Do you know the History of Salah -Prayers?

 

   The Morning Prayer [Fajr]

When Prophet Hazrat Aadam [Alaiehis Salaam] descended on the Earth from Heaven, it was the time of night, and it was the first time he had seen this world. He was in a state of shock as he had never seen darkness or night before [as in Jannah, night does not exist]. 

When dawn broke, he prayed 2 cycles [Rak'at] thankfulness to Almighty Allaah. One cycle thanking Allaah Kareem for removing him from the darkness of the night and second Rak’at for blessing him with the light of the day. 

He prayed these Rakat’s as Nafil and it has been made obligatory Prayers [Farz] upon us so that the darkness of sins in which we are living in, is removed from our lives and we acquire the light of obedience.

The Afternoon Prayers [Zuhr]

After midday, Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim [Alaiehis Salaam] was the first to pray Salah. He prayed 4 Rakat Salah to Allaah Almighty thanking him for sending a replacement sacrifice ram instead of his son, Prophet Hazrat Ismaeel [Alaiehis Salaam].

• The first Rak’at was prayed for removing the anxiety of his Son
• The second Rak’at for the sending of the sheep as a sacrifice
• The third was prayed expressing gratefulness at the happiness of his Lord.
• The fourth was prayed out of happiness due to the fact that Prophet Hazrat Ismaeel [Alaiehis Salaam] was ready to sacrifice his life at the command of Allaah Almighty.

He prayed it as Nafl but it has been made obligatory ‘Farz’ upon us so that Allaah Almighty gives us the power to kill our desires just as he gave Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim [Alaiehis Salaam] the power to sacrifice his son in the path of Allaah; also so that he removes from us our anxieties and also that he may be pleased with us and our actions.

The Late Afternoon Prayer [Asr]

The first to pray 'Asr was Prophet Yunus[Alaiehis Salaam]  for Allaah saved him from 4 darkness's.

1.    The darkness of mistakes!

2.    The darkness of melancholy!

3.    The darkness of the sea!

4.    The darkness of the whale's stomach!

It was Nafl for him but made farz upon us so that Allaah saves us from the darkness of sins, the darkness of the grave, the darkness of [the tribulations] of Qiyamat, and the darkness of hell.

The Evening Prayer [Maghrib]

The first to pray Maghrib was Prophet Ieesaa [Jesus] [Alaiehis Salaam].

• He prayed the first negating his own Divinity 
•  The second negating his mother’s Divinity
• The third affirming the Divinity of Allaah Almighty.

It was Nafl for him but was made Farz upon us so that on the day of resurrection: our accounting [for sins and rewards] is made easy for us; 

we are saved from the fire of hell and granted salvation from the great agitation that will take place on that day; and finally, that we remove ourselves from our self-conceited pride and we especially humble ourselves for the sake of Allaah Almighty.

The Night Prayers [Ieesha]

The first to Pray Ieesha Salah was Prophet Hazrat Moosa/Musa [Alaiehis Salaam], when he was returning from the Madayn and He forgot his way.

He was overcome by 4 problems:

1.    Sadness due to separation from his wife.

2.    Worry for his children.

3.    Anxiety on behalf of his brother.

4.    Concern of being captured by the Pharoah [Firaun].

When Allaah Almighty granted him salvation from all his worries, he prayed 4 Rak’at Nafl Salah which has been made obligatory [Farz] upon us so that Allaah Almighty also shows us the path [to salvation]; that He blesses us in our works; that He grants us union with our beloveds and grant us victory over our enemies.

Reference: Fatawah Ridawiyyah Vol 5, Pages 68-69, Barakatur Raza Porbandar Edition