3.15. PRAYER AND HEEDFULNESS

God says

Be ever-mindful of prayers and of praying in the most excellent way,* and stand before God in devout obedience. -- Q.2:238
* Lit., “the mid-most” (or “the most excellent) prayer. According to Muhammad ‘Abduh, it may mean “the noblest kind of prayer—that is, a prayer from the fullness of the heart, with the whole mind turned towards God, inspired by the awe of Him, and reflecting upon His word, ( manar 2).


O you who have attained to faith! Be conscious of God with all the consciousness that is due to Him,… Q.3:102


... those who believe in the life to come do believe in this [Book]; and it is they who are ever-mindful of their prayers. -- Q.6:92


… and do not allow yourself to be heedless [in prayer]. – Q.7:205


Woe to praying ones who are heedless* in their prayer -- Q.107:4
*I.e., knowingly unmindful of prayer.


Prophet said

“Prayer performed in the early time is to please God and performed later in time is to ask His forgiveness.” – H: Tirmizi. N: Ibn Umar

“…The person, who does not bow down (properly in prayer) and does not prostrate well, in fact steals in prayer.” – H: Ahmed. N: Abu Qatada

“Whoever becomes Imam of a people, let him make the prayer easy because among them are the old, and the sick, and the infirm, and among them there are those who have (to attend to) other needs” – N: Osman-b-Abil`Aas