One of the greatest blessings that Allaah has granted the Muslims is the Salaah. Apart from the fact that it is one of the constant ways with which we can remember our Lord, it also gives us the opportunity to l talk to Him (Allaah) directly without any barrier between us and His Majesty (when we are in prostration).
Besides these, it is also a means, through which we will be granted Paradise on the Day of Judgement for those who perform them the way it shouts be performed.
Among the things that make the Salaah great is the fact that its commandment and the number of prayers that we offer everyday was given to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) directly by Allaah in the seventh heaven.
Here is how the five daily prayers came to be: The incident happened during the Prophet's(peace and blessings be upon him)night journey (Isra wa Miraj). Let us read the story as narrated by Anas bin Malik:
"...Then Allaah revealed that which He revealed to me {(i.e Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)}. He enjoined on me fifty prayers every day and night. I came down until I reached Musa, and he said, what did your Lord enjoin on your Ummah?' I said fifty prayers everyday and night.' He said, 'Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce (the burden i.e. prayer) for your Ummah, for your Ummah will not be able to do that. I tested the children of Israel and found out how they were i.e. (they could not do it).'
So I went back to my Lord and said, 'o Lord, reduce (the burden) for my Ummah for they will never be able to do that.' So He reduced it by five. I came back down until I met Musa and he asked me, 'what did you do?' I said, '(My Lord) reduced (my burden) by five.' He said, 'Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce (the burden) for your Ummah.'
I kept going back between my Lord and Musa, and (my Lord) reduced it by five each time, until he said, 'o Muhammad, these are five prayers every day and night, and for every prayer there is (the reward of) ten, so they are (like) fifty prayers.
Whoever wants to do something good then does not do it, one good deed will be recorded for him, and if he does it, ten good deeds will, be recorded for him. Whoever wants to do something evil and does not do it, no evil deed will be recorded for him."
I came down until I reached Musa, and told him about this. He said, 'Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce (the burden) for your Ummah, for they will never be able to do that' [(The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said)]: I had kept going back to my Lord until I felt too shy."(Muslim)
Lessons
What this story has shown us is that Allaah's mercy on us is very vast. This we can see from the way Allaah reward us our deeds
Another lesson that we can get from this story) that Allah wants as much ease for us as-possible. That is why Allaah kept reducing the prayer for us until we it went down to as low as five from fifty.
Also, we can see from the story that all the prophets are upon one religion and they always wish good for each other and their Ummah.
Finally, we can see that the direct access of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and then his Ummah to Allaah the creator without any intermediary.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited