الأربعون في تعظيم قدر الصلاة

Al-Arba‘oon

In highlighting the great status of the prayer

Select and Arrangement

Abdul-Karim ibn 'Awad as-Sulami

The Imam and Khateeb of Masjid Al-Ijabah

Makkah

Introduction

Praise be to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the wickedness of our souls and from our evil deeds. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whoever He misguides, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 102] To proceed:

Compiling forty Hadīths from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) on a particular branch of knowledge is a practice of the pious predecessors of this Ummah. [1] By the grace of Allah, the Almighty, these forty Hadīths have been selected despite the abundance of Hadīths concerning prayer found in the two Sahihs or one of them, or those authenticated or deemed good by the scholars of Hadīth. [2] [1] Such as the Forty by Ibn Al-Mubarak (d. 181 AH) in the Noble Hadīth, and the Forty Nawawi by Abu Zakariya An-Nawawi (d. 676 AH). [2] Such as Imām Al-Bukhāri (d. 256 AH) and Imām Muslim (d. 261 AH), and among contemporaries, Shaykh Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albāni (d. 1420 AH) and Shaykh Shu'ayb al-Arna'ūṭ (d. 1438 AH).

The compilation of this work, the selection of Hadīths, and their arrangement took eight years, with the participation of several researchers and seekers of religious knowledge. I ask Allah, the Exalted, to make its reward inclusive for everyone who contributed to it or assisted in its printing, dissemination, and teaching.

Abdul-Karim ibn 'Awad as-Sulami

Monday, 13/7/1446 A.H.

Makkah

1-

The Second Pillar:

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Islam was built on five: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving Zakah, Hajj, and fasting Ramadan. [Agreed upon]

(2)

‘Imaaduddin

Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "I was with the Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, on a journey. One morning, I was close to him as we traveled, so I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, inform me of an action which will cause me to enter Paradise and keep me far from Hell.' He, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, said: You have asked me about a great matter, and it is easy for those whom Allah makes it easy for. Worship Allah without associating anything with Him, establish the prayer, give Zakah, fast Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House." Then he said: "Shall I not guide you to the gates of goodness? Fasting is a shield, charity extinguishes sins as water extinguishes fire, and a man's prayer in the middle of the night." Then he recited: {Their sides forsake their beds} until he reached {what they used to do} [Surat as-Sajdah: 16-17]. Then he said: "Shall I inform you of the head of the whole matter, its pillar, and its peak?" I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and its peak is Jihad. [Narrated by At-Tirmidhi; classified as Sahīh (authentic) by Al-Albāni] [3] al-Junnah: Shields. [4] i.e., withdraw: move aside and keep away. [5] Al-Madaji‘: the beds and cushions. The peak: the upper fat of the camel.

(3)

The last of what is lost.

Abu ’Umāmah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: The bonds of Islam will be undone one by one. Whenever one bond is undone, people will hold on to the one that follows it. The first of them to be undone is governance, and the last of them is the prayer. [Narrated by Ibn Hibbān; classified as Sahīh (authentic) by Al-Albāni] 7. Handle: The handle mentioned here is the grip used for the bucket and the jug.

(4)

Abandoning it is disbelief.

Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: What stands between a man and polytheism and disbelief is the abandonment of the prayers. [Narrated by Muslim]

(5)

The Final Al-wasiyya (instruction)

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The last advice of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) while his chest was gurgling with it, and his tongue could barely utter it, was: Prayer, prayer, and be mindful of Allah regarding those whom your right hands possess. [Narrated by Ibn Hibbān; classified as Sahīh (authentic) by Al-Albāni] [8] Yugharrir: "Ghargharah" is the wavering sound of the breath at the time of death.

(6)

al-‘Ahd of Allah.

‘Ubādah ibn as-Sāmit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: There are five prayers Allah has ordained upon His servants. Whoever perfects their ablution, prays them at their appointed times, and completes their bowing, prostration, and humility, has a guarantee with Allah to forgive him. And whoever does not do so has no guarantee with Allah; if He wills, He will forgive him, and if He wills, He will punish him. [Narrated by Ahmad; classified by Al-Albāni as Sahīh (Authentic)] [9] Covenant: promise, wasiyyah (a will), and command.

(7)

‘The ordinance of As-samaa (Sky)’

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, enjoined fifty prayers upon my Ummah. I returned with this until I passed by Mūsa, who asked: 'What has Allah enjoined upon your Ummah?' I replied: 'He has enjoined fifty prayers.' He said: 'Return to your Lord, for your Ummah will not be able to bear this.' So I returned, and He reduced it by half. I went back to Mūsa and said: 'He has reduced it by half.' He said: 'Return to your Lord, for your Ummah will not be able to bear this.' So I returned, and He reduced it by half again. I went back to him, and he said: 'Return to your Lord, for your Ummah will not be able to bear this.' So I returned, and He said: 'They are five, and they are fifty. My Word cannot be changed.' I returned to Mūsa, and he said: 'Return to your Lord.' I said: 'I feel ashamed before my Lord.' [Agreed upon]

(8)

al-Monaajah

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: When the believer is in prayer, he is indeed in intimate conversation with his Lord." [10] [Agreed upon] [10] Yunāji: to address and speak, originally: munājāh is secret communication between two people.

(9)

Al-mafza‘

Sohaib ibn Sinan (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: When they were alarmed, they would hasten to prayer." This refers to the prophets. [Narrated by Ahmad; classified by Al-Albāni as Sahīh (Authentic)] [11] Yafza'oon: from 'faza' which is: fear and panic from something.

(10)

Instructing a child in prayer

Sabrāh ibn Ma‘bad (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Command a young boy to pray when he reaches the age of seven, and beat him for not praying when he turns ten. [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Al-Albāni classified it as Sahīh (authentic)]

(11)

EVEN OVER THE Marīd

‘Imrān ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was suffering from hemorrhoids (piles); so I asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the prayer and he said: Pray standing; if you cannot, then sitting; if you cannot, then lying on your side. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]

(12)

The Dearest Deeds

‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I asked the Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him: “Which deed is dearest to Allah?” He said: Offering prayer at its appointed time." He said: "Then what?" He said: "Dutifulness to one's parents." He said: "Then what?" He said: "Jihad in the way of Allah. [Agreed upon]

[13]

The angels bear witness.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Angels take turns among you by night and by day, and they all assemble at the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers. Then those angels who spend the night among you ascend, and their Lord asks them, although He knows best about them: 'How did you leave My servants?' They say: 'We left them while they were praying and we came to them while they were praying.' [Agreed upon] [12] They succeed one another: a group comes after another group. [13] Ya‘ruj: ascends.

(14)

Light, an argument [in one's favor], and salvation

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned prayer one day and said: Whoever observes it regularly, it will be for him a light, an argument in his favor, and salvation on the Day of Judgment; and whoever does not observe it regularly, he will have no light, no argument in his favor, and no salvation, and he will be on the Day of Judgment with Qārūn (Korah), Pharaoh, Hamān, and Ubayy ibn Khalaf. [Narrated by Ahmad; Al-Arna'oot classified it as Hasan (sound)] [14] Proof: Argument and evidence.

(15)

As if he were born anew

‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah al-Sulami (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he asked the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) about ablution, and he said: When one of you begins ablution, rinses his mouth and sniffs water into his nostrils, the sins committed by his face, mouth, and nostrils are washed out. Then, when he washes his face as commanded by Allah, the sins of his face are washed out with the water from the tips of his beard. Then, he washes his hands up to the elbows and the sins of his hands are washed out with the water from his fingertips. Then, he passes his wet hands over his head and the sins of the head are washed out with the water from the ends of his hair. Then, he washes his feet up to the ankles and the sins of his feet are washed out with the water from his toes. Then, if he stands up for prayer and praises Allah, glorifies Him, proclaims His greatness as He deserves and devotes his heart wholly to Allah, he emerges sin-free as the day his mother gave birth to him. [Narrated by Muslim] [15] To fall: to descend.

[16]

Running river.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: Tell me, if there were a river at the door of one of you wherein he takes a bath five times a day, would any of his filthiness remain?" They said: "No, nothing of his filthiness would remain." He said: "That is like the five prayers, by which Allah erases sins. [Agreed upon] [16] Filthiness: dirt.

(17)

Companionship of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in Paradise

Rabī‘ah ibn Ka‘b al-Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I used to spend the night with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), and I would bring him his water for ablution and his needs. He said to me: "Ask of me." I said: "I ask for your companionship in Paradise." He said: "Anything else?" I said: "That is all." He said: "Then help me in your request by making a lot of prostration. [Narrated by Muslim]

(18)

Expiation for sins

‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: No Muslim person who, when an obligatory prayer becomes due, perfects its ablution, humility, and bowing except that it becomes an expiation for the sins that preceded it as long as he has not committed a major sin, and this applies to all times. [Narrated by Muslim]

(19)

Qurrah of the ‘Ayn

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “From this world, women and perfume have been made beloved to me, and my comfort has been provided in prayer.” [17] [Narrated by An-Nasā’i; Al-Albāni classified it as Hasan (sound)] [17] Qurratu Al-‘Ayn: that which brings tranquility, i.e., coolness.

(20)

Give us comfort by it.

Salmān ibn Khālid (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: O Bilāl, call the Iqāmah for the prayer; give us comfort by it. [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Al-Albāni classified it as Sahīh (authentic)]

(21)

He will not enter Hellfire.

‘Umārah ibn Ru’aybah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: He who prays before sunrise and before sunset will not enter Hellfire. [Narrated by Muslim] [18] Penetrates: enters.

[22]

Success and salvation

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: Indeed, the first of man's deeds for which he will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayer. If it is found to be perfect, he will be safe and successful; but if it is defective, he will be unfortunate and a loser. If any shortcoming is found in his obligatory prayer, the Almighty Lord will say: 'See whether My servant has offered any voluntary prayer to make up for the deficiency in the obligatory prayer.' Then, the rest of his deeds will be treated in the same manner. [Narrated by At-Tirmidhi; classified as Sahīh (authentic) by Al-Albāni]

[23]

Effect of Sujūd (Prostration)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: When Allah wills to show mercy to those among the people of Hell whom He desires, He commands the angels to bring out those who used to worship Allah. They will be brought out, recognized by the marks of prostration. Allah has forbidden the Fire to consume the marks of prostration. Thus, they will emerge from the Fire, for the Fire consumes all of the son of Adam except the marks of prostration. [Agreed upon]

(24)

Is apprehensive of Me

‘Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: Your Lord wonders at a shepherd of goats who calls to prayer at the peak of a mountain, and offers prayer. Allah Almighty says: 'Look at this servant of Mine; he calls to prayer and offers it, fearing Me. So, I forgive My servant and admit him to Paradise.' [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Al-Albāni classified it as Sahīh (authentic)] [19] The shard: a piece elevated at the top of the mountain.

(25)

‘Through their prayers, you are granted victory.’”

Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Indeed, Allah grants victory to this nation through its weak ones, by their supplications, prayers, and sincerity.” [Narrated by An-Nasā’i; classified as Sahīh (authentic) by Al-Albāni]

(26)

Two Rak‘ahs are more beloved to him.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a grave and said: Who is the owner of this grave?" They replied: "So-and-so." He said: "Two units of prayer are more beloved to this person than the remainder of your worldly life. [Narrated by At-Tabarāni; Al-Albāni classified it as Sahīh (authentic)]

(27)

UNTIL YOU ARE NOT LATE.

‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “People continue to fall behind from the first row until Allah puts them behind.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Al-Albāni classified it as Sahīh (authentic)]

(28)

Two Freedoms of Liability

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever performs prayer for Allah for forty days in congregation, catching the first Takbīr, shall have two absolutions: absolution from Hellfire and absolution from hypocrisy. [Narrated by At-Tirmidhi; classified as Hasan (sound) by Al-Albāni] Two types of "Barā’ah": from "bara’a" meaning: to be cleared from something, to distance oneself from it, and to abandon it.

29

{As long as they establish prayer among you}

‘Awf ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: The best of your leaders are those whom you love and who love you, and who invoke Allah’s blessings upon you and you invoke His blessings upon them. And the worst of your leaders are those whom you hate and they hate you, and whom you curse and they curse you." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah, should we not fight them with the sword?" He said: "No, as long as they establish prayer amongst you. And if you see something from your rulers that you dislike, dislike his action, and do not withdraw your hand from obedience. [Narrated by Muslim] [21] We oppose them: we defend against them and distance ourselves from them.

(30)

That Muslim

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever performs our prayer, faces our Qiblah, and eats our slaughtered animals, is the Muslim who has the protection of Allah and the protection of His Messenger, so do not betray Allah in His protection. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri] [22] Covenant: pledge, guarantee, and security.

(31)

“A guarantee for Paradise.”

‘Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: There is no Muslim who performs ablution well and then stands and prays two Rak‘ahs while focused on them with his heart and his face, except that Paradise will be guaranteed for him. [Narrated by Muslim]

(32)

Ihsān in the Manner of Prayer

Abu Humayd as-Saa‘idi (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I was the most mindful among you of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). I saw him, when he made Takbīr, place his hands at the level of his shoulders. When he bowed, he placed his hands firmly on his knees, then straightened his back. When he raised his head, he stood upright until every vertebra returned to its place. When he prostrated, he placed his hands without spreading them or clenching them, and directed the tips of his toes towards the Qiblah. When he sat after two units of prayer, he sat on his left leg and kept the right one upright. In the final sitting, he brought forward his left leg, kept the other upright, and sat on his seat. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri] [23] i.e., parallel. [24] it means he bent it firmly, keeping his neck and back straight without arching.

(33)

Congregation... Congregation

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, I have almost intended to order for firewood to be collected, then order the prayer to be established, and appoint a man to lead the people in prayer, and then I would go to some men and burn their houses upon them. By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, if one of them knew that he would receive a bone covered with meat or two pieces of meat present in between two ribs, he would attend the ‘Ishā’ prayer. [Agreed upon] [25] [I differ: I go] [26] A bone with a small amount of flesh remaining on it. [27] Marmātayn: dual of Marmāh, which is the hoof of the sheep, i.e., its foot.

(34)

There is no expiation for it except that.

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever forgets a prayer should perform it once he remembers it, and there is no expiation for it except this. [Agreed upon]

35

The buzzing of the millstone

‘Abdullāh ibn ash-Shikhkhīr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, praying and making a sound like the rumbling of a mill because of weeping, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him. [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Al-Albāni classified it as Sahīh (authentic)] [28] Azīz: The sound of a boiling pot. [Surat ar-Rahā: 29]

(36)

Completion of the Rukū‘ and Sujūd

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, a man may pray for sixty years, yet not a single prayer is accepted from him. Perhaps he completes the bowing but not the prostration, or completes the prostration but not the bowing. [Narrated by Al-Asbahāni; classified by Al-Albāni as Hasan (sound)]

(37)

Between Me and My slave

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: Allah Almighty said: 'I have divided prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.' When the servant says, '{All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds}', Allah Almighty says: 'My servant has praised Me.' And when he says, '{The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful}', Allah Almighty says: 'My servant has extolled Me.' And when he says, '{Master of the Day of Judgment}', Allah Almighty says: 'My servant has glorified Me' - And He also says: 'My servant entrusted his affairs to Me' - And when he says, '{You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help}', He says: 'This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.' And when he says, '{Guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom You have blessed; not of those who incurred Your Wrath, or of those who went astray}', He says: 'This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.' [Narrated by Muslim]

(38)

Prostrate and draw near.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: The nearest a servant is to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so increase supplication. [Narrated by Muslim]

(39)

You will see your Lord.

Jarīr ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were in the presence of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when he looked at the moon when it was full, and he said: Indeed, you will see your Lord just as you see this moon, without any difficulty in seeing Him. So, if you could avoid missing a prayer before sunrise and before sunset, then do so." Then, he recited: {And glorify your Lord with praise before sunrise and before sunset.} [Surah Q: 39]. [Agreed upon] [30] do not crowd one another: do not jostle.

(40)

Go back and pray, for you have not prayed.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) entered the mosque. A man entered, prayed, and greeted the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), who returned the greeting and said: Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." He went back and prayed as he had prayed, then he came and greeted the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He said: "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed," three times. So, he said: By the One Who sent you with the truth, I cannot do better than that. So teach me. He said: "When you stand to pray, say Takbīr (Allāhu Akbar), then recite whatever you can of the Qur’an; then bow until you are at ease in bowing; then rise until you are standing up straight; then prostrate until you are at ease in prostration; and then sit up until you are at ease in sitting. Do that throughout your prayer. [Agreed upon]