A family that prays together, stays together

Praying is an obligation for a Muslim Family

Building a strong and robust family according to Islam is one that involves the instilling of Islamic values and the love for Allah SWT. The prayer, which is the most important pillar of the religion is a responsibility that should be carried by a family so that they will practise it, together. Allah SWT says in an Ayah of the Qur’an:

حَـٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَـٰنِتِينَ

“Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).”

(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:238)

Praying as a family symbolises unity

There is an abundance of goodness in praying in congregation. It is mentioned by the Prophet SAW:

“Solat (prayer) in congregation is twenty-seven times more rewarding than a Solat performed individually.”

(Bukhari & Muslim)

In another Hadith, the Prophet SAW also said:

“A man’s prayer observed along with another is purer than his prayer observed alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with just one, and whenever there are more, it is more pleasing to Allah, the Almighty.”

(Abu Dawud)

The Hadiths of the Prophet SAW tell us that it is much favourable to Allah SWT to pray together rather than doing so alone. The rewards are multiplied and Allah is pleased with a group that worships in congregation. If this is the case, how pleased would Allah SWT be if a family were to pray together everyday, and if not, frequently?

This noble act aligns with the verse of Allah SWT where He mentions in the Qur’an:

وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ

“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah”

(Surah Al-Maidah Verse 2)

Praying as a family protects from evil

In a Hadith, the Prophet SAW said:

“If three men in a village or in the desert, make no arrangement for Solat in congregation, Satan must have certainly overcome them. So observe Solat in congregation, for the wolf eats up a solitary sheep that stays far from the flock.”

(Sunan Abu Dawud)

A prominent scholar, Sheikh Dr. Wahbah Az-Zuhaili explains that Allah s.w.t. mentions guarding solat alongside verses on family ties because solat protects spouses and family members from ill thoughts, evil influences, and the whisperings of Syaitan—all of which can cause discord. Praying in congregation as a family further strengthens this protection.

Encouraging the rest to pray

It was part of the Sunnah of the Prophet SAW, to wake his family up for prayers. In the Hadith:

“The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘May Allah (SWT) have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, then he wakes his wife and she prays, and if she refuses he sprinkles water in her face. And may Allah (SWT) have mercy on a woman who gets up at night and prays, then she wakes her husband and prays, and if he refuses she sprinkles water in his face.'”

(Sunan an-Nasa’i 1610)

Family is the foundation of salvation and faith

In the Qur’an, Allah SWT mentions explicitly that our obligation on this Earth is to protect ourselves from the wrath of the hellfire. This is done by teaching our family members to pray, do the obligatory and abstain from evil. Allah SWT says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًۭا

“O believers! Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire”

(Surah At-Tahrim Verse 6)

Teaching the young how to pray

As Muslims parents who want to raise their children in a pious and healthy environment, we must exert our utmost efforts to teach children how to pray and why they pray from a young age. This instills in them the essence of Tauhid (the Oneness of Allah) and their servitude to none other than Allah SWT. Mentioned in a Hadith, the Prophet SAW said:

“Teach your children to pray when they are seven years old, and smack them (lightly) if they do not pray when they are 10 years old, and separate them in their beds.”

(Abu Dawud)

Love for Allah

The Prophet SAW mentioned:

Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah Almighty said: My love is assured for those who love each other for My sake, who sit together for My sake, who visit each other for My sake, and who spend on each other for My sake.”

(Musnad Ahmad)

This is part of what it means to be a family in Islam. A family should not just love each other, but love each other for the sake of Allah. This type of love is one that is done in line with the teachings of Islam and abstaining of the wrong, together as a family.