Benefits of Praying- Prayer(Salah)

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1. NO CONFUSION: The best merit of our prayer is that we do not have any confusion as to whom to pray to. Whereas in other religions, they have many Gods and some are very confused as to which God should they pray? Alhamdulillah we have only Allah and we should not pray to anyone else other than Allah.

   Allah says in the Qur’an:

   “Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth) âlihah (gods) besides Allâh, then verily both would have been ruined. Glorified is Allâh, the Lord of the Throne, (High is He) above all that they attribute to Him!” (21:22)

   The Quran says:

   “He is Allâh, beside Whom Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful” (59:22)

2. THE EARTH’S GROUND IS MEANT TO BE PRAYED ON: Unlike other religions, we do not require decorated temples and churches to pray. We only need decorated minds filled with divine love. We can pray on any clean place on this earth . It need not be only our homes or masjids.

   E.g.: if we are travelling and we do not find a masjid to pray, then we can pray from the car itself.

   Narrated Jabir bin‘ Abdullah: The Prophet said, “The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform Tayammum, therefore anyone of my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due.” (BUKHARI)

3. TEACHES US PUNCTUALITY:Why is it that we reach our office on time or before time? Why don’t we go for work one hour late daily? What will happen if we go for work late regularly?

   Our boss will fire us from work! Get a warning letter or deprive us from our promotion!

   Then why is it that after receiving so many warnings from Allah, we don’t feel guilty in delaying our prayers or neglecting it completely?

   Prayer teaches us to be punctual because we HAVE to pray five times a day at fixed times prescribed to us.

   Allah says in the Qur’ran:

   “Perform As-Salât. Verily, As-Salât (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.” (4:103)

   Prophet (SAW) was asked: “Which deed is dearest to Allah?” He replied “To offer the Salat prayers at their early fixed times.”(Bukhari )

   Allah says:

   “Woe to the performers of prayers (hypocrites) who delay their Salat from its stated fixed time.”(107:4-5)

   And what does Allah say about the hypocrites?

   “Give to the hypocrites the tidings that there is for them a painful torment.” (4:138)

   “Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them” (4:145)

4. REMOVES EVIL THOUGHTS AND OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN: If we pray regularly 5 times a day, we will never feel like doing any of the major sins and we would try our best to avoid the minor sins. In fact, our inner soul will stop us from even doing the minor sins. If we pray with the sole intention of only impressing Allah, then Insha Allah our prayer will remove evil thoughts. We would never want to miss any of our prayers. The feeling of “It’s ok, I won’t pray” will never defeat us.

   Allah says in the Qur’an:

   “Recite (O Muhammad SAW) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Qur'ân), and perform As-Salât .Verily, As-Salât (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahshâ' (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed)…” (29:45)

   “And perform As-Salât), at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night [i.e. the five compulsory Salât (prayers)]. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice).” (11:114)

   The body is washed of external impurities by bath, whereas our soul is washed of impure deeds and sins by prayer.

   Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on him?" They said, "Not a trace of dirt would be left." The Prophet added, "That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds.“(BUKHARI)

5. NO EXERCISE REQUIRED: If we pray regularly 5 times a day, we will not require any other exercise. A normal person will never be obese or be very fat if we pray regularly and maintain moderate eating habits as prescribed by the prophet, peace be upon him. He will always be fit and fine. There are exceptional cases like who are fat because of the side effects of medicines or heredity, etc. Prayer is one of the best forms of exercise.

   E.g.: Yoga and Our prayer actions have many actions similar to each other

   Verily there is cure in salat.

6. PRAYER TEACHES US TO RISE EARLY FROM SLEEP:There is a very famous proverb: " Early to bed, Early to rise, makes a man, healthy, wealthy and wise.” It’s only in Islam, that this proverb is put into practice. When we get up for fajr, we get an hour or two more than others.

7. PRAYER REMOVES DIFFICULTIES: If we pray regularly 5 times a day, Allah eases our difficulties for us.

   Allah says in the Quran:

   “And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright” (2:186)

   Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “When it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends every night to the heaven of the world and says,’ Is there anyone who invokes Me (demand anything from Me), that I may respond to his invocation; Is there anyone who asks Me for something that I may give (it to) him; Is there anyone who asks My forgiveness that I may forgive him?' “ (BUKHARI)

8. PRAYER LETS US FIGHT BACK SATAN: Another merit of praying regularly 5 times a day is that we are in a position to fight back Satan. When an evil thought comes to us, we do not follow the whispers from Satan because our soul is constantly remembering Allah.

   Allah says in the Quran:

   “And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaitân (Satan) then seek refuge with Allâh. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower.” (7:200)

   “When an evil thought comes to them from Shaitân (Satan), they remember (Allâh), and (indeed) they then see (aright)”. (7:201)

9. WILL NOT BE AFRAID OF DEATH: A righteous person who prays regularly 5 times a day constantly reminds himself of his death. He is conscious of his suremeeting with Allah in the hereafter. Thus he prepares himself for the hereafter by performing his duties to the best of his potential.

   Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: Allah's Apostle said, When the funeral is ready and the men carry it on their shoulders, if the DECEASED was righteous it will say, 'Present me (hurriedly),' and if he was not righteous, it will say, 'Woe to it (me)! Where are they taking it (me)?' Its voice is heard by everything except man and if he heard it he would fall unconscious.“ (BUKHARI)

   Allah Messenger (SA) Said: “The first thing about which a man is going to be questioned on the Day of Judgment is prayer. If it is found to be sound all his other actions will be sound as well. If his prayer is not sound all his remaining actions would be spoiled” (TIRMIDHI)

10. ANGELS WILL ASK FORGIVENESS FOR US: Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The angels keep on asking Allah's forgiveness for anyone of you, as long as he is at his Mu,salla (praying place) and he does not pass wind (Hadath). They say, 'O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! be Merciful to him.“ BUKHARI

11. PARADISE WILL BE OUR ABODE:And finally, why do we all live in this world? It is for noting but to attain Paradise.The easiest and the simplest way to enter Jannah is to establish our 5 times prayer regularly.There are numerous ayats which tell about attaining paradise. Here are few of them:

    “Truly those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and perform As-Salât, and give Zakât, they will have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (2:277)

    “Who perform As-Salât and spend out of that We have provided them. It is they who are the believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity with their Lord, and Forgiveness and a generous provision (Paradise).” (8:3-4)

    “And those who guard their Salât well. Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured.” (70:34-35)

    “Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salât (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness.” (23:1-2)

    “And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours).These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever.” (23:9-11)

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