Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (part 106)
Educational Lessons from the Story of Luqman the Wise (AS)
Lesson Eighteen: Prayer Is the Common Pillar of All Divine Religions; Therefore, Fathers Should Set the Example by Observing It and Raise Their Children to Establish and Preserve It from an Early Age
Prayer is an ancient act of worship deeply rooted in the history of the divine messages and one of the shared pillars of all heavenly religions. It is difficult to find a divinely revealed religion in which worship and prayer do not occupy a central place. This demonstrates the lofty status and immense significance of prayer in the sight of Allah the Exalted.
Regarding Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), Prophet Lut (Lot), Prophet Ishaq (Isaac), and Prophet Yaqub (Jacob) AS, the Noble Qur’an states: (وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءَ الزَّكَاةِ وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ) Translation: “We made them leaders who were guided by Our command, and We inspired them to perform righteous deeds, establish prayer, and give zakah. And they were devoted worshippers of Us.” [1]
Likewise, when Prophet Ibrahim (AS) settled his wife and son in Makkah, he supplicated: (رَبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ) Translation: “Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in a barren valley near Your Sacred House so that they may establish prayer.” [2]
Allah (SWT) also praises Prophet Esmail (AS), saying (وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ وَكَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِ مَرْضِيًّا) Translation: “He used to command his family to observe prayer and give zakah, and he was well-pleasing to his Lord.” [3]
When Allah appointed Prophet Musa (AS) as His Messenger, the very first divine command was (إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي) Translation: “Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity worthy of worship except Me. Therefore, worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.” [4]
Concerning Prophet Isa (Jesus) AS, Allah says: (وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا) Translation: “He has enjoined upon me prayer and Zakah for as long as I live.”
These verses clearly demonstrate that prayer has always been a fundamental pillar of every divine message and one of the greatest manifestations of sincere servitude to Allah.
Allah the Exalted mentions prayer immediately after faith in the unseen as one of the defining characteristics of the God-conscious: (ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِلْمُتَّقِينَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ) Translation: “This is the Book in which there is no doubt—a guidance for the God-conscious, who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend from what we have provided for them.” [5]
Likewise, Allah begins His description of the successful believers with prayer and concludes it by emphasizing their steadfast observance of it: (قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ … وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ) Translation: “Successful indeed are the believers—those who are humble in their prayers… and those who diligently guard their prayers.” [6]
Prayer is not merely an individual act of worship; it is a lifelong school of moral and spiritual development. It nurtures discipline, responsibility, self-restraint, chastity, and a continuous connection with Allah. It also protects a person from heedlessness and moral corruption. Allah (SWT) says: (وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ) Translation: “Establish prayer. Indeed, prayer restrains one from immorality and wrongdoing.” [7]
Conversely, the Qur’an sternly warns those who neglect their prayers: (فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ) Translation: “Woe to those who pray, yet are heedless of their prayers.” [8]
Concerning later generations who abandoned prayer, Allah (SWT) says (فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا), Translation: “Then there came after them generations who neglected prayer and followed their desires; consequently, they will meet with ruin.” [9]
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) also emphasized the central place of prayer by saying, “العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة، فمن تركها فقد كفر.” Translation: “The covenant that distinguishes us from them is prayer; whoever abandons it has indeed fallen into disbelief.” [10]
For this reason, prayer will be the very first deed for which a person will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection, and the soundness or corruption of all other deeds largely depends upon it. [11]
From an educational perspective, the responsibility of parents extends far beyond verbal instruction. They must become living examples for their children.
Children are influenced more by what they observe than by what they hear. If the home is filled with prayer, remembrance of Allah, and devotion to worship, prayer naturally becomes an integral part of the children’s character and way of life. [12]
Accordingly, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: «مُرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرِ سِنِينَ، وَفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ.» Translation: “Command your children to perform prayer when they reach the age of seven. At the age of ten, discipline them for neglecting it, and separate their beds.” [13]
Therefore, a father who instills love for prayer in the hearts of his children is, in reality, equipping them with one of the strongest protections against trials, deviation, and moral corruption. Prayer is not merely an act of worship; it is a powerful means of developing character, strengthening religious consciousness, reinforcing determination, and establishing a lifelong bond between a servant and his Lord.
To be continued…
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References:
[1]. Al-Anbiyāʾ (21): 73.
[2]. Ibrāhīm (14): 37.
[3]. Maryam (19): 55.
[4]. Ṭā Hā (20): 14.
[5]. Maryam (19): 31.
[6]. Al-Baqarah (2): 2–3.
[7]. Al-Muʾminūn (23): 1–9.
[8]. Al-ʿAnkabūt (29): 45.
[9]. Al-Māʿūn (107): 4–5.
[10]. Maryam (19): 59.
[11]. Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Īmān, “Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding Abandoning the Prayer,” Hadith no. 2626.
[12]. Ḥammādah, Fārūq. Ābāʾ wa Abnāʾ: Malāmiḥ Tarbawiyyah fī al-Qurʾān, p. 173.
[13]. Narrated by Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Hadith no. 495.
