The Covenant of Swalah between Allah (s.w.t.) & the Believers

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Shaykh ‘Utsman Nuri Tufbas wrote, in “Islam, Spirit & Form”, that basic duties have been Declared to the Prophet (s.a.w.) through the archangel, Gabriel (a.s.).  However, the five compulsory daily prayers were Directly Presented to the Prophet (s.a.w.) on the night of Mi’raj, the miraculous journey of the Prophet (s.a.w.) to the heavens. 

At first, it was fifty daily prayers, but when Moses (a.s.) told Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), “O Messenger of Allah!  I unsuccessfully tried this on the Children of Israel before you.  Your people cannot bear that responsibility either!”  The Prophet (s.a.w.), that night, appealed to Allah (s.w.t.) five times to reduce it to five daily prayers. Prophet Moses (a.s.), again, told Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), “They cannot bear the five daily ones either!” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) answered, “I have no face to appeal to Allah any longer!”  And it was, then, determined to be five times a day. 

However, Allah (s.w.t.) showed Mercy due to the appeal of the Prophet (s.a.w.), and also announced good news to the Prophet (s.a.w.) as well as reducing it to five daily ones, “O Prophet!  Allah Abides by His Word.  You will get the Reward of fifty for the five.”  This was recorded by Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Yazid ibn Majah (r.a.). 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) told his people about the five daily prayers: “Allah (s.w.t.) Says, ‘I Enjoined the five daily prayers on your people.  There is a Pledge by Me.  I will Surely Place those who perform the five daily prayers in time into Paradise.  And there is no Pledge by Me to those who do not keep these prayers.’”  This was also recorded by Imam ibn Majah (r.a.). 

It is stated in another saying of the Prophet (s.a.w.): “Allah (s.w.t.) Enjoined the five daily prayers on His servants.  Allah (s.w.t.) Assures those who faithfully do these prayers of Paradise on the Day of Judgment.  Yet, Allah (s.w.t.) does not assure those who do these prayers lightly, without care and have defects in the manner of its performance; Allah Deals with them as He Wills, either Punishes them, or Forgives them.”  This was also recorded by Imam ibn Majah (r.a.).