The Meaning of Shahadatan or the Two Declarations of Faith
In fact, Islam is the religion of Allah with which He (Glorified be He) sent the Messengers (peace be upon them) and revealed the books in order to call for it. Allah revealed the Glorious Qur'an with this aim and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) also aims at this. The greatest and most obligated duty is to know this fact and know the religion of Allah to worship Allah Alone which is the meaning of the two declarations of faith, namely, there no one worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) called people and guided them to this fact. He (peace be upon him) said, I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. And He (peace be upon him) said, I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. If they say it, then they save their lives and property from me unless otherwise legally required.
Whoever testifies, out of faith, will observe the other pillars and thereby he/she admits him/herself to worship, which is the mission for which he is created.
Therefore, he/she should abide by the declarations of faith and believe in all that Allah and His Messenger told about the preceding Messengers and the revealed Books as well as what Allah said in His Book about Paradise, Hell, the Last Day, and all of this is included in the concept of `Ibadah and Iman. The call to establishing Tawhid is, in fact, a call to the entire religion as the person who believes in the Oneness of Allah and becomes devoted to him is required to fulfill what Allah prescribed on him and to avoid what Allah forbids.
The duties and the prohibitions are branches and integrated parts to this basis. The most required, premier, and most important thing is to establish Tawhid and devotion to Allah, and to avoid Shirk.
Owing to this importance and status, the Prophet (peace be upon him) started with these matters in the people of Makkah and other places. He (peace be upon him) used to call people to these matters at first along with believing in him as Allah's Messenger. After that, he would tell them about other matters of Islam such as Salah (prayer) and other acts of worship.
When he (peace be upon him) sent Mu`adh (may Allah be pleased with him) to Yemen, he (peace be upon him) said to Mu`adh, You will go to a group from the People of the Book, so call them to testify that there is no one worthy of worship but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. Another narration mentions, Invite them to worship Allah alone. If they obey you in doing so, tell them that Allah has enjoined upon them five prayers during the day and night.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered him to call them at first to establish Tawhid, devotion to Him, seeking Him Alone with worship, and avoiding Shirk.
Accordingly, this is the first duty and it is, in the meantime, the worship for which Allah created people. He (Exalted be He) said, And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).
Islam: Creed and Worship
He (Exalted be He) said, And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).
The Ayah (Qur'anic Verse) at hand implies that the purpose of the creation of the Jinn and mankind is to establish the Oneness of Allah and offer obedience to Allah and avoid sins. This is the worship for which they were created. The most important of the acts of worship is to seek Allah Alone with worship and believe that He is the One and Only Who deserves to be worshipped without anyone other than Him. He (Glorified be He) said,
And your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (God - Allâh), Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Allah (Glorified be He) also says: So know (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) that, Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh)
Thereupon, Tawhid is the first and most important obligation. A person should believe that he/she is Allah's slave, seek Him Alone with worship and have firm faith that He is the Truthful God in addition to believing in His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) and testifying that he (peace be upon him) is Allah's Last Messenger to the Jinn and humankind. One should also believe in all that was revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him).
This is the most important of all Islamic fundamentals and the duty that is required on every accountable person from the Jinn and humankind. All the accountable people from the jinn and humankind should worship Allah Alone and believe that no one is worthy of worship but him, that Muhammad is Allah's Last Messenger. They should also believe that everything revealed to him is the truth. It is necessary to follow in his footsteps until one meets his Lord (glory be to Him). This is the worship for which people are created and it is Taqwa, Iman, Islam,and Birr.
All these are just names that stand for one meaning, namely, the religion of Allah, the religion of guidance, piousness, righteousness, faith, and worship of Allah Alone. All these meanings are involved in this religion.
The religion of Allah is called `Ibadah as it includes submission, humbleness to, and Taqwa of Allah, for the slave of Allah fears Allah's Wrath. It also includes Iman, as it is nothing but having faith in all that Allah and His Messenger informed of, Huda (guidance) for Allah guides people with it to goodness and uprightness, and Birr (righteousness) for it includes every goodness and is the cause of happiness. Allah said assuring these meanings, Verily, the Muttaqûn (the pious. See V.2:2) will be in Gardens (Paradise), and Delight. Allah (Exalted be He) also says: Verily, for the Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2) are Gardens of delight (Paradise) with their Lord.
Indeed, those who realized Taqwa among Muslims are the believers who worshipped Allah (Glorified be He) and fulfilled the meaning of His Saying, And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).
They deserve this title out of their piety, fulfilling Allah's Right, sincerity to Him, believing in Him and His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) and in what Allah and His Messenger said in the Glorious Book and the Sunnah of His Honest Prophet (peace be upon him). Islam is not complete unless these things are fulfilled in addition to the declaration of faith and the belief that there is no one worthy of worship but Allah whereas other things that are worshipped with Allah are nothing but falsehood. Allah (Exalted be He) said,
That is because Allâh — He is the Truth (the only True God of all that exists, Who has no partners or rivals with Him), and what they (the polytheists) invoke besides Him, it is Bâtil (falsehood).
Moreover, it is necessary to believe in all that Allah and His Messenger said about the events of the past and the future including the accounts of the preceding Prophets, Paradise, Hell, Doomsday, the Reckoning, the reward of the believers, the punishment of the disbelievers, etc.
In other words, everything that is mentioned in the Qur'an or proved to be said by the Prophet (peace be upon him) according to one's knowledge - one should have faith in. After that, one is required to believe in the Truth brought by Prophet Muhammad, have firm belief in the Oneness of Allah, sincerity to Him, and to believe in Allah's Names and Attributes accepting them as reported by Allah and His Messenger without Takyif (descriptive designation of Allah's Attributes), Tahrif (distortion of the meaning), or Tamthil (likening Allah's Attributes to those of His Creation) which is the belief of Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah (adherents to the Sunnah and the Muslim mainstream).
After that, one should observe what Allah enjoins on His slaves of acts of worship such as Salah (Prayer), Zakah (Obligatory Charity), Sawm (Fasting), Hajj (Pilgrimage), etc. And abide by what Allah and His Messenger ordered and stay away from what they forbid. Allah (Glorified be He) said, O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord
This is an address to the Jinn and humankind, Arabs and non-Arabs, disbelievers and believers as well. The Ayah means to fear Allah through fulfilling His Commands and avoiding His Prohibitions out of seeking His Pleasure, taking caution from His Punishment, and fearing Allah at all times.
Allah (Exalted and Glorified be He) said, O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allâh), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2).
It is necessary to worship Allah alone sincerely and truthfully observing His Orders and avoiding His Prohibitions. In some Ayahs, Allah commands the believers in particular saying, O you who believe! Be afraid of Allâh
This call takes place in many Ayahs, as the believers included in the commandment to have piousness. They are more entitled with this commandment than others owing to the fact that they believe in Allah and His Messenger. Therefore, they should perfect this faith and abide by it, until death just as Allah (Glorified be He) said to His Prophet (peace be upon him),
And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death). He (Exalted be He) said,
O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islâm [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allâh)].
Understanding Islaam
[1] The deen (religion) of Islaam: It is the way of life that Allaah sent the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam with. By it, Allaah terminated the validity of all other religions, perfected this religion for His worshippers, completed His favour upon them and has chosen only this religion for them - no other religion will be accepted by Him from anyone. Allaah - the Most High - said:
"Muhammad is not the father of any man amongst you. Rather he is the Messenger of Allaah and the khaatim (last and final) of the Prophets." [Soorah al-Ahzaab 33:40].
"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion." [Soorah al-Maatidah 5:3].
"Indeed the religion with Allaah is Islaam." [Soorah Aal-'lmraan 3:19].
"Whosoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, never will it be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan 3:85].
And Allaah - the Most High - obligated all of mankind to take Islaam as their religion. So Allaah said, whilst addressing His Messenger sallallanhu `alayhi wa sallam:
"Say: O mankind! Indeed I have been sent to you all as the Messenger of Allaah; to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshipped except Him; it is He who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allaah and His Messenger - the Prophet who can neither read nor write - who believes in Allaah and His Words. So follow the Messenger of Allaah so that you may be rightly-guided." [Soorah al-A'raaf 7:158].
And in Saheeh Muslim ( 1/93 ), from Abu Hurayrah radiallanhu `anhu that Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "By Him in whose Hand is the life of Muhammad! There is no one from this nation, be he a Jew or a Christian, who hears of me and then dies without believing in the Message that I was sent with, except that he will be one of the Companions of the Hellfire. And eemnan (faith) in the Prophet implies: affirming that which he was sent with, along with acceptance of it and submission to it. Without these two matters, mere affirmation is not sufficient. This is why even though Abu Taalib (the Prophet's uncle) affirmed what was sent to the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam and that Islaam was the best of religions, yet he did not accept his message nor submit to it; and thus he did not have eemaan, in the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.
[2] The religion of Islaam contains all that was beneficial from the previous religions. It is suitable for implementation in any age, any where and by any nation. Allaah - the Most High - said, whilst addressing His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam:
"And We have sent down to you the Book in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it> testifying to the truth contained therein whilst exposing the falsehood that has been added therein." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:48].
That Islaam is suitable for implementation in any age, anywhere and by any nation does not mean that it becomes submissive to nations - being altered and changed by them - as some people falsely think. But rather it means that whenever it is truly adhered to then it brings benefit and goodness to that nation, as well as reforming and correcting it - in whatever age or place.
[3] The religion of Islaam is the religion of truth. It is the way of life that Allaah - the Most High - guaranteed His help and victory for those who truly adhere to it, and that He would make it dominant over all other religions.
Allaah - the Most High - said:
"It is He who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that it may prevail over all other religions, even if the pagans detest it." [Soorah at-Tawbah 9:33].
And Allaah - the Most High - said:"Allaah has promised to those amongst you who truly have eemaan (true faith and belief) and act in obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, that He will grant them rulership upon the earth, just as He granted it to those before them, and that He will establish their Religion for them and grant them the authority to practice their Religion which He chose and ordered them with. And He will certainly change their situation to one of security, after their fear. Providing that they worship and obey Me, not associating anything else in worship with Me. Then, whoever rejects this favour by disobedience to their Lord - then they are the rebellious transgressors." [Soorah an-Noor 24:55]
[4] The religion of Islaam is a complete religion comprising both `aqeedah (beliefs) and sharee`ah (laws).
It commands them with tawheed (to single out Allaah alone for worship) and prohibits them from shirk (associating partners with Allah in that which is particular to Him).
- It commands them with being truthful and prohibits them from lying.
- It commands them with `adl (justice) and prohibits them from injustice and oppression.
- It commands them with fulfilling trusts and prohibits them from acting treacherously.
- It commands them with keeping promises and prohibits them from breaking them.
- It commands them with kindness and good treatment of parents and prohibits them from disobedience to them in that which is not sinful.
- It commands them with joining the ties of relations and prohibits them from severing them.
- It commands them with good treatment of neighbours and prohibits the causing of harm to them.
In short, Islaam orders all that is good, from manners and morals, and prohibits all that is evil from it.
Likewise, it orders all actions which are righteous and good and prohibits all actions that are evil and harmful.
Allaah - the Most High - said:"Indeed Allaah enjoins upon you justice, kindness and the giving of good to relatives and near ones. And He prohibits you from all shameful and evil deeds, oppression and transgression. Thus He admonishes you, that you may take heed and be reminded." [Soorah an-Nahl, 16:90]
Effect of Major Sins on Acceptance of Good Deeds
Praise be to Allah
We praise Allah for having guided you to repent, and we ask Him to make you steadfast in adhering to His religion, and to grant you a good end. You should note that you have been greatly blessed and must give thanks to Allah. How many sinners die without having repented? How many of those who are astray die before turning back to their Lord? Undoubtedly the fact that Allah has enabled you to repent is a great event in your life, and this should be a time when you start to obey Him and strive harder in worshipping Him.
You should realize that what you have heard about repentance, prayer and fasting not being accepted from one who has committed major sins is false, and it is speaking about Allah without knowledge. There is a great deal of evidence in the Book of Allah and the sunnah (teaching) of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to indicate that Allah accepts His slave’s repentance from all sins, no matter how great they are, and it is not permissible for anyone to try to stop a person repenting, no matter how great and how heinous his sins.
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say: O ‘Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
[39:53]
Allah says, stating that He forgives the greatest of sins (interpretation of the meaning):
“And those who invoke not any other ilah (god) along with Allah, nor kill such a person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.
The torment will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace;
Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
[25:68-70]
This clearly indicates that Allah forgives all sins – even shirk – and it tells us of an immense bounty, which is that bad deeds are turned to good deeds.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
No sin is too great for Allah to forgive for the one who repents, rather He forgives shirk and other sins for those who repent, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say: O ‘Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
[39:53]
This verse is general in meaning because it is addressed to all those who repent. End quote.
Majmoo’ al-Fatawa.
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There was among the people who came before you a man who killed ninety-nine people. Then he asked about the most knowledgeable person on earth, and was directed to a hermit, so he went to him, told him that he had killed ninety-nine people, and asked if he could be forgiven. The hermit said, ‘No,’ so he killed him, thus completing one hundred.
Then he asked about the most knowledgeable person on earth and was directed to a scholar. He told him that he had killed one hundred people, and asked whether he could be forgiven. The scholar said, ‘Yes, what could possibly come between you and repentance? Go to such-and-such a town, for in it there are people who worship Allah. Go and worship with them, and do not go back to your own town, for it is a bad place.” So the man set off, but when he was halfway there, the angel of death came to him, and the angels of mercy and the angels of wrath began to argue over him.
The angels of mercy said: ‘He had repented and was seeking Allah.’ The angels of wrath said: ‘He never did any good thing.’ An angel in human form came to them, and they asked him to decide the matter. He said: ‘Measure the distance between the two lands (his home town and the town he was headed for), and whichever of the two he is closest to is the one to which he belongs.’ So they measured the distance, and found that he was closer to the town for which he had been headed, so the angels of mercy took him.”
AlTirmidhi narrated that Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, said: ‘O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you and I would not mind.’” [Saheeh al-Tirmidhi]
Ibn Majah narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.” [Saheeh Ibn Majah]
These verses and hadeeths (prophetic traditions) indicate that Allah forgives all sins, no matter how great or how many, for the one who repents to Him.
So strive in worship and obedience, regret the negligence and sins of the past, and note that Allah has no need of His slaves yet despite that He rejoices in their repentance, and even turns their bad deeds into good deeds.
We ask Allah to help you to remember Him, give thanks to Him and worship Him properly.
And Allah knows best.
The Company We Choose to Keep
The Company We Choose to Keep
Allah has blessed me with many wonderful friendships throughout my life. Most have served as a comforting, healing balm that has pulled me through some of the more difficult times of my life. Others have created so much drama and turmoil that I couldn't cut them loose fast enough! I have friendships that have followed me from childhood until now, as I attempt to raise my own children, and I have encountered fresh, new relationships in the process of carving their own deep, meaningful connections.
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was known to have said, "When souls recognize one another, they will become friends, if not, they will simply part ways." [Muslim]
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) also stated, “A true believer is a mirror to his brother. He prevents him from any harm.” [Abu Daawood]
We are in fact mirrors in some way of those we decide to take on as companions. I have been guilty of associating with individuals whose behavior is not worth mentioning, let alone imitating. I have suffered the consequences of those alliances. When left alone for a while after having departed their company, I would suddenly see the light and recognize them for the lying/undependable/deviant person they really were all along. But then also came the sobering realization that I might not be so different, as I had found something attractive enough in them to pursue an acquaintance, regardless of all the glaring, warning signs.
As believers, we are instructed to be careful of the companions we choose for friendship. Our friendships can draw us closer to our Creator or cause us to sever all ties of faith we have established. As with most relationships in this lifetime, we will experience blessings in some friendships, and trials through others. Just who are your friends? How do they affect the person you are or hope to become? What kind of friend are you?
The Peer Pressure that Never Ends
It doesn't matter if you are a high school student, university student, or working your way through the corporate world. Peer pressure is a never-ending presence that must be dealt with. Its face may change, but its goal is unwavering: to influence you by attacking your personal vulnerabilities. It may be the quiet urge to join your fellow students after a difficult exam at that party everyone's been talking about all week. Sure there will be drinking, smoking and free gender mixing, but you can still go and have a good time without indulging in all of that, right? Or maybe it's the feeling that you might fit in with your coworkers even better if just once and a while you joined them after work at their favorite little bar down the street. After all, there's no harm in a little socializing after work, right?
We all want to fit in. In our human desire to feel comfortable in our surroundings with others, we must always consider the cost, for there is a consequence for every action we choose. Most of us are usually aware of who, what, when and where pressure to do wrong can surface. It is important that we surround ourselves with righteous friendships, the kind that provides goodness, security, and remembrance of Allah. The Quran encourages us to cultivate such relationships:
“And keep your soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His face, and let not your eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.” [Quran 18:28]
When faith wanes in the presence of beneficial friendships, you find that you are surrounded by those who stand strong in front of you, beside you, and behind you providing much needed support. When it seems you might slip and fall, they are there with ropes of faith that tie around you and pull you up and onward.
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) gave a beautiful analogy of this sort of friendship saying, “The good companion and the bad companion are like the bearer of musk and the one who pumps from the bellows. With the bearer of musk, he will give you a share, or you will buy from him, or you will smell a pleasant scent from him; but the one who pumps the bellows, either he will burn your clothes or you will smell a foul stench from him.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
What About Your Friends?
We are most likely to be similar to those we spend the majority of our time with. As the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) once said, “A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, look (carefully) whom you choose to befriend.” (Ahmad) So what are some specific traits of sincere, loving, true friends?
They Help You to Become a Better and More Productive Person. A good and sincere friend actually inspires you, through his/her words or actions, to do self-reflection and to improve yourself.
He/She is Like a Mirror to You. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) stated, "The believer is like a mirror to other believers (in truthfulness)." [Abu Daawood]. Like a mirror's ability to cast a true reflection, so should your friend be true enough to give you an honest image of yourself. They should be able to for-give your mistakes, but not hide or exaggerate your strengths and weaknesses.
His/Her Manners and Lifestyle Remind You of Allah? The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )was once asked, “Who is the best person to befriend?” He who helps you remember Allah, and reminds you when you forget Him," he wisely counseled. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was also asked, "Who is best among people?" He replied, "He who, when you look at him, you remember Allah." A friend such as this reflects qualities of love, mercy, honesty, service, patience, optimism, professionalism, and the entire lifestyle taught by Islam.
Does He/She Love You Solely for the Sake of Allah? Often the friendships we have from school, work, and throughout our community may crumble over time if not initiated for the right reasons. A friendship based on Islamic principles is sincere and ever-lasting. It can be strengthened by a higher purpose and strong faith.
Do You Feel Comfortable and Secure in His/Her Presence? If you are in the midst of a friendship that leaves you feeling guilty about the things you do and the conversations you share, then it might be time to question the benefit of that relationship. Is the short time in this life with such a friend worth the consequences that you may ultimately have to face with Allah?
It is important that you have complete confidence in your values and beliefs. This makes setting limits and boundaries of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable much easier. You must be completely aware of your boundaries at all times. Above all, you must know what pleases and offends Allah. Friendships based on superficial principles can lead you to an artificial world of false hopes and illusion.
There are two ways to handle a "toxic" friendship: either try gently to influence your friend through positive, Islamic inspiration, or simply to end the relationship. We are all familiar with the popular saying that every relationship that we encounter has "a season and a reason," meaning some friendships will stand the test of time and last a life-time, while others will be brief encounters. Every relationship has a valuable lesson for us to learn. When considering your friendships, remember the wise saying: “Being alone is better than having an evil companion; and having a sincere companion is better than being alone.” (Unknown)
Advice to the New Muslims
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Asalam Alaykum (Peace be with you),
Congratulations! Alhamdulillah (Praise to Allah) who has guided you to Islam, the path to success in this life and the next.
So now you are a new Muslim with lots on your mind. Amidst the joy and excitement of embracing Islam you may also be feeling bewildered or confused regarding what to do next. You may have concerns about how your family or friends will react. No doubt there is lots to learn and obstacles to overcome, but with a sincere effort and a strong faith in Allah, everything will fall into place. Below you will find the most important advice we can offer you as a new Muslim. Don't rush yourself, go at your own pace, and most of all remember we are here to help and support you every step of the way.Importance of Prayer
["The importance of the prayer in Islam cannot be understated. It is the first pillar of Islam that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned after mentioning the testimony of faith, by which one becomes a Muslim. It was made obligatory upon all the prophets and for all peoples. Allah has declared its obligatory status under majestic circumstances. For example, when Allah spoke directly to Moses, He said, "And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance." [Taha 13-14]
Similarly, the prayers were made obligatory upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his ascension to heaven. Furthermore, when Allah praises the believers, such as in the beginning of surah al-Muminoon, one of the first descriptions He states is their adherence to the prayers.
The importance of prayer is demonstrated in the many of the Prophet's statement. For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." [Recorded by al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503.]
The importance of the prayers lies in the fact that no matter what actions one performs in his life, the most important aspect is one's relationship to Allah, that is, one's faith (imaan), God-consciousness (taqwa), sincerity (ikhlas) and worship of Allah (`ibaadah). This relationship with Allah is both demonstrated and put into practice, as well as improved and increased, by the prayer. Therefore, if the prayers are sound and proper, the rest of the deeds will be sound and proper; and if the prayers are not sound and proper, then the rest of the deeds will not be sound and proper, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself stated.
As for the Hereafter, Allah's forgiveness and pleasure is closely related to the prayers. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "Allah has obligated five prayers. Whoever excellently performs their ablutions, prays them in their proper times, completes their bows, prostrations and khushu` [Khushu` in the prayer is where the person's heart is attuned to the prayer. This feeling in the heart is then reflected on the body. The person remains still and calm. His gaze is also lowered. Even his voice is affected by this feeling in the heart..] has a promise from Allah that He will forgive him. And whoever does not do that has no promise from Allah. He may either forgive him or punish him." [Recorded by Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Nasa'I and others. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol. 1, p. 616.] ]
The prayers are a type of purification for a human being. He turns and meets with his Lord five times a day. As alluded to above, this repeated standing in front of Allah should keep the person from performing sins during the day. Furthermore, it should also be a time of remorse and repentance, such that he earnestly asks Allah for forgiveness for those sins that he committed. In addition, the prayer in itself is a good deed that wipes away some of the evil deeds that he performed. These points can be noted in the following hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him):
"If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?" The people said, "No filth would remain on him whatsoever." The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said, "That is like the five daily prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
In another hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The five daily prayers and the Friday Prayer until the Friday prayer are expiation for what is between them." (Recorded by Muslim.)"] [1]
Okay so now you ask yourself.I know the prayer is so important, how do I learn how to pray? There are many sources on the internet which explain the purification and prayers, and that's a good way to get an idea. But to really learn how to do it correctly you have to make the effort of finding a practicing Muslim to help you. A good place to do so is at the local mosque in your area.this is explained in more detail below. [1] Extracts from "The Importance of Prayer" by Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo
