Reflection No. 89 on Q 20:132 – Salaat and Family

وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا

and enjoin prayer on your family, and be steadfast on it
Sura Taha, verse 132

Salaat is the most important duty of a believer. If that is accepted, everything else is accepted and if that is rejected, everything else is rejected. The Holy Prophet (s) advised believers to let their biggest worry be their Salaat. This verse tells us that not only should we worry about our own prayers, and be steadfast on it, we should also worry about the prayers of our family members, and be steadfast on calling them towards it.

Apart from providing for worldly needs, parents must pay attention to the spiritual development of their children. To encourage the remembrance of God at home, and to make sure His rules are followed by family members, is more important than reminding others about God outside the home. This is the first duty of a believer

A home in which God is remembered and Salaat is given importance to, is a blessed home. It shines for the inhabitants of the heavens the way the stars shine for the inhabitants of the earth. Make your home such a shining star. Call your family towards Salaat and encourage love for it. It may not work right away, especially with young children. But being steadfast on it, as the verse says, will reap dividends in the long run.

Be gentle in your persistence to make Salaat a pillar for your family. Rigid insistence just puts off others. Turn on the Adhan at Salaat timings and let the family hear it. Be a good example by praying on time as much as possible. Enhance the Salaat for yourself and your family through the use of scent, giving importance to the place of Salaat, the musallah, the namaz chador, the Mohr/Tasbih . .. . all that is used in Salaat must be clean, beautiful, the very best!

Recite this verse to remind yourself of the noble duty you have to invite your family towards Salaat. It was the duty of Prophets and Divine leaders, of those who invited their flocks towards God. You too have a flock for whom you are responsible. Be the shepherd that takes his flock towards God.