Virtues of Salah
Total Hadiths 12
The Spiritual Virtues of Salah: How Daily Prayer Erases Sins
According to Islamic scholars, establishing the five daily prayers serves as an essential spiritual shield and a source of divine purification. The provided prophetic narratives beautifully illustrate the virtues of Salah, showing how routine prayer expiates the minor mistakes and daily afflictions caused by family, wealth, and social interactions. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) beautifully compared the regular performance of the five compulsory prayers to washing in a clean river five times a day, which completely removes all dirt and leaves no trace of impurity. This continuous cleansing directly blots out evil deeds and smaller sins. However, the teachings also highlight the serious nature of neglecting this duty, specifically warning that missing or leaving the Asr prayer can lead to the loss of your family, property, and even the total annulment of your good deeds.
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، وَالدَّرَاوَرْدِيُّ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهَرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ، يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسًا، مَا تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ يُبْقِي مِنْ دَرَنِهِ ". قَالُوا لاَ يُبْقِي مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْئًا. قَالَ " فَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ، يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهَا الْخَطَايَا ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on him?" They said, "Not a trace of dirt would be left." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 528In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 506
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " يَتَعَاقَبُونَ فِيكُمْ مَلاَئِكَةٌ بِاللَّيْلِ وَمَلاَئِكَةٌ بِالنَّهَارِ، وَيَجْتَمِعُونَ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَصَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ، ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ الَّذِينَ بَاتُوا فِيكُمْ، فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ وَهْوَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ كَيْفَ تَرَكْتُمْ عِبَادِي فَيَقُولُونَ تَرَكْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ، وَأَتَيْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Angels come to you in succession by night and day and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and `Asr prayers. Those who have passed the night with you (or stayed with you) ascend (to the Heaven) and Allah asks them, though He knows everything about you, well, "In what state did you leave my slaves?" The angels reply: "When we left them they were praying and when we reached them, they were praying."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 555In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 32USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 530
أَخْبَرَنَا عُتْبَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ وَالْحَارِثُ بْنُ مِسْكِينٍ قِرَاءَةً عَلَيْهِ وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَاسِمِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا إِلَيْهِ وَلَوْ عَلِمُوا مَا فِي الْعَتَمَةِ وَالصُّبْحِ لأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "If the people knew what (virtue) there was in the call to prayer and the first row, and they not find any way to get to do that [1] other than by drawing lots, they would do that. If they knew what (virtue) there was in coming early to prayer, they would compete to be first in the Masjid. If they knew what (virtue) there was in Al-'Atamah and Subh, they would come to them even if they had to crawl." [1] Indicating the two mentioned items: that is the call to prayer and praying in the first row.
[1] Indicating the two mentioned items: that is the call to prayer and praying in the first row.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 540In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 47English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 541
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الَّذِي تَفُوتُهُ صَلاَةُ الْعَصْرِ كَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ ".
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever misses the `Asr prayer (intentionally) then it is as if he lost his family and property."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 552In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 29USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 527
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ النَّهْدِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَصَابَ مِنَ امْرَأَةٍ قُبْلَةً، فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرَهُ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ طَرَفَىِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ}. فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلِي هَذَا قَالَ " لِجَمِيعِ أُمَّتِي كُلِّهِمْ ".
Ibn Mas'ud Narrated from:
A man kissed a woman (unlawfully) and then went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and informed him.Allah revealed: And offer prayers perfectly At the two ends of the day And in some hours of the night (i.e. the five compulsory prayers). Verily! good deeds remove (annul) the evil deeds (small sins) (11.114).The man asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), "Is it for me?" He said, "It is for all my followers."
[1] Iqāmat-aṣ-Ṣalāt : إقامة الصلاة: See the footnote of Hadīth No. 524.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 526In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 504
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الَّذِي تَفُوتُهُ صَلاَةُ الْعَصْرِ فَكَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ " . أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الَّذِي تَفُوتُهُ صَلاَةُ الْعَصْرِ فَكَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ " .
Salim Narrated from:
It was narrated from Salim, from his father, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The one who misses 'Asr prayer, it is as if he has been robbed of his family and his wealth." It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The one who misses 'Asr prayer, it is as if he has been robbed of his family and his wealth."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'iIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 19English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 513
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شَقِيقٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ حُذَيْفَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا جُلُوسًا عِنْدَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ يَحْفَظُ قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْفِتْنَةِ قُلْتُ أَنَا، كَمَا قَالَهُ. قَالَ إِنَّكَ عَلَيْهِ ـ أَوْ عَلَيْهَا ـ لَجَرِيءٌ. قُلْتُ " فِتْنَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَجَارِهِ تُكَفِّرُهَا الصَّلاَةُ وَالصَّوْمُ وَالصَّدَقَةُ وَالأَمْرُ وَالنَّهْىُ ". قَالَ لَيْسَ هَذَا أُرِيدُ، وَلَكِنِ الْفِتْنَةُ الَّتِي تَمُوجُ كَمَا يَمُوجُ الْبَحْرُ. قَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ مِنْهَا بَأْسٌ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِنَّ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهَا بَابًا مُغْلَقًا. قَالَ أَيُكْسَرُ أَمْ يُفْتَحُ قَالَ يُكْسَرُ. قَالَ إِذًا لاَ يُغْلَقَ أَبَدًا. قُلْنَا أَكَانَ عُمَرُ يَعْلَمُ الْبَابَ قَالَ نَعَمْ، كَمَا أَنَّ دُونَ الْغَدِ اللَّيْلَةَ، إِنِّي حَدَّثْتُهُ بِحَدِيثٍ لَيْسَ بِالأَغَالِيطِ. فَهِبْنَا أَنْ نَسْأَلَ حُذَيْفَةَ، فَأَمَرْنَا مَسْرُوقًا فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ الْبَابُ عُمَرُ.
Hudhaifa Narrated from:
Once I was sitting with `Umar and he said, 'Who amongst you remembers the statement of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the afflictions?' I said, 'I know it as the Prophet (ﷺ) had said it.' `Umar said, 'No doubt you are bold.' I said, 'The afflictions caused for a man by his wife, money, children and neighbor are expiated by his prayers, fasting, charity and by enjoining (what is good) and forbidding (what is evil).'`Umar said, 'I did not mean that but I asked about that affliction which will spread like the waves of the sea.' I (Hudhaifa) said, 'O leader of the faithful believers! You need not be afraid of it as there is a closed door between you and it.' `Umar asked, Will the door be broken or opened?' I replied, 'It will be broken.' `Umar said, 'Then it will never be closed again.'I was asked whether `Umar knew that door. I replied that he knew it as one knows that there will be night before the tomorrow morning. I narrated a Hadith that was free from any misstatement" The subnarrator added that they deputized Masruq to ask Hudhaifa (about the door). Hudhaifa said, "The door was `Umar himself."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 525In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 4USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 503
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسٌ، قَالَ لِي جَرِيرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ كُنَّا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذْ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ فَقَالَ " أَمَا إِنَّكُمْ سَتَرَوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ كَمَا تَرَوْنَ هَذَا، لاَ تُضَامُّونَ ـ أَوْ لاَ تُضَاهُونَ ـ فِي رُؤْيَتِهِ، فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَنْ لاَ تُغْلَبُوا عَلَى صَلاَةٍ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ، وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا فَافْعَلُوا ". ثُمَّ قَالَ " فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا ".
Jarir bin 'Abdullah Narrated from:
We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) on a full moon night. He looked at the moon and said, "You will certainly see your Lord as you see this moon, and there will be no trouble in seeing Him. So if you can avoid missing (through sleep, business, etc.) a prayer before the rising of the sun (Fajr) and before its setting (`Asr) you must do so. He (the Prophet (ﷺ) ) then recited the following verse:And celebrate the praises Of Your Lord before The rising of the sun And before (its) setting." (50.39)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 573In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 49USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 547
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنَظَرَ إِلَى الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةً ـ يَعْنِي الْبَدْرَ ـ فَقَالَ " إِنَّكُمْ سَتَرَوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ كَمَا تَرَوْنَ هَذَا الْقَمَرَ لاَ تُضَامُّونَ فِي رُؤْيَتِهِ، فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَنْ لاَ تُغْلَبُوا عَلَى صَلاَةٍ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا فَافْعَلُوا ". ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ}. قَالَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ افْعَلُوا لاَ تَفُوتَنَّكُمْ.
Qais Narrated from:
Jarir said, "We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) and he looked at the moon--full-moon--and said, 'Certainly you will see your Lord as you see this moon and you will have no trouble in seeing Him. So if you can avoid missing (through sleep or business, etc.) a prayer before the sunrise (Fajr) and a prayer before sunset (`Asr), you must do so.'He then recited Allah's Statement: And celebrate the praises Of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting." (50.39)Isma`il said, "Offer those prayers and do not miss them."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 554In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 31USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 529
حَدَّثَنَا هُدْبَةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو جَمْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ صَلَّى الْبَرْدَيْنِ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ ". وَقَالَ ابْنُ رَجَاءٍ حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ عَنْ أَبِي جَمْرَةَ أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرِ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ أَخْبَرَهُ بِهَذَا. حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، عَنْ حَبَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو جَمْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ.
Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa Narrated from:
My father said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever prays the two cool prayers (`Asr and Fajr) will go to Paradise.' "
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 574In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 50USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 548
