Chapter on the Merit of Prayer, and What is Obligatory and Recommended from It

And from him, from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Hammad ibn Zayd from Abdullah ibn Yahya Al-Kahili from his father, who said: The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, said: “Satan remains fearful of the believer and in awe of him as long as he maintains the five daily prayers. But when he neglects them, Satan becomes bold against him.”

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Al-‘Ala’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim: Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “A man came to the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, and said: “Pray to Allah سبحانه وتعالى for me that He عز وجل admits me into Paradise.” He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Help me by increasing your prostration.”

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn from Safwan from Ibn Sinan from Isma‘il ibn ‘Ammar from Abu Basir: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “One obligatory prayer is better than twenty pilgrimages, and one pilgrimage is better than a house filled with gold that is given away in charity until nothing remains of it.”

And from him, from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Zurarah from Isa ibn Abdullah Al-Hashimi from his father from his grandfather: (Imam) Ali عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, said: ‘Indeed, the pillar of the religion is prayer, and it is the first thing from the deeds of the son of Adam that will be looked into. If it is sound, the rest of his deeds will be examined, and if it is not sound, none of his other deeds will be looked at.’”

And through this same chain of transmission: (Imam) Ali عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, said: ‘Waiting for the prayer after the prayer is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise.’”

And from him, from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn from Wuhaib ibn Hafs from Abu Basir: Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, said: ‘If there were a river at the door of one of you, and he bathed in it five times a day, would there remain any filth on his body?’” (His companions) said: “No.” He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Then the likeness of prayer is that of a flowing river, whenever a person prays, it expiates the sins committed between the two prayers.”

From him, from Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Al-Nu‘man, who said: Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Faddal narrated to me from ‘Urwah, the son of the sister of Shu‘ayb Al-‘Aqarqufi, from his uncle Shu‘ayb, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “Whoever feels hunger, let him perform ablution and pray two units of prayer, then say: ‘O Lord, I am hungry, so feed me’. And he will be fed at that very moment.”

From him, from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn from Musa ibn Isa from Muhammad ibn Sa‘id from Isma‘il ibn Muslim from Ja‘far from his father (peace be upon them), who said: (Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said): “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, said: ‘Everything has a face, and the face of your religion is prayer, so let none of you disgrace the face of his religion. And everything has a nose, and the nose of prayer is the takbir (saying Allahu Akbar).’”

From him, from Al-‘Abbas from Abdullah ibn Al-Mughirah from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar from Isma‘il ibn Yasar, who said: I heard Abu Abdillah عليه السلام say: “Beware of laziness. Indeed, your Lord عز وجل is Merciful and He عز وجل rewards even a little. A man may pray two units of voluntary prayer, seeking by them the Face (favour) of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى will admit him to Paradise because of them. And he may give one dirham in charity, voluntarily, seeking by it the Face (favour) of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى will admit him to Paradise because of it. And he may fast a single day, voluntarily, seeking by it the Face (favour) of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى will admit him to Paradise because of it.”

Ahmad ibn Idris from Muhammad ibn Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Hamzah ibn Humran from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, said: ‘The likeness of prayer is that of the central pole of a tent; if the pole stands firm, the ropes, the pegs, and the covering are all of benefit; but if the pole breaks, then neither ropes, nor pegs, nor covering are of any benefit.’”

Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from Hafs ibn Al-Bukhtari: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “Whoever Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, accepts a single prayer from, He سبحانه وتعالى will not punish him. And whoever He عز وجل accepts a good deed from, He عز وجل will not punish him.”

Sa‘d from Musa ibn Ja‘far from some of our companions from ‘Ubaydullah ibn Abdillah al-Dihqan from Wasil ibn Sulayman from Abdullah ibn Sinan: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family) said: ‘There is no prayer whose time arrives except that an angel calls out before Allah سبحانه وتعالى: ‘O people, rise to the fires you have kindled upon your backs and extinguish them with your prayer.’”

Ali ibn Ibrahim from Muhammad ibn Isa from Yunus ibn Abdillah from Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj from Aban ibn Taghlib, who said: I prayed behind Abu Abdillah عليه السلام at al-Muzdalifah, and when we finished, He عليه السلام turned to me and said: “O Aban, the five obligatory prayers, whoever upholds their limits and preserves their timings shall meet Allah سبحانه وتعالى on the Day of Judgment with a covenant by which He عز وجل will admit him into Paradise. But whoever does not uphold their limits and does not preserve their timings shall meet Allah سبحانه وتعالى without a covenant; if He عز وجل wills, He عز وجل will punish him, and if He عز وجل wills, He عز وجل will forgive him.”

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah from Husayn ibn Uthman from Sama‘ah from Abu Basir, who said: I heard Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام say: “Indeed, the first thing by which the servant is taken to account is the prayer. If it is accepted, then everything else will be accepted; and if the prayer is raised at its appointed time, it returns to its owner white and radiant, saying, ‘You preserved me, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى preserve you.’ But if it is raised at other than its time and without fulfilling its limits, it returns to its owner black and dark, saying; ‘You neglected me, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى neglect you.’”

From him, from Muhammad ibn Al-Fudayl, who said: I asked the Righteous Servant (al Abd al Salih عليه السلام), peace be upon him, about the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic: “Those who are heedless of their prayers” (Surah Al-Ma‘un 107:5). Imam عليه السلام said: “It means neglecting (and wasting) it.”

Ali from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from ‘Umar ibn Udhaynah from Zurarah: Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, was sitting in the mosque when a man entered, stood, and prayed. He (the man) did not perfect his bowing (ruku‘) or his prostration (sujud). So the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, said: ‘He pecked like the pecking of a crow. If this man dies while continuing to pray like that, he will surely die upon a religion other than mine.’”

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Safwan ibn Yahya from Al-‘Is ibn Al-Qasim: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “By Allah سبحانه وتعالى, fifty years may pass over a man, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى has not accepted from him a single prayer. So what could be more severe than this? By Allah سبحانه وتعالى, you indeed know among your neighbors and your companions those whom, if they were to pray for one of you, you would not accept it from them due to their belittling of the prayer. Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى does not accept except that which is good, so how can He عز وجل accept that which is taken lightly?”

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Al-Hakam from Hisham ibn Salim: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “When the servant rises from prayer and performs it lightly (hastily), Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, says to His عز وجل angels: ‘Do you not see My عز وجل servant? It is as if he thinks the fulfillment of his needs lies in the hands of someone other than Me عز وجل. Does he not know that the fulfillment of his needs is in My عز وجل hand?’”

From him, from Hammad from Hariz from Al-Fudayl, who said: I asked Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام about the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted: “Those who guard their prayers” (Surah Al-Ma‘arij 70:34) & (Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:9). Imam عليه السلام said: “That refers to the obligatory prayers.” I asked: (about) “Those who are constant in their prayers” (Surah Al-Ma‘arij 70:23). Imam عليه السلام said: “That refers to the supererogatory (nafilah) prayer.”

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from Al-Hasan ibn Ali Al-Kufi from Al-Husayn ibn Yazid from Isma‘il ibn Abi Ziyad from Ja‘far from his father, peace be upon them, who said: The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, said: “Whoever recites a verse of obscene poetry during the day, his prayer will not be accepted from him that day; and whoever recites it at night, his prayer will not be accepted from him that night.”

Sa‘d from Ahmad ibn Hilal from Ahmad ibn Abdillah Al-Karkhi from Yunus ibn Ya‘qub, who said: I heard Abu Abdillah عليه السلام say: “One hajj is better than the world and all that is in it, and one obligatory prayer is better than a thousand hajj.”

Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah from Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I asked Him عليه السلام about what Allah سبحانه وتعالى has made obligatory in terms of prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: "Five prayers during the night and day." So I asked: "Has Allah سبحانه وتعالى named them and clarified them in His Book?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes. Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, said to His Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم; ‘Establish the prayer from the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night (Surah Al-Isra’ 17:78)’ - And its decline (duluk) is its zenith. And between the decline of the sun and the darkness of the night are four prayers that He عز وجل named, clarified, and set their times. And the darkness of the night is its midpoint. Then Imam عليه السلام said: “And ‘(establish) the recitation of the dawn; indeed, the recitation of the dawn is ever witnessed’, this is (about) the fifth.” And He عز وجل said in that; ‘Establish prayer at the two ends of the day’, and its two ends are Maghrib and Ghadah (fajr, morning). And ‘in the early part of the night’, this is the night prayer (Isha). And He عز وجل said; ‘Guard strictly [five] the prayers, especially the middle prayer’, and that is the Dhuhr prayer, and it was the first prayer that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, prayed. It is the middle of the day and the middle of the two daytime prayers: the morning and the ‘Asr prayers.” And in some recitations it is; ‘Guard strictly the prayers and the middle prayer, the ‘Asr prayer, and stand before Allah سبحانه وتعالى devoutly.’" Imam عليه السلام said: "This verse was revealed on the day of Jumu‘ah while the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, was on a journey, and he performed qunut in it and left it as it was in travel and in residence. And He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم added two rak‘ahs for the resident, and the two rak‘ahs that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, added on the day of Jumu‘ah for the resident were because of the two sermons with the Imam (of prayer). So whoever prays on the day of Jumu‘ah not in congregation, let him pray it four rak‘ahs like the Dhuhr prayer on the other days."

Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah, who said: I asked Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام about what is obligatory (fardh) in the prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: “The time, purification, the qiblah, facing the direction (of Qibla), bowing, prostration, and supplication.” I asked: “And what about everything else besides that?” Imam عليه السلام said: “It is Sunnah within the obligatory (prayer).”

Ali from his father from Hammad ibn Isa: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “Prayer has four thousand boundaries (limits).”

And it was narrated from (Imam) al-Ridha عليه السلام, peace be upon him, that Imam عليه السلام said: “Prayer has four thousand gates (aspects/rulings).”

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah said: Ibn Ribat narrated to me from Ibn Miskan from Sulayman ibn Khalid: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “A man came to the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family,) and said; “O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, inform me about Islam, its root, its branch, its peak, and its summit.” He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Its root is prayer, its branch is zakat, and its peak and summit is striving in the way of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted.” He (the man) asked: “O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, inform me about the gates of goodness.” He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Fasting is a shield, charity erases sin, and the standing of a man in the depths of the night while he privately converses with his Lord عز وجل.” Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم recited: ‘Their sides forsake their beds, they call upon their Lord عز وجل in fear and hope, and from what We have provided them, they spend’ (Surah Al-Sajdah 32:16).

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abdillah from Ibn Faddal from Marwan from ‘Ammar al-Sabati, who said: We were sitting with Abu Abdillah عليه السلام at Mina when a man said to him: “What do you say about the nawafil (supererogatory prayers)?” Imam عليه السلام said: “They are obligatory (faridah).” We were alarmed, and the man was alarmed too. Then Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “I only mean the night prayer upon the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family. Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى says: ‘And in the night, keep vigil with it as a supererogatory act for you’” (Surah Al-Isra’ 17:79).

From him, from Muhammad ibn Isa from Al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Yaqtin from Muhammad ibn Al-Fudayl Al-Kufi from Sa‘d ibn Abi ‘Amr al-Jallab, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام: “The two units of the Fajr prayer (the supererogatory rak‘ahs before the obligatory Fajr), if I miss them, should I make them up?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Yes.” I said: “Why? Are they obligatory?” Imam عليه السلام said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, established them as a Sunnah. And whatever the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, establishes as a Sunnah is an obligation.”

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn Abd al-Hamid from Abu Jamilah from Abu Usamah: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام was asked about the witr prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: “It is a Sunnah, not an obligation (faridah).”

As for what was narrated by Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn from Ja‘far ibn Bashir from ‘Ubayd from his father: Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “The witr prayer is recorded in the Book of (Imam) Ali عليه السلام, peace be upon him, as obligatory (wajib); it is the witr of the night, and the Maghrib prayer is the witr of the day.”

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Wahb or from Al-Sakuni from Ja‘far from his father, peace be upon them, who said: The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, said: “Perform voluntary prayers during the hour of heedlessness, even if it is only two light rak‘ahs, for they will bring about the abode of honor.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, what is the hour of heedlessness?” He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “It is the time between Maghrib and Isha.”