The Prayer is a constant principle In the heavenly legislations

26 Jamadi El-Akhir 1440H

In a rapid reading of our religious history and in a prompt, passing glimpse of the stages and phases which have been lived by mankind from the age of Adam (Peace be upon him) till the age of the Seal of the Prophets - Our master Muhammad (Peace of Allah and blessings be upon him and his progeny, we find that the Prayer if a purposeful message which has been called for by all the prophets and the messengers (Peace be upon them) and was practiced by all the believers along the ages.
In the holy Quran, there is a valuable notice, which has been repeated in more than a chapter to ascertain the truth that the Prayer is a permanent principle in all the legislatures of the Heavens and this truth reveals another truth, that is, that all heavenly religions derive their systems and legislations from one source or one fountain i.e. from Allah Glory be to Him.
But the difference between them is like the difference between one class and another inside one school and that is that religion was caring about the growth of the human race and its development from age to age and from one environment into another environment so, it puts for each stage of time and every environment of the societies the legislation which harmonizes with its age and with the degree of its realization and maturity together with caretaking of its social and economic conditions.
When mankind has reached an important stage of development and evolution to the level that it has become within its capability to comprehend the complete message of religion which can be applicable in every time and place Allah(Glory be to Him) revealed to the heart of Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) the holy Quran as guidance and mercy to the so that Islam can be the final appropriate form which was made within the disposal of mankind to contain the life of man at the present and the future as have confirmed to us the real events and the movement of history since approximately one thousand and four hundred years ago .
For all these reasons, Muhammad has got to be the Seal of all Prophets and Messengers and as such has been his invitation to the Prayer- a ring which has become complementary to the rest of the rings; therefore, we find the holy Quran tells us about the real state of the Prayer and its impact on its faithful believers which has been conveyed across the generations of believers…generation after generation.
In the holy chapter of Mariam (P.B.U.H.) the verse points to the fact that the Prayer has been a conduct of faith which is kept on by the offspring of Adam, Noah, Abraham and Israel (P.B.U.T).
What attracts attention in this chapter of the holy Quran that these nations were of the kind which if the verses of the Quran were recited, they fell down in prostrate to Allah and weeping and this means that prostration has been an expressive act of faith to which the believers bound themselves in worshipping Allah. We then got to know that prostration is but a part of several parts of As-Salat.
The Almighty Allah says:(He left in posterity people who abandoned As-Salat and followed their sensual desires.
"Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up As-Salat (the prayers) to be lost either by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times.) and they followed lusts. So, they will be thrown in Hell." (Maryam: 58-59).
On the tongue of Abraham (P.B.U.H.) the verse says:" O my Lord! Make me one who performs As-Salat and also from my offspring, our Lord and accept my invocation."(Ibrahim) (Abraham 40).
The other verse describes the prophet Ismael (P.B.U.H.) by saying: "And he was commanding his household to establish As-Salat (the prayers….) (Mary:55) then it envisages one of the images of the struggle which Shuaib (P.B.U.H.) had been passing through his folk in the best of examples: "O Shuaib! Does your prayer order you to abandon what our forefathers had been worshipping….?" (Hud: 87).
The following verse concerns the two prophets: Moses and Aaron (P.B.U.T.) "And We revealed to Musa (Moses) and his brother saying: "Provide dwellings to your people in Egypt and make your dwellings as places for your worship and perform As-Salat (the prayers)(Yunus:87) And Allah Himself has promised the people of Israel to extend to them the Hand of help and assistance provided that they settle on the earth and establish the Prayer there: Allah, the Almighty, said: "Allah, indeed took the covenant from the Children of Israel (Jews). And We appointed twelve leaders among them and Allah said: "I am with you perform As-Salat" and give Zakat and believe in My Messengers ….) (Al-Maedah:12) From the Christ, Jesus, (P.B.U. H.) came the following when he spoke to people while he was a little infant in the cradle: He said:"Verily, I am a slave of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I be and has enjoined on me As- Salat (prayer) and Zakat as long as I am living." (Maryam: 30-31).
Yes, this is As-Salat-a living spiritual worship which was called for by all the Messengers and Prophets (P.B.U.H.) an practiced by all the believers according to their different religions…that is because As-Salat leaves a great impact on the life of man, his happiness and stability in every place and time. And when we demonstrate these scenes and situations we do want to emphasize that on all those who believe in Allah!
"The Prayer of Islam is but an extension to domain of Islam in a content which can contain the dimensions of the excellent relationship between man and his Creator in a picture which looks truer in expressing the truth of the human feeling and the human faith, too when he stands in a peaceful, submissive moment which can link the earth to the heavens which can uncover a hidden secret whose spirit and affection can't be felt except by the obedient believers in the sight of Allah, the Almighty, in a moment of prayer."
Once upon a time Abu Abdullah As-Sadiq (P.B.U.H.) was asked:" Why did Allah take Abraham (P.B.U.H.) His beloved one?" He answered by saying: " For his most prostration on the earth."
From Allah's Messenger (P.B.U.H.) came the following: "Allah wouldn't have taken Abraham as His beloved one but for feeding him and for his prayers at night while the people are asleep."
History has kept for us memorable monuments like AL-Sahla- a district close to the Mosque in Iraq where the Prophets (P.B.U.T.) used to frequent such locations for the purpose of establishing their daily prayers there. It is the mosque of the Prophet Idris (P.B.U.H.) where he was establishing his prayers.
From Imam As-Sadiq (P.B.U.H) came the following: "He who invokes Allah to fulfill what he desires most, Allah will respond to his demands and needs and Allah will deliver him from any mishaps in this world and the contrivances of his enemies.". It is known nowadays as the Mosque of "Sahib As-Zaman"(May Allah hasten his honorable reappearance).
It was narrated from the Prophet of Allah- Noah (P.B.U.H.) that when his health exceedingly ran down on account of his folk and encountered so much harm from them, for this reason he was seeking refuge with Allah, to Whom be ascribed all glory and perfection; then getting back to them inviting them to worship Allah, the Almighty, day and night but he received no response from them and at times he sought inviting them to Allah secretly and again they rebelled against his invitation and all his efforts with them came to no avail… and he also tried calling them publicly, but all that came to nothing, too.
Thence, he sat down after dawn prayer invoking and praying to Allah to rid him of them, and inspired him (Glory be to him) that He, responded to his demand calling him to build the arc within His (Allah's) care and protection where afterwards the Flood had swept them away.
Imam Ali (Peace be upon him) said: "The Prophet of Allah, Noah (P.B.U.H.) and those who were with him had performed their prayers in a sitting manner because part of the ship had swung to the lower side like a seesaw.
The folk of Aad is said to have ruled the State so oppressively that the heavens above had deprived them of rainfall for seven months until they were afflicted with famine and drought.
They, meanwhile, sent to the Prophet of Allah-Hud a delegation from them beseeching him to find a solution to the misfortune with which they had been afflicted.
Hud, after responding to their plea, in turn, had established a "rainfall" prayer and invoked Allah for them and requested Allah, the Almighty for forgiveness to his folk.
"And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain and add strength to your strength. So, do not turn away as Mujrimin, (criminals)."(Hud:52) "They said: "O Hud! "No evidence have you brought us and we shall not leave our gods for your (mere) saying! And we are not believers in you."(Hud:53) So, as a punishment for their rebellious act, Allah, (Glory be to Him) has sent them a chilly wind; therefore, the prayer of Islam in its wholesome comprehensibility and objective from goals represent the perfect and comprehensive Islamic mission.
On this basis, the Prayer cannot be separated from the general movement of the society but rather links itself to it to take the role of the heart which supplies it with spirit and vitality and from here the Prayer has become the principle of integrity, consistency and continuity.
From this outset, Allah's Messenger (P.B.U.H.) announced to the public that the prayer is the pillar of religion; "if it is accepted, everything else is accepted, too, and if refused everything else is refused, too. "
Among other advantages of the Prayer, too is that it is not an act of priesthood, monastic symbols, sheer mystical counting beads or lyrical odes and the like, being performed in an ambiguous and obscure language which cannot be comprehended by the prayer performer himself and he consequently cannot perform it in the passages and corridors special for worshipping.
No, it is impossible because the prayer of Islam stands for the daily program of the liberation of man and society rather than self-worship, wanton passion and persons in an attempt to lift up the Moslem to the broadest horizon where the great message role is waiting for him to change the course of history, to direct humanity and take the rein of leading life.