Virtues of Prayer Chapter 1 - Importance of Prayer / Solah

Hadith 3

Hadhrat Abu Uthman (Radhiyallaho anho) says: "I was once sitting under a tree with
Hadhrat Salmaan (Radhiyallaho anho). He caught hold of a dry branch of the tree and
shook it till all its leaves fell off. He then said to me, "O, Abu Uthman! (Radhiyallaho
anho) Will you not ask me why I am doing this?" "Do tell me," I entreated. He said, "The
Apostle of Allah had done exactly like this before me, while I was with him under a tree.
He caught a dry branch of it and shook it, till all its leaves fell off". At this he said: 'O,
Salmaan! (Radhiyallaho anho) will you not ask me why I am doing this?' I replied: 'Do
tell me why you are doing this?' He remarked: "Verily when a Muslim takes wudhu
(ablution) properly and then observes his salaat five times a day, his sins fall off just as
these leaves have fallen off.” He then recited the following verse of the Holy Qur'an:

"Establish salaat at the two ends of the day, and at the approaches of the night.
Verily, good deeds annul ill deeds. This is a reminder for the mindful.” (XI: 114)
(Ahmad, Tabrani, Nasa’i)

The behaviour of Hadhrat Salmaan (Radhiyallaho anho) in the above hadith displays the
profound love which the Sahabah had for the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). They
would often cherish the sweet memories of the time when the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) was living among them. They would, while quoting him, enact exactly what they had
seen him doing at a particular moment.
Virtues of Prayer Chapter 1 - Importance of Prayer / Solah

It is really very difficult to cover all the traditions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam), which deal with the importance of salaat and which declare forgiveness for those who
guard it. As had already been said before, the theologians restrict this declaration of forgiveness
to saghaa'ir (minor sins) only, but in the text of the hadith there is no such restriction. My learned
father gave me two reasons for this. Firstly, it does not really become a Muslim to commit any of
the kabaa'ir (major sins). If perchance any such sins are committed by him, he cannot rest in
peace (due to inherent fear of Allah in him) until he washes them with his tears of repentance in
crying before Allah. Secondly, the person who performs his salaat with sincerity and
thoroughness is very likely to do istighfaar quite a number of times daily. Look for instance at the
closing prayer of salaat itself, viz:

"O, My Lord! I have wronged my soul a great wrong, and none forgiveth sins save Thou alone.
Then forgive me and have mercy on me. Verily, Thou art the Forgiving, the Merciful."

In the above hadith, mention is made of wudhu to be done properly. We should, therefore, be sure
of the regulations about wudhu and try to observe all of these. For example, take the case of
miswaak. It is sunnat of wudhu, but is very often neglected. It is said in a hadith that the salaat
offered after doing miswaak is seventy times superior to the salaat without miswaak. In another
hadith, use of miswaak has been enjoined very strongly, and the following benefits are attributed
to it:-

"It cleanses and sweetens the mouth and checks its bad smell."

"It is a cause of Allah's pleasure and a blow to the Devil."

"Allah and his angels love the person doing miswaak."

"It strengthens the gums and improves eye-sight."

"It is a purge against bile and phlegm."

To crown all, "It is a sunnah i.e. the practice of our beloved Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam)."

As many as seventy virtues of the miswaak have been enumerated by the theologians. It is said
that a person in the habit of miswaak dies with the Kalimah on his lips. The rewards of taking
wudhu properly are very many. It is mentioned in ahaadith that the parts of body washed in
wudhu shall glitter on the Day of Judgement and, by this (distinction), the Prophet (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam) will at once recognise his followers.

Link: http://islamvirtues.blogspot.com

Direck link: http://islamvirtues.blogspot.com/2008/11/virtues-of-prayer-hadith-3.html