Now we move to the attributes related to physical actions:

( الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ) (The ones who establish prayer): Establishing prayer is one of the pillars of religion as the Prophet (saws) indicated. In the Hadith, a man asked the Prophet (saws):

“O Messenger of Allah, what is the most beloved deed to Allah in Islam?” The Prophet replied, “To perform the prayer at its appointed time. Whoever neglects the prayer has no religion, and the prayer is the pillar of the religion.”[1]

Prayer encompasses all the pillars and is the only act of worship that no Muslim is not exempted from. When someone is not able to pray standing, then he prays sitting; if he cannot sit, he prays lying down; and if that is not possible, he can pray with just his eyes. If one cannot perform ablution, he should resort to dry ablution. Therefore, prayer is applicable in all circumstances and at all times. Allah (swt) says:

 إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا

(Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.) (An-Nisaa: 103)

As mentioned, prayer involves elements of other pillars. During prayer, we are observing fasting because we refrain from eating and drinking, and we engage in a partial aspect of pilgrimage as we face the honored Ka’ba. Additionally, by proclaiming the two testimonies of faith during prayer, we affirm the Oneness of Allah (swt) and the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (saws). Moreover, prayer embodies an aspect of charity as it involves allocating a portion of our time, considering time as the essence of wealth, which is the basis of charity.

( وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ) (and from what We have provided them, they spend): The second matter that accompanies prayer is paying alms (Zakat). Allah (swt) says:

 وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ

(And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised.) (Adhaariyat: 22)

As long as we believe that our sustenance is in the heavens, every time we spend, this provision increases. That is expressed by the Prophet (saws):

“ I swear by Allah for three (qualities): The wealth of a man will not diminish by Sadaqah (charity)…”[2]

The provision does not mean just the money; knowledge is also a kind of provision. When someone is granted with knowledge and spends it by teaching others, similarly, when a person is granted with wealth and he gives out of it a charity…. and so on.

[1] Shu’ab Al-Imaan, Chapter 21, No. 2807.

[2] Musnad Al-Bazzar, first volume, no. 1032.