Salat; The Key to Jannah.
And seek assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely it is a hard thing except for the humble ones. (2:45)
And keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and whatever good you send before for yourselves, you shall find it with Allah; surely Allah sees what you do. (2:110)
A Salat performed in the Prophet’s Mosque is better than a thousand salats in any other place except Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. (Bukhari and Muslim)The person, who offers 40 prayers consecutively in my Mosque, without missing a prayer in between, will secure immunity from the fire of Hell and other torments and also from hypocrisy." - reported by Anas ibn Malik RadhiAllahu anhu in Ahmad and Tab’raani collections.
This key to Jannah, Salat, prayer, is the most treasured gift for the believer, the only command brought from Jannah by our Noble Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. The intimate closeness to our Rabb. Our spiritual nourishment, our solace in the face of all hardships, the source of all goodness, the gift of success in this Dunya and the Akhira. "Come to Salat, come to success," reverberating waves of this call palpitating perpetually across the entire globe, a conduit to the beating of hearts, tranquility for the soul. The key to all success, the key to Jannah.
A selection of Ahadith expounding some of the virtues the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam taught about his love for "Salat; the comfort of his eyes."
"Salat was the first and the foremost thing ordained by Allah, and it shall be the first and the foremost thing to be reckoned for on the Day of Judgement."
"Fear Allah in the matter of Salat! "Fear Allah in the matter of Salat! "Fear Allah in the matter of Salat!"
"Salat intervenes between man and Shirk."
"Salat is the mark of Islam, A person who says his Salat at the fixed hours with sincerity and devotion, observing all its regulations including the Mustahabbat, is surely a Mu’min."
"Of all things that have been ordained by Allah, Iman ansd Salat are the most valued. If there were any other thing better than Salat, the Allah would have ordained it for His Angels, some of whom are always in Ruku and Sajdah."
"Salat is the pillar of Islam."
"Salat abases the Shaytan."
"Salat is the light of a Mu’min."
"Salat is the best Jihad."
"Allah keeps relenting towards a person so long as he is engaged in Salat."
"When a calamity befalls us from Jannah, people frequenting the Masjid are spared and saved."
"If some major sins of a Muslim land him in Jahannam, the fire would not burn those parts of his body which have touched the ground while he was in Sajdah during his Salat."
"Fire has been forbidden to touch those parts of the body which touch the ground while performing Sajdah."
"Of all practices, Salat made at fixed hours is most loved by Allah."
"Salat is the key to Jannah."
"When a person stands in Salat the gates of Paradise are let open and all the veils between him and Allah are lifted."
"A person in Salat knocks at the door of the sovereign Lord, and the door is always open for him who knocks."
"The position of Salat in Islam is as the position of the head in a body."
"Salat is the light of the heart. Let those who wish enlighten their hearts (through Salat)"
"If a person wishes to have his sins forgiven by Allah, he should perform Wudhu properly, offer with devotion two or four Rak’aats of Fardh or Nafl and then pray to Allah. Allah will forgive him."
"Any strip of earth, on which Allah is remembered in Salat takes pride over the rest of the Earth."
"Allah accepts the prayers of a person who prays to Him after performing two Rak’aats of Salat. Allah grants him what he prays for, sometimes immediately and sometimes (in his own interest) later."
"Though a man performs the whole Salat, he may get credit for half of it, or a third, a quarter, a fifth, a sixth or a tenth. A man gets credit only for that part of his Salat of which he is conscious."
"Indeed the five prayers remove sins, just as water removes dirt."
"Allah will have no mercy on the Day of Resurrection, for that servant of His who does not straighten his spine between bowing and prostration."
"All praise belongs to God, Who has lavished His favours on His servants, filling their hearts with the light of religion and its duties, sent down from the Throne of Glory to the heaven of this world by the steps of mercy. One mark of His compassion: in contrast to earthly kings, though majesty and might belong to Him Alone, He urges people to bring Him their requests and pleas, saying: "Will anyone call, that I may answer him> Will anyone seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?" Unlike the rulers of this world, He keeps an open door and does not screen Himself away. He allows His servants to converse with Him intimately in their Prayers, under all circumstances, he they in congregation or in isolation. How different are those feeble worldly kings, who grant an audience only when they have received a gift or bribe!
Glory be to Him, therefore, so grand in His sublimity, so Strong in His authority, so Perfect in His graciousness, so All-embracing in His goodness. Blessings and salutations to Muhammad, His chosen prophet and selected friend, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and to his family and companions, Radhiallahu anhum, those keys of right guidance and lanterns in the dark."
Jazakallahu khairan katheeran abada to young Ismail for his expressive and vibrant drawing of a prayer mat! SubhanAllah! May Allah Ta’ala guide him and all our little Muslimeen to the joy of Salat, and hence the key to Jannah. Ameen.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.
