Hadith #5800

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the importance of approaching each prayer as if it is our last, by praying it with utmost sincerity and devotion. Let us delve into the deeper meaning of this Hadith in light of the Quran.

The key word in this Hadith is (muwaddi') "مُوَدِّع", which means bidding farewell or parting. It signifies the idea of treating each prayer as if it is our final opportunity to communicate with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). This mindset encourages us to perform our prayers with utmost sincerity, humility, and focus, as if it is our last chance to seek forgiveness, guidance, and blessings from our Creator.

The Quran supports this concept of approaching prayers with a sense of urgency and mindfulness. In Surah Al-Mumtahanah (60:4), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: 'We are clear of you and of whatever you worship besides Allah: we have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred for ever, unless you believe in Allah and Him alone.' But not when Abraham said to his father: 'I will pray for forgiveness for you, though I have no power (to get) anything on your behalf from Allah.' (They prayed): 'Our Lord! In You we trust, and to You we turn in repentance, and to You is (our) final return.'

In this verse, Prophet Abraham (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and his followers demonstrated the essence of bidding farewell to the disbelievers and turning solely to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). They recognized that their ultimate return is to Allah, and thus their prayers were filled with sincerity and devotion. This serves as a reminder for us to approach our prayers with the same level of dedication and consciousness.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Ma'arij (70:19-23), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) describes the qualities of those who are mindful of their prayers. He says,

Indeed, mankind was created anxious: When evil touches him, impatient, and when good touches him, withholding [of it], except the observers of prayer - those who are constant in their prayer.

These verses highlight the importance of being steadfast in our prayers, regardless of the circumstances we face. The believers who are mindful of their prayers are described as those who remain steadfast and consistent in their devotion to Allah, seeking His guidance and mercy in every situation.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith urges us to adopt this mindset of bidding farewell in our prayers. By doing so, we are reminded of the temporary nature of this world and the certainty of our eventual return to Allah. This realization motivates us to perform our prayers with sincerity, humility, and gratitude, knowing that it may be our last opportunity to seek forgiveness and blessings from our Creator.

When we approach our prayers with the mindset of bidding farewell, it compels us to reflect on our actions, seek forgiveness for our shortcomings, and strive to improve ourselves. It instills a sense of urgency and mindfulness in our worship, allowing us to establish a deeper connection with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and experience the spiritual benefits of prayer.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us to approach each prayer as if it is our last, bidding farewell to the distractions of this world and focusing solely on our connection with Allah. By adopting this mindset, we can elevate our prayers to a higher level of sincerity, devotion, and mindfulness. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to pray with such dedication and may He accept our prayers.