Success through Swalah

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is taken from a transcript of discourse delivered by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

In the adzan, we say “Hayya ala al-falah.”  Translated, it means come to success.  What does success this imply?  And how can observing the swalah lead to success?  We know swalah to be an institution and one of the pillars of Islam.  Swalah is very important to a believer because Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) is reported to have said, “The difference between us and them is prayer,” with “them” referring to the hypocrites. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ العَنکبوت

... وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنۡهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَٱلۡمُنكَرِ‌ۗ وَلَذِكۡرُ ٱللَّهِ أَڪۡبَرُ‌ۗ ... (٤٥) 

… and establish regular prayer: for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt ... (Surah al-‘Ankabut:45) 

If we perform our swalah properly, we will get that internal guidance to become a better person.  For example, when the first prohibition against alcohol was Revealed, Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمۡ سُكَـٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعۡلَمُواْ مَا تَقُولُونَ … (٤٣) 

O ye who believe!  Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say ... (Surah an-Nisa’:43) 

If a person is intoxicated, it will take some time for him to get sober.  Thus at the time when this ayat was Revealed, if the believers wanted to pray swalah, they would have had to stay away from alcohol.  And this is just one impact which swalah had in moulding and culturing the lives of believers.  And because the institution of swalah has this impact on us, Satan would always try to take the people away from swalah.  For example, once it was brought to Prophet Muhammad’s (s.a.w.) attention that a man had slept the night until morning, after sunrise.  Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “He is a man in whose ear Satan had urinated.” 

Allah (s.w.t.) Says, about the successful ones: 

سُوۡرَةُ الشّمس

وَنَفۡسٍ۬ وَمَا سَوَّٮٰهَا (٧) فَأَلۡهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقۡوَٮٰهَا (٨) قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن زَكَّٮٰهَا (٩) 

By the soul, and the proportion and order given to it; and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right; ― Truly he succeeds that purifies it. (Surah ash-Shams:7-9) 

In order to attain success, we must strive for tazkiyyah an-nafs, purification our nafs.  We must culture it to the point where our thoughts and action would not bring about any black sports on our soul.  And swalah helps in keeping away black spots and at the same time polishes the soul to keep it bright and shinning.  The successful ones are those who strive to keep the light of the ruh shining and bright so that it can permeate throughout the entire personality.  If we stay firm on our daily swalah, we will definitely see a change on our lives.  If you want to beautify our faith, we must make sure we have the fundamentals down.  And everyone can perform swalah.  We do not need to be a scholar and there are no restrictions in terms of place.  The whole earth is a muswallah, baring the unclean places.  We must give importance to and be steadfast in performing it.  Allah (s.w.t.) Made it convenient for us.  A lot of people cannot understand why they have problems in their lives.  Swalah is an institution where we can meet out Lord and talk to Him and beg of Him.  And we must understand how fortunate we truly are because we are the only ummah to uphold swalah even though all the messengers used to pray.  We should make use of it and do not treat it as a burden.  Would we think if we set aside time during the day and night to praise and beg your Lord He would forsake us and let you down?  We resolve to ourselves that we will not miss any of the fardh swalah.  Some people criticise others who just concentrate and pray the fardh alone.  The important thing is that at least they are praying. 

We must humble ourselves and do not be like Satan who refused to submit to Allah’s (s.w.t.) Command.  May Allah (s.w.t.) Bless us and Guide us and always Enable us to uphold this blessed institution of swalah, insha’Allah.