Prayer is the second pillar and also the most important
pillar of Islam after the testimony of faith. It’s a practical sign of
our obedience and submission to Allah Almighty and also a practical
proof of our faith in Him and Islam.
:The Almighty Allah says
Attend
regularly to your prayers, particularly the middle prayer, and stand up
before God in devout obedience. If you are in fear, pray walking or
riding. When youare again secure, remember God, since it is He who has taught you what you did not know. (Al-Baqarah 2:238-239)
This is a clear instruction to Muslims to attend regularly to the
five daily prayers, offering them in the proper manner, in the correct
form, and at their appointed times.
The middle Prayer is generally taken to refer to `Asr (Afternoon Prayer) on the basis of reports that on the day of the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwat Al-Khandaq),
5 AH-627 CE, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was heard cursing the
enemy forces for “causing us to miss the middle prayer of `Asr. May
Allah engulf their hearts and homes in fire.” The reason for a specific
mention of the `Asr Prayer is perhaps because it falls during that part
of the afternoon when people take a short rest and may easily miss it.
Surat Al-Baqarah also emphasizes a total devotion during prayers,
because in the early days, Muslims used to, if they felt the need, talk
and break away from the prayer to attend to urgent business. When this
verse was revealed, it became clear that nothing should distract one
from prayer and that worshippers must stand before Allah in a state of
complete submission and devotion.
The verse also points out that even in times of danger and war,
Muslims must not neglect the obligatory prayers. They may perform them
in the most convenient way possible under the circumstances. They are
permitted to perform the prayer in whatever posture they find themselves
in, walking or riding, without having to face the qiblah (the direction of the Ka`bah) or follow the prescribed procedure. This is not to be confused with Salat Al-khawf or
‘prayer while in a state of fear’, referred to in Surat An-Nisaa’),
which relates specifically to the performance of prayer in the
battlefield.
Prayer is the second pillar and also the most important pillar of Islam after the testimony of faith.
If fighting actually breaks out, or an enemy attack is imminent, the
ruling given in the present verse will apply. The great importance that
Allah attaches to prayer is very clear. It is seen as a source of
inspiration and moral support, and should not be neglected no matter how
dangerous or threatening the situation may be. In times of war, it is
another weapon a Muslim may use in facing the enemy. It is a supply line
from Allah Almighty at a most crucial moment.
Islam is a religion founded upon the worship of Allah, in various
forms and in all circumstances. Prayer is the foremost manifestation of
man’s submission to Allah. Through the worship of Him, man attains the
highest level of purity, gains divine support and direction, and
achieves total peace of mind. Hence, prayer must never be neglected,
even if one is in the line of fire. When safety and security prevail,
prayer must be observed in the normal way, as taught to Muslims by Allah
Almighty in the Qur’an and through the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
This article is based on the interpretation of some verses from
Surat Al-Baqarah quoted in Sayyid Qutb’s In the Shade of the Qur’an
published by Islamic Foundation in 2003.
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