The Ahlul Bayt’s Devotion to Praying on Time

Because they loved to prostrate and plead before Allah, the Holy Prophet and the Imams would eagerly await the time of Salah. When it arrived, their attention and love was only for Allah’s worship. A’ishah narrates:

‘The Prophet used to speak and converse with us but as soon as the time of the prayer set in, it was as if he did not recognise us and we did not recognise him.’

No matter was urgent enough to prevent the Ahlul Bayt from praying on time. Anas bin Malik narrates:

‘Whenever the Prophet was travelling on a journey and the time of prayers came, he would stop where he was and perform the Salah.’

Even the intensity of battle was not a sufficient reason for delay. For example, Imam Ali (A), whilst fighting in the Battle of Siffin, kept scanning the skies. When asked by Ibn Abbas as to what he was doing, he replied, ‘I am looking for the coming of noon so that I may pray my Salah on time.’ Ibn Abbas responded, ‘Is there time for Salah? We are in the midst of battle!’ The response of Imam Ali (A) clarified the priority of Salah over Jihad:

‘However, what is the reason we are fighting?
In truth, we are fighting for the sake and preservation of Salah.’

Even on their death-bed, during the agonising last moments of their lives, the Ahlul Bayt prioritised Salah before everything else. When Imam Hasan al-Askari (A) was offered medication to alleviate the intense pain he suffered due to poisoning by Caliph al-Mu’tamid, he instead requested water to perform Wudhu so that he could offer his Fajr prayer on time. The Imam died shortly after he completed his prayers.

Similarly, just before Imam Ali’s (A) soul departed from this world, he turned to his son, Imam Hasan (A) to counsel him in his final breath, ‘My son! I am advising you to perform Salah at its precise time as my last bequest.’