One Prayer Rewarded As Ten

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah said, ‘My word does not change, as it is enjoined upon you in Umm al-Kitaab, every Hasanah will have the reward of ten like it, so they are fifty in Umm al-Kitaab and five enjoined upon you.’” [Bukhaari]

Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told us in the Hadith of the Israa (ascension to heaven) how he went back and forth between Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and Moosa (alaihis salam), when each time Moosa (alaihis salam) told him to go back to Allah and ask Him to reduce the number of prayers required, until they became five instead of fifty.

Moosa (alaihis salam) from his experience with the Bani Israeel knew how difficult people were, how ungrateful to their Lord, and how easily misled by Shaitaan. So he kept advising Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) to ask Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) to reduce the number of prayers enjoined on the Muslims. This continued till Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) felt too shy to ask Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) for any more reduction.

Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) met Moosa (alaihis salam) again who said: “What did you do?” He replied: “It is reduced for us, and for every Hasanah we will be given the reward of ten like it.” [Bukhaari]

Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) in His generosity promised to give us the reward of fifty prayers although He reduced the number of prayers to five. Each prayer is thus rewarded as ten prayers. What a shame that despite this incentive we find it hard to pray five prayers in a day and night!