One of the most important Islamic commandments that has been repeatedly emphasized in the Qur’an and the sayings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) is the performance of prayer. Many of the expressions used in Islamic texts regarding prayer are seldom applied to other acts of worship or rulings. This certainly highlights the significance and irreplaceable role of prayer in human life, as well as its extraordinary impact. But what is it about the establishment of prayer that makes it so emphasized? Imam Reza (peace be upon him), in a valuable saying, sheds light on one of the important effects of prayer in human life.
Imam Reza (peace be upon him) says: “Satan is terrified of the believer and does not approach him as long as he maintains the five daily prayers. But once he neglects them, Satan gains the courage to attack him and leads him into the grip of major sins”.
Accordingly, one of the important effects of establishing prayer in a person’s life is protection from the attacks of Satan. However, protection from Satan, according to the words of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), is only achieved when the worshiper observes the sanctity of prayer, which is a universal and obligatory duty for everyone. But how is it possible for the sanctity of prayer to be lost?
The violation of the sanctity of prayer sometimes occurs through “delaying it from its prescribed time.” In this regard, a narrator says: “During one of our travels, I was with Imam Reza (peace be upon him). When the time for Dhuhr prayer came, the Imam dismounted from his animal and said, ‘Give the call to prayer.’ I said, ‘The companions are behind; let us wait for them so we can pray in congregation and gain more reward.’ Imam (peace be upon him) replied, ‘Do not delay the prayer beyond its prescribed time. Prayer can be performed in congregation with even two people’”[2]. This is a lesson for us: when the time for prayer arrives, we must put aside all other activities and prioritize God’s command over all other matters.
However, neglecting the sanctity of prayer is not limited to delaying it beyond its time, but also includes “neglecting its outward and inward etiquette,” especially neutralizing the spiritual effects of prayer by committing sins. As we know, prayer is not just its outward form, consisting of standing, bowing, and prostrating; the major effect of prayer is in the soul, where it creates a state of devotion to God in the heart. This effect, through continuous and regular practice, becomes firmly rooted in the heart and grows stronger, eventually transforming a person into a godly individual. This individual will, like a shining sun, enter the afterlife and receive special divine care and blessings.
The truth is that the Merciful and Compassionate God has obligated us to pray five times a day at short intervals, so that we stand in His glorious presence and speak directly to Him, establishing our relationship of servitude with our Creator. In all situations, we should perceive ourselves as being in His presence, ensuring that no action, speech, or thought contrary to His will is manifested. Therefore, if we continue to pray regularly but persist in sin, it becomes evident that we are neglecting our prayers, allowing Satan to dominate us. Truly, we have not sincerely recited “You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help” to our Merciful God!
Thus, Imam Reza (peace be upon him) says: “A believer, as long as he guards the sanctity of his five daily prayers, Satan does not dare approach him. But once he becomes indifferent to prayer and fails to fulfill its rights—whether by delaying it or neglecting its outward and inward etiquettes—Satan becomes bold and leads him to commit major sins.”
(Excerpted from the book Imam Reza (peace be upon him), The Manifestation of God’s Mercy by Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Zia’Abadi)