ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Islamic Laws of Ayatullah Khui Prayers Out of the religious acts prayers is of the most paramount importance. If it is accepted by the almighty Allah other acts of worship will also be accepted. However, if prayers are not acceptable other good acts will also not be accepted.

Offering of prayers five times during day and night purifies us of sins in the same manner in which bathing five times during day and night makes cur body clean of all filth and dirt. It is better that one should offer prayers punctually. A person who considers prayers to be something ordinary and unimportant is just like one who does not offer prayers.

The holy Prophet has said that a person who does not attach any importance to prayers and considers it to be something insignificant deserves to be tortured in the Hereafter. One day, while the holy Prophet was present in the masjid (i.e. Masjidun Nabi), a man entered the masjid and began offering prayers but did not perform the bowing and prostrations properly. Therefore, the holy Prophet said: "If this man dies and his prayers is offered in the same way, he will not die on my religion".

Hence, one should not offer one's prayers hurriedly. While offering prayers we should remember Allah constantly and should offer the prayers humbly and with all solemnity. We should keep in mind the Greatness of the almighty Allah with whom we converse while offering prayers and should consider ourselves to be very humble and insignificant before His Grandeur and Glory.

And if a person keeps himself absorbed in these thoughts while performing prayers he becomes unmindful and oblivious of his own self. For example, an arrow was pulled out of the foot of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (peace be on him) while he was offering prayers but he did not become aware of it.

Furthermore, one who performs prayers should repent of one's shortcomings and should refrain from all sins and especially those which are an impediment in the way of acceptance of one's prayers (e.g. envy, pride, backbiting, using unlawful things, drinking intoxicating beverages, non-payment of religious taxes (Khums and Zakat etc.). Similarly it is better not to perform acts which diminish the spiritual recompense of prayers (e.g.

we should not begin offering prayers while we are drowsy or are controlling our urine, and while offering prayers we should not also look up towards the sky).