The Excellence of the Prayers

Surely, the Prayer restrains from all that is indecent and shameful, and all that is evil. Surely Allah’s remembrance is the greatest (of all types of worship, and not restricted to the Prayer). (al-Ankabut 29:45)

Be ever mindful and protective of the Prescribed Prayers, and the Middle Prayer (the Morning or Afternoon Prayer), and stand in the presence of Allah in utmost devotion and obedience. (al-Baqarah 2:238)

518. Abu Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say, ‘What do you think would happen if there was a river by someone’s door in which he washed five times every day? Do you think that any dirt would remain on him?’ They said, ‘Not a scrap of dirt would remain on him.’ He said, ‘That is a metaphor of the five Prayers by which Allah wipes out wrong actions.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Mawaqit, 6; Sahih Muslim, Masajid, 283).

521. Abu Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “There are angels who take turns in being with you in the night and other angels in the day and they meet together at the Prayers of Fajr and Asr. Then the ones who were with you during the night ascend and Allah asks them—although He knows better than they do—’How were My servants when you left them?’ They say, ‘When we left them they were praying and when we came to them, they were praying.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Mawaqit, 16; Sahih Muslim, Masajid, 210).

524. Abu Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Anyone who purifies himself in his house and then goes to one of the houses of Allah to fulfill one of the obligations of Allah, one step removes an error and the other raises him a degree.” (Sahih Muslim, Masajid, 282).

 

Nawawi, Imam. Riyad As-Salihin; The Gardens of the Righteous: A collection of authentic hadiths. Tughra Books Press, Inc. 2014