The reason for beginning the discussion of the hadith: “A man’s prayer is half, a third, a quarter, a fifth, or a sixth of it”
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Question:
This questioner, Muhammad, says: Honorable Shaykh, in the hadith of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), what is the meaning of “A man’s prayer is half, a third, a quarter, a fifth, or a sixth of it”? Why did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) begin with half and not with the whole? Is this the perfection of the prayer?
Answer:
Allah knows best. He did not begin with the whole because perfection is difficult; perfection is difficult. But below perfection, people are at different levels in this matter. Khushu' (humility) is the spirit of the prayer[Al-Mu'minun 23:1-2]. It is the spirit of the prayer. A prayer without khushu' is like a body without a spirit. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, does not accept it. Therefore, the heart must have khushu' and be present in the prayer. People vary in this. Some are granted the full reward, and some are granted less than that according to the presence of their hearts and their khushu'. The heart does not have khushu' except with contemplation and reflection [Sad 38:29], reflection on the Qur'an. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “Reflect on the Qur'an if you seek guidance.” So knowledge is under the reflection on the Qur'an. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
This questioner, Muhammad, says: Honorable Shaykh, in the hadith of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), what is the meaning of “A man’s prayer is half, a third, a quarter, a fifth, or a sixth of it”? Why did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) begin with half and not with the whole? Is this the perfection of the prayer?
Answer:
Allah knows best. He did not begin with the whole because perfection is difficult; perfection is difficult. But below perfection, people are at different levels in this matter. Khushu' (humility) is the spirit of the prayer
(1) Certainly will the believers have succeeded: (2) They who are during their prayer humbly submissive
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِThe presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، برنامج (فتاوى) (169) لمعالي الشيخ صالح الفوزان بتاريخ [1440-01-09] - كبار العلماء — youtube.com (5:38)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.