[at-Tahreem 66:6].
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. … A man is the shepherd of his household and is responsible.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (7138) and Muslim (1829).
Al-Bukhaari (7151) and Muslim (142) narrated that Ma‘qil ibn Yasaar al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “There is no person whom Allah puts in charge of others, and when he dies he has been insincere to his subjects, but Allah will forbid Paradise to him.”
Narrated Abu Hurayrah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: May Allah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, and awakens his wife; if she refuses, he would sprinkle water on her face. May Allah have mercy on a woman who gets up at night and prays, and awakens her husband; if he refuses, she would sprinkle water on his face. Sunan Abi Dawud 1308 – Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani)
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ رَجُلاً قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى وَأَيْقَظَ امْرَأَتَهُ فَإِنْ أَبَتْ نَضَحَ فِي وَجْهِهَا الْمَاءَ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأَةً قَامَتْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّتْ وَأَيْقَظَتْ زَوْجَهَا فَإِنْ أَبَى نَضَحَتْ فِي وَجْهِهِ الْمَاءَ ” .
This is one of the means of waking us up. Another means is encouraging ourselves and our loved ones to sleep early, and reminding them against staying up late at night.
But it is advisable that we treat those under our care gently and kindly, for there is never kindness in a thing but it adorns it. Reward them and encourage them when they pray, and remind them that prayer is the key to happiness and guidance, and is one of the means of abundant provision and an easy life. If that produces results and leads to them mending their ways, then this is what we want, and this is what we hope for and wish for them. But if they persists in their shortcomings, then there is nothing wrong with resorting to firmness in rebuking them sometimes, such as shunning them for that, in a manner that could achieve good results. Strictness sometimes may be the right and wise choice. The aim behind all of that is to set them straight, hence we have to be patient with them, and not get irritated with them. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein” Qur’an 20:132
Prayer is the greatest of the pillars of Islam after the twin declaration of faith, and those who are heedless concerning it are in grave danger, as Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil” Qur’an 19:59
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The first thing among their deeds for which the people will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be prayer. Our Lord will say to His angels, although He knows best, ‘Look at My slave’s prayer, is it complete or lacking?’ If it is complete, it will be recorded as complete, but if it is lacking, He will say, ‘Look and see whether my slave did any voluntary (naafil) prayers.’ If he had done voluntary prayers, He will say, ‘Complete the obligatory prayers of My slave from his voluntary prayers.’ Then the rest of his deeds will be examined in a similar manner.”
(Narrated by Abu Dawood, 864; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 770).
May ALLAH grant us hidayat and makes us from the ones who never miss their Salaah… May Allah make us all among those who rise and pray Fajr easily and consistently, out of submission and gratitude.. May Allah forgive us for all the prayers we have missed.. Aameen Ya Rabbal Alameen