IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
BEING THE THIRD SERMON OF THE MONTH OF RAJAB
DATED 17/7/1446 AH – 17/1/2025 CE
TOPIC: SOLAT – THE PILLAR OF FAITH AND A MEANS FOR SPIRITUAL ELEVATION
THE FIRST SERMON
All praises are due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, who made solat the pillar of faith, a comfort to hearts, a light, evidence, and salvation for the believers. Whoever preserves it has one of the greatest means to attain the pleasure of the Lord of lords, and whoever neglects it will face the proof of punishment and be gathered with the tormented. Allah, the Exalted, says in His Noble Book:
﴿فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًا
“So establish the prayer. Indeed, the prayer is prescribed upon the believers at specified times.” (Surah An-Nisa: 4:103)
We praise Him, glorified and exalted is He, we thank Him, we believe in Him, and rely upon Him. We seek refuge with Him from the evils of ourselves and from our bad deeds. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whoever He allows to stray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, who said in his noble hadith:
“The first thing a servant will be called to account for on the Day of Resurrection is prayer. If it is sound, he will succeed and prosper, and if it is corrupt, he will fail and lose.”(Narrated by At-Tirmidhi).
O Allah, send Your blessings and peace upon him, his family, his companions, and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed, O servants of Allah, I counsel you and myself to fear Allah, the Almighty, outwardly and inwardly, in accordance with His statement:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ﴾
“O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].” (Surah Aal Imran: 3:102)
Brothers in faith,
This is the third meeting in the month of Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Today, by the will of Allah, the All-Capable, our topic revolves around SOLAT – The Pillar of Faith and a Means for Spiritual Elevation.
Dear noble Muslims,
Know that prayer is the pillar of religion and the spiritual ascension of Muslims. Through it, they draw closer to the Lord of the worlds every day. For our noble Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, it was the comfort of his eyes and the solace of his heart. He said:
“…and the comfort of my eyes has been placed in prayer.”(Reported by Ibn Al-Mulqin in Al-Badr Al-Munir, 1/501, who stated its chain of narration is authentic, on the authority of Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him).
Why is Solat Considered the Pillar of Religion in Islam?
Solat (Prayer) is Considered the Pillar of Religion
Solat (Prayer) is the essential foundation upon which Islam is built. It serves as the medium through which a Muslim connects with Allah, encompassing intention, speech, and action, making it an indispensable pillar of faith.
Prayer was uniquely prescribed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) directly by Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, on the night of Al-Isra and Al-Mi’raj. Due to the significance of this act of worship, it was not revealed through an angel on earth; rather, Allah honored His Prophet by bringing him to the heavens and addressing him directly to establish prayer. This unique characteristic sets prayer apart from all other acts of worship in Islam.
Prayer was made obligatory approximately three years before the migration (Hijrah). Initially, fifty prayers were prescribed daily, but this number was reduced to five, while the reward of fifty prayers remained for observing the five. This is a testament to Allah’s love for prayer and its lofty status.
In this sermon, we emphasize the significance of this act of worship, which many Muslims neglect, except for those whom Allah protects.
The Significance of Solat (Prayer) in Islam
Prayer holds an exalted position in Islam, demonstrated by the following points:
First: It is the most emphasized obligation after the testimony of faith and the greatest of the five pillars of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Islam is built upon five pillars: testifying that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving zakah, performing Hajj, and fasting Ramadan.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari).
Second: The Prophet (peace be upon him) attributed abandoning prayer to disbelief. He said:
“Between a man and polytheism and disbelief is abandoning prayer.”(Narrated by Muslim).
Abdullah Shuqayq Al-‘Aqeeli also reported: “The companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not consider leaving any act as disbelief except for prayer.”
Third: Prayer is the central pillar of Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:“The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is prayer, and its peak is jihad for the sake of Allah.”(Narrated by At-Tirmidhi, who graded it as authentic).
Fourth: It is the first deed a servant will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The first deed a servant will be called to account for on the Day of Resurrection is prayer. If it is sound, he will succeed and prosper; if it is corrupt, he will fail and lose.”(Narrated by At-Tirmidhi).
Fifth: Prayer was the last advice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to his nation before his departure from this world. He said: “Prayer, and what your right hands possess.”(Narrated by Ibn Majah).
Sixth: It is the last thing to be lost from the religion. If prayer is lost, the entire religion is lost. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“The knots of Islam will be undone knot by knot. Each time one is undone, people will hold on to the next. The first to be undone will be governance, and the last will be prayer.”(Narrated by Ahmad).
Seventh: Prayer is the only act of worship that remains obligatory throughout one’s life and cannot be waived under any circumstances. Numerous Quranic verses and hadiths emphasize its virtues, the importance of establishing it, and safeguarding its boundaries.
Eighth: Prayer erases sins. Allah, the Exalted, says:
﴿وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ﴾
“And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds.”(Surah Hud: 11:114).
Through prayer, Allah forgives sins, purifies hearts, and raises ranks. Let us uphold this noble act of worship with steadfastness and devotion.
Narration Regarding the Virtue of the Five Daily Prayers
Al-Bukhari (528) and Muslim (667) narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Do you see if there was a river at the door of one of you in which he bathes five times a day, would there remain any dirt on him?” They said: “No dirt would remain on him.” He said: “That is the example of the five daily prayers, through which Allah erases sins.”
The Obligation of the Five Daily Prayers and Their Rakats
The initial obligation of prayer was established in Makkah during the early days of Islam, as indicated by the Makkan verses revealed at the beginning of the message urging prayer.
However, the five daily prayers in their current form were prescribed on the night of Al-Isra and Al-Mi’raj, although scholars differ on the exact timing of this event.
The obligation of the five daily prayers is established by the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Muslim Ummah.
Evidence from the Quran
Allah says in multiple places in the Quran: ﴿وَأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلاةَ﴾
“And establish prayer.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 2:110)
Allah also says: ﴿إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤمِنِينَ كِتَاباً مَّوْقُوتاً﴾
“Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.” (Surah An-Nisa: 4:103)
And He says: ﴿حَافِظُواْ عَلَى الصَّلَواتِ والصَّلاةِ الْوُسْطَى﴾
“Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 2:238)
Additionally, Allah says: ﴿وَأَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفاً مِّنَ الَّيْلِ﴾
“And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night.” (Surah Hud: 11:114)
This verse encompasses the five daily prayers:
- Fajr is performed at one end of the day.
- Dhuhr and Asr are performed during the other end, as the day is divided into morning and evening.
- Maghrib and Isha fall under “the approach of the night” (زلف من الليل).
Evidence from the Sunnah
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said during the Farewell Pilgrimage:
“Worship your Lord, perform your five prayers, fast your month, perform Hajj to your Lord’s House, and give zakah from your wealth willingly, and you will enter the Paradise of your Lord.”(Narrated by Ahmad)
He also said in a narration reported by An-Nasa’i, Abu Dawood, and Ibn Majah from Ubadah ibn As-Samit:
“Five prayers Allah has prescribed for His servants. Whoever performs them and does not neglect anything of their rights will have a covenant with Allah to admit him to Paradise. But whoever does not perform them has no covenant with Allah; if He wills, He may punish him, and if He wills, He may admit him to Paradise.”
Consensus of the Ummah
The entire Muslim Ummah has reached a consensus on the obligation of the five daily prayers. Moreover, denying their obligation is considered an act of disbelief.
THE SECOND SERMON
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, who says in His Noble Book:
﴿وَتُوبُواْ إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾
“And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.” (Surah An-Nur: 24:31)
We praise Him, glorified and exalted is He, thank Him, believe in Him, and rely upon Him. We send prayers and peace upon the best of creation, our master and beloved Muhammad, and upon his family, companions, and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed:
O servants of Allah, as one month has passed and another approaches, it is fitting at this moment to hasten in repentance to Allah, in preparation for the blessed month of Ramadan. Abu Bakr Al-Warraq Al-Balkhi said:
“The month of Rajab is for planting seeds, Sha’ban is for irrigating the crops, and Ramadan is for harvesting them.”
The first step we begin with is sincere repentance. The first provision and seed to plant is to draw closer to Allah with a worthy repentance. Whoever has blackened their record with sins throughout the year should whiten it with repentance in this month. Whoever has wasted their life in idleness should make the most of what remains. Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَتُوبُواْ إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾
“And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.” (Surah An-Nur: 24:31)
Repentance
Repentance is not merely asking for forgiveness from sins or turning to Allah with a clean heart and assuming that everything from the past is over. No, we want you to specifically identify the sins and repent from them as follows:
A. Repentance from the Traits of Hypocrisy: Hypocrisy is one of the most dangerous and severe ailments of our time. We want you to rid yourself of the traits of hypocrisy that may reside within you. We are not accusing you of hypocrisy, but you might unknowingly possess such traits!
B. Laziness in Prayer and Lack of Remembrance of Allah
Allah says:
﴿إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَى يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا﴾
“Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves] to the people and not remembering Allah except a little.” (Surah An-Nisa: 4:142)
C. Repentance from Lack of Remembrance of Allah: It has been said: “The remembrance of the hypocrite is little because Allah has not accepted it. Whatever Allah rejects is little, and whatever He accepts is great.”
Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “No deed accompanied by piety is insignificant, for how can anything accepted by Allah be insignificant?”
Your Lord is Most Appreciative. When a servant is guided to perform a righteous deed, they find themselves more active and inclined to perform additional good deeds.
D. Repentance from telling lies: Do not say anything but the truth, even if the matter is extremely difficult. Stay away from lying, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Indeed, lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire.”
E. Do Not Betray Trusts: In the hadith found in “Sahihayn” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim), Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.”
(From the book: “From Now, Let Us Prepare for Ramadan” by Sheikh Hani Hilmi, with slight modifications.)
The Los Angeles Fire, California, United States
What is happening in Los Angeles and California?
The fires that continue to consume buildings, mansions, resorts, facilities, and skyscrapers in one of the most significant and wealthiest cities in the United States—California, known as the “Golden State”—have sparked wide controversy, oscillating between scientific and religious interpretations.
Amid contradictory explanations, political bias, and religious inclinations, this fire has been described as the largest in the world. American and global media compared it to a “nuclear bomb” falling on the area. The scenes of wildfires, tongues of flame, and firestorms are like hellish disasters. They have destroyed more than 12,000 buildings, scorched nearly 40,000 acres, claimed 16 lives, and displaced approximately 300,000 people. The economic losses are estimated at $150 billion so far, with the potential to increase in the coming days as American authorities struggle to contain the fires.
The inferno in Los Angeles has also led to a decline in the stocks of American insurance companies. Analysts estimate that the insured losses from the wildfires in Los Angeles could reach $20 billion, potentially making it the costliest disaster in California’s history.
This has driven many people in the predominantly Muslim Middle East to resort to religious explanations for the “Hell of Los Angeles.” They attribute it to political bias and the unlimited military support provided by the United States to Israel in its war of extermination against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as its assaults on Lebanon. The military deals since the beginning of the war have reportedly reached approximately $54 billion. Many believe this disaster is “divine retribution” and a response to the prayers of millions of Muslims around the world and from the pulpits.
Dear faithful, a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas is set to take effect on Sunday, January 19, after an agreement was announced on Wednesday to end Israel’s devastating 15-month assault on the Gaza Strip. The three-phase agreement includes a temporary ceasefire, the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, and the return of displaced Palestinians, though many homes in Gaza have been destroyed. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 46,707 Palestinians and injured 110,265. As it stands, the deal is rated a victory for the Palestinian resistance despite Israeli sophistication. Alhamdulillah. Eventhough the Israelis cannot be trusted on any agreement, they are perpetual betrayers.
Supplication (Du’a):
O Allah, nullify the plots of the enemies of Islam and thwart their schemes. O Allah, we seek Your protection against them and their evil. O Allah, we ask You to unite the hearts of Muslims upon the truth. O Allah, grant victory to the Palestinian people and relieve their siege. O Allah, lift their suffering and remove their hardship. O Allah, heal their sick and the sick among Muslims. O Allah, release the prisoners of Palestine and all Muslim prisoners. O Allah, grant us safety in our homelands, and reform our leaders and guide them to what You love and are pleased with. O Allah, forgive our deceased and the deceased among Muslims. O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds.
May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his family, and his companions.