1 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:13,820 Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah 2 00:00:13,820 --> 00:00:15,820 The Grand Status of Prayer 3 00:00:15,820 --> 00:00:20,300 Prayer is of immense and exalted status. 4 00:00:20,300 --> 00:00:24,300 It is the second pillar of Islam after the two testimonies of faith. 5 00:00:24,300 --> 00:00:27,300 It suffices as proof of its honor and grand status 6 00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:30,300 that it was ordained above the seventh heaven, 7 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:34,299 when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was taken up on the Night Journey, 8 00:00:34,299 --> 00:00:38,299 and that it is the very first thing for which a servant will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection, 9 00:00:38,299 --> 00:00:41,299 just as he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 10 00:00:41,299 --> 00:00:45,299 "The first thing for which a servant will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection 11 00:00:45,299 --> 00:00:49,299 is prayer. If it is sound, the rest of his deeds will be sound, 12 00:00:49,299 --> 00:00:53,299 and if it is corrupt, the rest of his deeds will be corrupt." 13 00:00:53,299 --> 00:00:57,329 Related by al-Tabarani and authenticated by al-Albani. 14 00:00:57,329 --> 00:00:59,460 Venerating the status of prayer 15 00:00:59,460 --> 00:01:03,460 is part of venerating Allah Almighty, Who legislated it. 16 00:01:03,460 --> 00:01:07,459 All of its pillars are an expression of venerating Allah, Glorified be He, 17 00:01:07,459 --> 00:01:09,459 beginning with the opening takbir, 18 00:01:09,459 --> 00:01:12,459 passing through the remembrances of bowing and prostration, 19 00:01:12,459 --> 00:01:15,459 and ending with the tashahhud. 20 00:01:15,459 --> 00:01:20,739 Expressions of a Servant's Veneration for Prayer 21 00:01:20,739 --> 00:01:25,079 For the status of prayer to be venerated in the heart of the believing servant, 22 00:01:25,079 --> 00:01:29,079 there are manifestations that are evident, firstly: 23 00:01:29,079 --> 00:01:32,079 loving the prayer, longing for it, 24 00:01:32,079 --> 00:01:35,079 and finding joy and relief in performing it, 25 00:01:35,079 --> 00:01:38,079 as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 26 00:01:38,079 --> 00:01:41,079 "And the delight of my eyes has been made in prayer." 27 00:01:41,079 --> 00:01:44,079 Related by Ahmad and al-Nasa'i. 28 00:01:44,079 --> 00:01:47,079 And among the seven whom Allah will shade 29 00:01:47,079 --> 00:01:50,079 under the shade of His Throne on the Day of Resurrection 30 00:01:50,079 --> 00:01:53,079 is a man whose heart is attached to the mosques. 31 00:01:53,079 --> 00:01:56,079 Muttafaq 'alayh (Agreed upon). 32 00:01:56,079 --> 00:01:59,079 Meaning, he longs for the prayer and for staying long inside the mosques. 33 00:01:59,079 --> 00:02:02,299 Secondly: 34 00:02:02,299 --> 00:02:05,299 preparing for its performance by fulfilling its prerequisites, 35 00:02:05,299 --> 00:02:08,300 such as bodily purification through ablution, 36 00:02:08,300 --> 00:02:11,300 cleaning the mouth with the siwak, 37 00:02:11,300 --> 00:02:14,300 ensuring the purity of one's clothing and place of prayer from impurities, 38 00:02:14,300 --> 00:02:17,300 covering the private parts, and adorning oneself properly. 39 00:02:17,300 --> 00:02:20,300 Allah the Exalted said: 40 00:02:20,300 --> 00:02:23,300 “O Children of Adam! Look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigal. Lo! He loveth not the prodigals.” (7:31) 41 00:02:23,300 --> 00:02:26,300 In human custom, 42 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:29,300 a person adorns himself before entering upon the great figures 43 00:02:29,300 --> 00:02:32,300 of this worldly life; 44 00:02:32,300 --> 00:02:35,300 therefore, he is even more deserving and duty-bound to adorn and prepare himself before prayer. 45 00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:38,300 For prayer is a direct connection between the servant and his Lord. 46 00:02:38,300 --> 00:02:41,500 Thirdly: 47 00:02:41,500 --> 00:02:44,500 arriving early for it, 48 00:02:44,500 --> 00:02:47,500 performing it in congregation at the mosque, 49 00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:50,590 and regularly maintaining its confirmed Sunnah prayers. 50 00:02:50,590 --> 00:02:53,590 Fourthly: 51 00:02:53,590 --> 00:02:56,590 establishing it properly with its essential pillars, obligatory acts, and Sunnahs. 52 00:02:56,590 --> 00:02:59,590 It is notable that the command in the Qur'an did not come merely as "pray", 53 00:02:59,590 --> 00:03:02,590 but rather as "establish the prayer": 54 00:03:02,590 --> 00:03:05,590 "And establish prayer," 55 00:03:05,590 --> 00:03:08,780 alongside many other verses to this effect. 56 00:03:08,780 --> 00:03:11,780 Fifthly: maintaining humility 57 00:03:11,780 --> 00:03:14,780 and tranquility during it, 58 00:03:14,780 --> 00:03:17,780 Allah the Exalted said: ﴿ Successful indeed are the believers ﴾ 59 00:03:17,780 --> 00:03:20,780 “Who are humble in their prayers,” (23:2) 60 00:03:20,780 --> 00:03:23,780 ﴿ who are humble in their prayers ﴾ and reflect upon its remembrances 61 00:03:23,780 --> 00:03:27,710 and what is recited during it from the Qur'an. 62 00:03:27,710 --> 00:03:30,710 Prayer is a connection between the servant and his Lord. 63 00:03:30,710 --> 00:03:34,479 A servant's prayer should be 64 00:03:34,479 --> 00:03:37,479 a genuine connection between him and his Lord, Glorified be He, 65 00:03:37,479 --> 00:03:40,479 felt deeply by his soul, 66 00:03:40,479 --> 00:03:43,479 from which the heart derives strength and tranquility, 67 00:03:43,479 --> 00:03:46,479 and in which the soul finds nourishing provision 68 00:03:46,479 --> 00:03:49,479 on the journey toward Allah. 69 00:03:49,479 --> 00:03:52,479 For this reason, whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 70 00:03:52,479 --> 00:03:55,479 was distressed by a matter, he would hasten to prayer, 71 00:03:55,479 --> 00:03:58,479 saying to Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him): 72 00:03:58,479 --> 00:04:01,479 "Relieve us with it, O Bilal." 73 00:04:01,479 --> 00:04:04,479 Related by Abu Dawud and authenticated by al-Albani. 74 00:04:04,479 --> 00:04:08,659 Prayer is the Companion of Patience 75 00:04:08,659 --> 00:04:12,530 Prayer is the companion of patience 76 00:04:12,530 --> 00:04:15,530 in enduring painful decrees, 77 00:04:15,530 --> 00:04:18,529 in remaining steadfast upon the command of Allah, 78 00:04:18,529 --> 00:04:21,529 and in exercising restraint against sins. 79 00:04:21,529 --> 00:04:24,529 Allah the Exalted said: 80 00:04:24,529 --> 00:04:27,529 “Seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard save for the humble-minded,” (2:45) 81 00:04:27,529 --> 00:04:30,529 However, this is not attained 82 00:04:30,529 --> 00:04:33,529 except by those who are humble in it, 83 00:04:33,529 --> 00:04:36,529 as stated in the verse. 84 00:04:36,529 --> 00:04:39,529 And Allah the Exalted also said: 85 00:04:39,529 --> 00:04:42,529 “Lo! man was created anxious,” (70:19) 86 00:04:42,529 --> 00:04:45,529 “Fretful when evil befalleth him” (70:20) 87 00:04:45,529 --> 00:04:48,529 “And, when good befalleth him, grudging;” (70:21) 88 00:04:48,529 --> 00:04:51,529 ﴿ Except the worshippers who are constant in their prayer ﴾ 89 00:04:52,529 --> 00:04:55,529 And the Exalted said: 90 00:04:55,529 --> 00:04:58,529 "And establish prayer; 91 00:04:58,529 --> 00:05:01,529 “Recite that which hath been inspired in thee of the Scripture, and establish worship. Lo! worship preserveth from lewdness and iniquity, but verily remembrance of Allah is more important. And Allah knoweth what ye do.” (29:45) 92 00:05:01,529 --> 00:05:05,779 indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing." 93 00:05:05,779 --> 00:05:09,509 Humility in Prayer 94 00:05:09,509 --> 00:05:12,509 In order to achieve humility in prayer, 95 00:05:12,509 --> 00:05:15,509 a person, when embarking upon it, should 96 00:05:15,509 --> 00:05:18,509 sever every distraction 97 00:05:18,509 --> 00:05:21,509 that might occupy his mind away from it; 98 00:05:21,509 --> 00:05:24,509 he should not pray while craving food, 99 00:05:24,509 --> 00:05:27,509 nor while overcome by drowsiness. 100 00:05:27,509 --> 00:05:30,509 Indeed, Allah the Exalted said: 101 00:05:30,509 --> 00:05:33,509 “O ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when ye are drunken, till ye know that which ye utter, nor when ye are polluted, save when journeying upon the road, till ye have bathed. And if ye be ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have touched women, and ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and rub your faces and your hands (therewith). Lo! Allah is Benign, Forgiving.” (4:43) 102 00:05:33,509 --> 00:05:36,509 ﴿ Do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying. ﴾ 103 00:05:36,509 --> 00:05:39,509 Thus, He made the wisdom behind prohibiting prayer 104 00:05:39,509 --> 00:05:42,509 during intoxication that an intoxicated person 105 00:05:42,509 --> 00:05:45,509 does not know what he is saying or doing. 106 00:05:45,509 --> 00:05:48,509 This also applies in the case of severe drowsiness, 107 00:05:48,509 --> 00:05:51,509 which prevents a person from praying while sleepy. 108 00:05:51,509 --> 00:05:54,509 He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 109 00:05:54,509 --> 00:05:57,509 "If one of you becomes drowsy while praying, 110 00:05:57,509 --> 00:06:00,509 let him leave off praying, for he might think 111 00:06:00,509 --> 00:06:03,509 he is asking for forgiveness while praying, but instead curse himself 112 00:06:03,509 --> 00:06:06,509 without realizing it." 113 00:06:06,509 --> 00:06:09,509 Narrated by Ibn Hibban, and it is authentic 114 00:06:09,509 --> 00:06:13,699 according to the criteria of Muslim. 115 00:06:13,699 --> 00:06:16,699 Evidence for the Obligation of Congregational Prayer 116 00:06:17,699 --> 00:06:21,399 The evidences for the obligation of congregational prayer 117 00:06:21,399 --> 00:06:24,399 are numerous and well-known, 118 00:06:24,399 --> 00:06:27,399 but among the strongest proofs for it— 119 00:06:27,399 --> 00:06:30,399 despite being overlooked by many people— 120 00:06:30,399 --> 00:06:33,500 is the prescribed manner of the Fear Prayer (Salat al-Khawf). 121 00:06:33,500 --> 00:06:36,500 The Fear Prayer has been legislated to be performed in congregation, 122 00:06:36,500 --> 00:06:39,500 despite taking forms and postures that involve 123 00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:42,500 concessions in acts that are normally obligatory in standard prayer, 124 00:06:42,500 --> 00:06:45,500 such as reducing the number of rak'ahs, excessive movement, 125 00:06:45,500 --> 00:06:48,500 and the like. 126 00:06:48,500 --> 00:06:51,500 The established jurisprudential rule dictates that when an obligation conflicts 127 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:54,500 with a recommended act, the obligation takes precedence over the recommended act. 128 00:06:54,500 --> 00:06:57,500 Thus, if congregational prayer were merely 129 00:06:57,500 --> 00:07:00,500 recommended, individual prayer would have been prioritized over it 130 00:07:00,500 --> 00:07:03,500 in order to preserve the mandatory elements of the prayer. 131 00:07:03,500 --> 00:07:06,500 Therefore, when these mandatory elements were set aside 132 00:07:06,500 --> 00:07:09,500 for the sake of performing the Fear Prayer in congregation, 133 00:07:09,500 --> 00:07:12,500 it clearly proved that congregational prayer 134 00:07:12,500 --> 00:07:15,500 is so mandatory that it overrides the preservation of certain other obligations of prayer.