Being Diligent Upon Fajr & 'Asr
Question: I want from the Noble Sheikh an answer to this question. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, as has been narrated by the two Sheikhs, Verily you shall see your Lord with your eyes as you are able to see this moon, you will have no difficulty in seeing Him; therefore if you have the ability to be diligent in the prayer before the sun rises and before it sets then do so. The question is, why does this Hadith make a connection between seeing Allah with the Asr and Fajr prayers? Is guarding the prayer at these two times a reason for seeing Allah?
Sheikh Bin Baz: Seeing Allah in paradise and on the Day of Judgment is the truth, the believers will see Him, and this will be the greatest bliss for the people of paradise. When He removes the veil from His Face and they see Him, they would not have seen anything more beloved to them than looking at His Face .
And the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) informed us that the believers will see Him on the Day of Judgment with their eyes just as they are able to see the clear sun when there are no clouds and like they are able to see the moon when the moon is full, and they will have no difficulty in seeing Him; this is a confirmed truth with Ahlus Sunnah wa Jamah.
Then the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, Therefore if you have the ability to be diligent in the prayer before the sun rises and before it sets then do so,; and what is intended here is the Asr prayer and Fajr prayer.
The people of knowledge mentioned that the secret in this is that the one who guards these two prayers will be from those who see Allah morning and evening. They will see Allah morning and evening in paradise, meaning the time that will be regarded as morning and evening because in paradise there is no night rather it is only continuation day. Therefore what is intended is that which will be regarded as morning and evening, as Allah the Exalted says,
"And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening." (Chapter 19 verse 62)
Meaning that which is regarded as morning and evening in this world, and like this shall be the viewing of Allah during that time which is regarded as morning and evening.
Meaning the exclusive people of paradise, for them will be the viewing of Allah during the time between morning and evening, meaning they will see Him a lot due to their good actions and their truthfulness in faith. And from the reasons (for this blessing) are their guarding the Asr prayer and the Fajr prayer these two prayers are special. And guarding these two prayers is from the evidences of a persons strong faith and completeness in faith, along with guarding the other prayers.
Therefore it is obligatory to guard all the prayers but the Asr prayer and Fajr prayer are particularized with extra care and caution, because this is the opposite of what is done by the hypocrites and those who are lazy.
Abu Qayla Rasheed bin Estes Barbee