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2. PRAYERS:
a) The Holy Quran gives a severe warning to those, who abandon the Prayers-that they will be thrown into the horrible valley of Hell. (19:59)
The Holy Prophet said:
“ When the prayers are abandoned, no distinction remains
between a Muslim and non-Muslim.” (Muslim-Mishkat:52)
b) The Holy Quran appreciates those men whom the business cannot distract them from the establishment of prayers and payment of zakat (obligatory charity)…(24:37)
c) The HolyQuran further warns the believers to establish prayers and spend in the Way of Allah secretely and openly, before the Day falls upon , when neither any bargaining nor friendship will help.(14:31)
d) See the Commentary on 1:4 regarding obligatory & optional prayers.
e) The obligatory or compulsory prayers (5 times a day) must be offered collectively in mosques by men. These are the prayers of Fajr, Zuhar, Asr, Maghrib an Isha. The Holy Prophet became angrywith those who absented themselves from the mosque in such compulsory congregational prayers and intended to burn their houses. (Al-Bukhari:618,626)
f) The optional prayers are those of Tahajjad, Ishraq, Doha etc. Note that the optional deeds compensate for the weaknesses in obligatory deeds. According to Hadith Qudsi, there is no way for the Wali or slave of Allah to come near to Him except through the obligatory deeds (Obligatory Prayers, Zakat, fasting in Ramadan, Hajj & Jihad), and he, then, through the optional deeds (optional prayers, charity etc.) comes further nearer to Almighty Allah till He starts liking him…” (Bukhari:6137)
3. SPENDING IN THE WAY OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH:
a) It is of two kinds: Obligatory spending (Zakat) & Optional spending(charity). Zakat is the right of the needy over the person possessing the requisite amount of wealth.
b) In Islam, a Muslim is considered to be a custodian (and not the owner) of wealth.(57:7). It means that he spends it according to the Commandments of Allah and His Messenger.
c) The psychological trend of the people is such that they try to hoard rather than to spend their wealth in the Way of Allah. Al-Quran states:
“ Say: ‘ Had you been the owner of the treasures of Mercy of your
Lord, you certainly would have locked them due to fear of its
exhaustion.’ “ (17:100).
