The Reason for Obligation of Five Prayers at Five Specific Times
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 32
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Book 1, Chapter 32
The Reason for Obligation of Five Prayers at Five Specific Times
3 hadiths · 1 commentary
رُوِيَ عَنِ اَلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ - جَاءَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ اَلْيَهُودِ إِلَى اَلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَسَأَلَهُ أَعْلَمُهُمْ عَنْ مَسَائِلَ فَكَانَ مِمَّا سَأَلَهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ فَرَضَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ هَذِهِ اَلْخَمْسَ اَلصَّلَوَاتِ فِي خَمْسِ مَوَاقِيتَ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ فِي سَاعَاتِ اَللَّيْلِ وَ اَلنَّهَارِ فَقَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ «إِنَّ اَلشَّمْسَ عِنْدَ اَلزَّوَالِ لَهَا حَلْقَةٌ تَدْخُلُ فِيهَا فَإِذَا دَخَلَتْ فِيهَا زَالَتِ اَلشَّمْسُ فَيُسَبِّحُ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ دُونَ اَلْعَرْشِ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّي جَلَّ جَلاَلُهُ وَ هِيَ اَلسَّاعَةُ اَلَّتِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيَّ فِيهَا رَبِّي جَلَّ جَلاَلُهُ فَفَرَضَ اَللَّهُ عَلَيَّ وَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فِيهَا اَلصَّلاَةَ وَقَالَ « أَقِمِ اَلصَّلاٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ اَلشَّمْسِ إِلىٰ غَسَقِ اَللَّيْلِ » وَ هِيَ اَلسَّاعَةُ اَلَّتِي يُؤْتَى فِيهَا بِجَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ فَمَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ يُوَافِقُ تِلْكَ اَلسَّاعَةَ أَنْ يَكُونَ سَاجِداً أَوْ رَاكِعاً أَوْ قَائِماً إِلاَّ حَرَّمَ اَللَّهُ جَسَدَهُ عَلَى اَلنَّارِ وَ أَمَّا صَلاَةُ اَلْعَصْرِ فَهِيَ اَلسَّاعَةُ اَلَّتِي أَكَلَ آدَمُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِيهَا مِنَ اَلشَّجَرَةِ فَأَخْرَجَهُ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنَ اَلْجَنَّةِ فَأَمَرَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُ بِهَذِهِ اَلصَّلاَةِ إِلَى يَوْمِ اَلْقِيَامَةِ وَ اِخْتَارَهَا لِأُمَّتِي فَهِيَ مِنْ أَحَبِّ اَلصَّلَوَاتِ إِلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَوْصَانِي أَنْ أَحْفَظَهَا مِنْ بَيْنِ اَلصَّلَوَاتِ وَ أَمَّا صَلاَةُ اَلْمَغْرِبِ فَهِيَ اَلسَّاعَةُ اَلَّتِي تَابَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهَا عَلَى آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ وَ كَانَ بَيْنَ مَا أَكَلَ مِنَ اَلشَّجَرَةِ وَ بَيْنَ مَا تَابَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِ ثَلاَثُمِائَةِ سَنَةٍ مِنْ أَيَّامِ اَلدُّنْيَا وَ فِي أَيَّامِ اَلْآخِرَةِ يَوْمٌ «كَأَلْفِ سَنَةٍ» مَا بَيْنَ اَلْعَصْرِ إِلَى اَلْعِشَاءِ وَ صَلَّى آدَمُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ ثَلاَثَ رَكَعَاتٍ رَكْعَةً لِخَطِيئَتِهِ وَ رَكْعَةً لِخَطِيئَةِ حَوَّاءَ وَ رَكْعَةً لِتَوْبَتِهِ فَفَرَضَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ هَذِهِ اَلثَّلاَثَ رَكَعَاتٍ عَلَى أُمَّتِي وَ هِيَ اَلسَّاعَةُ اَلَّتِي يُسْتَجَابُ فِيهَا اَلدُّعَاءُ فَوَعَدَنِي رَبِّي عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يَسْتَجِيبَ لِمَنْ دَعَاهُ فِيهَا وَ هِيَ اَلصَّلاَةُ اَلَّتِي أَمَرَنِي رَبِّي بِهَا فِي قَوْلِهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى: «فَسُبْحٰانَ اَللّٰهِ حِينَ تُمْسُونَ وَ حِينَ تُصْبِحُونَ» وَ أَمَّا صَلاَةُ اَلْعِشَاءِ اَلْآخِرَةِ فَإِنَّ لِلْقَبْرِ ظُلْمَةً وَ لِيَوْمِ اَلْقِيَامَةِ ظُلْمَةً أَمَرَنِي رَبِّي عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أُمَّتِي بِهَذِهِ اَلصَّلاَةِ لِتُنَوِّرَ اَلْقَبْرَ وَ لِيُعْطِيَنِي وَ أُمَّتِيَ اَلنُّورَ عَلَى اَلصِّرَاطِ وَ مَا مِنْ قَدَمٍ مَشَتْ إِلَى صَلاَةِ اَلْعَتَمَةِ إِلاَّ حَرَّمَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ جَسَدَهَا عَلَى اَلنَّارِ وَ هِيَ اَلصَّلاَةُ اَلَّتِي اِخْتَارَهَا اَللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَ تَقَدَّسَ ذِكْرُهُ لِلْمُرْسَلِينَ قَبْلِي وَ أَمَّا صَلاَةُ اَلْفَجْرِ فَإِنَّ اَلشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَتْ تَطْلُعُ عَلَى قَرْنَيِ اَلشَّيْطَانِ فَأَمَرَنِي رَبِّي عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ اَلشَّمْسِ صَلاَةَ اَلْغَدَاةِ وَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَسْجُدَ لَهَا اَلْكَافِرُ لِتَسْجُدَ أُمَّتِي لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ سُرْعَتُهَا أَحَبُّ إِلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ هِيَ اَلصَّلاَةُ اَلَّتِي تَشْهَدُهَا مَلاَئِكَةُ اَللَّيْلِ وَ مَلاَئِكَةُ اَلنَّهَارِ.
It was narrated from Imam Hasan ibn Ali عليه السلام said that a group of Jews came to The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and the most knowledgeable among them asked him about various matters. Among the questions was: 'Tell me, why did Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, prescribe these five prayers at five specific times for your Ummah during the day and night?'" The Prophet, replied: "(As for the Dhuhr prayer), When the sun reaches its zenith, it enters a ring, and when it enters this ring, everything under the Throne praises the glory of my Lord عز وجل, the Exalted. It is at this hour that my Lord عز وجل, the Mighty and Majestic, sends blessings upon me, and therefore Allah سبحانه وتعالى made this hour obligatory for me and my Ummah as prayer, as He said: 'Establish prayer at the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night' (Surah Al-Isra 17:78). This is also the hour when Hell will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection. Thus, there is no believer who is in prostration, bowing, or standing at that hour except that Allah سبحانه وتعالى will make his body forbidden from the Fire. "As for the Asr prayer, it is the hour when Adam عليه السلام ate from the tree and was expelled from Paradise. Allah سبحانه وتعالى commanded his progeny to perform this prayer until the Day of Judgment and chose it for my Ummah, making it one of the most beloved prayers to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic. He instructed me to give it special care among the prayers. "As for the Maghrib prayer, it is the hour when Allah سبحانه وتعالى accepted Adam's عليه السلام repentance. The time between when he ate from the tree and when Allah سبحانه وتعالى accepted his repentance was three hundred years of worldly time, equivalent to a day in the Hereafter, 'A day is like a thousand years' (Surah Al Hajj 22:47). Adam prayed three rak'ahs: one for his sin, one for Hawwa's (Eve’s) sin, and one for his repentance. Allah سبحانه وتعالى prescribed these three rak'ahs for my Ummah, and it is an hour when supplications are answered. My Lord عز وجل has promised to accept the supplications of those who call upon Him at that hour, and it is the prayer my Lord عز وجل commanded me to perform when He said: 'Glorify Allah سبحانه وتعالى when you reach the evening and when you reach the morning' (Surah Ar-Rum 30:17). "As for the Isha prayer, the grave has darkness, and the Day of Resurrection has darkness. My Lord عز وجل commanded me and my Ummah to perform this prayer to illuminate the grave and to provide light on the Sirat (the bridge over Hell). No foot that walks to the Isha prayer will have its body made forbidden for the Fire, and this prayer was chosen by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted and Majestic, for the messengers before me. "As for the Fajr prayer, when the sun rises, it rises between the horns of Satan. My Lord عز وجل commanded me to perform this prayer before sunrise so that my Ummah would prostrate to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, before the disbelievers prostrate to the sun. The hastening of this prayer is more beloved to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, and it is the prayer that is witnessed by the angels of the night and the angels of the day."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
مَا رَوَاهُ اَلْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ أَبِي اَلْعَلاَءِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ - «لَمَّا أُهْبِطَ آدَمُ مِنَ اَلْجَنَّةِ ظَهَرَتْ بِهِ شَامَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فِي وَجْهِهِ مِنْ قَرْنِهِ إِلَى قَدَمِهِ فَطَالَ حُزْنُهُ وَ بُكَاؤُهُ عَلَى مَا ظَهَرَ بِهِ فَأَتَاهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا يُبْكِيكَ يَا آدَمُ فَقَالَ مِنْ هَذِهِ اَلشَّامَةِ اَلَّتِي ظَهَرَتِ بِي قَالَ قُمْ يَا آدَمُ فَصَلِّ فَهَذَا وَقْتُ اَلصَّلاَةِ اَلْأُولَى فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى فَانْحَطَّتِ اَلشَّامَةُ إِلَى عُنُقِهِ فَجَاءَهُ فِي اَلصَّلاَةِ اَلثَّانِيَةِ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَصَلِّ يَا آدَمُ فَهَذَا وَقْتُ اَلصَّلاَةِ اَلثَّانِيَةِ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى فَانْحَطَّتِ اَلشَّامَةُ إِلَى سُرَّتِهِ فَجَاءَهُ فِي اَلصَّلاَةِ اَلثَّالِثَةِ فَقَالَ يَا آدَمُ قُمْ فَصَلِّ فَهَذَا وَقْتُ اَلصَّلاَةِ اَلثَّالِثَةِ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى فَانْحَطَّتِ اَلشَّامَةُ إِلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ فَجَاءَهُ فِي اَلصَّلاَةِ اَلرَّابِعَةِ فَقَالَ يَا آدَمُ قُمْ فَصَلِّ فَهَذَا وَقْتُ اَلصَّلاَةِ اَلرَّابِعَةِ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى فَانْحَطَّتِ اَلشَّامَةُ إِلَى قَدَمَيْهِ فَجَاءَهُ فِي اَلصَّلاَةِ اَلْخَامِسَةِ فَقَالَ يَا آدَمُ قُمْ فَصَلِّ فَهَذَا وَقْتُ اَلصَّلاَةِ اَلْخَامِسَةِ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا فَحَمِدَ اَللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَا آدَمُ: مَثَلُ وُلْدِكَ فِي هَذِهِ اَلصَّلَوَاتِ كَمَثَلِكَ فِي هَذِهِ اَلشَّامَةِ مَنْ صَلَّى مِنْ وُلْدِكَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَ لَيْلَةٍ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍُ خَرَجَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ كَمَا خَرَجْتَ مِنْ هَذِهِ اَلشَّامَةِ.
It was narrated by Al-Hussain ibn Abi al-Ala' from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام that He said: "When Adam عليه السلام was sent down from Paradise, a black mark appeared on his face from his head to his feet. His sorrow and weeping over what had befallen him continued for a long time. Archangel Jibril عليه السلام came to him and said: 'O’ Adam, what makes you weep?' He said: 'This mark that has appeared on me.' Archangel Jibril عليه السلام said: 'Stand up, O’ Adam, and pray, for this is the time of the first prayer.' Adam stood and prayed, and the mark receded to his neck. Archangel Jibril عليه السلام came to him at the time of the second prayer and said: 'Stand and pray, O’ Adam, for this is the time of the second prayer.' Adam stood and prayed, and the mark receded to his navel. Archangel Jibril عليه السلام came again for the third prayer and said: 'O’ Adam, stand and pray, for this is the time of the third prayer.' Adam stood and prayed, and the mark receded to his knees. Archangel Jibril عليه السلام then came for the fourth prayer and said: 'O’ Adam, stand and pray, for this is the time of the fourth prayer.' Adam stood and prayed, and the mark receded to his feet. Archangel Jibril عليه السلام finally came for the fifth prayer and said: 'O’ Adam, stand and pray, for this is the time of the fifth prayer.' Adam stood and prayed, and the mark disappeared. Adam praised and thanked Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and Archangel Jibril عليه السلام said: 'O’ Adam, the example of your descendants in these prayers is like your example with this mark. Whoever among your descendants prays the five daily prayers, his sins will be removed just as this mark was removed from you.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
كَتَبَ اَلرِّضَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ إِلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ فِيمَا كَتَبَ مِنْ جَوَابِ مَسَائِلِهِ: «أَنَّ عِلَّةَ اَلصَّلاَةِ أَنَّهَا إِقْرَارٌ بِالرُّبُوبِيَّةِ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ خَلْعُ اَلْأَنْدَادِ وَ قِيَامٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اَلْجَبَّارِ جَلَّ جَلاَلُهُ بِالذُّلِّ وَ اَلْمَسْكَنَةِ وَ اَلْخُضُوعِ وَ اَلاِعْتِرَافِ وَ اَلطَّلَبُ لِلْإِقَالَةِ مِنْ سَالِفِ اَلذُّنُوبِ وَ وَضْعُ اَلْوَجْهِ عَلَى اَلْأَرْضِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ إِعْظَاماً لِلَّهِ جَلَّ جَلاَلُهُ وَ أَنْ يَكُونَ ذَاكِراً غَيْرَ نَاسٍ وَ لاَ بَطِرٍ وَ يَكُونُ خَاشِعاً مُتَذَلِّلاً رَاغِباً طَالِباً لِلزِّيَادَةِ فِي اَلدِّينِ وَ اَلدُّنْيَا مَعَ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ اَلْإِيجَابِ وَ اَلْمُدَاوَمَةِ عَلَى ذِكْرِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ اَلنَّهَارِ لِئَلاَّ يَنْسَى اَلْعَبْدُ سَيِّدَهُ وَ مُدَبِّرَهُ وَ خَالِقَهُ فَيَبْطَرَ وَ يَطْغَى وَ يَكُونَ ذَلِكَ فِي ذَكَرِهِ لِرَبِّهِ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ وَ قِيَامِهِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ زَاجِراً لَهُ عَنِ اَلْمَعَاصِي وَ مَانِعاً لَهُ مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ اَلْفَسَادِ.
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha wrote to Muhammad ibn Sinan in response to his questions, saying: "The reason for the prescription of prayer is that it is an acknowledgment of Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى Lord عز وجلship, a rejection of idols, and a standing in the presence of the Mighty, the Glorious, with humility, poverty, submissiveness, confession, and a request for the forgiveness of past sins. It involves placing one's face on the ground daily as an act of magnifying and glorifying Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic. The prayer ensures that one remains mindful, not forgetful or arrogant. It makes one humble, submissive, desirous, and seeking an increase in faith and worldly needs, in addition to making it obligatory and continuous remembrance of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, by day and night so that the servant does not forget his Lord عز وجل, Master, and Creator, and thus does not become boastful or overstep limits. Standing in prayer serves as a deterrent against sins and a barrier from engaging in corruption."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
Commentary #1