The Excellence of Prayer

“I asked Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ’What is the best thing through which a servant of Allah may become closer to his Lord that is also most beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious?’ The Imam replied, 'I do not know anything after knowing (knowing Allah and His religion) more excellent than this prayer. Consider what the pious servant of Allah, Jesus son of Mary has said, “He (the Lord) has advised me to pray and pay Zakat as long as I live.'"

“I heard Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.) say 'The most beloved deed in the sight of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, is Salah (prayer). Prayer is the last item in the wills of the prophets. How nice it is for a man who performs Ghusl or Wudu’ properly and then moves away where no one can notice his presence when he is in Ruku’ or Sajdah! When a servant of Allah is in Sajdah which he prolongs, Iblis (Satan) will say crying, “Woe is on me, he (this servant of Allah) obeys Him but I disobeyed, he is doing Sajdah but I refused to do so!’"

“I heard al-Rida’ (a.s.), say, ’The condition wherein a servant of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, is nearest and closest to Him is in Sajdah. It is because of the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, “Prostrate (do Sajdah) and become close.’””

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘When a person praying stands up for Salah (prayer), mercy from the horizons of the sky descends upon him as well as from the horizons of earth, angels surround him and one angel says, “Had this person praying known what Salah (prayer) is he would not stop performing Salah (prayer).””’

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘When a believing servant of Allah stands up for Salah (prayer), Allah looks upon him - or he said that Allah turns toward him - as long as he is in his Salah (prayer). At such time, mercy covers him up to the horizons of the sky and angels surround him up to the horizons of the sky. Allah appoints an angel who stands up over his head and says, “O praying person, had you known who is looking at you, to who you are speaking and whispering, you would never turn away or leave this place.’””

“Abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), has said, ‘Salah (prayer) is a means for every pious person to getting nearer to Allah.’”

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Performing an obligatory Salah (prayer) is more virtuous than performing one Hajj. Performing one Hajj is more virtuous than giving in charity one whole house full of gold.’”

“Abu ’Abdillah (a.s.) has said that once a man passed by the Prophet (sw) while he was doing some work around one of his rooms. He asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, can I help you?’ He replied, ‘As you wish.’ When the work finished, the Messenger of Allah (sw) asked, ’Can I do anything for you?’ The man pleaded, ’(I want) Paradise!’ The Messenger of Allah (sw) looked into the sky then said, ‘Yes, (paradise is your reward).’ When he (the man) was leaving, he (the Prophet) said to him, ‘O servant of Allah, you must assist us by prolonging your Sajdah (prostration).’

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Salah (prayer) is like the poles of a tent. If the poles are established then the ropes, pegs and the covering work, but if the poles break, none of the ropes, pegs and covering work.

It is a reference to the Salah (prayer) of a believing person during the night that eliminate his bad deeds he has done during the day.

“Whoever Allah accepts even a single prayer from, He will not punish them, and whoever Allah accepts even one good deed from, He will not punish them.”

“Narrated to me the one who had heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Whoever performs a Salah (prayer) of two Rak’ah in which he is aware of what he says, when he finishes them no sin remains upon him before Allah.

“The Messenger of Allah (sw) said, ‘Salah (prayer) is a balance. Whoever maintains it balanced receives his part properly balanced.