format_quote Originally Posted by
Grace Seeker
How strictly interpreted is the command to offer salat 5 times a day?
Invariably the hours of Salaah will be encountered during the times of business and work - and this is the real test of Imaan(faith). It is really a sign of true Imaan when a Muslim businessman suspends his business dealings and leaves his workplace to answer the call of Allah even during peak hours when customers surround him on all sides. Once Hadrat Abdullah bin Umar (Radiyallahu anhu} was in the shopping centre. It was time for Salaah and people stood up, closed their shops and proceeded to the Masjid. Hadrat Ibn Umar (Radiyallahu anhu} was delighted at seeing this and remarked, 'These are the people regarding whom this a ayah (in Surah an-Noor) was revealed:
(Real) men whom neither trade nor merchandise distracts from the remembrance of Allah.’
Allah also says:
Verily Salaah is compulsory on the Muslims at its prescribed time. (Surah an-Nisaa: 103)
Therefore, to read a Salaah other than at its prescribed time without a valid Shari' excuse, makes a person deserving of severe punishment. In Surah al-Maa-oon, referring specifically to the hypocrites, Allah warns them with destruction for neglecting their Salaah and not performing it on time.
Describing the successful Believers, Allah declares:
They are those who are punctual in the performance of their Salaah. (Surah al-Mu'minoon: 9)
A non-Muslim shared the following with me:
I had not heard this discussed before. Is it true that one can "store up" prayers as described here? If so, please explain what is involved in the process. If not, what a better explanation of this person's observations regarding the behaviors she personally witnessed while in Jordan?
The Muslims of today are no example of Islam. Many of them are too culturally embedded to follow Islam properly and many lack Islamic knowledge to practice it properly. There is no such thing as 'storing up prayers", the best prayer is the prayer on it's designated time. The Prophet (pbuh) was asked one of the best deeds and he said salah on time.