The following is some advice to help you preserve and safeguard your prayer, and perform it in a proper manner, which makes it more likely to be accepted,


• Perform Wudhoo’ (ablution) properly because the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Allah made compulsory upon Himself to Admit into Paradise any Muslim who properly performed Wudhoo’, then prays two Rak’ah with attentiveness and submissiveness.” [Muslim].


• Leave your house in the state of Wudhoo’ because the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “The one who leaves his house in a state of Wudhoo’ to perform an obligatory prayer will get the reward of pilgrimage.” [Ahmad].


• Be keen to perform it as soon as its time is due because the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “The best of deeds is performing prayer on its due time” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


• Be keen to perform it with the congregation because the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Prayer with the congregation is twenty seven multiples better than praying alone.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


• Be keen to reach before the Imam utters the initial Allahu Akbar because the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Whosoever prays forty days with the congregation, attending the initial (Allahu Akbar) of the prayer, will be free of two things: Hell Fire and hypocrisy.” [Ahmad]


• Be keen to walk to the mosque because the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Give glad tidings to those who walk to the mosque during dark with complete light on the Day of Resurrection.” [Abu Dawood and At-Tirmithi]


• Be attentive with your heart while performing prayer.


• Wait in the mosque for the next prayer as often as you can because the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said when he mentioned the seven whom Allah The Almighty will protect under the shade of His throne: “A man whose heart is attached to mosques.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


• Learn the rulings of prayer and the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ).


• Perform the regular optional prayers at home because the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “The best prayer is the one performed at home except the obligatory prayer.” [At-Tabarani]


• Beware of staying up late at night because you are likely to miss the Fajr prayer.


• Beware of eating, drinking and laughing too much, because this makes performing prayer heavier on the heart.


• Set your alarm for Fajr or get someone to call you to wake up for prayer.


• Ponder upon the verses recited during the prayer.


• Read about the Salaf (righteous predecessors) and their ambition and keenness to guard prayer.


• Think about the glory of Allah The Almighty before you start praying.


• Always say the recommended supplications and remembrance after prayers, and do not leave the mosque before finishing them.


Ibn Al-Qayyim  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said,


‘There are five ranks of people in relation to prayer,


First, is he who transgresses against himself by neglecting parts of Wudhoo’, its timings and some of its conditions; and he will be punished.


Second, is he who maintains its timings and conditions, but his mind is occupied during prayer; and he will be questioned.


Third, is he who maintains its timings and conditions and all its rights and struggles against himself not to become busy thinking of something else; so he is in a state of Jihad while praying; and he will forgiven.


Fourth, is he whose heart is fully consumed by praying during his prayer, and his main concern is establishing it properly and perfectly, and he is in a state of servitude to his Lord; and he will be rewarded.


Fifth, is he who does as the fourth, but in addition he sets his heart in the Hands of his Lord, watchful of his Lord, glorifying and honoring Him as if he can see his Lord; his mind is concentrated on praying; and this type is far higher than any other rank; and he is close to his Lord and will have the pleasure of being close to his Lord in the Hereafter .’


Which one of these five ranks do you fit in? Hold yourself accountable and weigh it according to your performance of prayer, because it is an accurate scale.


Ways to glorify the status of prayer:


1. Perform it on time.


2. Perfect its conditions and compulsory acts.


3. Rush to perform it.


4. Feel sorrow if any portion was performed improperly, like the one who becomes saddened for not performing it with the congregation because he missed out on the twenty-seven multiples of reward; or if he was inattentive during prayer, for a prayer without complete submission is like a body without a soul.


The virtues of the congregational prayer:


Performing the (obligatory) prayers in congregation is mandatory and required of every believing adult male who has no excuse for not doing so. Many authentic Ahadeeth highlight the superiority and excellence of praying in congregation. Among these Ahadeeth are:


The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: "The prayer in congregation is superior to the prayer performed individually by twenty-seven degrees." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) also said: "The prayer of a man in congregation is twenty-five times more superior (in reward) to his prayer in his house or market - and this is because he performs ablution and perfects it and goes to the mosque with the sole purpose of performing the prayer. He does not take a step without being raised a degree and having one of his sins erased. When he prays, as long as he does not lose his ablution, the angels keep on supplicating [for him] 'O Allah, bless him. O Allah, have mercy upon him.' And he is considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


Abandoning the congregational prayer:


To know the status of praying with the congregation and how serious a matter it is to abandon it, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) hardly exempted anyone from it. Abu Hurayrah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him reported that a blind man said to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ): "O Messenger of Allah, I have no guide to lead me to the mosque (to attend the congregational prayer)." He asked the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) for permission to pray in his house and the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) permitted him. Then, when he turned to go, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) called him and said: ‘Do you hear the call to prayer?’ The blind man said ‘yes.’ The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) then said: "Then respond to it [by coming to the mosque]!" [Muslim]


Moreover, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) severely warned against abandoning it. Abu Hurayrah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him also reported that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: "I swear by Him in whose hand my soul is! I have considered ordering a fire to be kindled and then ask someone to lead the people in prayer. And then go to the men [who did not attend the prayer] and burn their houses over them." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


This was clearly understood by the Companions  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  them and their words reflected it. 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him said: "If anyone would like to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, he should persevere in observing these five prayers (in congregation) whenever the call for them is made, for Allah has chosen for your Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) the way of right guidance. And the [five prayers in congregation] are part of this right guidance. If you were to pray them in your houses, as the one who stays behind in his house, you would be leaving a ‘Sunnah’ of your Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ). If you leave the ‘Sunnah’ of your Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) you would go astray. Verily, I have seen a time when no one abandoned them [the congregational prayers] except for the hypocrites who were well known for their hypocrisy. A man would be brought, supported by two people [due to his weakness or illness] until he was placed in a row (in the congregation)." [Muslim]


The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) stressed the importance of praying in congregation under all circumstances. In one Hadeeth, he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Any three people living in a village or in the desert who do not make Athan nor establish the prayer will be overwhelmed by Satan, so you have to establish congregational prayers, as the wolf eats only the sheep that strays from the herd." [Ahmad, An-Nasa'i, and Abu Dawood - Al-Albani graded it Hasan]


What is considered a congregation?


 The least number required for the congregational prayer is two: the Imam (leader) and another one with him. The more the people, the more rewarding is the prayer. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “A man’s prayer with another man is worth more than his prayer individually, and his prayer with two men is worth more than his prayer with only one man. The more there are, the more rewarding it is by Allah.” [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]


The Prayer is better to be performed in the mosque. The farther the mosque is, the better. Concerning this, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “The people attaining the most reward are those who are farthest to walk (to the mosque).” [Muslim, Ahmad and Abu Dawood]


Who should be the Imam:


The congregational prayer is led by an Imam. The Imam should be male, just, and well aware of Islamic jurisprudence. The Imam stands in front by himself while the followers stand behind him in straight lines, all facing the Qiblah (the direction of Ka’bah). The most worthy of leading people in prayer is the one who is the best in memorizing and reciting the Quran. If they are equal, then the one who has the deepest knowledge of Sunnah. If they still are equal in the knowledge of Sunnah, then the oldest of the group. The Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “The most versed in the recitation of the Book of Allah leads the people in prayer. If they are equal, then the one who is most aware of the Sunnah. If they all are equal, then the one who emigrated earlier. If they again are all equal, then the oldest of them.” [Muslim]


Women attending the congregational prayer:


Concerning women, it is better and more rewarding for them to pray in their houses than to attend the congregational prayers. However, they may attend the congregational prayer in the mosque provided they are secure from any temptation. Also, they should avoid wearing or using any attractive or tempting adornment or perfume, and refrain from intermingling with men, as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Do not prevent the female slaves of Allah (i.e. women) from the mosques of Allah. They should go without wearing perfume. If she wears perfume, it is not lawful for her to attend the prayer in congregation in the mosque.” [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]


Women leading the congregational prayer:


It is forbidden for a woman to lead a man in prayer. If a woman leads a man in prayer, his prayer is void and he has to make it up. This is a matter which is agreed upon among the jurists.


This prayer is a means of seeking rain from Allah, the Exalted, during times of drought. That is, people are naturally disposed to ask help from the One Who is able to support them; Allah Alone. This prayer was known among the previous nations. It is regarded also as one of the acts of the prophets, peace be upon them all, as Allah, the Exalted, Says (what means):


"And [recall] when Moses prayed for water for his people..." [Quran 2: 60]


Similarly, the Seal of Prophets, Prophet Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) performed Prayer for Rain for his people many times, and in many ways. In addition, Muslim scholars unanimously agree on the legality of such an act.


The Prayer for Rain is ordained during times of drought and times when rain fails, which causes harm to people. Then there is no way out except by supplicating their Lord and asking Him for water (rain). People may supplicate Allah in various ways. For instance, people may supplicate Allah in Prayer, whether in congregation or alone. They may also supplicate Him by invoking Him during the sermon of the Jumu'ah (Friday) Prayer, in which the Imam may invoke Allah, and Muslims say, "Ameen".


Furthermore, it may be by invoking Allah, the Exalted, after performing prayers, or by supplicating Him in seclusions with neither prayer nor sermon. All such acts are related about the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ).


The Prayer for Rain is regarded as a stressed Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) as ‘Abdullah Ibn Zayd  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him said: "The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) went out to invoke Allah for rain. He faced the qiblah (the direction of Ka’bah in Mecca), invoking Allah. Then he reversed his cloak and performed two Rak'ahs (units of prayer) and recited the Quran aloud in them." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


There are many hadeeths in support of this practice.


The Prayer for Rain is similar to that of the Eid Prayer concerning its relevant rulings and the place where it is performed. That is, it is viewed desirable to perform it in the place where the Eid Prayer is performed; outside the mosque. Moreover, its rulings and practices are the same as those of the Eid Prayer, namely the number of Rak'ahs, the loud recitation of the Quran, being performed before delivering the sermon, and the additional Takbeers (saying ‘Allahu Akbar’) in the first and second Rak'ahs before the recitation of the Quran, as illustrated before.


Ibn ‘Abbas  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him narrated:


"The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) performed two Rak'ahs as he does in the Eid Prayer."


At-Tirmithi says that this is a hasan (good) and saheeh (authentic) hadeeth, and Al-Hakim and others view it as a saheeh (authentic) hadeeth, as well. The one performing the Prayer for Rain is to recite the chapter of Al-A’laa in the first rak'ah, and the chapter Al-Ghashiyah in the second one. People are to perform it in a vast spacious place, away from the place of residence, as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) did not perform it except in the desert. This is because performing it in such a place is a means of showing much need to Allah, the Exalted. When the Imam wants to proceed to perform the Prayer for Rain, he should start with reminding people of what may soften their hearts by mentioning Allah's reward and punishment. They should also be commanded to turn to Allah in repentance and return rights to whom they are due. This is because sins are amongst the main reasons that cause rain and blessings to be withheld. On the other side, repentance and asking Allah, the Exalted, for forgiveness are reasons for Allah's answering of supplication. Allah, the Exalted, Says (what means):


"And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened [i.e. bestowed] upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning" [Quran 7: 96]


Furthermore, the Imam should command people to give charity to the poor and needy, as this is regarded as a cause for sending Allah's mercy. After that, he is to set for them a certain day, at which they are to come out and be prepared for such an honorable occasion, and according to that which best suits it as an act of the Sunnah. At that date, people are to go out to the place of prayer showing humbleness, submissiveness and neediness of Allah, the Exalted, as Ibn 'Abbas  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him said:


"Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) went out to perform the Prayer for Rain showing humility, humbleness, and submissiveness, and supplicating (Allah)." [At-Tirmithi said that this is a hasan and saheeh (good and authentic) hadeeth.]


No Muslim should stay behind (from going out) while able, even boys and women, whose presence does not cause temptation, are to go out to perform it. Then, the Imam is to lead people performing two rak`ahs, as mentioned before. After doing so, he is to deliver one sermon. However, some scholars view that the Imam is to deliver two sermons. Both opinions are permissible, but the soundest opinion is to deliver one sermon, according to the most preponderant legal proof. In most cases, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) delivered the sermon after performing the Prayer for Rain, and Muslims acted according to this. However, it is related that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) delivered the sermon before performing the prayer. This is the view of some scholars, but the first view (delivering the sermon after performing prayer) is more preponderant; and Allah Knows best.


In the sermon of asking for rain, the Imam should ask for Allah's forgiveness as well as recite the verses that command asking for forgiveness, in abundance, as this is considered a cause for sending rain. Moreover, the Imam should supplicate Allah, the Exalted, with much invocation, asking for rain. When supplicating Allah, the Imam should raise his hands, as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) used to raise his hands when invoking Allah in the Prayer for Rain, so much that the whiteness of his armpits became visible.


The Imam should also confer blessings upon the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) as this is a cause for (Allah, the Exalted) answering his supplication. He may invoke Allah, the Exalted, with the supplication related about the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) in such situations, as a means of following him. In this regard, Allah, the Exalted, Says (what means):


"There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day..." [Quran 33: 21]


It is viewed as an act of the Sunnah to face the qiblah at the end of supplication, and to reverse one's clothes, as related in the Two Saheehs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the two authentic books of Hadeeth) that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) turned his back toward the people and faced the qiblah asking Allah (for rain). Then he reversed his cloak. The wisdom behind this - Allah Knows best - is that it is like a good omen that the present hard condition may turn into prosperity and the sending of rain. People should also follow the Imam and reverse their clothes, as Imam Ahmad related, "... the people followed him (the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi was sallam) and reversed their clothes." In addition, what is stated as done by the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) is to be done by his nation, unless it is proved that he alone is particularized with such a thing.


This would be until Allah, the Exalted, sends down rain; otherwise, Muslims should repeat asking for rain, as long as there is a need for that. It is considered an act of Sunnah that when rain starts to fall, one is to stand and receive some of it and say, "O Allah! Let it be a strong fruitful rain," and say, "The rain is due to the Favor and Mercy of Allah." However, when rain falls heavily and there is fear that it might cause harm, one should say as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) used to say:


"O Allah! (Let the rain be) around us, not on us. O Allah! (Let the rain be) on the plateaus, on the mountains, on the hills, on the hillocks, in the valleys, and on the places where trees grow" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Allah Knows best.