Why does Allah (swt) say: (And to establish prayer), instead of ‘And to pay the Zakah’ or ‘And to go on the pilgrimage to the sacred house’ or ‘And to fast in Ramadhan’?

The answer: This is because, prayer is the pillar of faith, and whosoever straightens it has straightened the religion, whereas whosoever destroys it has destroyed the religion. Prayer too, is not only one of the five pillars of Islam, but in fact gathers all the other pillars in its midst. It is the continuance of one’s allegiance to Allah (swt) five times in the day and night. So, when a person hears the Mu’athen gives the call: Hayya ‘alas solah (Come to prayer), he should establish it, not just perform it. The difference between the two is that the former entails the person who is carrying it out to do it complete with all its conditions and with presence of heart, as Allah (swt) says in these verses:

 قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ (1) الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ

(Successful indeed are the believers. (1) Those who humble themselves in prayer;) (Al-Mu’minoon: 1-2)

The prayer is the only pillar of Islam which does not cease to be obligatory in any situation a person is in. If he is not able to carry it out standing, he carries it out while sitting. If he is not able to do it sitting down, he does it while lying down. If he is not able to perform it with his tongue, he performs it with his two eyes. If he is not able to take ablution with water, he performs the Tayammum. Whereas fasting is postponed (i.e., to be carried out later) for the sick and those travelling, and pilgrimage is obligatory on those who are capable and have the means of carrying it out, and Zakah is not obligatory on those whose wealth has not reached the Nisab (minimum amount). Therefore, there are exceptions to all of the other pillars of Islam, except prayer.

Moreover, as mentioned, prayer contains the other pillars of Islam in its folds. It has a portion of pilgrimage, as you will face the Ka’ba wherever you may be when praying. It contains a portion of fasting, as you cannot eat and drink while carrying it out. It contains a portion of Zakah, as Zakah consists of taking out a little of one’s wealth, while wealth is derived through working. And working is essence taking out a little of one’s time, while in prayer, one is using up a part of his time.

So, we can see that prayer gathers the other pillars of Islam in its folds and it shows our continuous allegiance to Allah (swt). This is also why, when the Prophet (saws) was alarmed, or afflicted with something, or grieved or worried, he would say:

“O Bilal, declare that the time for prayer has come, and give us rest by it.”[1]

As in prayer, a person is standing in front of Allah (swt).

Another specialty of prayer is that all the other pillars of Islam and acts of worship were enjoined upon mankind through the Angel Gabriel (PBUH), except prayer. Allah (swt) raised the Prophet (saws) to Sidratul Muntaha, to a place where no close angel nor dispatched Prophet had reached, and then enjoined upon him the prayer directly. Thus, prayer is the ascension of the hearts to the presence of the Knower of the unseen. Prayer is a special gift to the believers, as they can meet their Lord at any time, moment or even second, even when it is not time for prayer. To be standing in front of Allah (swt), they can just take ablution, face the Qibla and pray two cycles of prayer. However, presence of the heart is also required during prayer.

(… وَاتَّقُوهُ… ) (…and fear Him…): Fearing Allah (swt) means that a person refrains from everything that Allah (swt) forbids him from.

(  وَهُوَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ… ) (…And it is He to whom you will be gathered): On the Day of Gathering, all of us will be gathered together in front of our Lord, Most High, and we will be questioned. The first thing a person will be asked about on the Day of Standing is his prayer, as the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: 

“The first of his actions for which a servant of Allah will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayers. If they are in order, then he will have prospered and succeeded: and if they are wanting, then he will have failed and lost. If there is something defective in his obligatory prayers, the Lord (glorified and exalted be He) will say: See if My servant has any supererogatory prayers with which may be completed that which was defective in his obligatory prayers. Then the rest of his actions will be judged in like fashion.”[2]

In another verse, Allah (swt) says:

مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ

(What has landed you in Hell?) (Al-Mud’dather: 42)

The first answer will be:

 قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ

(They will reply, “We were not of those who prayed) (Al-Mud’dather: 43)

 

[1] Sunan Abi Dawud, The Book of Manners, Chapter: The prayers at night, Hadith No. 4985.

[2] Sunan At-Tirmidzi: The Book of the Chapters on Prayer, Chapter: The first of his actions for which a servant of Allah will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayers, Hadith No. 413.