The Orchards of Love – Part Eight

Salaah – The Key to Jannah
Islam is the only path that leads to the love of Allah Ta‘ala and leads to Jannah. Through practicing on Islam, one will earn the pleasure of Allah Ta‘ala and acquire eternal success. From all the obligations of Islam, the obligation of salaah ranks the highest. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Salaah is the key to Jannah.” (Sunan Tirmizi #4) In another Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Salaah is a noor (divine light).” (Saheeh Bukhaari #223) Hence, if one wishes to illuminate his life, then he should illuminate his life with salaah.
Currently, many countries around the globe are experiencing an economic recession. In the face of such global crisis, various schemes and systems are being adopted to raise the economy. However, in the Quraan and Hadith, Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) have linked the blessings of sustenance and livelihood to Salaah.
When a person would embrace Islam, then among the first things that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would teach him was salaah. (Musnadul Bazzaar #2765) Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) entire life was dedicated to establishing salaah in the ummah. When he came to Quba and Madinah Munawwarah, his first and foremost priority was to establish the musjid and unite people upon salaah. Apart from this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) commanded that a musjid be built in every locality to unite people upon salaah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Salaah is the center pillar of deen.” In other words, through safeguarding this center pillar, one’s entire deen will remain protected, and through destroying this center pillar, the entire structure of one’s deen will collapse.
Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) explained the conduct of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the importance he showed to performing salaah in the musjid. She reports, “Within the home, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would always assist with the chores of the home. But as soon as he would hear the azaan, he would leave the home, proceeding to the musjid.” (Saheeh Bukhaari #5363)
On one occasion, the delegation of Thaqeef came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with the intention of accepting Islam. However, they requested to be excused from coming out in jihaad and from paying ushr (giving ten percent of crop) to the zakaat collector and from performing salaah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) acceded to their first two requests and refused to grant them concession to leave out performing salaah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “There is no goodness in a religion wherein there is no salaah.” (Sunan Abi Dawood #3026)
The importance and significance of salaah was so deeply entrenched in the hearts of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) that even when they were on their deathbed, they ensured that they upheld the pillar of salaah.
On the morning that Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was stabbed, Hazrat Miswar bin Makhramah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) entered his presence. On entering, he found Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) unconscious. Hazrat Miswar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked those present as to whether Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had performed his salaah. They replied that he had not yet regained consciousness, and hence had not performed salaah.
Hazrat Miswar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) knew Hazrat Umar’s (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) devotion to salaah throughout his entire life. Hazrat Miswar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) advised them to wake him up by mentioning to him that it is the time of salaah. Thus, they called out, “O Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen, your salaah!” As soon as Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) heard the word salaah, he awoke and exclaimed, “Yes! By Allah! There is no share in Islam for the one who neglects his salaah!” Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thereafter performed his salaah. (Majma‘uz Zawaaid #1659) Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also asked, “Did the people perform their fajr salaah?” He was told that after he was stabbed, Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Awf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) led them in salaah. It was only then that Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) felt satisfied.
May Allah Ta‘ala keep us steadfast on salaah and grant us the ability to emulate every sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in every facet of our lives.