk in between, Allah سبحانه وتعالى will record for him the reward of a pilgrim (Hajj) and one who performs 'Umrah, and he will be among the people of 'Illiyyīn (the highest ranks in Paradise)."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وقد أخرجت هذه الأخبار مسندة مع ما رويت في معناها في كتاب فضائل الصلاة.
These reports have been presented along with what I narrated regarding their meaning in the Chapter of the virtues of prayer.
Commentary #1