A person who prays should also repent (for his past misdeeds)...
A person who prays should also repent (for his past misdeeds), and refrain from sins that hinder the acceptance of prayers such as jealousy, pride, backbiting, consuming haram food and wealth, drinking intoxicants, withholding zakat and khums, etc… Rather, he should refrain from all sins!
It is also befitting that he should desist from committing acts that reduce the rewards of prayers such as offering prayers in a state of drowsiness, or while withholding one’s urine, or looking up at the sky while offering prayers.
At the same time he should perform acts that increase the rewards of prayers such as wearing an agate (Aqiq) ring, wearing clean clothes, brushing the teeth, combing the hair and applying perfume.”[^1] We conclude this introduction by narrating a beautiful[^2] tradition from the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny). He has said: “My Ummah consists of four groups: One group offers the prayers, however yet are unmindful of their prayers, and they shall be placed in ‘Wayl’.
‘Wayl’ is the name of one of the bottom-most levels of hell. Allah has said: فَوَيلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاَتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ “So woe to the praying ones, who are unmindful of their prayers. ” [^3] One group is such that it occasionally offers the prayers, and so, ‘Ghayy’ is the abode for the people of this group. ‘Ghayy’ is the name of another of the bottom-most levels of hell.
Allah has said: فَخَلَفَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ اتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ فَسَوْفَ يُلْقَونَ غَيًّا “But there came after them an evil generation, who neglected prayers and followed the sensual desires, so they will meet perdition.
” [^4] The third group consists of those, who never offer their prayers, and for them is ‘Saqar’ , which is also the name of another of the low levels of hell and about which Allah has said: مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ ***“(The inmates of paradise shall ask the inmates of hell) What has brought you into hell? *** They shall say: We were not of those who prayed.” [^5] 4. The fourth group consists of those, who offer their prayers regularly and are humble in them.
Allah has said: قَدْ أَفلَحَ الْمُؤمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلاَتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ “Successful indeed are the believers, Who are humble in their prayers. ” [^6] and [^7] We pray to Allah (Glory and Greatness to Him) that He decrees all of us to be of the fourth group. Mahmud Sharif [^1]: Tawdhihul Masa’il of Ayatullah Khomeini, pg.