traduza o texto completo e perfeitamente para o português THE BENEFITS OF CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
It has appeared in the traditions that space should not be left vacant in
the rows of the congregational prayers; it is said that the Satan occupies
such vacant positions.
There is another version that one should not stand in prayer at a distance from the congregation because, if a sheep grazes at some distance
from the flock, there will be the likelihood of the wolf devouring it.
It is authentically narrated from the Prophet of Islam (a.s),’ On the
land there are rows of my followers like there are rows of the angels in
the Firmament.’ Then he (a.s) added, ‘One genuflection (Rakat) in congregation is equivalent to the 24, each of which genuflection is superior
in the eyes of Allah to continuous prayer offered over a period of forty
years. The day when Allah will gather all the creatures from the Day of
Creation to the end, He will protect from the hardships of the Day of
Reckoning one who has taken even a step to go and join the Congregational Prayer. To such a person Allah will provide a place in the Heaven.
In another tradition the Prophet (a.s) says, ‘Whoever offers the Fajr
(morning) prayer in congregation and then recites the supplications till
the sunrise, Allah will award him seventy echelons in the Heaven. Every
echelon will be equal to the distance traversed by a fast steed in seventy
years. One who offers the Zuhr prayer in congregation,, Allah will grant
him fifty echelons in the Garden of Eden. The distance of each echelon
will be equal to the distance traveled by a fast horse in a period of fifty
years. One who offers the Asr prayer in congregation, his reward will be
equal to freeing eight thousand slaves from the progeny of Hazrat Ismail
(a.s). A person who prays Maghrib in congregation, on his name will be
entered reward equal to performing a Haj and Umrah. One who prays
Isha in congregation, his reward will be equal to the prayers of Lailat al
Qadr.’
It is narrated that the Prophet of Allah (a.s) told to his companions,’
Do you wish to be informed of an act that can obliterate the effects of
your sins and the virtues enhance in the consideration of Allah?’ They all
said in unison, ‘Ya Hazrat! Please do tell!’ The Prophet (a.s) said,’ Perform ablution thoroughly, unmindful of coolness of weather or water, go
for the prayer in the mosque and tarry there for the next prayer. One
who goes to the mosque after doing the ablutions, prays in congregation
and awaits arrival of more people there for the next congregation, the angels pray for him, “O Allah! Forgive him! Be kind on him and shower
Your Blessings on him!”
456In another tradition it is mentioned, ‘When a person leads a congregation, with the consent of the gathering, he should maintain moderation
during the prayer. He should recite verses keeping in mind the physical
status of the group joining the prayer. Allah willl reward him equal to
the combined reward for the congregation and there will be no reduction
in their rewards too.’ And said, ‘As many steps as a person takes to go
and join a congregation in a mosque, seventy thousand virtues will be
added to his record for every step taken. He will be raised seventy stages
in his status.If a person dies while going for a congregation, Allah will
appoint seventy thousand angels to visit him in the grave and remain
with him and pray for him till he is raised from there.
It is said in another tradition, ‘A person who hears the Adhaan and
comes out of the mosque for no valid reason, is a hypocrite.
It is authentically narrated from Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) that one must
keep a good opinion about a person who prays in congregation five
times a day. One should accept the witness of such a person.’
In another tradition the Prophet of Islam (a.s) said, ‘One who offers the
Fajr and Isha prayers in congregation, will remain in Allah’s Care. If
someone inflicts hardship on such a person, it will be like inflicting hardship on Allah. One who breaks a promise given to such a person, it will
be like making a promise to Allah and breaking it.’
One congregational prayer is equivalent to twentyfive prayers offered
individually.
Seek sustenance from Allah from the time of commencement of Fajr till
sunrise. Its effect is more pronounced than traveling in search of trade.
O Abu Dharr! More knowledge is definitely superior tnan more prayer
without knowledge. Without piety even if you pray to the extent that
your back hunches with the exertion, even then it will not benefit you if
there is no piety in your effort. Those who abstained from taboo things,
adopted piety and abstained from worldly wishes, are certainly Allah’s
friends and His select beings!
457PIETY & ABSTINENCE
There are many stages of piety and abstinence. The first stage is avoidance of disbelief and hypocricy. These acts will be the cause for one
burning in the Hellfire.One who doesn’t overcome disbelief and hypocricy, cannot go any further on the path of piety. The prayer and supplication of such persons willl be futile. The second stage of piety is abstinence from all taboo things. The third stage of piety is avoiding things
that are not taboo but should better be avoided. These are termed the
makroohat. A pious person who has reached the third stage will not be attracted to anything other than riveting his attention on the Creator, Allah. The first two stages of piety are the formative stages of a person perfect in piety. The more a person excels in these two stages, the more acceptable he becomes in the consideration of the Creator. His acts reflect
nearness to Allah, love for Him, understanding of the Creator and exemplary behaviour with fellow- creatures. It is said in the Holy Quran,
“Attaqullaha haqqa tuqatehi’. While doing commentary on this verse,
Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) has said, “True piety is that men obey Allah and
don’t commit sins. They remember Allah every moment of their lives
and don’t ever forget Him! They thank him profusely for His Bounties
and abstain from ungratefulness to Him!
Someone asked Ameer al Momineen (a.s), “Ya Hazrat! Which is the
best of acts?” He said, “Piety and abstinence!”
It is narrated fom Imam Jafar e Sadiq, “Little action with piety is better
than excessive and unpious deeds.”
The Imam (a.s) also said, “Avoid things that are termed taboo by Allah! Strive in the way of prayer and obedience! Remember, effort at prayer without avoiding the taboo is always futile!”
Omer bin Sayeed asked Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) to give him some advice. The Imam (a.s) said, “Abstain from taboo acts! Adopt piety. Abstain
from everything that Allah forbids you to do! Strive in prayer and Rememberance of Allah. Be sure that any effort at piety is futile if the taboo
are not avoided!”
It is narrated from the Prophet of Allah (a.s) that protecting oneself
from Haram, which is termed wara, is binding on Muslims. There is no reward for good deeds in the court of Allah without wara.
It is narrated from Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s) that among all the
prayers, wara is the most difficult. Wara means saving oneself from doing
haram acts.