After correcting one’s faith and beliefs, Salah is the greatest and extremely important Fard [obligatory act] in all the Fara’id.[1] The Holy Quran and Hadees are full of its importance. According to one narration, it is the first matter regarding which one will be questioned on the Day of Judgement.[2] The Holy Quran has laid emphasis on it at many places. Our Noble Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had great love for Salah. Imam Bayhaqi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has narrated in Shu’ab-ul-Iman: The Noble Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was asked what the most beloved thing in Islam is in the sight of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. The Noble Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم responded: Offering Salah in its prescribed time. The one who has left Salah has no religion. Salah is a pillar of the religion.[3]
In the blessed Seerah [biography] of Sayyid-ul-Atqiya, Ghaus-e-A’zam, Sayyiduna Shaykh Abdul Qaadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, his love for Salah is found at various places. Following are some incidents which show how great attention Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would pay to “offering Salah” in his blessed life.
The Salah of Fajr with the Wudu of Isha
Abul-Fath Harawi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has mentioned: I remained in the blessed company of Sayyiduna Shaykh ‘Abdul Qaadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه for 40 years. I saw that he would always offer Fajr Salah with the Wudu of Isha. It was his practice that whenever his Wudu would become invalid, he would perform Wudu immediately, and after performing Wudu, he would offer 2 Rak’at of Tahiyya-tul-Wudu. Moreover, after offering Isha Salah, he would go to his room, and then come out at the time of Fajr Salah.[4] اللّٰہ اکبر! Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه had such great love for Salah. By the blessing of Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, may we also become punctual in offering Salah, and become habitual of offering Nafl Salah along with the Fard ones.
One thousand Nawafil daily
Our Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would pay great attention to Nafl Salahs. Following is a glimpse of this fact. It is narrated that he رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would offer one thousand Nafl Salahs daily.[5]
Engrossed in Salah
Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ has mentioned the following parable in his booklet, namely “Jinn Resembling a Snake”, that Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: Once I was busy offering Salah at Jaami’ Masjid Mansoor when a snake came; it placed its head at the place where I had to perform Sajdah and opened the mouth. Pushing the snake away, I managed to perform Sajdah but it wrapped itself around my neck. It then entered one of my sleeves and came out of the other. When I performed Salam after finishing the Salah, the snake disappeared. The next day, I went to the same Masjid, where I saw a big-eyed man. Seeing him, I realised the man was not a human but a jinn. The jinn said to me: ‘I am the same snake that had bothered you. In the form of a snake, I have tested a lot of “Awliya of Allah” but none of them was as steadfast as you.’ Then, the jinn made repentance, being in the blessed court of Ghaus-e-A’zam. (Bahjat-ul-Asraar, pp. 169)
May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ make us a true devotee of Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and grant us Taufeeq to follow his Seerah.اٰمِــيْن بِـجَـاهِ الـنَّـبِـیِّ الْاَمِــيْن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
[1] Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 1, pp. 433
[2] Ibn-e-Majah, vol. 2, pp. 183
[3] Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, pp. 39, Hadees no 2807
[4] Qala’id-ul-Jawahir, pp. 76
[5] Tahreeh-ul-Khatir, pp. 45
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