Comparative Index to Islam : PRAYER

al-Baqarah 2:45; at-Taubah 9:103; adh-Dhariyat 51:18; al-Ma`arij 70:22-23; al-Qiyamah 75:31; al-`Alaq 96:10; al-Kauthar 108:2,

see also WORSHIP, Salat and Du'a. 5 prescribed prayer: Fajr before sunrist, Zuhr at midday, 'Asr when sun was still hot (before sunset), Maghrib after sunset, 'Isha at night. Some extreme Muslims advocate death for failure to observe prayers.

• annulled by women, monkeys or black dogs, see under WOMEN

• answers to prayer, see the article Does Allah Answer Prayers?

• be constant in, al-Baqarah 2:43,83,110

• beautify (adorn) yourselves for, al-A`raf 7:31

• call to, al-Jum`ah 62:9

• content, al-Baqarah 2:285-286; l 'Imran 3:8-9,16,147,191-194; bani Isra'il 17:80-81,111; al-Mu'minun 23:118; al-Furqan 25:74; al-Hashr 59:10; at-Tahrim 66:8

• day of congregation (Friday), al-Jum`ah 62:9

• direction to face while praying, see QIBLA

• do not rush to prayer, Sahih Bukhari 1.608, Sahih Bukhari 1.609, Sahih Bukhari 2.31

• eyesight taken away if pray looking into sky,

  Narrated Anas bin Malik:
  The Prophet said, "What is wrong with those people who look towards the sky during the prayer?" His talk grew stern while delivering this speech and he said, "They should stop (looking towards the sky during the prayer); otherwise their eye-sight would be taken away." (Sahih Bukhari 1.717)

  On the other hand, Jesus prayed looking towards heaven :

  After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. (John 17:1-2)

  Jesus would have been blind if Muhammad was correct.

• for sinners to be forgiven, l 'Imran 3:135

• for the right reasons, al-Ma`un 107:4-6

• forbidden to place hands on hips while praying,
  * Narrated Abu Huraira: It was forbidden to keep the hands on the hips during the prayer. (This is narrated by Abu Huraira from the Prophet.) (Sahih Bukhari 2.310, Sahih Bukhari 2.311)

• forbidden to pray for hypocrites that die and pagans,

  * Narrated Ibn 'Umar:
  When 'Abdullah bin Ubai (the chief of hypocrites) died, his son came to the Prophet and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Please give me your shirt to shroud him in it, offer his funeral prayer and ask for Allah's forgiveness for him." So Allah's Apostle gave his shirt to him and said, "Inform me (When the funeral is ready) so that I may offer the funeral prayer." So, he informed him and when the Prophet intended to offer the funeral prayer, 'Umar took hold of his hand and said, "Has Allah not forbidden you to offer the funeral prayer for the hypocrites? The Prophet said, "I have been given the choice for Allah says: '(It does not avail) Whether you (O Muhammad) ask forgiveness for them (hypocrites), or do not ask for forgiveness for them. Even though you ask for their forgiveness seventy times, Allah will not forgive them. (at-Taubah 9:80)" So the Prophet offered the funeral prayer and on that the revelation came: "And never (O Muhammad) pray (funeral prayer) for any of them (i.e. hypocrites) that dies." (at-Taubah 9:84) (Sahih Bukhari 2.359)

  * Muhammad's understanding of at-Taubah 9:80 was wrong, and so he was not allowed to do that again. Even though he knew that Allah will not hear his prayers, he still prayed it.

  * Narrated Said bin Al-Musaiyab from his father:
  When the time of the death of Abu Talib approached, Allah's Apostle went to him and found Abu Jahl bin Hisham and 'Abdullah bin Abi Umaiya bin Al-Mughira by his side. Allah's Apostle said to Abu Talib, "O uncle! Say: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, a sentence with which I shall be a witness (i.e. argue) for you before Allah. Abu Jahl and 'Abdullah bin Abi Umaiya said, "O Abu Talib! Are you going to denounce the religion of Abdul Muttalib?" Allah's Apostle kept on inviting Abu Talib to say it (i.e. 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah') while they (Abu Jahl and Abdullah) kept on repeating their statement till Abu Talib said as his last statement that he was on the religion of Abdul Muttalib and refused to say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.' (Then Allah's Apostle said, "I will keep on asking Allah's forgiveness for you unless I am forbidden (by Allah) to do so." So Allah revealed (the verse) concerning him (i.e. It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe that they should invoke (Allah) for forgiveness for pagans even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of the fire (at-Taubah 9:113). (Sahih Bukhari 2.442)

  * This incident indicates that Muhammad prayed for his pagan uncle. While deathbed conversion is not acceptable (an-Nisa' 4:18), Muhammad also beseeched his uncle to forsake idolatry at his deathbed.

  [Jesus taught:] You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45)

• forgetting to pray, Sahih Bukhari 1.571

• Imam should shorten prayer, Sahih Bukhari 1.90, Sahih Bukhari 1.670, Sahih Bukhari 1.671, Sahih Bukhari 1.672

• length of night prayers, al-Muzammil 73:20

• missing 'Asr prayer annuls all good deeds, Sahih Bukhari 1.528, Sahih Bukhari 1.568

• missing 'Asr prayer like losing family and property, Sahih Bukhari 1.527

• most beloved prayer, see most beloved prayer, under DAVID

• Muhammad's practise, Sahih Bukhari 1.516, Sahih Bukhari 1.522, Sahih Bukhari 1.573

• must recite Al-Fatiha, otherwise prayer invalid, Sahih Bukhari 1.723

• not accepted if passing wind, Sahih Bukhari 9.86

• not while drunk, an-Nisa' 4:43

• of

  • Abraham, al-Baqarah 2:126-129; at-Taubah 9:84,113-114; Ibrahim 14:35-41; ash-Shu`ara' 26:83-89

  • disbelievers, ar-Ra`d 13:14

  • "Fear", an-Nisa' 4:101-102. while trying to preempt some clans of Ghatafan from raiding the oasis in the Plain of Najd, Jun 626, beginning of 5AH.

  • Joseph, Yusuf 12:101

  • Moses, Ta Ha 20:25-35

  • of Noah, al-Mu'minun 23:26; ash-Shu`ara' 26:117-118; Nuh 71:26,28

  • Solomon, an-Naml 27:19; Sad 38:35

  • Zachariah, Maryam 19:3,8,10

• offered in congregation better (25/27 times more in reward than alone), Sahih Bukhari 1.466, Sahih Bukhari 1.618, Sahih Bukhari 1.619, Sahih Bukhari 1.620, Sahih Bukhari 1.621)
  * QN: 25 or 27 times superior?

• oldest should lead prayer, Sahih Bukhari 1.601, Sahih Bukhari 1.603, Sahih Bukhari 1.604, Sahih Bukhari 1.627, Sahih Bukhari 1.653, Sahih Bukhari 1.782

• praying 'Asr and Fajr will go to Paradise,
  

  * Narrated Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa: My father said, "Allah's Apostle said, 'Whoever prays the two cool prayers ('Asr and Fajr) will go to Paradise.' " (Sahih Bukhari 1.548)

  This certainly looks presumptous given that Muhammad fails to give definitive answers for salvation.

• pray in the room and not to be seen,
  

  * ``[Jesus said:] And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men... But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.'' (Matthew 6:5,7)

• praying positions and its rewards,

  * Narrated'Abdullah bin Buraida: 'Imran bin Husain had piles. Once Abu Ma mar narrated from 'Imran bin Husain had said, "I asked the Prophet (p.b.u.h) about the prayer of a person while sitting. He said, 'It is better for one to pray standing; and whoever prays sitting gets half the reward of that who prays while standing; and whoever prays while lying gets half the reward of that who prays while sitting.' " (Sahih Bukhari 2.217)

• prostration, al-Baqarah 2:43; l 'Imran 3:113; al-A`raf 7:206; at-Taubah 9:112; al-Hijr 15:98; an-Nahl 16:48-49; al-Hajj 22:18,26,77; al-Furqan 25:60,64; ash-Shu`ara' 26:219; as-Sajdah 32:15; az-Zumar 39:9; Ha Mim Sajdah 41:37; al-Fath 48:29; Qaf 50:40; an-Najm 53:62; ad-Dahr 76:26; al-`Alaq 96:19

  • should not be like a dog, Sahih Bukhari 1.785

• relaxation of long Medinan nightly vigils, al-Muzammil 73:20.

• removes sins,
  

  * Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Apostle 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 added, "That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds." (Sahih Bukhari 1.506)

• restrains one from loathesome deeds, al-`Ankabut 29:45

• sacred duty linked to time of day, an-Nisa' 4:103

• should not pray at sunrise or sunset, Sahih Bukhari 1.559

• silent during prayer, Sahih Bukhari 2.292

• standing, al-Furqan 25:64; az-Zumar 39:9,
  

  • in combat, Sahih Bukhari 2.65
    The Jews pray while standing. Jesus himself also taught praying while standing during normal times.

• style of, al-Baqarah 2:238; bani Isra'il 17:110

• while in danger al-Baqarah 2:239; an-Nisa' 4:101-102

Go Back to Main Index