A Race to Prayer

The renowned scholar, Shah Wali Allah (1703–1792), the muhaddith of Delhi, attempted to unlock the Divine wisdom and benefits (masalih) which lay behind the various instructions of the Noble Qur’an and their manifestations. He maintained that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained certain inner meanings of the particular times of some prayers. For example, regarding the four units before the noon prayer, he said: ‘It is an hour in which the gates of the heavens are opened, and I love that a righteous deed should be raised up for me in it’ (cf. al-Tirmidhi). Thus it is evident that the rulings (ahkam) in the teachings of Islam have earthly and eschatological benefits and wisdom, which are in their totality only truly known by the Lawgiver, the Wise.