Salah (prayer) and Siyam (fasting) stand as two of the fundamental pillars of Islam, holding immense spiritual significance for Muslims. Beyond their obligatory nature, these acts of worship are also highlighted as a profound means of protection, particularly against the trials and tribulations in the afterlife, including the punishment of the grave (Adhab Al-Qabar).
Salah & Siyam: Shields Against the Punishment
A significant hadith mentioned in Musnad Imam Ahmed highlights the protective role of Salah and Siyam. This hadith describes that when a believer enters their grave, their prayer (Salah) and their fasting (Siyam) surround them.
As angels approach, the Salah pushes them away, and when they come from another direction, the Siyam repels them. This narration powerfully illustrates how Salah and Siyam act as shields for the believer in the realm of the grave, safeguarding them from the punishmen of the grave.
You may also like to read, why Allah use Four Stages of Guidance.
Concept of Good Deeds & Their Protective Role
While the hadith specifically mentions Salah and Siyam, the source astutely points out that we can extrapolate from this to understand that any good deed can offer protection against the punishment of the grave. The accumulation of lots of good deeds is presented as a crucial way to secure oneself from the torments of the grave. This highlights striving for righteousness in all aspects of life.
Salah and Siyam: Forms of Worship
Salah and Siyam are not just about the basic actions of prayer and fasting. They actually cover much more, including reading the Quran, remembering Allah (dhikr), making supplications (dua), and prostrating (sajdah). Essentially, all forms of worship can be seen as falling under these core pillars. This emphasizes that living a life dedicated to worshipping Allah in various ways provides spiritual protection.
What is the connection between Salah & Siyam and Surah Mulk?
We’re mainly talking about Salah and Siyam being super important for protection. But it’s really worth pointing out that there is a Surah that protects you from punishment in the grave. Think of it like this: there’s a real hadith that Surah Al-Mulk stops the punishment of the grave. It’s even mentioned that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that Surah Al-Mulk will actually speak up for someone until Allah forgives them.
And, Ibn Masud tells us more about this. He said that when the angels who punish people in the grave come to someone who used to read Surah Mulk, a voice will shout out, “You can’t touch this person! They used to read Surah Mulk!” This really shows us how important it is to include other acts of worship, like reading specific Surahs like Al-Mulk, along with doing our Salah and Siyam.
You can also read surah mulk, here.
How do good deeds (Salah and Siyam) change our daily lives?
If you want to really get the protection that Salah and Siyam give you, it’s super important to make them a main thing in your everyday life. On top of that, we should also try to do more good things in general. And, kind of like adding extra security, reading and memorizing Surah Al-Mulk a lot is really encouraged. It’s like another layer of protection to keep you safe from the punishment in the grave.
Conclusion
In conclusion, by consistently engaging in these acts of worship and striving for righteousness, believers can hope to attain Allah’s mercy and safeguard themselves in this life and the hereafter.