Thereafter, when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) passed by Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam), then he asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “What command did Allah Ta‘ala give you (for yourself and your ummah)?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “Allah Ta‘ala commanded us to perform fifty salaah in the day and night.” Hearing this, Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam) said, “I have much experience with the Banu Israa’eel, and your ummah are weaker than them. I feel that they will not manage to fulfill this injunction. Hence, you should return to your Rabb and request some concession for your ummah.”
Subscribe now
Publications
Banking Details
On the occasion of mi’raaj, when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) met Allah Ta‘ala, then Allah Ta‘ala bestowed him with many special bounties, bestowed glad tidings to him that made him pleased and happy, and gave him various commands and injunctions. From all these injunctions and commands, the most important command was for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and his ummah to perform fifty salaah daily.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) accepted these injunctions and commands with great happiness, and thereafter, as he returned, he first met Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam). On meeting Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam), Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) did not mention anything regarding the commands and the fifty salaah which Allah Ta‘ala had prescribed.
Accordingly, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned to Allah Ta‘ala and requested some concession. Allah Ta‘ala then decreased the amount by five salaah (i.e. from fifty salaah to forty-five salaah daily).
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then returned to Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam), then he once again expressed the same concern. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thus returned to Allah Ta‘ala and again requested concession for his ummah, due to which Allah Ta‘ala decreased the amount by another five salaah. This continued, with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) coming to Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam), and then returning to Allah Ta‘ala and requesting further concession, until eventually, only five salaah remained (from the original amount of fifty salaah).
Even then, Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam) advised Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to return to Allah Ta‘ala and seek further concession. However, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “I have repeatedly asked Allah Ta‘ala for concession, to the extent that I now feel embarassed to ask for further concession. Saying this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) departed from Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam).
As Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) proceeded, a voice was heard from the unseen saying, “The salaah are five, but they are equal to fifty salaah (i.e. the five salaah are equal to fifty salaah in reward). There was no change in My verdict, as it was in My knowledge and it was predestined that the number of the fardh salaah will be five.”
(Seeratul Mustafa 1/ 309-310)
Published in
Seeratul Mustafaa