Rajab is famously known as the month of the Me’raj of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. This was the occasion when Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was blessed with the gift of Salaah. We regard Salaah as a duty which is also correct but we should consider Salaah as a gift from Almighty Allah Ta'ala. Salaah is a key to the treasures of Allah Ta'ala, if only our Salaah is a Salaah in the true sense of the word. If a key hasn’t been cut correctly, it doesn’t open the lock. The locksmith may have to file it further or do some alteration on it, then only will it open the lock. Similarly, our Salaah are not in order as yet. Many aren’t performing Salaah as yet.

Maulana Fadhlur Rahman Saheb D.B. has written that if a person performs Salaah 4 times a day but misses one Salaah, he cannot be called a Namaazi. Only a person that is regular with his five times Salaah can be called a Namaazi. In my estimation, approximately 90% of the Ummat are not performing Salaah. Of the 10% that are performing Salaah, there is a huge percentage that is only performing Eid Salaah, whilst another huge percentage of Muslims are only performing Jumuah Salaah, and others are performing just a few Salaah during the day. An extremely small percentage of people are performing five times Salaah.

May Allah Ta'ala give us the Taufeeq of being punctual with our five daily Salaah. However, our Salaah is not in order therefore we are unable to open the locks. The Sahaaba opened the treasures of Allah Ta'ala with their Salaah and took directly from Allah Ta'ala. Allah Ta'ala says,

اتل ما اوحي اليك من الكتاب واقم الصلٰوة

Recite what has been revealed to you from the book and establish Salaah

This refers to pure recitation of the Quraan without any Tafseer or explanation. How much of the Quraan Sharif are we reciting daily? Do we even touch the Quraan? In this day and age, we advise that one should recite a minimum of four to five pages so that a Khatm is completed in a year. Ladies are required to recite a quarter Juz of the Quraan daily so that they are able to complete their Khatm as there are those days of the month wherein they are unable to recite. Another Khatm should be completed in the month of Ramadaan. In recitation, we should ensure that our Makhaarij, Tajweed, is in order.

Maulana Moosa Lorgat Saheb D.B. said, “If a person wants to speak to Allah Ta'ala perform Tahajjud Salaah, and if you want Allah Ta'ala to speak to you then recite the Quraan Sharif as Allah Ta'ala is speaking to you.” Further, try to understand the meaning of the Quraan.

The second command is to perfect Salaah with all its requisites. Such a Salaah will prevent a person from evil and indecency. Many complain of being involved in pornography, inability of controlling the eyes, tongue, etc. The solution lies in Salaah, we shouldn’t catch the cat by the tail as it will scratch the person rather catch it by the neck. The solution is in perfecting one’s Salaah.      

We regard it necessary to memorise the Quraan, study to be a doctor or engineer, but who regards it necessary to learn Salaah. Hadrat Shah Anwar Kashmiri R.A. being an extremely learned scholar and ocean of knowledge went to MoulanaThanvi R.A  and said, “I have come to you so that I am able to perform two Rakaats of Salaah correctly.” Finally Allah Ta'ala says, “And the Zikr of Allah Ta'ala is the greatest.” When a person will make the Zikr of Allah Ta'ala, he will gain the realisation that Allah Ta'ala is fully aware of my actions.

Initially 50 Salaah was made obligatory upon us. A person spends approximately 20-30 min for every Salaah. This includes relieving oneself, performing Wudhu and Salaah, completing the Sunnats thereafter, etc. If we calculate 50 Salaah which requires half an hour per Salaah, it totals to approximately 25 hours for the day. The number of Salaah was decreased to five but the reward that a person receives is that of 50 Salaah.

ما يبدّل القول لديّ وما انا بظلاّم للعبيد

The word will not be changed by Me and I will not oppress the servants

Before the month of Ramadaan, let us get geared up for Salaah. If we are already punctual with our five daily Salaah, let us increase the quality of our Salaah. If we are not performing Salaah, make an effort to now be regular with Salaah. Many are regular with Salaah in Ramadaan, others during Haj, and thereafter we return to our old habit of not being consistent with Salaah.

In the Hadith the Dua that we are taught to make in the blessed month of Rajab is,

اَلّٰلهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيْ رَجَبَ وَشَعْبَانَ وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمْضَانَ

O Allah! Grant us Barakah in the month of Rajab, Shabaan and let us reach the month of Ramadaan.

What are the blessings of the month of Rajab? It is attaching ourselves to Salaah. Once Haji Bhai Padia R.A. was travelling by plane and a Jewish Rabbi was sitting next to him. The Jewish Rabbi told Haji Saheb R.A. that we aren’t afraid of the Muslims as they cannot harm us. Israel was non-existent, yet today it is in the heart of the Arab lands. He said, “We are living in a world of materialism. Whoever possesses more arms of war will be successful. You can never match with us in these things as we are far ahead of you people.” He then said, “The day your Masajid are full for Fajr as they full for Jumuah, we will not be prepared to fight you.”

Our Masajid cannot hold the Jumuah crowds, yet the next Salaah after Jumuah, the Masajid are empty. Abdullah Saood is a Jordanian in South America. He told me that when they were removed from Palestine and sent to South America, Ariel Sharon was the army general at that time. He told my father that this land belongs to you and you will return to this land, this will be at the time when the Masajid are full for Salaah.

Maulana Muhammad Umar Palanpuri R.A used to say this with tears in his eyes, when he spent one year in the Arab countries, the Jamaat reached Baitul Muqaddas late at night. After the Esha Salaah they took some rest. In the morning the Muazzin called out the Fajr Adhaan, at the time of Salaah the Imaam was also missing, the Muazzin was nowhere to be found. They read the Fajr Salaah. At Zuhr time the Muazzin came in to call out the Adhaan. They asked him, “Where were you after the Fajr Adhaan? There wasn’t anyone here to lead the Salaah.” He replied, “I am paid a salary to call out the Adhaan and not to lead the Salaah.” At that time, Hadrat Maulana said, “If this is the condition, this Masjid won’t remain in the hands of the Muslims, as this is the system of Allah Ta'ala”. The upkeep of the Masjid is in frequenting the Masjid.

Today, our youngsters are not performing Salaah, in our family gatherings Salaah is totally discarded. It is truly Allah Ta'ala's mercy that we are not wiped out from the surface of the earth. Hadrat Umar R.A wrote to all his governors,

أنَّ أهمَّ أُمورِكم عندي الصلاةُ من حفظها ، وحافظَ عليها حَفِظَ دينَه ، ومَن ضَيَّعها فهو لما سِواها أضيَعُ

Verily, the most important of your matters to me is Salaah, Whoever protects his Salaah has protected his Deen. Whoever neglects his salaah will to a greater extent neglect other (responsibilities).  

Secondly, try and catch up with our Qadha Salaah. A learned Mufti has Qadha Salaah to catch up with, and even reports to me the number of Salaah remaining to complete. When this is his condition, what is our condition? Take stock of ourselves, how many Salaah have we missed since we have reached the age of maturity (Buloogh)?

Look at the quality of our Salaah! As far as the quality of Salaah is concerned, we’ve got to pay attention to the outward and inward aspect of Salaah. How many will perform their Fajr Salaah with pyjamas if they were to read the Fajr Salaah at home or whilst on holiday? How many come to the Masajid with Bermudas and T-shirts? Some even read Salaah without a Topi! Will anyone ever wear such clothing and attend work, or attend a meeting, or meet the councilor? The same Allah Ta'ala that is present in the Masjid, is in our homes.

One person called me to inform me that his son returned after spending four months in Jamaat. He is now insisting on going for a holiday to Mauritius, all that he accrued in the four months will be washed away. I advised him to talk the youngster out of it. Our dressing should be correct as we are standing before Allah Ta'ala, who is the creator of the heavens and earth. The postures of Salaah should also be correct. We say Allahu Akbar 360 times in a day in Salaah but the greatness of Allah Ta'ala hasn’t entered the heart as yet.

Our concentration level in Salaah is almost nil. Hadrat Maulana Khair Muhammad Saheb Jaalandari R.A. had invited Hadrat Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madni Saheb R.A. for a programme prior to the India and Pakistan partition. It was a lengthy journey and they had travelled through the night by train. The train had stopped at Fajr time to change engines which generally takes quite a bit of time. Hadrat led the Fajr Salaah in which he recited Alif Laam Meem Sajda and Surah Dahr, whilst performing their Salaah the conductor blew the whistle, waived the flag indicating that the train is about to depart and even called them to board. However, Hadrat continued with the Salaah. After Salaah, Hadrat was asked, “You could have shortened the Salaah yet you continued.” Hadrat replied that he was totally oblivious of the happenings around him. This is termed as concentration in Salaah.

 Once Mufti Azizur Rahman sahib, the mufti of Deoband was leading the Taraweeh Salaah, he recited the verse,

يوم تبلى السرائر

A day when secrets will be exposed

This refers to the day of Qiyaamah when all secrets will be exposed before mankind. Mufti Saheb repeated this verse again and again, Maulana Shabir Ahmad Uthmani R.A. gave a scream and fell unconscious. This was the condition of Salaah. Today, we want smart and excellent readers but our Salaah is void of concentration and connection with Allah Ta'ala.

After Salaah, we should make Dua, “O Allah! My Salaah is not worthy of acceptance.” I oppressed myself, you gave me a great gift, yet I spoilt it.” This is like a father gifting his son a Rolce Royce yet he loads chickens in it. Hadrat Maulana In’aamul Hassan Saheb R.A  used to say, “At least correct one thing, that is, our Salaah.” May Allah Ta'ala give us the Taufeeq to correct our Salaah.  Ameen.