THE VIRTUES OF SALAAT – PART 3

15. It is mentioned in a Hadith that the one who makes a proper and complete wudu and offers two rakaats of salaat without forgetting or missing out anything in it, then in lieu of these two rakaats, Allah Ta’ala will forgive all his previous sins. (Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Daud, and Haakim)

It is possible and easy to offer two rakaats of salaat in which there is no mistake or forgetfulness. The object is that there must be no negligence or carelessness. Most mistakes occur because of negligence.

16. It is mentioned in a Hadith that the salaat of a man and a woman creates illumination. Whoever wishes, should try and illuminate his heart.

17. It is mentioned in a Hadith that from among all the things that Allah Ta’ala made fard, there is nothing more virtuous in His sight than tauheed and salaat. If there was anything more virtuous, He would have made it fard on the angels. Among the angels, there are those who are in ruku and those who are in sajdah.

In other words, since the angels are the close servants of Allah Ta’ala, and since they only have the capability of making His ibaadah which gives them a special affiliation to ibaadah, if there was anything superior to salaat, He would have made it fard upon them. We also learn from this Hadith that the entire form of salaat that is fard upon us, is not fard on the angels. Instead, certain aspects of that salaat have been made fard on certain angels. How fortunate are we that those valuable aspects of salaat which have been distributed among the angels have been given to us in their entirety. We have to value this great favour upon us.

18. Hadrat Anas radiallahu anhu reports that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Remember death when offering salaat because when a person remembers death in his salaat, it is most likely that he will offer it in the proper manner. Offer your salaat like the person who feels that this will be his last salaat. And save yourself from such actions which you will h ave to regret later on. ” (Narrated by Daylami)

19. It is mentioned in a Hadith that the best salaat is that in which one stands for a very long time. That is, his recitation of the Quran is very lengthy.

20. It is mentioned in a Hadith that the salaat in which there is no humility is not complete. In the Hadith, the word “takhash’sha’a” has been translated as humility. The original meaning is tranquility. However, since tranquility in salaat cannot be attained without humility, it has therefore been translated as humility. Furthermore, this is a more popular meaning.

Tranquility cannot be attained without humility because a person who stands and sits without any fear or dread cannot stop himself from looking around him. He will be free to shift and shuffle about. But once there is humility, he will offer his salaat with respect – without looking about.

21. It is reported from Hadrat Ali radiallahu anhu that the last words of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam were: “Give due importance to salaat and fear Allah with regards to the male and female slaves.”

These two matters are so important that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned them when he was about to leave this world. This is because people are very neglectful of salaat. They also impose difficulties on those who are under their control (i.e. their slaves, servants, wives, children) and think nothing of it. Muslims should be extremely cautious in this regard.

Hadrat Mansur bin Zaazaan rahmatullahi alayh

Some of the pious servants of Allah Ta’ala had extreme love and desire for offering salaat. It is mentioned that Hadrat Mansur bin Zaazaan rahmatullahi alayh, a taabi’ee, used to offer salaat from sunrise until the time of asr. It is obvious that there are only two fard salaats in this period, i.e. zuhr and asr, and that all the other salaats that he offered were nafl salaats. After the asr salaat, he used to recite Sub’haanallah until the time of maghrib salaat. Thereafter, he used to offer his maghrib salaat.

His condition was such that if he was told that the angel of death is waiting at the door for him, he could not increase his deeds in any way. (In other words, he could not increase his Deeni actions on the approach of death because only that person who is unmindful of death and who does not occupy his entire time in the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala can increase his deeds. When he perceives the nearness of death he will hasten towards doing good deeds. As for him who does not have any spare time, who spends all his time in the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, and who regards death as being next to him all the time – how can he increase his good deeds! This person was also a great aalim and many great ulama studied Hadith under him.

Hadrat Mansur bin al-Mu’tamir rahmatullahi alayh

Hadrat Mansur bin al-Mu’tamir who was also a taabi’ee, was also a great aalim and pious person. It is reported about him that he continued fasting during the day and remained awake at night for a period of forty years. He used to spend the entire night weeping out of fear for the punishment of sins. When anyone observed him offering his salaat, they felt that he was about to die (i.e. he used to lament and cry profusely in his salaat and offer it will full concentration).

In the morning he used to apply surmah to his eyes, moisten his lips and apply oil to his head. On seeing him thus, his mother used to ask him: “Did you kill someone that you are adopting this appearance?” (i.e. why are you changing the appearance which results from making ibaadah and crying at night?) He used to reply: “I am fully aware of that which my soul has done.” (In other words, my soul desires or there is a possibility of it desiring that I become famous and that people come to know of my ibaadah. People will regard me as a very pious person, they will look at my appearance and confirm that I had been engaging myself in ibaadah.

Alternatively, this could mean that my soul did not make ibaadah in the proper manner. So how can it be considered when my appearance portrays that I was engaged in ibaadah. When people will look at me, they will be deluded into thinking that I am a great saint when in reality I am not so. I therefore change my appearance.) Due to his abundant crying, his eye-sight became weak. The leader of Iraq called for him in order to appoint him as a judge over Kufah. However, he rejected this offer. Because of his refusal, he was enchained but was later set free. Others have narrated that he remained a judge for two months out of compulsion. (Both these incidents are mentioned in Tazkiratul Huffaaz, volume one.)

Dear brothers! Ponder over this pious person. How much love he had for ibaadah and how he loathed the world! Without even asking for this governmental position and without even making any effort for it, and something which is a source of honour and enormous income and something which people strive for greatly – he did not even tum an eye towards it and preferred being enchained. Muslims ought to be like this – they should only make the necessary arrangements for their food and clothing and spend the rest of their time in the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala – Subhaanallah!