1 – The Special Rank of Prayers

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص):أَوَّلُ مَا افْتَرَضَ اللٌّهُ عَلى أُمَّتِي الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَ أَوَّلُ مَا يُرفَعُ مِنْ أَعْمَالِهِمْ الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَ أَوَّلُ مَا يُسْأَلُونَ عَـنْهُ الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “The first thing that Allah (swt) made obligatory upon my Ummah was the five prayers; and the first thing from their acts of worship that shall be taken up will be the five prayers; and the first thing that they will be questioned about will be the five prayers.” Reference: Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18859

2 – The Pillar of Religion

عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ )ع) قَالَ:بُنِيَ الإِِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ عَلى الصَّلاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الْحَجِّ وَ الْوِلاَيَةِ.

Imam Muhammad Baqir (asws) has said: “Islam has been founded and established on five things: Prayers, Zakat, Hajj, Sawm (Fasting) and Wilayat.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 234

3 – The Parable of Prayers

عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ )ع) قَالَ: أَلصَّلاَةُ عَمُودُ الدِّينِ مَثَلُهَا كَمَثَلِ عَمُودِ الْفُسْطَاطِ إِذَا ثَبَتَ الْعَمُودُ ثَبَتَ الأَوْتَادُ وَ الأَطْنَابُ وَ إِذَا مَالَ الْعَمُودُ وَ انْكَسَرَ لَمْ يَثْبُتْ وَتِدٌ وَ لاَ طُنُبٌ.

Imam Muhammad Baqir (asws) has said: “The prayer is the pillar of religion and its parable is that of the prop of a tent – when the prop remains upright, the pegs and ropes remain straight and upright, but when the prop bends or breaks neither the pegs nor ropes remain straight.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 218

4 – A Means of Salvation

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص):خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهِنَّ كَانَتْ لَهُ نُوراً وَ بُرْهَاناً وَ نَجَاةً يَومَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “One who azures to the five (daily) prayers diligently, they shall be a means of illumination and salvation for him on the Day of Judgment.” Reference: Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18862

5 – Illumination of the Heart

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص):صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ نُورٌ فِي قَلْبِهِ فَمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْكُمْ فَلْـيُنَوِّرْ قَلْـبَهُ.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) has said: “The prayer of a person is (in reality) a light in his heart, so whoever desires, can illuminate his heart (by means of prayers).” Reference: Kanzul `Ummal, Volume7, Tradition 18973

6 – A Measure of Acceptance of Deeds

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ )ع): أَوَّلُ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ الصَّلاةُ فَإِنْ قُبِلَتْ قُبِلَ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ وَ إِذَا رُدَّتْ رُدَّ عَلَيْهِ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ‏.

Imam Ja'far Sadiq (asws) has said: “The first thing for which a person shall be subjected to reckoning is prayers. If they are accepted, all his other deeds shall (also) be accepted. But if rejected, all his other deeds shall (also) be rejected.” Reference: Wasa’ilush Shi`a, Volume 3, Page 22

7 – The Conduct of the Prophets

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص):أَلصَّلاَةُ مِنْ شَرَائِعِ الدِّينِ وَ فِيهَا مَرْضَاةُ الرَّبِّ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ هِيَ مِنْهَاجُ الأَنْـبِيَاءِ.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “The prayer is one of the (primary) dictates of religion, in it lies the pleasure of the Lord, the Mighty and the Glorious, and it is the conduct of the Prophets.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 231

8 – The Standard of Islam

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص):عَلَمُ الإِسْلاَمِ الصَّلاةُ فَمَنْ فَرَّغَ لَـهَا قَلْبَهُ وَ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا بِحَدِّهَا وَ وَقْـتِهَا وَ سُـنَـنِهَا فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ. 

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “The prayer is the standard of Islam. Whosoever loves prayers, and observes their limits, timings and methods, is a true believer.” Reference: Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18870

9 – The Benefits of Prayers

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ)ع): إِنَّ مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ يَدْفَعُ الشَّيْطَانَ عَنِ الْمُحَافِظِ عَلى الصَّلاةِ وَ يُلَقِّـنُهُ شَهَادَةَ أَنْ لاَ إِلٌهَ إِلاَّ اللٌّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالَةِ الْعَظِيمَةِ.

Imam Ja'far Sadiq (asws) has said: “Surely the Angel of Death repels Satan from the proximity of one who had azure to and guarded his prayers, and makes him speak out the testimony of ‘There is no God except Allah (swt) and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’ during that terrifying and frightening state (of death).” Reference: Wasa’ilush Shi`a, Volume 3, Page 1

10 – Prayers and Children

عَنِ الْبَاقِرِ )ع) قَالَ: إِنَّا نَأْمُرُ صِبْيَانَنَا بِالصَّلاَةِ إِذَا كَانُوا بَنِي خَمْسِ سِنِينَ فَمُرُوا صِبْيَانَكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ إِذَا كَانُوا بَنِي سَبْعِ سِنِينَ.

Imam Muhammad Baqir (asws) advised: “We command our children to offer prayers when they are five years old, so you too order your children to offer prayers (but only) when they are seven years of age.” Reference: Wasa’ilush Shi`a, Volume 3, Page 12

Importance and Virtues of Prayers

11 – Value of Prayers

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ (ع): صَلاَةٌ فَرِيضَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ عِشْرِينَ حَجَّةً وَ حَجَّةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ بَيْتٍ مَمْلُوءٍ ذَهَباً يُتَصَدَّقُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يَفْـنَى.

Imam Ja'far Sadiq (asws) said: “One obligatory prayer is better than performing Hajj twenty times, and the performance of one Hajj is better than giving away a house full of gold.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 227

12 – The Face of Religion

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَجْهٌ وَ وَجْهُ دِينِكُمُ الصَّلاَةُ فَلاَ يَشِينَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ وَجْهَ دِيْـنِهِ.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “For every thing there is a face and the face of your religion is prayers. So see to it that none from amongst you damages and disfigures the face of his religion.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 209

13 – Importance of Prayers

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ )ص): مَا مِنْ صَلاَةٍ يَحْضُرُ وَقْـتُهَا إِلاَّ نَادَى مَلَكٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ النَّاسِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قُومُوا إِلـى نِيـرَانِكُمُ الَّتِي أَوْقَدْتُمُوهَا عَلى ظُهُورِكُمْ فَاطْفِئُوهَا بِصَلاَتِكُمْ.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “Whenever the time of each prayer arrives, an Angel announces to the people: (O’ People!) Stand up and extinguish, with prayers, the fire which you have set alight for yourselves.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 209

14 – The Blessings of Prayers

قَالَ عَلِيٌّ )ع): إِنَّ الإِنْسَانَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّ جَسَدَهُ وَ ثِـيَابَهُ وَ كُلَّ شَي‏ءٍ حَولَهُ يُسَبِّحُ.

Imam `Ali (asws) has said: “Surely, when a person engages in prayers, his body, his clothes and everything around him glorify Allah (swt).” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 213

15 – The Rank of Prayers

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): مَوْضِعُ الصَّلاَةِ مِنَ الدِّينِ كَمَوضِعِ الرَّأْسِ مِنَ الْجَسَدِ.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “The position of prayers with respect to religion is similar to that of the head with respect to the body.” Reference: Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18972

16 – Purification of the Soul

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص):مَثَلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ كَمَثَلِ نَهْرٍ جَارٍ عَذْبٍ عَلى بَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلُّ يَومٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ فَمَا يَبقَى ذٌلِكَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “The example of the five (daily) prayers is like that of a clear-water river flowing in front of your houses in which a person washes himself five times a day – cleansing him from all dirt.” Reference: Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18931

17 – The Covenant of Allah

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللٌّهِ )ص): قَالَ اللٌّهُ تَعَالـى:إِفتَرَضْتُ عَلى أُمَّتِكَ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ وَ عَهِدتُ عِنْدِي عَهْداً أَنَّهُ مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهِنَّ لِوَقْـتِهَا أَدْخَلْـتُهُ الْجَـنَّةَ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهِنَّ فَلاَ عَهْدَ لَهُ عِنْدِي.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) states that Allah (swt), The Exalted has said: “I have made the five prayers obligatory upon your Ummah and have made a covenant with Myself that one who maintains his prayers with respect to their timings, I shall place him in Paradise. As for the one, who does not maintain the timings, I have no covenant (with him).” Reference: Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18872

18 – Remembrance of Allah

قَالَ الْبَاقِرُ )ع):ذِكْرُ اللٌّهِ لِأَهْلِ الصَّلاَةِ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ ذِكْرِهِمْ إِيَّاهُ أَلاَ تَرَى أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ }فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ{

Imam Muhammad Baqir (asws) has said: “Allah (swt)’s remembrance of ‘people who pray’ is greater and superior to their remembrance of Him. Do you not observe that He has said (in the Noble Qur’an): {Remember Me and I shall remember you.}”[8] Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 199

19 – The Mercy of Allah

قَالَ عَلِيٌ )ع): إِذَا قَامَ الرَّجُلُ إِلـى الصَّلاَةِ أَقْبَلَ إِبْلِيسُ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ حَسَداً لِمَا يَرَى مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللٌّهِ الَّتِي تَغْشَاهُ.

Imam Ali (asws) said: “When a person stands up for prayers, Iblis approaches him and looks at him with envy and jealousy, as he sees the Mercy of Allah encompassing the person.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 207

20 – Refraining from Sins

رُوِيَ أَنَّ فَتَى مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الصَّلاَةَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللٌّهِ )ص) وَ يَرْتَكِبُ الْفَوَاحِشَ فَوُصِفَ ذٌلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللٌّهِ )ص) فَقَالَ إِنَّ صَلاَتَهُ تَنْهَاهُ يَوْماً مَا فَلَمْ يَلْبِثْ أَنْ تَابَ.

It has been reported that a youth from the Ansar, who used to offer his prayers with the Messenger of Allah (saw), used to indulge in sinful and corrupt deeds. When this was brought to the notice of the Messenger of Allah (saw), he said: “A day shall come when his prayers shall refrain him from committing sins. Before long, the youth repented.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 198

Notes: [8] The Noble Qur’an, Suratul Baqarah, Verse 152

Importance of Prayer-Times

21 - How and When?

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ الصَّادِقُ )ع): إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ صَلاةً فَرِيضَةً فَصَلِّهَا لِوَقْتِهَا صَلاَةَ مُوَدِّعٍ تَخَافُ أَنْ لاَ تَعُودَ إِلَيْهَا. 

Imam Ja'far Sadiq (asws) has said: “When you offer an obligatory prayer, offer it at its stipulated time in a manner as if it is your last prayer and you fear you shall never get a chance to offer any prayer again.” Reference: Al-Mahajjatul Baiza, Volume 1, Page 350

22 – Importance of the Times of Prayers

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): قَالَ اللٌّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ:إِنَّ لِعَبْدِي عَلَيَّ عَهْداً إِنْ أَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا أَنْ لاَ أُُعَذِّبَهُ وَ أَنْ أَدْخُلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ بِغَيرِ حِسَابٍ. 

The Messenger of Allah (saw) has reported that Allah (swt), the Mighty, the Glorious has said: “I have a covenant with My servant that if he offers his prayers at their stipulated times, I shall not chastise him and shall place him in Paradise without any reckoning.” Reference: Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 19036

23 – Prophet Muhammad and Prayers

قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص) يُحَدِّثُنَا وَ نُحَدِّثُهُ فَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَكَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَعْرِفْنَا وَ لَمْ نَعْرِفْهُ.

Aisha binte Abi Bakr (L.A) narrates: “We would be engaged in conversation with the Messenger of Allah (saw), but with the arrival of the time of prayers it would appear as if he neither knew us nor we knew him.” Reference: Al-Mahajjatul Baiza, Volume 1, Page 350

24 – Prayers at their Times

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ )ع): إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا صَلَّى الصَّلاَةَ فِي وَقْـتِهَا وَ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا ارْتَفَعَتْ بَيْضَاءَ نَقِيَّةً تَقُولُ حَفِظْتَنِي حَفِظَكَ اللٌّهُ وَ إِذَا لَمْ يُصَلِّهَا لِوَقْتِهَا وَ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهَا ارْتَفَعَتْ سَوْدَاءَ مُظْلِمَةً تَقُولُ ضَيَّعْتَنِي ضَيَّعَكَ اللٌّهُ.

Imam Ja'far Sadiq (asws) has said: “When a person maintains his prayer and offers it at its stipulated time, it ascends in the form of a pure white light and calls out to him: “You have guarded me, may Allah (swt) protect you.” But if he does not maintain his prayer and does not offer it at its decreed time, it ascends as a dark and gloomy form and says to him: You have destroyed me, may Allah (swt) destroy you.” Reference: Al-Mahajjatul Baiza, Volume 1, Page 340

25 – A Beloved Entity

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص):أَحَبُّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلـى اللٌّهِ الصَّلاَةُ لِوَقْتِهَا ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَينِ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَـبِيلِ اللٌّهِ.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) has said: “The most beloved of deeds in the eyes of Allah are: offering prayers at the stipulated times; (then) goodness and kindness towards parents; (and then) Jihad in the way of Allah.” Reference: Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18897

Negligence & Carelessness towards the Prayers

26 – Regarding the Prayers as Insignificant

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص):لَيْسَ مِنِّي مَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِصَلاَتِهِلاَ يَرِدُ عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ لاَ وَ اللٌّهِ.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) has said: “One who considers the prayers to be insignificant and trivial is not from me. By Allah (swt)! He shall never come close to me at the pool of Kausar.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 224

27 – Debasement of Prayers

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ )ع): شَفَاعَتُنَا لاَ تَنَالُ مُستَخِفًّا بِصَلاَتَِهِ.

Imam Ja'far Sadiq (asws) said: “Our intercession shall never reach one who considers his prayers to be inconsequential and unimportant.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 227

28 – Destroying Prayers 

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ)ص): لاَ تُضَيِّعُوا صَلاَتَكُمْ فَإِنَّ مَنْ ضَيَّعَ صَلاَتَهُ حُشِرَ مَعَ قَارُونَ وَ هَامَانَ وَ فِرْعَوْنَ‏.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) has said: “Do not destroy your prayers for verily one who destroys his prayers shall be resurrected in the company of Qarun, Haman and Fir`awn.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202

29 – The Incorrect Prayers

عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ )ع) قَالَ بَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص) جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إِذْ دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَقَامَ يُصَلِّي فَلَمْ يُتِمَّ رُكُوعَهُ وَ لاَ سُجُودَهُ فَقَالَ )ص) نَقَرَ كَنَقْرِ الْغُرَابِ لَئِنْ مَاتَ هٌذَا وَ هٌكَذَا صَلاَتُهُ لَيَمُوتَنَّ عَلى غَيْرِ دِيـنِي.

Imam Muhammad Baqir (asws) narrates: One day the Messenger of Allah (saw) was seated in the mosque when a person entered and began praying, but in a manner such that neither did he perform his ruku’ (bowing), nor his sujood (prostration) in a correct manner. Observing this, the Messenger of Allah commented: “(This person) pecks as a crow pecks. Should he die and the state of his prayers be as they are now, he shall surely not die upon my religion.” Reference: Al-Mahajjatul Baiza, Volume 1, Page 34

30 – Carelessness Towards Prayers 

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): أَلصَّلاَةُ عِمَادُ الدِّينِ فَمَنْ تَرَكَ صَلاَتَهُ مُتَعَمِّداً فَقَدْ هَدَمَ دِينَهُ وَ مَنْ تَرَكَ أَوْقَاتَهَا يَدْخُلُ الْوَيْلَ وَ الْوَيْلُ وَادٍ فِي جَهَنَّمَ كَمَا قَالَ اللٌّهُ تَعَالَى }فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاَتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ 

The Messenger of Allah (saw) has said: “Prayer is the pillar of your religion and one who intentionally forsakes his prayer has destroyed his religion. And one who does not guard the times of the prayers, shall be made to enter ‘Wayl’, which is a valley in Hell, as Allah (swt), the Exalted, has said: “So woe to the praying ones, who are unmindful of their prayers.”[9] Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202

31 – The Consequence of Abandoning Prayers

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص):لاَ تَتْرُكَنَّ الصَّلاَةَ مُتَعَمِّداً فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ تَرَكَ الصَّلاَةَ مُتَعَمِّداً فَقَدْ بَرِئَتْ مِنْهُ ذِمَّةُ اللٌّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ…

Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said: “Do not abandon your prayers intentionally for surely the obligations of Allah and His Messenger cease to cover one who forsakes his prayers intentionally.” Reference: Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 19096

32 – A Death of Disbelief

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ )ص): مَنْ تَرَكَ صَلاَةً لاَ يَرْجُو ثَوَابَهَا وَ لاَ يَخَافُ عِقَابَهَا فَلاَ أُبَالِي أَيَمُوتُ يَهُودِيًّا أوْ نَصْرَانِـيًّا أوْ مَجُوسِيًّا.

Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said: “If a person abandons his prayer such that he neither desires its rewards nor fears its chastisement, for such a person I do not care if he dies a Jew, a Christian or a Magian.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202

33 – Chastisement

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ )ص(: مَنْ تَرَكَ صَلاَتَهُ حَتَّى تَفُوتَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ عُذْرٍ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: بَيْنَ العَبْدِ وَ بَيْنَ الكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلاَةِ.

Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said: “The good deeds of one who, without any appropriate excuse does not offer his prayer until its time passes away, are annulled.” He then said: “The divide between a believer and disbelief is the abandonment of prayers.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202

34 – Door of Hell

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص):مَنْ تَرَكَ الصَّلاَةَ مُتَعَمِّداً كُتِبَ إِسْمُهُ عَلى بَابِ النَّارِ مِمَّنْ يَدْخُلُهَا.

Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said: “The name of one who forsakes his prayer intentionally is written upon The door of Hell from which he shall (eventually) enter.” Reference: Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 19090

Notes:

[9] The Noble Qur’an, Suratul Ma’un, Verse 4 and 5

Etiquette of Prayer And Conditions for its Acceptance

35 – Conditions for Acceptance of Prayers

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ )ع): قَالَ اللٌّهُ تَعَالـى إِنَّمَا أَقْبَلُ الصَّلاَةَ لِمَنْ تَوَاضَعَ لِعَظَمَتِي وَ يَكُفُّ نَفْسَهُ عَنِ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنْ أَجْلِي وَ يَقْطَعُ نَهَارَهُ بِذِكْرِي وَ لاَ يَتَعَاظَمُ عَلى خَلْقِي وَ يُطْعِمُ الْجَائِعَ وَ يَكْسُو الْعَارِيَ وَ يَرْحَمُ الْمُصَابَ وَ يُؤْوِي الْغَرِيبَ‏.

Imam Ja'far Sadiq (asws) said that Allah (swt), the Exalted has said: “I shall accept the prayers of one who: exhibits humility before My Greatness; restrains himself from his base and carnal desires for My sake; passes his day in My remembrance; does not seek to show his greatness over My creation; feeds the hungry ones; clothes the bare ones; acts with kindness and mercy to those in misery and trouble; provides shelter to those who are strangers (in his city) and away from their homes.” Reference: Wasa`ilush Shi`a, Volume 15, Page 210

36 – Prayers Accepted? In What Measure?

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ (ع) قَالَ: مَنْ أَحَبُّ أنْ يَعْلَمَ أَقُبِلَتْ صَلاَتُهُ أَمْ لَمْ تُقْبَلُ فَلْيَنْظَرْ هَلْ مَنَعَتْهُ صَلاَتُهُ عَنِ الفَحْشَاءِ وَ الْمُنْكَرِ فَبِقَدْرِ مَا مَنَعَتْهُ قُبِلَتْ مِنهُ.

Imam Ja'far Sadiq (asws) has said: “One who desires to know whether his prayers have been accepted or not should observe if his prayers have restrained him from evil and sinful acts. (If yes,) then the measure in which they have restrained him is the measure of his prayers that have been accepted.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 198

37 – Prayers and the Wilayat of the Ahl-e-Bayt(asws)

قَالَ الرَّجُلُ لِزَينِ الْعَابِدِينَ )ع): مَا سَبَبُ قَـبُولِهَا؟ قَالَ )ع): وَلاَيَتُنَا وَ الْبَرَاءَةُ مِنْ أَعْدَائِنَا. 

Once a person asked Imam Zayn ul `Abidin (asws): “What is the criterion for the acceptance of prayers?” The Imam (asws) replied: “Acknowledging our Wilayat and dissociating oneself from our enemies.” Reference: Biharul Anwar, Volume 84, Page 245

38 - Obligatory and Recommended Prayers 

عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ )ع) قَالَ: إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيُرْفَعُ لَهُ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ نِصْفُهَا أَوْ ثُـلُـثُهَا أَوْ رُبُعُهَا أَوْ خُمُسُهَا فَمَا يُرْفَعُ لَهُ إِلاَّ مَا أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ بِقَلْبِهِ وَ إِنَّمَا أَمَرْنَا بِالنَّافِلَةِ لِيَتِمَّ لَهُمْ بِهَا مَا نَقَصُوا مِنَ الْفَرِيضَةِ.

Imam Muhammad Baqir (asws) has said: “The prayer that is offered by a person, sometimes half of it ascends upwards, while at other times it is only one-third, or one-fourth or one-fifth that ascends. Only that portion of the prayer which the person has offered with concentration and mindfulness of the heart is made to ascend. (And so) the people have been ordered to offer the recommended prayers so that they can make up for what has been left incomplete of their obligatory prayers.” Reference: Al-Haqa’iq, Page 219

39 – Prayers with Azan & Iqamah

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ )ع): مَنْ صَلَّى بِأَذَانٍ وَ إِقَامَةٍ صَلَّى خَلْفَهُ صَفَّانِ مِنَ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَ مَنْ صَلَّى بِإِقَامَةٍ بِغَيْرِ أَذَانٍ صَلَّى خَلْفَهُ صَفٌّ وَاحِدٌ مِنَ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ. قُلْتُ لَهُ: وَ كَمْ مِقْدَارُ كُلِّ صَفٍّ. فَقَالَ )ع): أَََقَلُّهُ مَا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ إِلــى الْمَغْرِبِ وَ أَكْثَرُهُ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ الأَرْضِ‏.

Imam Ja'far Sadiq (asws) has said: “One who offers his prayers along with Azan and Iqamah, two rows of angels pray behind him, while one who offers his prayers with only the Iqamah and without the Azan, one row of angels pray behind him.” The Imam (asws) was asked: “And how long is each row?” The Imam (asws) replied: “At the very minimum, its length is the distance between East and West, while at the maximum, its length is the distance between the earth and the heavens.” Reference: Wasa’ilush Shi`a, Volume 4, Page 620

40 – Prayers and Supplications

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ )ع) قَالَ: إِنَّ اللٌّهَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسَ فِي أَفْضَلِ السَّاعَاتِ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالدُّعَاءِ فِي إِدْبَارِ الصَّلَوَاتِ.

Imam Ja'far Sadiq (asws) has said: “Verily, Allah (swt) has made obligatory upon you the five prayers at timings that are the best of times, so it is important that you supplicate to Him at the end of these prayers.” Reference: Al-Khisal, Volume 1, Page 278