Divine Gift

Valuing gifts is the way of the world. Particularly, when it is received from any great personality, it is kept with great care, and one takes pride in it. On the contrary, people do not hold good opinions about those who do not value the gifts or do not show gratitude to the giver. The gift that I want to draw your attention towards, is not from anyone in creation but rather it is gifted by the Creator of the universe. It was bestowed upon Muslims through the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  on the blessed night of Mi’raaj. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ called this gift ‘coolness of his eyes’. In the memorable sermon of Hajja-tul-Wada’, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  advised people to value this gift. A bondman, through this gift, can succeed in attaining the pleasure and closeness of his Lord عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Undoubtedly, that is none other than the great gift of Salah. In the 11^th year after the declaration of Nubuwwah, among all deeds, Salah was the first act of worship that was declared Fard in Islam. According to a blessed Hadees, blessed Ambiya عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام offer Salahs in their respective graves even now. On the blessed night of Mi’raaj, when the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  reached Masjid-ul-Aqsa, Salah was also offered there. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ , whenever confronted with any important matter, would offer Salah which is called “Salat-ul-Hajaat”. When a solar eclipse occurred, he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  would offer Salah. Once a drought occurred and people came to the court of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  complaining about the shortage of water, so he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  advised them to offer Salah called ‘Salat-ul-Istisqa’.

When Sayyiduna Rabee’ah Bin Ka’b Aslami رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ humbly expressed his wish to live in Jannah in the closeness of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ , he رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  was advised to offer Salah abundantly. Quranic Ayahs, blessed Ahadees, blessed companions رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُم and leading Islamic scholars have highlighted the importance of Salah but unfortunately a majority of Muslims does not value this Divine gift. In the present era, most Muslims do not offer Salah and even many of those who offer Salah do not recite the Holy Quran correctly. They are unaware of necessary Islamic rulings on Salah. Those who do not value gifts given by people are considered to be inconsiderate and ungracious. So now ponder! If a person does not value the gift given by his Creator, then how unfortunate and ungracious he will be considered by Shari’ah! One who does not offer Salah not only deprives himself of the blessings and virtues of Salah but also deserves the punishment of the world and Hereafter.

What will happen to the one who does not offer Salah?

In the first place, the faces of Salah-missing people will be blackened. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will make him fall into Hell headlong. There is no more blessing in his age; there is no more a sign of the righteous on his face; his Du’a does not go up to the Heavens; he has no share in the Du’as of righteous people; he will die in disgrace; he will die in the state of thirst and hunger; his grave will be narrowed until his ribs will get penetrated into each other; in his grave, fire will blaze in which he will keep rolling over the flames of fire day and night; a serpent will be inflicted on him in his grave; following words in three lines will be written on his face: (1) O the one who violated the rights of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ (2) O the one who particularly deserves the displeasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ (3) As you violated the rights of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in the world, you will be disappointed of the mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ today.

There is a valley in Hell named ‘Lamlam’ [لَمْلَم] which has snakes in it. Each snake will be as huge as the size of a camel and will be as long as one month’s journey. It will bite the one who does not offer Salah and the effect of its poison will exist in the body for 70 years. Thereafter, his flesh will melt. (Derived from: Bahar-e-Shari’at; Mukashafa-tul-Quloob)

Imam of Ahl-us-Sunnah, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘Ono who misses even one Salah deliberately deserves Hell for thousands of years unless he makes repentance and offers its Qada. If Muslims abandon him (the Salah-missing person) altogether, give up talking to him and sitting with him, then he certainly deserves to be treated like this.’ (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 9, pp. 158)

Blessings and virtues of Salah at a glance

٭   Salah is the source of attaining the pleasure and closeness of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

٭   At the time of the weighing of deeds, Salah will be a proof and evidence for the Salah-offering person.

٭   Salah is the cause of the Masjid being beautified and frequented.

٭   Salah contains all the acts of worship performed by angels.

٭   Salah prevents one from indecency and adultery.

٭   Salah removes calamities and brings salvation.

٭   Salah is the best means of getting rid of difficulties.

٭   Salah turns sorrow into peace.

٭   Salah removes pride and arrogance.

٭   Salah instils Divine fear into the Salah-offering person.

٭   Salah removes poverty and deprivation.

٭   Salah enables a bondman to be privileged with mentioning Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ as well as with being mentioned by the Merciful Lord.

٭   Salah is a weapon of Muslims and it is a strong fort that provides them with protection.

٭   Salah turns darkness of the grave into light.

٭   Those who offer Salah are mentioned in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ every morning and evening.

٭   Angels of mercy cover those who offer Salah.

٭   Gates of Jannah are opened for Salah-offering people.

٭   Veils between Salah-offering people and Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ are removed.

٭   It is mentioned in ‘Awarif-ul-Ma’arif that there are four different positions in Salah: Qiyam, Qu’ood, Ruku’ and Sujood.

There are six kinds of Zikrs in Salah: Reciting the Glorious Quran, reciting Tasbih, glorifying Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, seeking forgiveness, making Du’a and reciting Salat upon the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ .

These are ten things in total each of which has been separately assigned to ten rows of angels. There are 10000 angels in each row. Therefore, two Rak’aat of Salah contain what has been separately assigned to one hundred thousand angels. (Derived from: Hamari Namaz – authored by Mufti Khaleel Khan Barakati)

On one occasion, Shaykh-e-Tareeqat, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat دَامَتْ بَرَكَاتُـهُمُ الْعَالِيَـه said: Indeed Dawat-e-Islami is a Masjid-filling movement i.e., Islamic brothers attend Masajid, offer Salah and make others offer Salah and kindle the light of devotion to the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  in their hearts, becoming an embodiment of Sunnah.

It is my request to all devotees of Rasool to perform five times Salah with Jama’at and with the first Takbeer in the first row. Moreover, valuing this Divine gift, make other Muslims offer Salah by calling them towards righteousness.